- Location
- Hannover, Germany
Trends in fertilisation technology
Dr Norbert Uppenkamp, NRW Chamber of Agriculture
(DLG). As in 2017, registrations for the DLG innovations list in the area of fertilisation technology are dominated by registrations concerning the topic of farm fertiliser spreading. The Fertiliser Ordinance regulations are also influencing technical development in this segment. The compulsory requirement of increased spreading close to the ground is causing companies to deal with the technical problems, particularly in the case of large working widths. The same applies to the difficulty of also practically spreading small quantities of liquid manure. In mineral fertilisation, registrations for the broad field of partial area-specific fertilisation and for better and simple fertiliser spreader adjustment have been submitted.
Amazone and Rauch are turning their attention to two topic areas which have so far been neglected or completely disregarded in mineral fertilisation. With its 'EasyMix' app, Amazone is addressing the problem of spreading fertiliser blends. With the objective of using inexpensive straight fertilisers and simultaneously outputting several nutrients in the desired ratio, fertiliser blends are mixed decentrally to an extensive extent. So far, farmers have primarily been left to their own devices in the matter of the correct fertiliser spreader setting. Apart from a few fertiliser blends with a defined nutrient ratio and defined starting components that are manufactured as standard, there are so far no aids such as setting charts for the primarily decentrally manufactured, needs-oriented fertiliser mixes which enable the fertiliser spreader to be set optimally according to the characteristics of the fertiliser blend. With the 'EasyMix' app from Amazone, the lateral distribution of the individual components can be estimated and the optimum fertiliser spreader setting for the blend can be determined even prior to blending on twin disc spreaders after entering the fertiliser spreader characteristics, the working width and the planned blend components. The interactions of the individual components on the spreading disc and their different flight characteristics are taken into consideration when determining the anticipated spreading quality. The risk of uneven nutrient distribution due to unsuitable blend components, an excessively large working width or incorrect fertiliser spreader settings is significantly reduced thanks to this app.
Today, progress in control and regulation technology in combination with high-performance data networks is also enabling the influence of slopes to be taken into consideration during spreading with broadcasters. Spreading fertiliser on a slope leads to problems due to the fact that the output point and the spraying distance of the fertiliser pellets are changed. This not only shifts the spray pattern downslope but also distorts it. A low drop height between the doser and spreading disc, forced guidance of the fertiliser onto the spreading disc or a radar-supported measuring system to determine the spreading pattern at the spreading discs help to reduce or correct the change in the output point. So far, however, no system is able to compensate the changed spraying distance on a slope. This is made possible by the 'HillControl' system from Rauch; in combination with an inclination and yaw rate sensor, its software improves the distribution accuracy of disc spreaders when spreading fertiliser on hilly terrain by changing the output point, disc speed and dosing quantity. Excessive and insufficient dosing when driving over brows and through depressions is additionally reduced.
From sensor systems for contents to small-scale variation of the output quantity, precision farming technologies are being further developed for both mineral fertiliser and farm fertiliser spreading.
In the MultiRate dosing system for pneumatic fertiliser spreaders from Rauch, the dosing devices of each individual fertiliser outlet aperture are electrically driven independently of one another and are continuously adjustable. With a voltage of 48 V, the electric drive enables very short adjustment times and therefore fast variation of the fertiliser quantity even in the direction of travel. Transverse to the direction of travel, fertiliser output can be varied in 1.2 m wide strips, leading to significantly higher spatial resolution in comparison with previous options. During fertilisation according to an application chart, the specified values are implemented more precisely; when spreading on wedge-shaped land and around corners, excessive and insufficient dosing is significantly reduced. Boundary spreading can also be optimised by adjusting the quantity at the outer fertiliser outlet aperture in combination with a boundary spreading deflector plate. Even with large working widths of up to 36 m, small-scale biotopes within a field, for instance, can be specifically omitted from fertilisation.
Samson uses a sensor based on NMR technology (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) rather than the familiar near infrared sensors (NIRS) to determine nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in liquid manure. This enables liquid manure content analysis without matrix-dependent calibration requirements and therefore promises to reduce errors in liquid manure analysis. Initial laboratory comparisons already reveal a good match between laboratory values and NMR sensor systems. In combination with the Isobus Section Control system and VRA variable output quantity control system, Samson is also offering a closed-loop chain for implementing precision farming for liquid manure spreading.
