Fertiliser Spreaders For Sale in Ireland

Agrichemicals are expensive, so using them properly and not wasting any is important to the profitable running of the farm. An uneven spread can seriously impact productivity. Often this will include ‘striping’, where areas of land are over-fertilised. This can, is some instances, encourage strong growth, but it can just as easily overload the soil and be damaging to the crop. The other side of the striping coin involves areas of poorly fertilised land. Obviously, this can also have a detrimental effect on production and the lack of fertiliser can seriously impact yields. A patchy crop can also hamper harvesting operations, reducing the efficiency of the harvester. One of the tasks of a fertiliser spreader is to overcome the problems of uneven distribution. Manufacturers adopt various different approaches to the issue and use different technologies to give an even fertiliser spread. Single- or dual-disc spreaders, for example, provide a simple method for accurately applying the fertiliser. Basic models simply use rotating discs to throw out the fertiliser over a pre-determined area. This area can extend to breadths up to 24 metres or more. Some more sophisticated models use GPS and the tractor’s speed to alter the flow of the product and achieve even greater accuracy in distribution. This feature also manages dosage as well as distribution, ensuring that the amount of fertiliser does not become too great on slow passes or too little across faster terrain.

Other manufacturers use centrifugal systems or set-ups such as Vicon’s RotaFlow. Here an accurate spread pattern is achieved by using vanes attached to discs to moderate the product flow. The type of fertiliser being used will have an impact on the spreading pattern, and most manufacturers offer charts to instruct the user on how to adjust settings to suit the type of application. These guides will discuss the type of fertiliser and the granule size and distribution required. They will also determine the weight per litre and then direct the user to the appropriate spreading table. Here there will be the field settings to allow him to adjust the system to suit the specific product being used.

Fertiliser spreaders can be simply towed or they can be mounted on the tractor. Mounted or towed units may derive their power from the tractor, simplifying the technology needed on the actual spreader itself. Other spreaders, however, are self-propelled. These can include some of the larger boom types of spreader, with working widths up to 36 metres. These units are more suited to larger farms or professional contractors. In these operations, their independence from a tractor can be more efficient and lead to quicker application. Aside from the spreading methodology and range, buying a fertiliser spreader also involves consideration of the capacity of fertiliser hopper or tank. These can range from just a few hundred litres to several thousand, but capacities can usually be increased by means of hopper extensions.

Overall, the relatively simple mechanics involved in fertiliser spreaders should ensure many years of trouble-free use. They are easy and cheap to maintain and, properly looked after, will maintain their spreading characteristics and capabilities almost indefinitely.