Information About A Lime Spreader

By Marci Glover


Lime is not some kind of a fertilizer as some people may think. It is better to think of it as a soil conditioner. It is added into the soil to primarily correct the soil acidity. In addition to controlling soil acidity, it also regulates the amount of phosphorus, zinc, copper, some bacteria, magnesium, and calcium. On small pieces of land, the substance can be applied by hand. However, on large tracts a lime spreader becomes useful.

Most spreaders are attached onto a hauler such as a truck or animals like donkeys and horses. Small models can be pushed or pulled by hand. They have one or two pairs of wheel depending on their size. The device is very heavy and normally leaves behind a trail of wheel prints. This is one of the reasons why it should be used on a piece of land that does not have plants already grown on it. They can cause some considerable damage to young plants.

Spreaders are made with different capacities. Larger commercial brands can hold several kilograms of lime whereas small models only hold a couple. The capacity should be chosen depending on size of farm or lawn and frequency of application unless the user intends to lease it to the public. The bin that holds lime may be constructed from plastic, alloys, metal, or wood sometimes. Lime may corrode some materials hence careful consideration should be given when choosing the material of the bin.

The pellets are released from the machine in different ways in various models. Some release the pellets continuously while others do so at given intervals. The manuals that come with the device contain information about the mode of spreading the machine uses. For those that emit at intervals, the rate is normally adjustable. It is advised to apply the conditioner at intervals. The choice of interval depends on the level of acidity of the soil.

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 buying a product, one should consider the way it connects to the howler. Some joints may not be completely compatible with the joining mechanism of the tractor. The shape of the bin should also be suitable so that the content does not pour out. A calibrated bin is also better because it is able to tell the user how much lime is used.

Additional accessories such as spare tires and rear lights are worth checking for. Most manufacturers incorporate modern technology such as hydraulic spinner systems to make their products stand out in the market. Since the working environment is mostly moist and humid causing rust on the device, choosing products made from stainless steel is a better idea.

The cost can be also tricky. If not sure, one should compare prices among different manufacturers. The right combination of features and cost should be the one to go for.




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