36 ©Copyright Agrispread September 2014
830 Belt Spreader
Appendix 1 - Setting your Spreading Rate.
What affects the application rate of your Agri-Spread Spreader?
1 Material Density, Usually Expressed As Relative Density.
This is a comparison of weight to volume. Imagine a table tennis ball and a golf ball, they are
of a similar size and volume but the weight of a golf ball is far greater. This means that a golf
ball is far denser than a table tennis ball. In spreading terms, this means that to spread a
similar weight of materials of differing densities the volume of material spread must change.
To spread accurately, you must know the density of the material you are spreading. The rate
charts shown in this appendix are referenced to material density.
2 How Material Flows.
Materials of the same density can have different flow characteristics; for example, take the
charts included in this section for Hydro Extran and Kemira Nitraprill. Both materials have
the same density but with the same door opening far more Nitraprill will come out than
Extran. This is due to the prill size and the ease with which it will flow. Compounds will not
flow as readily as prills as they tend to be more angular in shape compared to the spherical
prills. Humidity and dampness can also affect the way a material flows as can the age of the
fertiliser. This means that although guideline charts are included in this section it is important
that the user calculates their own application rate from the formula provided.
3 Driving Inaccurately.
Although your Agri-spread unit has a ground related conveyor belt, driving inaccuracies can
affect your rate per hectare. If your machine is set for a 12 M bout width any variation from
this in your rows will be reflected in the error of rate of application. i.e. If you drive at 10 M
instead of 12 M the error in your rate will be 12/10 x 100 = 120% of your required rate per
hectare. Likewise if you drive at 14 M instead of 12 M the error in your rate will be 12/14 x
100 = 86% of your required rate per hectare. Errors in this region are likely to cause stripping
and are costing you money.
REMEMBER! IT PAYS TO DRIVE ACCURATELY.
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