In March this year, farmers attended an Accu-spread field day and brought along their tractors and fertiliser spreaders. Australia’s leading Accu-spread specialist, Russell Nicol demonstrated in the field how to test and calibrate the spreaders.

The fertiliser spreaders tested delivered highly variable spread patterns.  This meant some areas of the paddock receive too much fertiliser and others too little. Adjustments were made to the spreaders to improve the spread pattern.

As fertiliser and other input costs rise, it is increasingly important for farmers to know how their spreaders are working to efficiently spread material onto their paddocks.

Not only does this save money and increase productivity, it prevents excess nutrients from over-fertilising (striping) leaching through soil profiles on the Swan Coastal Plain and making their way into the Peel-Harvey Estuary, impacting water quality.

By reducing the risk of nutrient flow into the estuary, the chance of algal blooms and flow-on effects to the aquatic community are lessened.

The video shows Peel-Harvey farmers testing the evenness and spread (bout width) of their fertiliser spreaders using black trays in the field. The contents of the trays are then collected, weighed and results graphed.  Adjustments are made to the spreader to improve the evenness of spread and then re-tested in the field.

If you want to know more about how to calibrate your spreader to be more productive and help protect the Peel-Harvey Estuary, contact our team on 6369 8800 or email us at admin@peel-harvey.org.au.

To keep up to date with our work please subscribe to our YouTube channel to get the latest videos when they are released.

Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4UjGaYUyAA

This project is part of the Bindjareb Djilba Peel-Harvey estuary Protection Plan and Healthy Estuaries WA, a State Government initiative to improve the water quality of the estuary.

We acknowledge the Noongar people as Traditional Custodians of this land and pay our respects to all Elders past and present