What size fertilizer spreader ?

[hardaground]

I have an L2501 tractor and am looking to buy an appropriately sized spreader for my 6 acre pasture. I expect to lime once a year and occasionally a general fertilizer as needed. I suspect a pto driven model would be better than a ground driven one, but I don’t know anything about them. Belt or chain drive ? Capacity to cover 6 acres without too many stops to refill ?
Any advice appreciated !
Thanks guys !

 

[MapleLeafFarmer]

when you say general fert. I will assume granular fert. that is common bagged at local farm stores.

if me I would go pto driven with a 100 gallon hopper or smaller. at an avg. weight of granular fert. being in the 10 - 12 pound range per gallon thats 1,000 - 1,200 pounds of fert. PLUS a couple hundred for the spreader hanging off the back of a L2501. Wouldn't go bigger but smaller is no problem as you would just need to fill the hopper more than 2x for 6 acres thats all

A machine like a 100 gallon pto top shelf brand depending on brand would have somewhere near a 50' spread and about $1,000 needing to be filled 2x to do your 6 acres.

now depending on how much fertilizer you want to put down lets guess at 60 pounds of N per acre with similar balance for P and K. A soil test would confirm. Using 20/20/20 which is std shelved bagged fert. at my farm store and cost effective given its bagged then a 50# bag would have 10 pounds on N in it. 60 pounds / acre div. 10 pounds N per bag means 6 bags per acre. Times by 6 acres thats 36 bags of 50 pounds 20/20/20 fertilizer. 36 bags at 50 pounds is 1,800 pounds so you would need to fill your fert. hopper 2x to cover your 6 acres using probably a spreader thats getting close to max size.

for that volume a pto will work flawlessly for your lifetime if maintained and cost you about $1,000 and if not wanted / needed in the future is wickedly easy to sell. It will need about 10 -12 pto hp to operate if an agitator is included.

 

[hardaground]

when you say general fert. I will assume granular fert. that is common bagged at local farm stores.

if me I would go pto driven with a 100 gallon hopper or smaller. at an avg. weight of granular fert. being in the 10 - 12 pound range per gallon thats 1,000 - 1,200 pounds of fert. PLUS a couple hundred for the spreader hanging off the back of a L2501. Wouldn't go bigger but smaller is no problem as you would just need to fill the hopper more than 2x for 6 acres thats all

A machine like a 100 gallon pto top shelf brand depending on brand would have somewhere near a 50' spread and about $1,000 needing to be filled 2x to do your 6 acres.

now depending on how much fertilizer you want to put down lets guess at 60 pounds of N per acre with similar balance for P and K. A soil test would confirm. Using 20/20/20 which is std shelved bagged fert. at my farm store and cost effective given its bagged then a 50# bag would have 10 pounds on N in it. 60 pounds / acre div. 10 pounds N per bag means 6 bags per acre. Times by 6 acres thats 36 bags of 50 pounds 20/20/20 fertilizer. 36 bags at 50 pounds is 1,800 pounds so you would need to fill your fert. hopper 2x to cover your 6 acres using probably a spreader thats getting close to max size.

for that volume a pto will work flawlessly for your lifetime if maintained and cost you about $1,000 and if not wanted / needed in the future is wickedly easy to sell. It will need about 10 -12 pto hp to operate if an agitator is included.

Thanks so much for the explanation and detailed calculations. That’s exactly the information I need to begin looking. You sound like you’ve been around the block with soil fertility practices.

Yes, I probably would be buying bagged granular fertilizer.
So thanks again !! I very much appreciate the reply. It’ll be saved for future reference.

 

[bird dogger]

I have an L2501 tractor and am looking to buy an appropriately sized spreader for my 6 acre pasture. I expect to lime once a year and occasionally a general fertilizer as needed. I suspect a pto driven model would be better than a ground driven one, but I don’t know anything about them. Belt or chain drive ? Capacity to cover 6 acres without too many stops to refill ?
Any advice appreciated !
Thanks guys !

@MapleLeafFarmer gives good advice on this. I've used a pto spreader like mentioned for close to 30 yrs now on my location. It spreads granular fertilizer on the 3 acre tillable parcel and lawn fertilzer on the 12+ acre farmstead. I think the spreader came from Tractor Supply at the time. I think that its capacity is somewhere in the 850 lb range. They're easy to operate and load.

You can close down the output so you can cover the area by running two or more directions over it. Or if you're lucky...you can open up the output and be done in a few minutes as it will really put out the product!!

Our local elevator will mix bulk fertilizer P, K, N (in any mix you'd like) and add in micro nutrients, etc. Then it's dumped via their chute into a bulk "Tote" bag. Scooping that bulk mix out of the bag with a 5 gallon pail will load the spreader very quickly! And the bulk mix is considerably cheaper than the bagged mix here in the local feed stores!! Something to consider and check into.

