The Rural Voice, 1978-09, Page 30Advice on Farming
New applicator
could save money
Agricultural researchers at the Ridge -
town College of Agricultural Technology
(RCAT) are testing a new type of fertilizer
applicator that could save farmers energy
and money.
Ken Stevenson, soil scientist at RCAT,
says preliminary tests on a new anhydrous
ammonia application system look promis-
ing.
Anhydrous ammonia was introduced to
Ontario 25 years ago and since then its use
has increased tremendously. It is attractive
to farmers because of its high nitrogen
content (82 per cent), and because it is the
least expensive source of nitrogen avail-
able.
Anhydrous ammonia is applied in the
field with a special applicator, usually
rented from &fertilizer dealer. It is handled
and stored as a liquid by keeping it under
pressure in a tank on the applicator.
Mr. Stevenson explains that. as the
, ammonia passes through the flow meter or
reg u lator, the pressure is released. This
causes the ammonia to change to a gas as it
moves through the hoses and is knifed into
the soil.
"In order to prevent loss to the
atmosphere. he ammonia must be placed
a minimum of 6 to 8 inches into the soil,
then covered up with loose soil." he says.
The new system now being tested uses a
converter which changes the gas coming
out of the flow meter to a liquid with a
near -zero pressure..
Liquid ammonia can be applied at a
shallower depth than conventional
anhydrous ammonia. Mr. Stevenson rg-
commends a minimum depth of four
inches. For farmers, this system can
reduce power requirements or allow faster
application in the field.
Because of the shallower depth, anhy-
drous ammonia can be applied with
conventional tillage tools such as field
cultivators or disc harrows, eliminating the
need to rent the special applicator.
The only cost to the farmer is the
converter. Mr. Stevenson estimates the
cost at $600 to $1.000. depending on the
width of the tillage equipment.
Combining tillage for seedbed prepar-
ation and nitrogen application means
farmers can save one trip over the field.
Mr. Stevenson estimates this could mean a
saving of approximately $3.50 per acre.
The RCAT Soils Section initiated field
research trials in 1978 to evaluate
converted ammonia application to convent-
ional anhydrous ammonia application. This
research will be conducted over a
three-year period.
RCAT , located east of Chatham, is one
of four colleges of agriculture operated by
the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and
Food.
Solar roof on grain bins
may cut energy costs
Ontario cash crop tarmers may cut
energy costs using solar roofs on their
grain bins.
"I'm convinced this low-temperature
drying system for wheat, oats, barley or
soybeans will save farmers money," says
Bob Stone, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture
and Food Engineer, Brighton.
The solar technique takes advantage of
the natural drying qualities of air, whereas
conventional high-temperature drying re-
quires expensive fuels.
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