HOW TO DETERMINE SPREADER SETTINGS AND SPREAD WIDTH
Two major factors should be considered when determining correct spreader settings of any product:
1.The product application rate, or the amount of material applied per 1,000 square feet.
2.The effective pattern width, or the actual width in which material is applied. Label settings are a guide and can be affected by numerous factors.
EFFECTIVE PATTERN WIDTH
A simple visual pattern test can be made by operating the spreader over
a | Space Pan 1’0” on Centers | Space for Wheel Track |
tern. A more accurate method is to |
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place a row of common, disposable, |
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aluminum cake pans approximately 1 |
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foot on centers. Set the rate cam at a |
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middle setting and make 3 or 4 passes |
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in the same direction as shown. Pour |
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the material collected from each pan |
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into individual bottles of the same |
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size. Set them side by side in order, |
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and visually inspect their volume. The |
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effective pattern width is the distance |
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out from the spreader to a point where |
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the amount of material is 1/2 the aver- |
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age amount in the center pans. This |
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distance is multiplied by 2 to achieve |
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the total effective pattern width. |
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APPLICATION RATE
Knowing the effective pattern width (for example, 10 feet), measure a distance equal to 100 square feet (10’ x 10’ area covered). Determine the product cover- age is pounds/ 100 sq. ft. by taking the weight of the product and dividing it by the recommended square foot coverage (add two zeroes to the weight of the bag).
EXAMPLE: Product weight: 25 lbs. sq. ft.
coverage: 5,000 sq. ft. 2500 lbs. - 5,000 sq. ft. = .5 lbs. / 100 sq. ft.
Weigh out between 15 to 20 lbs. of material and spread over the 100 sq. ft. area. Weigh remain- ing material left in hopper and adjust rate set- ting as required. Repeat test until application rate is correct.