Partial area-specific fertilisation also includes quantity regulation during operation. In addition to the vehicle speed, changing the pump speed on pump tankers, bypass control and the distributor head with flow regulation, Fliegl is presenting a further variant for efficient quantity regulation in the form of its new FLEXFLOW screw conveyor dispenser. On a standard screw conveyor dispenser, holes for the discharges are let into a trough. With this further development, the trough is supplemented by a second trough with elongated holes. The two troughs with their different holes can be pushed against one another, resulting in outlet apertures of different sizes. The holes can also be quickly and temporarily set to maximum overlap, thus countering the risk of clogging.
Liquid manures are increasingly having to be spread close to the ground.
With working widths of 6 and 9 metres, the Tribus combination slurry injector from Evers can be used in grain crops, on stubble and on grassland. It consists of a first implement row with large, trailing discs that cut the ground and allow the liquid manure to infiltrate. A disc harrow and a bar roller are arranged behind this. All three implement rows are used on stubble to ideally work in the liquid manure. On grassland or in grain crops, the second and third rows can be raised hydraulically so that only the discs of the first row cut open the soil and deposit the liquid manure.
With high fertiliser output, a thick layer of liquid manure can be bothersome, particularly on grassland. With the Fliegl TWIN trailing shoe nozzle, the number of outlets is doubled and the line spacing is halved to 12.5 cm. This metal nozzle, which is mounted on a trailing shoe, therefore also halves the amount of liquid manure per outlet without significantly increasing the weight of the linkage.
There is another disadvantage to large working widths: a distributor has to supply a higher number of trailing shoes. The difference in the length of the hose from the distributor to the trailing shoe therefore increases and the customary 'V' at the start of the distribution work becomes larger. To avoid this effect, BOMECH is offering its 18-24-metre wide trailing shoe distributor with four cutter distributors instead of two standard distributors. Each distributor therefore only has to cover half of the otherwise usual working width, thus improving distribution accuracy on the headland and when processing wedge-shaped areas.
Fliegl is dealing with the problem of soil loading caused by driving over it several times. As an alternative to complex telescopic axles or Ackerman steering systems for driving in crab steering mode, Fliegl has developed the TWIST crab steering system for liquid manure tankers. During turntable steering, the axle as a whole by rotated by up to 11° around the vertical axis, ultimately resulting in the hauled vehicle driving completely offset to the towing vehicle. The liquid manure distributor is also attached to this axle construction, and therefore swivels along automatically so that pulling in a straight line is always achieved.
Some innovations that make life pleasanter for drivers will also be on show at Agritechnica. BRIRI, for instance, will be offering a compactor on its manure spreader; this is automatically adjusted depending on the distance covered by the scraper floor or the current weight of the load. This extensively prevents manure from being thrown back towards the driver's cab, which can often occur particularly towards the end of spreading. So far, the driver has been able to do this manually, or protection was implemented in the form of 'catchment grilles', which impedes visibility.
The hydraulic chain tensioner from Samson constantly adapts the tension of the scraper floor chains to the respective load situation by means of a hydraulic system, even when reversing. In comparison with previous solutions using fixed and manual settings, this reduces the risk of breaking chains.
Maintenance and the replacement of wearing parts on the ExaCut ECQ distributor from Vogelsang are made considerably easier and faster thanks to a generously dimensioned maintenance flap at the side. The knife pre-tensioning can be tensioned and released without dismantling or special tools.
VREDO will be presenting its automated docking system at Agritechnica. A camera and light pulses on the docking arm as well as reflecting sensors on the hopper are used to determine the position and the distance and transfer them to the control monitor in the cab. When the hopper is reliably detected, docking is performed automatically at the push of a button. Correct connection is ascertained by proximity switches, and the slide valves on the hopper and the docking arm are then actuated accordingly so that loading can take place. This automatic system speeds up docking, relieves the driver and leads to increased safety during loading, as incorrect operation of the slide valves is extensively ruled out.
