Massey lays it on ground spreaders

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 296, 25 July 1989, Page 11

Massey lays it on ground spreaders

Fertiliser contractors have a responsibility to their farmer clients to regularly measure spread patterns because trials at Massey University have shown significant inconsistencies, members of the Groundspreaders Association have been told.

University agricultural engineer Ralph Sims said the entire fertiliser industry must share responsibility for accurate spreading by producing consistent quality products, developing simple, reliable and accurate machinery, and training operators to adjust equipment and techniques to suit the conditions. An evaluation of spread patterns under-

taken by final-year agricultural machinery student James Smallwood showed major inconsistencies in materials and machinery, and highlighted the need for contractors to regularly check and measure the spread pattern. "We found some machines produced an atrocious pattern with lime, an improved dis-

tribution of superphosphate, then a totally different pattern again with urea, " Mr Sims said. Slow motion video shots of the spinning discs used to distribute the material helped identify reasons for the variations. The study also found one kind of fertiliser might spread well during one application, then badly six months later due to changes in the granule size. It was up to manufacturers to provide standard products, and up to the groundspreaders to make sure the material was being distributed evenly, he said. "These guys need to measure what they're doing out the back of the machine before they go out onto the paddock. Many are not adjusting the machine to suit the different materials." Farmers applying their own fertiliser could also learn to improve the evenness of application, Mr Sims said. "Mistakes are hard to see when applying lime or super, but the trend towards adding nitrogen to pastures makes even minor errors stand out for all the world to see."