Sunday, 25 May 2014

Facts To Know Concerning A Lime Spreader

By Marci Glover


Some people think that lime is some kind of fertilizer, but that is not true. It is better if it is thought as a soil conditioner. The main reason it is applied in soil is to correct soil acidity. Besides correcting soil acidity, it may regulate the concentration of zinc, copper, magnesium, calcium, some bacteria, and phosphorus. The substance may be applied using hand on small pieces of land. On large tracts however, a lime spreader is necessary.

Most spreaders need to be attached onto haulers like trucks or animals such as horses and donkeys. Small spreaders can be pulled or pushed by hand. Depending on size, they may have single or double pairs of wheels. Since they are very heavy, a trail of wheel prints is left behind wherever they pass. For this reason, they need to be used on empty pieces of land that does not have crops on it. They can damage young plants very much.

Spreaders come in varying capacities. The larger commercial models are able to accommodate several kilograms of lime while the small ones only accommodate a few kilograms. The choice of capacity should be dictated by the size of land and frequency of use unless it is meant for leasing to the public. The container into which lime is poured may be made from metal, plastic, alloys, or wood in some cases. Lime can chew into some materials hence the choice of the material that the holder is made from should be considered carefully.

The mode of discharging pellets differs with the model. The pellets may come out continuously or at intervals. The mode a machine uses is indicated on the product manual supplied by the seller at purchase time. The rate can be adjusted in machines that discharge pellets at intervals. According to experts, the conditioner needs to be applied at an interval. Interval of application and amount applied should be dictated by how acidic the soil is.

Latest models comprise of more than one bin. They also can be used for multiple purposes such as applying fertilizer and other soil additives. Normally one bin can hold the lime while the others hold different substances. Application can also occur at the same time. This is advantageous because it saves a lot on fuel for driving the howler around the land applying different additives. Large scale farmers find this feature very important.

When purchasing a spreader, the point of connection and the method of connection should be considered. Problems may arise during connecting because some hinges may not be compatible. The way the bin is shaped is essential in order to prevent contents from pouring during movement. Calibrated bins provide a means of gauging how much lime has been used.

Additional accessories like rear lights and spare tires are worth considering. Most producers incorporate the latest technology like hydraulic spinner systems to put their products at the top on the market. Since rusting is most likely to result because of the moist and humid working environment, choosing commodities made of stainless steel would be better.

The price may be a challenging matter too. If one is not sure about the cost, it would be better to compare among various manufacturers. A combination of cost and features that proves to be the best is the one to settle for.




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