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BSAEn 4-2
Introduction
When the soil is used for a long period of time for different purposes especially for
planting, some reactions turns soil into basic, acidic or the amount of essential elements in the
soil (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) are reduced and are insufficient to support the proper
growth of the plants resulting to loss the quality of the crops and lesser yield.
As the world continuously increase its population, large amount of food is needed and a
faster way of supplying the food requirement are by multiple cropping seasons which results to
the over use of soil. The soil does not have enough time to regenerate or accumulate enough
minerals that is why fertilizers are needed. Fertilizer are applied to supply the needed nutrients of
plants in the soil that can give better crop quality and greater crop yield. This fertilizers uses a
certain equipment or machines designed to apply fertilizers based on their forms and uses.
Objectives
Kinds of Fertilizers
1. Manure Fertilizers
This kind of fertilizer comes from farms which produces large amounts of manure
every year. Manure acts as a fertilizer and also as a soil conditioner. It is applied to
the surface of the soil before plowing or harrowing to mix it to the soil. It is necessary
to incorporate the manure to the soil to increase the rate of decomposition. A manure
rate of 8 tons per acre has an equivalent nutrient value in a 1000 lb of 20 units of
by farmers in their farms. It comes with different chemical concentrations and are
applied with different intensity depending on the nutrient needed by the crops. It is
applied by:
applied before plowing or during plowing using a distributor that drops
planting
applied during planting operations
used as side dress or top dress for crops
drilled in the soil using different equipments
3. Gas and Liquid Fertilizers
This kind of fertilizers are available either high and low pressured or non-pressure
form. It can be injected below the surface of the soil or it can be sprayed on the
1. Manure spreaders
Manure spreaders are used for carrying and applying manure on the soil. Manure
spreader can be categorized into two types, a ground driven and a power take off
driven types. Ground driven manure spreaders are driven by chains and sprockets that
is connected to the wheels providing power for the spreader while PTO driven
spreaders as the name states is powered by PTO and the spreaders are attached to the
type, tractor-mounted and side-unloading or flail. Tractor drawn manure spreaders are
attached to the drawbar of the tractor with the PTO shaft attached to the PTO and
have wheels at the rear of the box to support some weight of the mechanism. Truck
mounted manure spreaders are used for handling and applying large amounts of
manure. It is either attached or fixed to large trucks and is powered the trucks engine
power. Last is the side unloading or flail where in the manure is disposed at the side
instead at the rear of the box. This type of spreader can be used either using wet
chassis of the spreader. It should be sturdy with reinforced braces installed; the box
which encloses the whole frame and also serve as the storage for manures; the
conveyor which moves the manure to be applied; the beater which is used to tear and
beat manure especially the big and hard ones and the widespread which is used to
evenly the fertilizers needed by the crops. Some type of granular fertilizer distributor
are manual and mechanical fertilizer broadcaster, tractor attachments and broadcast
fertilizer and lime distributor. Manual broadcasting of fertilizer are done on small
land areas where in farmers throw fertilizer at the side of the crops while mechanical
applicator, drop type broadcaster and even aircraft broadcaster which uses airplane to
time apply the needed fertilizer for the soil. This process cuts down the labor cost and
also conserve time by having dual operation. The attachments available are row
For row crops, liquid fertilizer distributor are located either behind the cultivator
shovels or with a separate openers. Its main parts are a supply tank used as storage of
the soil and a narrow farrow opener with a tube attached at the end used to release the
liquid or gas at the bottom of the farrow. Sometimes, there are also protector or
covered installed to protect the farrow opener. This mechanisms are available in a
- the design of the equipment have high application rate of 6 to 12 tons per
acre.
Summary
There are different kinds of fertilizer used by the farmers. They are manure fertilizers,
which are usually used as soil conditioner; granulated synthetic fertilizer which are solid in state
and is widely and commonly used fertilizers by farmers and the gas and liquid fertilizers. This
fertilizers uses specific machines that are used for its distribution. This machines are designed to
properly distribute and apply fertilizers in the field. These machines can be trailer type which are
drawn by the tractor or mounted where in it is attached on the three point hitch of the tractor.
There are also factors to be considered when designing this fertilizer applicators. This
may affect the performance and effectivity of the fertilizer when applied to the soil. Fertilizers
have great effect on the yield and growth of the crops and proper handling, mixing and
Bibliography
Kepner, R.A., Bainer, R. & Barger, E.L. (April 1978). Principles of Farm Machinery 3rd
Edition. AVI Publishing Company, Inc.: United States of America
Smith, H.P., & Wilkes, L.H. (1976). Farm Machinery and Equipment 6th Edition.
McGraw-Hill Company: United States of America