It wasn't available when I purchased this spreader, but if I replace it..... it will be with one equipped with a plastic hopper. The fertilizer mix is corrosive to the metal if not thoroughly cleaned after each use. But I'm not sure how long the plastic hoppers last either. Stored out of the sun should help to prolong its life.

The pto driven hopper spreader would be a good fit behind your tractor. Multiple refills with a lighter load are alot easier on both your back and tractor than bouncing along with a heaping full hopper on a large spreader.

 

[hardaground]

@MapleLeafFarmer gives good advice on this. I've used a pto spreader like mentioned for close to 30 yrs now on my location. It spreads granular fertilizer on the 3 acre tillable parcel and lawn fertilzer on the 12+ acre farmstead. I think the spreader came from Tractor Supply at the time. I think that its capacity is somewhere in the 850 lb range. They're easy to operate and load.

You can close down the output so you can cover the area by running two or more directions over it. Or if you're lucky...you can open up the output and be done in a few minutes as it will really put out the product!!

Our local elevator will mix bulk fertilizer P, K, N (in any mix you'd like) and add in micro nutrients, etc. Then it's dumped via their chute into a bulk "Tote" bag. Scooping that bulk mix out of the bag with a 5 gallon pail will load the spreader very quickly! And the bulk mix is considerably cheaper than the bagged mix here in the local feed stores!! Something to consider and check into.

It wasn't available when I purchased this spreader, but if I replace it..... it will be with one equipped with a plastic hopper. The fertilizer mix is corrosive to the metal if not thoroughly cleaned after each use. But I'm not sure how long the plastic hoppers last either. Stored out of the sun should help to prolong its life.

The pto driven hopper spreader would be a good fit behind your tractor. Multiple refills with a lighter load are alot easier on both your back and tractor than bouncing along with a heaping full hopper on a large spreader.

I saw an 850 lb capacity one at TSC listed for $899 but it’s surely worth poking around to compare. I’m at an age where quality is more important than trying for the best bargain price.
I’m new to western NC but I’ll ask the locals if there’s a bulk provider. Good advise on using the local elevator to mix and I plan to get the soil tested this week.
I’m old school when it comes to equipment- prefer metal over plastic.
Thanks Bird Dogger. I heard a woodcock tonight by the way. Flight dancing overhead.

 

[Grandad4]

I will give a second recommendation for a corrosion-resistant spreader. My first speader was the usual sheet metal type often sold at discount farm supply stores. Rusted out in just a few years, even with being rinsed out after every use. Replaced it with a better grade spreader having a poly hopper and stainless steel impeller mechanism. Same rinse down after every use and stored out of the weather. It cost more but that one stayed like new for many years.

 

[hardaground]

I will give a second recommendation for a corrosion-resistant spreader. My first speader was the usual sheet metal type often sold at discount farm supply stores. Rusted out in just a few years, even with being rinsed out after every use. Replaced it with a better grade spreader having a poly hopper and stainless steel impeller mechanism. Same rinse down after every use and stored out of the weather. It cost more but that one stayed like new for many years.

I hear you on the plastic hopper. SS mechanism also a good and often overlooked feature.

 

[Grandad4]

Some more info came out of the old memory bank, for what it might be worth. My spreaders were 300 or 400 lb capacity, and I had about 6 acres of open field. For fertilizer, it usually took 2 fills of the hopper to cover the 6 acres. The spreader would broadcast about 25-30 feet to each side and it seemed that 4-5 mph was Ok. This wasn't anything close to "precision farming"; it was a old galoot having a great time on his land.

Since it was acidic soil, I had a local ag supply outfit spread several tons of lime over the winters... no way I was doing that!

 

[GreensvilleJay]

and here I thought(silly me..) that the COWS were supposed to fertilize the pasture while they ate......

 

[Grandad4]

and here I thought(silly me..) that the COWS were supposed to fertilize the pasture while they ate......

Then there were the barns to clean out also. Sure did my share of spreading that kind of fertilizer. No loaders or skidsteers, we loaded those darn manure spreaders with a pitchfork. Some say I've been spreading fertilizer around for most of my life but I think that's an exaggeration.

 

[CGMKCM]

Some more info came out of the old memory bank, for what it might be worth. My spreaders were 300 or 400 lb capacity, and I had about 6 acres of open field. For fertilizer, it usually took 2 fills of the hopper to cover the 6 acres. The spreader would broadcast about 25-30 feet to each side and it seemed that 4-5 mph was Ok. This wasn't anything close to "precision farming"; it was a old galoot having a great time on his land.

I have about the same amount of land and agree with all in this post.
I have the plastic hopper with SS transmission and spreader wheel. Mine is rated for 300lbs. I use an old JD 650 to spread lime and fertilizer 2x per year.

 

[Elliott in GA]

I have a Land Pride FSP500 spreader (holds 300 lbs.), and I can cover 2+ acres with fertilizer or insecticide granules with one fill. The spreader body is plastic with stainless steel works; my only regret is that its not Quick Hitch compatible (but I do not use it often).