Fertilizer spreader
For the effective development of agricultural crops, it is important to ensure their optimal nutrition throughout the growing season. Natural soil resources are often insufficient to ensure high yields, so the use of various liquid and mineral fertilizers becomes a necessity. For this purpose, specialized machines for applying fertilizers are used.
There are two main types of such machines: mounted spreaders and trailed spreaders. Mounted spreaders are considered the most versatile and affordable among them. They are used for surface application of granular and dust fertilizers to the cultivated soil. Trailed spreaders, in turn, have a large fertilizer hopper volume, which saves time on refilling. Some models are additionally equipped with a hydraulic loader-manipulator for convenient loading of fertilizers into the hopper.
What does a fertilizer spreader consist of?
Structurally, the fertilizer spreader consists of a metal frame, a fertilizer hopper, dosing mechanisms, a gearbox and disks that, while rotating, distribute fertilizers evenly onto the soil. Some agricultural farms also use spreaders for sowing seeds of grains and legumes.
When choosing a fertilizer spreader, it is important to consider the following criteria:
- Uniform distribution of fertilizers regardless of their quantity;
- Precise adjustment of seeding rate;
- Rugged construction for long-lasting performance;
- Ease of maintenance.
The choice of a specific spreader model depends on the quality of the fertilizer, the method of its storage and loading technology. In addition, it is important to consider the technical characteristics of the tractor with which the spreader will be used, such as PTO power and operating speed.
Fertilizer spreaders are offered from both Ukrainian and foreign manufacturers. The variety of models is due to their versatility and ability to provide high rates of fertilization, which ultimately helps to improve the quality and volume of the crop.