Solid or Liquid Fert

Alistair Nelson

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
E Yorks
So going well with Drilling rig and looking at putting a fert system on, so big question solid or liquid fert? done both in a previous lift but not on a rig like this. Tanks on the front linkage, rear GD coulter bar. so can either do 2250l twin front hopper like a DF2 (SS Alpego hopper looks good) or make a 800l liquid 1100l Seed front tank. Engineering wise and controlling rate doesn't bother me with either system it more which way to go. Solid simpler and easier logistics in field (big bags) but limited fert options. Liquid more complex logistics, less concentrated per kg of weight and more costly to build, but ability to vary brew and add biologicals etc. What are peoples thoughts who have run both or either?

Cheers

Alistair
 

AF Salers

Member
BASE UK Member
Location
York, UK
Hi Alistair, good to see you yesterday.

Are you having a tank of any description on top of the drill bar at all?

My personal preference is for liquid as you have far more options incl as you say the option for biologicals etc in the future.
 

Alistair Nelson

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
E Yorks
Yes was a good meeting yesterday as much for the chat at tangents as that on the topic!

I have 2 rear coulterbars a GD and a tined coulterbar that I swop a stocks turbojet broadcaster over between otherwise want to keep all expensive bits etc on the front common between the 2 different back ends so all each backend has is the pipes and a manifold.

I’m leaning towards the liquid but as I say the brew per kg of weight is never as concentrated as solid and it’s more expensive slightly to construct and I have to think about logistics abit more but as we both agree it does give more options going forward. But there’s a hell of a lot of solid grain and Fert rigs in Scotland and Ireland in fact the vast majority and I know of as many solid Fert Horsch machines as I do liquid Horsch Fert machines hence asking the question.
 

Clive

Staff Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lichfield
liquid is far easier on a drill - much simpler pipe routing etc solid can have issues re damp in cold air streams if left full it can go hard etc

logistics are easier as well, no dragging a loader to the field as well as a trailer full of bags - just a bowser required

have got a cracking chassis that would make a great base for a bowser up to 10,000L with addition of a enduromax tank if your after one
 

Matt77

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
East Sussex
I want to do this, I’ve now got a tank to go on the front, I want 9 outlets, can I ask what systems you’ve seen to control the rate and pipe work etc to get to the drill? Any idea of stockists for the equipment?? As always I’m trying to do it on a tight budget.
 
liquid is far easier on a drill - much simpler pipe routing etc solid can have issues re damp in cold air streams if left full it can go hard etc

logistics are easier as well, no dragging a loader to the field as well as a trailer full of bags - just a bowser required

have got a cracking chassis that would make a great base for a bowser up to 10,000L with addition of a enduromax tank if your after one
Could be interested in the chassis, PM me details / pics / price if you will. Thank you.
 
It does in some situations imo OSR certainly being one of them
Have tried it with both WOSR and SB in a DD establishment system, very happy with the outcome vs. cost from a farm engineered set up plan to continue with it. Have liquid fert coulter’s on the new tine drill so looking forward to using that for WOSR this autumn to hopefully give a hedge to hedge even establishment.
 

parker

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
south staffs
I want to do this, I’ve now got a tank to go on the front, I want 9 outlets, can I ask what systems you’ve seen to control the rate and pipe work etc to get to the drill? Any idea of stockists for the equipment?? As always I’m trying to do it on a tight budget.
I will probably have a controller, pump and manifold for sale in the spring if you were interested? of a 750a drill
 

ih1455xl

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
northampton
I would say don't bother with rate controller just have a 12v pump and a pressure gauge drilling speed is constant so no need for change I've got a techneat table with sped control but always drill at 10kph so pressure gauge is a 2 bar irl get some pics of the fert set up I made Trevor Tappin does the fert tubes the rest is just pipes and manifolds
 

Case140

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Wicklow, Ireland
I would say don't bother with rate controller just have a 12v pump and a pressure gauge drilling speed is constant so no need for change I've got a techneat table with sped control but always drill at 10kph so pressure gauge is a 2 bar irl get some pics of the fert set up I made Trevor Tappin does the fert tubes the rest is just pipes and manifolds
I made up a liq fert system for my co3. Old sprayer tank on front linkage, 12v pump, made manifolds from plastic spray boom pipe filters and pipes etc. Fert restrictors are cheap as chips and after last use put out 98l per ha instead of 100 @10km. So works perfect. Total cost 800euro plus sprayer tank which I got free. Much handier in field as just place trailer with ibcs and no bags to deal with. No brainer for me!!
IMAG1138.jpg
IMAG1167.jpg
IMAG1171.jpg
IMAG1182.jpg
 

Case140

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Wicklow, Ireland
Trialed molasses with liq fert last year and plan to try again this year. Last years crops burned up so trial pretty useless but "gut feel" was positive. Also can try a few biologicals etc....
 

Matt77

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
East Sussex
I made up a liq fert system for my co3. Old sprayer tank on front linkage, 12v pump, made manifolds from plastic spray boom pipe filters and pipes etc. Fert restrictors are cheap as chips and after last use put out 98l per ha instead of 100 @10km. So works perfect. Total cost 800euro plus sprayer tank which I got free. Much handier in field as just place trailer with ibcs and no bags to deal with. No brainer for me!! View attachment 765434 View attachment 765436 View attachment 765438 View attachment 765440
Same tank as I’ve got, thanks for the photos (y)
 
I made up a liq fert system for my co3. Old sprayer tank on front linkage, 12v pump, made manifolds from plastic spray boom pipe filters and pipes etc. Fert restrictors are cheap as chips and after last use put out 98l per ha instead of 100 @10km. So works perfect. Total cost 800euro plus sprayer tank which I got free. Much handier in field as just place trailer with ibcs and no bags to deal with. No brainer for me!! View attachment 765434 View attachment 765436 View attachment 765438 View attachment 765440
What 12v pump did you use please?
 

Case140

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Wicklow, Ireland
I used this speed controller
https://www.softwashtechnology.co.uk/products/spring-v11hc-controller-30-amp-rating
with this motor
https://www.softwashtechnology.co.u...roducts/everflo-ef2200-12-volt-diaphragm-pump
If I was going again(or when the pump burns out!) I will put next size up pump on as think recycle will agitate better. I would not bother with the controller at all - although it varies speed of pump it makes v little difference to volume which is controlled by restrictors and pressure valve. V little difference in volume between 1 bar (Any lower and doesnt feed the coulters through manifold evenly) and 2.5bar. I leave the controller at full speed anyway so would just use an on off switch.
My attitude is if my groundspeed slows a bit then it is probably tougher and a bit of extra fert is prob a good thing. I just work out the total amount actually applied in the field and balance accordingly with the first fert split. I am using grey Teejet fert discs in the manifold units (approx 50c each)
 

Case140

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Wicklow, Ireland
I would say don't bother with rate controller just have a 12v pump and a pressure gauge drilling speed is constant so no need for change I've got a techneat table with sped control but always drill at 10kph so pressure gauge is a 2 bar irl get some pics of the fert set up I made Trevor Tappin does the fert tubes the rest is just pipes and manifolds
Agree!!
 

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