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Fertilizer Spreader Calibration and Testing |
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SPREADCHECK ® is an independent service which has been running for over 22 years. It is owned and operated by experienced arable farmer Sid Pearson. Located in North Yorkshire, Sid sees clients across Yorkshire, Humberside and North Lincolnshire.
Inaccurate spreading of fertilizer can lead to wasted material, loss of yield and environmental damage through nitrate pollution. Every year millions of pounds are wasted by British Farmers in this way.
Striping, occurring as a result of under or over nourishment of plants, can be caused by inaccuracies in the rate of spread(kg/ha) and the uneven distribution of material across the bout width. Even if striping is not visible there could still be significant variation in the rate of application over the bout, adversely affecting yield.
Calibration of the fertiliser spreader maximizes the performance of the spreader, therefore enhancing yield and resulting in significant financial returns.
Testing consists of first checking the tractor for even tyre pressures, linkage level and PTO speed. The fertilizer spreader is checked for wear on the discs, bearing, agitators, hopper openings and general condition. Trays to British Standard 6483 are laid out to the full width of spread. A run through the trays is made with the tractor and spreader, as it would be operated in the field. Fertiliser from the trays is transfered into tubes and the contents are recorded. From this the Coefficient of Variation is calculated. The C of V is calculated by measuring the variation in each tray from the average of each tray. This is expressed as a percentage so as to be able to compare different fertilizer spreaders with each other. The lower the figure the better. If the result of this first run is unsatisfactory then adjustments are made to the spreader settings and other runs are done until a satisfactory setting is obtained.