Technology to maximise fertiliser efficiency

Farming is all about generating more from less and, with fertiliser prices remaining stubbornly high, it is imperative to make the most of any fertiliser application.

No matter whether applying base fertiliser in the autumn, or a spring application of potash or straight N, then getting the fertiliser on at the right rate, at the right time, and in the right place is the key to achieving good yields, yet with the minimum of input cost.

With well over a million spreaders produced since its first foray into fertiliser spreaders well over 100 years ago, Amazone says it has been at the forefront of accurate fertiliser application. Spread widths have progressively increased, from 2m in those days, but up to 54m tramlines now, yet fertiliser quality has potentially worsened in that time.

Luckily, today, technology is there to support and no matter whether it is application rate, fertiliser quality, topography, ambient conditions or driver behaviour, then Amazone says it has it covered. The company takes a look at these challenges in more detail:

Application rate – The Profis Pro spread rate control system, found on the flagship ZA mounted or ZG-TS trailed spreaders means that not only is the overall total weight applied kept spot on but also the quantity flowing from each disc is kept uniform.

Profis Pro works by using twin 200Hz weigh cells in conjunction with a tilt sensor for hillside correction plus a torque monitoring set-up on each disc that compares the rate of discharge from each individual shutter and automatically changes the aperture size when necessary.

The mySpreader App ensures that the operator has the best information regarding spreader settings and gives mobile access to Amazone’s extensive fertiliser database. On selecting the fertiliser to be spread, the settings from the app are transferred to the spreader using Bluetooth. With the EasyCheck mats, the accuracy of spread can then be verified in a few minutes and the spreader set to do the optimum job.

Changing fertiliser quality – In the field, any changes in fertiliser quality, driver behaviour or spreader angle across slopes can be automatically checked and compensated for using the ArgusTwin system, 7 radar sensors each side read the spread pattern and compare it to the perfect result and adjust the delivery point setting if the pattern deteriorates from the optimum accuracy.

Maximising field shape – Overlaps are avoided by sophisticated section control software giving 128 part-width sections on the ins and outs. The GPS-Switch software not only alters the application rate each side, but also the speed of each individual disc and the drop point of the fertiliser onto the disc to minimise wastage.

Ambient conditions – WindControl senses the wind speed and direction during the spreading operation and automatically compensates for any change in spread pattern caused by the influence of any wind.

Visit Amazone’s website for more information.

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