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Fertilizer Application Equipment

Fertilizer equipment ranges from a hand-crank broadcaster to a large pneumatic spreader. What matters is even spread, accurate rate and equipment that resists corrosion.

What kinds of fertilizer application equipment are there?

Dry fertilizer goes on with broadcast spreaders, drop spreaders, pneumatic or air-boom spreaders and sometimes planter-mounted or drill-mounted attachments. Liquid fertilizer goes on with sprayers, injection tools and drip or irrigation systems. Anhydrous ammonia uses special pressurized equipment and requires training.

Fertilizer rates should come from a soil test and local extension recommendations, not guesswork. Rules about timing, setbacks and application near water vary by state, so check with your state department of agriculture and extension office.

How do broadcast and drop spreaders compare?

A broadcast spreader throws material in a wide swath using a spinner. It covers ground fast but pattern depends on material, speed and wind. A drop spreader lets material fall through openings behind the hopper in a narrow, defined band, which gives sharper edges but takes more passes.

On a 5-acre homestead pasture, a pull-behind broadcast spreader may be plenty. Near a pond, a garden edge or a stream, a drop spreader gives better edge control.

• Broadcast: wide swath, faster, more affected by wind
• Drop: narrow swath, sharp edges, slower
• Pneumatic: wide, precise booms for larger operations

When is liquid equipment a better fit?

Liquid systems can be easier to meter and can combine passes. They need pumps, tanks, hoses and nozzles that stand up to the material. Some liquid fertilizers are corrosive, so parts must be made for that use.

Liquids also move and run off differently than granules. Weather, soil and timing influence the risk of loss. Your extension nutrient management specialist can help you plan.

Think about the size of the job. A 30-acre hay meadow that gets one application a year may not justify a large liquid rig, while a market garden with frequent small feedings might. Match the tool to how often you will really use it.

What should you look for when buying?

Fertilizer is corrosive. Look for stainless steel or coated parts, sealed bearings, accessible grease points and an agitator or flow gate that is easy to clean. Look at how easily you can adjust and read the rate setting. Ask how the machine handles different materials, such as granules versus prills.

Check what tractor size and hitch the spreader needs, and whether PTO shafts have intact shields. Ask about parts and service near you.

Walk around any used machine with the hopper empty. Look for rust-through, cracked welds, worn gate edges and seized rate controls. Ask the seller how the machine was cleaned between seasons, since neglect shows up fast on fertilizer equipment.

• Corrosion-resistant hopper, frame and hardware
• Clear, repeatable rate settings
• Easy cleanout and drain
• PTO shields and guards in place
• Parts and service nearby

How do you calibrate fertilizer equipment?

Settings printed on a spreader are a starting point only. Different materials flow differently, and settings wear. Extension offices publish calibration methods: catch material over a measured distance and weigh it, or spread on a measured area and compare the amount used.

Calibrate for each material. Recheck at the start of each season and whenever you switch products. Keep a record of the final settings and results.

How do you clean and care for the equipment?

Wash fertilizer residue off after every use. Moisture and fertilizer salts eat steel quickly. Rinse hoppers, spinners, gates and chains, let them dry, then grease and oil as the manual says with specified lubricants. Store under cover.

Check bearings, chains, spinner fins, gearboxes and PTO shafts before the season. Replace worn spinner fins since they affect the spread pattern.

A pressure washer works well on hoppers and frames, but keep spray away from bearings and gearboxes. Dry the machine out in the sun if you can, then coat bare steel surfaces lightly as the manufacturer suggests.

What safety rules apply?

Never enter a hopper with material in it or while the machine is running, since flowing material can trap and bury a person. Keep shields on PTO drives, shut down and wait for parts to stop before cleaning, and keep bystanders and children well clear. Keep fertilizer out of waterways and wear gloves and eye protection. Anhydrous ammonia needs specific training and equipment, so follow the guidance in the dedicated safety article and from extension.

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• Anhydrous Ammonia Safety
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• Manure Application Equipment
• Compost Spreaders
• Seeder Maintenance Schedule