Dr Norbert Uppenkamp, NRW Chamber of Agriculture
(DLG). As in 2017, registrations for the DLG innovations list in the area of fertilisation technology are dominated by registrations concerning the topic of farm fertiliser spreading. The Fertiliser Ordinance regulations are also influencing technical development in this segment. The compulsory requirement of increased spreading close to the ground is causing companies to deal with the technical problems, particularly in the case of large working widths. The same applies to the difficulty of also practically spreading small quantities of liquid manure. In mineral fertilisation, registrations for the broad field of partial area-specific fertilisation and for better and simple fertiliser spreader adjustment have been submitted.
Amazone and Rauch are turning their attention to two topic areas which have so far been neglected or completely disregarded in mineral fertilisation. With its 'EasyMix' app, Amazone is addressing the problem of spreading fertiliser blends. With the objective of using inexpensive straight fertilisers and simultaneously outputting several nutrients in the desired ratio, fertiliser blends are mixed decentrally to an extensive extent. So far, farmers have primarily been left to their own devices in the matter of the correct fertiliser spreader setting. Apart from a few fertiliser blends with a defined nutrient ratio and defined starting components that are manufactured as standard, there are so far no aids such as setting charts for the primarily decentrally manufactured, needs-oriented fertiliser mixes which enable the fertiliser spreader to be set optimally according to the characteristics of the fertiliser blend. With the 'EasyMix' app from Amazone, the lateral distribution of the individual components can be estimated and the optimum fertiliser spreader setting for the blend can be determined even prior to blending on twin disc spreaders after entering the fertiliser spreader characteristics, the working width and the planned blend components. The interactions of the individual components on the spreading disc and their different flight characteristics are taken into consideration when determining the anticipated spreading quality. The risk of uneven nutrient distribution due to unsuitable blend components, an excessively large working width or incorrect fertiliser spreader settings is significantly reduced thanks to this app.
Today, progress in control and regulation technology in combination with high-performance data networks is also enabling the influence of slopes to be taken into consideration during spreading with broadcasters. Spreading fertiliser on a slope leads to problems due to the fact that the output point and the spraying distance of the fertiliser pellets are changed. This not only shifts the spray pattern downslope but also distorts it. A low drop height between the doser and spreading disc, forced guidance of the fertiliser onto the spreading disc or a radar-supported measuring system to determine the spreading pattern at the spreading discs help to reduce or correct the change in the output point. So far, however, no system is able to compensate the changed spraying distance on a slope. This is made possible by the 'HillControl' system from Rauch; in combination with an inclination and yaw rate sensor, its software improves the distribution accuracy of disc spreaders when spreading fertiliser on hilly terrain by changing the output point, disc speed and dosing quantity. Excessive and insufficient dosing when driving over brows and through depressions is additionally reduced.
From sensor systems for contents to small-scale variation of the output quantity, precision farming technologies are being further developed for both mineral fertiliser and farm fertiliser spreading.
In the MultiRate dosing system for pneumatic fertiliser spreaders from Rauch, the dosing devices of each individual fertiliser outlet aperture are electrically driven independently of one another and are continuously adjustable. With a voltage of 48 V, the electric drive enables very short adjustment times and therefore fast variation of the fertiliser quantity even in the direction of travel. Transverse to the direction of travel, fertiliser output can be varied in 1.2 m wide strips, leading to significantly higher spatial resolution in comparison with previous options. During fertilisation according to an application chart, the specified values are implemented more precisely; when spreading on wedge-shaped land and around corners, excessive and insufficient dosing is significantly reduced. Boundary spreading can also be optimised by adjusting the quantity at the outer fertiliser outlet aperture in combination with a boundary spreading deflector plate. Even with large working widths of up to 36 m, small-scale biotopes within a field, for instance, can be specifically omitted from fertilisation.
Samson uses a sensor based on NMR technology (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) rather than the familiar near infrared sensors (NIRS) to determine nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in liquid manure. This enables liquid manure content analysis without matrix-dependent calibration requirements and therefore promises to reduce errors in liquid manure analysis. Initial laboratory comparisons already reveal a good match between laboratory values and NMR sensor systems. In combination with the Isobus Section Control system and VRA variable output quantity control system, Samson is also offering a closed-loop chain for implementing precision farming for liquid manure spreading.
