Old equipment transformed into new generates more productivity at a lower cost

Have you ever thought about having used agricultural machinery transformed into new? It seems unimaginable, however, this innovation has existed for a few years and has helped many producers to give self-propelled vehicles a new purpose, transforming what was already out of date into efficient fertilizer distributors. This, in addition to generating savings in operational costs and productivity gains, provides greater sustainability for the operation.

Since 2012, this possibility has been part of the product portfolio of the Brazilian company MP Agro. The initiative is pioneering and began to serve a large commodity producing group in Mato Grosso, but it was so effective that it led to the birth of the Z Line. Capable of generating savings of up to 85% compared to the purchase of a new self-propelled vehicle, the Line Z broadcast distribution has numerous advantages, one of which is compatibility with all existing self-propelled sprayer models.

Rural producer, Cassiane Baratto, from Querência-MT, for example, learned about the equipment through neighboring producers and invested in modernization. On the property of around 900 hectares between soybeans and corn, fertilizer was applied to the crops using a drag machine, but the work was not agile, according to her. “It was a service that took time, we estimated it would take a week to apply, but we didn't know when it would end, depending on the weather it would take up to two months to complete”, she reports.

The producer opted for equipment with a load capacity of 6 m³, meaning the haul distribution process took just one hour. “We can place six bags of fertilizer inside the box to apply it and in less than an hour we can distribute these six thousand kilos of product to the desired hectares”, he says.

The second advantage, according to Cassiane, is fuel economy. “Our self-propelled vehicle already has very good onboard technology, with an electronic engine that self-regulates acceleration, so when applying fertilizer, it uses one to five liters of diesel per hectare, which is already a very good average. When I switched to the fertilizer box, we only used one to two liters per hectare because it uses hydraulic oil and doesn't require as much engine power. This way we can reduce consumption,” he explains.

No kneading

Another benefit found by producers when choosing the Z Line is the reduction in crop crushing, as with modernization it is possible to use the same sprayer trail for other operations in the area. On producer Cassiane's farm, this was one of the great advantages of renewing the self-propelled vehicle. “We estimated a loss of three bags per hectare for each line. I had to make two tracks, so there were six sacks per hectare lost”, he recalls.

To understand the size of the producer's economy per harvest, the math is simple. If we consider only half of the 900 hectares planted, that is, 450 HA and multiply the loss by 6 sc/HA, in the current average value of R$ 160 per bag of soybeans, the gain was 432 thousand.

Smart investment

To have modernization, the producer only needs to check that his current automotive system is in good condition. Installation is carried out by technicians from the MP Agro factory and takes just one day. For the CEO of MP Agro, Douglas Peccin, the Z Line equipment is also known as a stainless steel box, as it is produced with 100% stainless material, ideal for combating the effect of abrasion and corrosion from chemicals and the environment, in addition to ease of cleaning and asepsis.

According to him, when the time comes to replace a sprayer, the market is unlikely to be willing to pay what it is really worth, devaluing it. “Therefore, the investment is a smart alternative and has better cost-benefit due to its durability, sustainability and promoting productivity”, he concludes.