Agriculture in recent years has witnessed an exponential increase in the amount of food produced; animals, crops and aquaculture products. This significant increase has been made possible because of the use of modern farming equipment in carrying out pre-planting, planting and post planting activities. These machines have made it possible to cultivate, manage and harvest a larger expanse of land effectively over a shorter period of time.

Manure application is a very seminal aspect of crop production as the soil cannot totally provide all the nutrients required by crops year in year out since its nutrient constituents depreciates after each planting season. This has made it important for farmers to replenish soil nutrients by applying manure and fertilizers.  In subsistence farming this is done manually but has proved to be very strenuous, labour intensive and time consuming in commercial farming. Commercial farmers can overcome these setbacks by using a manure spreader during manure application operations.

manure spreader 1

MANURE SPREADER
A manure spreader is a machine used in agriculture for crop production. It is specifically used for distributing manure over the top soil on a land intended for planting. The use of the manure spreader in modern agriculture has made manure application easier and more efficient. The machine usually comes as a trailer with a rotating mechanism coupled to a tractor during its operation making it mobile and the distribution of manure across the farm possible.

The rotating mechanism of the machine is usually powered by the Power Take Off of the tractor but recent models have been designed with a combination of Power Take Off powering and hydraulic powering of the machine. Manure spreaders are available in different models with varying sizes and specifications.

CARE OF THE MACHINE
The manure spreader requires good management and handling to ensure efficient operations. The machine comes with some specific guidelines which should be adhered to. Some of the rudimentary guidelines guarding the use of this machine to prolong its lifespan include the following;
  • Always go through the user’s manual before operating the machine and observe all precautions as stated.
  • Keep the machine safe from the elements of nature that tend to gradually damage the machine.
  • The machine should be stored in a barn.
  • Always clean the implement from manure remnants after each manure application
  • Carry out routine servicing like lubrication and replacing damaged parts to prevent breakdown and increase its life span.
  • Do not store wet manure in the machine as it can lead to rusting.
  • Always disengage the manure spreader from the tractor when it is not in use.
  • Occasionally repaint the equipment to prevent damage due to rust.
  • Seek professional advice if you don’t know how to operate the devise as wrong usage will reduce the efficiency of the machine.