Drone, ground rig or plane?
Each has its place.
| Drone | Ground rig | Ag plane | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wet paddocks | Yes | Often not | Yes |
| Large areas fast | Limited | Good | Best |
| Small, irregular blocks | Best | OK | Poor |
| Precision near sensitive areas | High | High | Lower |
| Soil compaction | None | Some | None |
Water rates
Drones carry small tanks and run low water rates. In a published rice trial in Indonesia, drones used 20 L/ha versus 200 L/ha for knapsacks (Andryan et al., 2025). In Australia the label’s minimum aerial water rate still applies.