Can someone tell me why folks with kubotas and the like use tow behind liquid spreaders for fert etc versus the normal broadcast? Can you buy liquid cheaper? Thx
tow behind liquid spreaders
- Thread starter Junk
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Liquid fert works faster than granular and coverage is better.
Golf courses use tow behinds so they can regulate the application rate.
There is a formula they use based on the GPM of the pump, the pressure of the pump, the size and patttern of the tip (15, 30, 90, etc) and that is figured into the speed of the tractor. The tractor becomes the only variable so they get the owners manual to figure out the speed.
As an example of the static figures: a 12' boom sprayer with 5 - 90 degree tips that are spaced 24" apart and 26" off the ground that is begin fed by a 1.3 gpm pump. These numbers are consistant. Now if your crazy expensive chemical requires 1 oz per acre application rate, you have to figure out how fast to move your tractor. It might be in 2nd gear at 1,800 rpm you will be traveling 2.8 mph. With the newer technology, many just use a GPS.
Most tractors do not move slow enough for fertilizer applications. John Deer and Toro offer Low Range geared tractors and they are pretty specific to the gold course industry.
As far as the "Hobby Ranchers" using pull behind sprayers, we use ours for RoundUp on the road and riding arenas.
This probably did not answer your specific question but hopefully it opens up a different way for you to think about why they do what they do.
There is a formula they use based on the GPM of the pump, the pressure of the pump, the size and patttern of the tip (15, 30, 90, etc) and that is figured into the speed of the tractor. The tractor becomes the only variable so they get the owners manual to figure out the speed.
As an example of the static figures: a 12' boom sprayer with 5 - 90 degree tips that are spaced 24" apart and 26" off the ground that is begin fed by a 1.3 gpm pump. These numbers are consistant. Now if your crazy expensive chemical requires 1 oz per acre application rate, you have to figure out how fast to move your tractor. It might be in 2nd gear at 1,800 rpm you will be traveling 2.8 mph. With the newer technology, many just use a GPS.
Most tractors do not move slow enough for fertilizer applications. John Deer and Toro offer Low Range geared tractors and they are pretty specific to the gold course industry.
As far as the "Hobby Ranchers" using pull behind sprayers, we use ours for RoundUp on the road and riding arenas.
This probably did not answer your specific question but hopefully it opens up a different way for you to think about why they do what they do.
- Thread starter
- #4
Thanks
Most liquid fertilizers available to the average homeowner aren't really much more than snake oil. Make sure to get a true N-P-K analysis on any foliar/liquid product you buy. Northern Tool actually has a pretty good selection of pull behind sprayers. All the liquid fertilizer products we use are acid based, highly corrosive and very,very heavy solutions - not really suited for a small sprayer. We inject in irrigation systems at a rate of around 10 gallons per hour into a stream of 1000gpm. Some foliar products are decent but really only contain micronutrients or specific soil amendments, not a real blended NPK product.