Performance evaluation of an oscillating trough-type fertilizer applicator

Results of a series of experiments conducted to study the factors influencing metering and the distribution pattern of fertilizer from an oscillating trough-type fertilizer applicator are reported in this paper. It was observed that the centrality of the raker strip and the trough, two principal components of the oscillating trough-type mechanism, and symmetry in the angle of oscillation of the latter with respect to the vertical centre line of the hopper are very important to minimize variations in the quantity and distribution of fertilizer. With the oscillatory-type mechanism, fertilizer falls from the front and rear edges of the trough, alternately. Thus the greater the rate of oscillation of the trough, the greater is the frequency with which fertilizer falls in a unit distance of travel resulting in more uniform distribution. The rate of application can be adjusted by varying the angle of oscillation