Partial area-specific fertilisation also includes quantity regulation during operation. In addition to the vehicle speed, changing the pump speed on pump tankers, bypass control and the distributor head with flow regulation, Fliegl is presenting a further variant for efficient quantity regulation in the form of its new FLEXFLOW screw conveyor dispenser. On a standard screw conveyor dispenser, holes for the discharges are let into a trough. With this further development, the trough is supplemented by a second trough with elongated holes. The two troughs with their different holes can be pushed against one another, resulting in outlet apertures of different sizes. The holes can also be quickly and temporarily set to maximum overlap, thus countering the risk of clogging.
Liquid manures are increasingly having to be spread close to the ground.
With working widths of 6 and 9 metres, the Tribus combination slurry injector from Evers can be used in grain crops, on stubble and on grassland. It consists of a first implement row with large, trailing discs that cut the ground and allow the liquid manure to infiltrate. A disc harrow and a bar roller are arranged behind this. All three implement rows are used on stubble to ideally work in the liquid manure. On grassland or in grain crops, the second and third rows can be raised hydraulically so that only the discs of the first row cut open the soil and deposit the liquid manure.
With high fertiliser output, a thick layer of liquid manure can be bothersome, particularly on grassland. With the Fliegl TWIN trailing shoe nozzle, the number of outlets is doubled and the line spacing is halved to 12.5 cm. This metal nozzle, which is mounted on a trailing shoe, therefore also halves the amount of liquid manure per outlet without significantly increasing the weight of the linkage.
There is another disadvantage to large working widths: a distributor has to supply a higher number of trailing shoes. The difference in the length of the hose from the distributor to the trailing shoe therefore increases and the customary 'V' at the start of the distribution work becomes larger. To avoid this effect, BOMECH is offering its 18-24-metre wide trailing shoe distributor with four cutter distributors instead of two standard distributors. Each distributor therefore only has to cover half of the otherwise usual working width, thus improving distribution accuracy on the headland and when processing wedge-shaped areas.
Fliegl is dealing with the problem of soil loading caused by driving over it several times. As an alternative to complex telescopic axles or Ackerman steering systems for driving in crab steering mode, Fliegl has developed the TWIST crab steering system for liquid manure tankers. During turntable steering, the axle as a whole by rotated by up to 11° around the vertical axis, ultimately resulting in the hauled vehicle driving completely offset to the towing vehicle. The liquid manure distributor is also attached to this axle construction, and therefore swivels along automatically so that pulling in a straight line is always achieved.
Some innovations that make life pleasanter for drivers will also be on show at Agritechnica. BRIRI, for instance, will be offering a compactor on its manure spreader; this is automatically adjusted depending on the distance covered by the scraper floor or the current weight of the load. This extensively prevents manure from being thrown back towards the driver's cab, which can often occur particularly towards the end of spreading. So far, the driver has been able to do this manually, or protection was implemented in the form of 'catchment grilles', which impedes visibility.
The hydraulic chain tensioner from Samson constantly adapts the tension of the scraper floor chains to the respective load situation by means of a hydraulic system, even when reversing. In comparison with previous solutions using fixed and manual settings, this reduces the risk of breaking chains.
Maintenance and the replacement of wearing parts on the ExaCut ECQ distributor from Vogelsang are made considerably easier and faster thanks to a generously dimensioned maintenance flap at the side. The knife pre-tensioning can be tensioned and released without dismantling or special tools.
VREDO will be presenting its automated docking system at Agritechnica. A camera and light pulses on the docking arm as well as reflecting sensors on the hopper are used to determine the position and the distance and transfer them to the control monitor in the cab. When the hopper is reliably detected, docking is performed automatically at the push of a button. Correct connection is ascertained by proximity switches, and the slide valves on the hopper and the docking arm are then actuated accordingly so that loading can take place. This automatic system speeds up docking, relieves the driver and leads to increased safety during loading, as incorrect operation of the slide valves is extensively ruled out.
