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Posted on April 1, 2006 by Franklin Neave | Posted under Landscaping Gardening
Fertilizer Calibration
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Too little product and you will see no results because of too little nutrients as well as no protection from the pests. You'll simply be wasting your money. Too much product causes damage to the lawn and to the environment and also costs you money. Proper calibration will also ensure that the spreader doesn't become clogged and that the fertilizer is distributed evenly. Over time your spreader can become worn which can cause incorrect distribution of your fertilizer. Other factors can include how fast one walks while applying the fertilizer and even how smooth and steady you are. All the more reasons to ensure you are properly calibrated. There are a few different types of spreaders but the two main are the broadcast or rotary spreader and the drop spreader. A broadcast spreader can throw the material anywhere from eight to twenty feet depending on a few variables such as the spinning velocity and the density of the particles. This type of spreader is very useful for granular products because there is little streaking. Drop spreaders are good for small areas with an output range of two to four feet in width. It's important to be aware that streaking can occur with drop spreaders. To calibrate your broadcast spreader first you need to determine what the spreader throw width is. Fill the hopper with the product and then make several passes back and forth overlapping just slightly to ensure you don't miss any area. Calibrating your drop spreader is much easier than the broadcast spreader. The clean sweep method means you just set the calibration wheel to a mid range value and make sure the hopper is closed then fill 50%. Mark off a 50 foot length and then open the hopper and walk that length. Shut the hopper immediately upon reaching the mark. That will determine how much fertilizer you'll need per 50 foot area. There is actually a formula for calculating your fertilizer output.1. To determine N rate Desired rate of N (in lbs) / % N in fertilizer = lbs fertilizer required per 1000 ft22. Rate = lbs collected / area of coverage (in ft2)3. Multiply the pounds fertilizer required per 1000 ft2 by the amount of the test area. Next divide the answer by 1000. The Catch Pan Method is also a popular calibration method that will determine the material that will be thrown by a broadcast spreader. The catch pan needs to be sized to catch the entire product so that your calibration is accurate. 1. Set your calibration wheel found at the back of the spreader to the mid range value.2. Close the hopper and fill 50% with fertilizer.3. Mark of 50 foot length on your driveway.4. Place your catch pan under the hopper opening and secure using a bungee cord.5. Open the hopper and walk your 50 feet you marked off then immediately close the hopper.6. Remove the catch pan and determine the weight of the fertilizer you collected.7. Now you can determine the amount of fertilizer required using the formula. That's all there is to it. Your fertilizer calibration will ensure you application is correct so that you get the full benefits and most value for your money. About The Author: Franklin Neave work in fertilizer producing industry for last 10 years. He has recently developed interest in writing and have expressed his experience on his website at http://www.fertilizerworld.com about different types of fertilizer and their benefits. |
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