Shorter planting windows require precision in applications

With increasingly shorter windows for harvesting and planting, producers have been looking for productivity solutions to optimize process time in the field. For this, planning is essential, such as considering soil and seed quality, labor, input logistics, market analysis, machine conditions and strategic choice of machinery.

One of the trends is the search for high-capacity machinery, thus generating high operational performance, saving logistics time during supply stops, as is the case with fertilizer and fertilizer distributors. With this in mind, companies such as MP Agro Máquinas Agrícolas, located in Ibaté, in the interior of São Paulo, offer the market machines such as the Taurus Truck, designed to be attached to trucks and the even more recent Taurus Robust line, a high-capacity drag model.

With a 100% stainless steel structure, the Taurus Truck can be attached to a fixed chassis truck or roll-on-off system and has capacities of 25.000 and 30.000. This type of equipment generates great savings in hours/machine with high daily yield, replacing the work of up to 03 tractors, due to its speed and capacity, as explained by MP Agro application supervisor, Reinaldo Damasio. “With the use of this type of equipment, savings in operational performance can reach 50%, with fuel, labor and machine hours”, he highlights.

Concern about correct application

Another important factor for operational and productive gains, in the case of distributing inputs by haul, is that the producer always keeps the machine inspected and correctly regulated to guarantee an optimal application and thus achieve the expected results from the cultivation.

To carry out this adjustment efficiently, there is a very simple and effective technique called “tray test”. To carry out the test, 21 trays are used, arranged every 2 meters in the field. The machine passes over these containers applying the product and with product accumulation in each of them it is possible to measure the application range and homogeneity.

Also according to Damásio, after the test, the producer will be able to adjust the reeds, which are responsible for the homogeneity of the application. They can be adjusted through adjustment points located on the discs. “By carrying out these preliminary procedures, the producer guarantees the application of inputs in the necessary quantity, generating savings and income during fertilization”, he highlights.

Choice of equipment

For those who do not yet have or are going to acquire new equipment for distributing fertilizer, plaster and limestone, the tip is to always opt for reliable, durable machines with on-board technology and that have a great application. In this choice, the producer must take into account ease of maintenance, good quality materials used in manufacturing, such as stainless steel and top-of-the-line components to ensure reliability.

The Taurus Truck, for example, has an important difference in addition to its structure and capacity, the distribution system consists of the exact angle at which the grains are launched, causing the fertilizer being applied to fall on the ground without damaging the leaves of the plants. . “The application speed averages 25km/ha, reaching up to 400ha per day with a spread of up to 36m wide for granular fertilizers. For powder products such as limestone or plaster, it reaches ranges of up to 16m with broad uniformity and autonomy due to its high load capacity”, adds the supervisor.

In addition to carefully choosing the machine, it is necessary to pay attention to the type of input to be used, whether organic or synthetic. “For a good application, it is ideal to always use the formulations that the soil needs as specified by the agronomist through analysis. In the case of applying granulated and powdered fertilizer, the tip is to always make sure to use good quality products so as not to impact the application”, concludes Damásio.