-We have seen a demand from farmers to enable additional fertilizer applications with the Tempo planter. To meet this demand, we have designed a liquid fertilizer system that matches the performance of the Tempo planter, offering easy setting, full control, and row-by-row precision, according to Oskar Karlsson, Director of Planter Product Management at Väderstad.
The new liquid fertilizer system utilizes a 528 gallon (2,000 L) plastic hopper. The fertilizer can either be applied in the seed row via the row units, or beside the seed row via fertilizer coulters. To make it easy for the farmer, the system is designed to enable a wide range of different rates without changing nozzles.
-As an example, the machine can handle standard liquid fertilizer rates from 3.2 – 21.4 gallons per acre (30 to 200 L per ha) without changing nozzles on the machine, at a row spacing of 29.5 inches (750mm) and a driving speed of 9 mph (15km/h), says Oskar Karlsson.
To control the liquid fertilizer metering, flow sensors constantly monitor the output rate, utilizing real-time feedback to automatically maintain the selected output rate.
-The farmer sets the desired fertilizer rate in terms of gallons per acre (liters per hectare). By monitoring the flow passing through the system, the machine automatically controls the output rate while in motion. Therefore, there is no need for calibration, says Oskar Karlsson.
The liquid fertilizer system is fully integrated into the iPad-based control system Väderstad E-Control, where the driver has full control of the planting operation in the field. Like the seed metering, the liquid fertilizer also has row-by-row shut off.
The filling of the fertilizer tank can be done via an external pump, gravity or with the planter’s onboard pump. To ensure safe operation, the machine is equipped with a water tank, a washing system, and compartments for personal protection equipment (PPE).
The new liquid fertilizer option on Tempo L will debut at the international trade show, Agritechnica, in November 2023. It will be available for Tempo L 8-24 starting in October 2023.