We are coming out of a month of heavy rainfall, and ground conditions on many farms across the country will not allow the use of conventional slurry tankers.
Even though the spreading season is now open, single or tandem axle spreaders with big loads will cause significant field surface damage, followed by compaction at deeper layers, which will force many farmers to look at alternatives.
The most obvious one is the umbilical or pipe system. With this system, the slurry is pumped from the shed through a drag hose to the distribution system fitted to a tractor in field, fitted with low ground pressure wide tyres.
The hose is supplied with slurry, usually direct from the slurry store, by means of a centrifugal or positive displacement pump.
Once the system is set up and the pipeline has been laid, the pump can be started. The applicator unit on the tractor in the field is then driven in straight lines, dragging the supply feeding pipe, known as the drag hose, up and down the spreading field.
The umbilical application system has a number of advantages over traditional tanker-based application methods:
Empties slurry tanks and lagoons much faster.Work-rates of in excess of 25,000 litres or 6,000 gallons an hour are easily achieved in most situations – contractor system rates will be up to 60,000 litres per hour pumped.Reduces/eliminates soil compaction.No heavy tanker unit is driven onto the field.Applicator unit is driven in and out of the field just once.Applicator unit stays in the field until the field is finished; this eliminates mud being carried onto roads.As the contractor is not constantly travelling from the yard to the field, there is potential to save on fuel consumption.Tanker v umbilical
The choice of system used depends on how far you are pumping the slurry and how thick the slurry is.
A typical system will involve a pump, 1,000m of hose, a reeler to carry the hose on the tractor’s three-point linkage, and a field applicator kit which can be a single splash plate, double splash plate, dribble bar or injector.
There is more interest now in the dribble bar system, especially if you are spreading slurry on to grassland that has a reasonable growth cover.
While ground conditions on many farms are poor, there is grass growth and a grass cover. Using the dribble bar will enhance the slurry uptake and give less contamination and a faster return to grazing in these conditions.
The use of a dribble bar will require a form of macerator to be used at the pump to prevent blockages in the field. Alternatively, the dribble bar system on the spreading tractor can be fitted with its own hydraulically powered macerator.
Some operators also choose to fit an additional compressor to allow the hose pipes to be cleaned fully when finished.
For the pump, a minimum 120hp tractor will be needed to achieve a pumping distance of 1,000m. You may need an agitator also as the slurry must be mixed well before pumping. It will be easier to pump well-mixed slurry a longer distance.
Some contractors have opted for an engine-driven pump. This frees up a tractor and is claimed by some contractors to be more fuel efficient than a tractor PTO-powered unit. These systems are typically fitted with engines of more than 150hp.
In the field, the key is maximum flotation for the tractor pulling the hose and spreading bar.
The aim is to have surface grip with wide tyres that create as little compaction as possible.
If you opt for a dribble bar system rather than a simple splash-plate, this will mean a bigger load on the field tractor. If this unit is fitted with a macerator on the spreading bar, then this will also demand more tractor power.
While, in theory, you will not require as much power pulling the hose in the field as when pulling a fully loaded slurry tanker or when pumping, pulling the hose will demand a tractor of more than 100hp, especially if working in hilly areas.
The umbilical or pipe spreading does have its limitations. The most obvious is that the fields need to be within a reasonable distance of the slurry tank from which the slurry is being pumped.
The spreading hose or pipes can be damaged without proper care. They are typically replaced every five years and, at a cost of €12/m plus VAT, that can be a significant expense.
We have asked four suppliers of umbilical systems to give us a price for a 1,000m hose unit, complete with tractor PTO-powered pump, three-point linkage mounted reeler and single splash-plate spreader unit. All prices quoted exclude VAT and are a general guideline as specification options will impact on final pricing.
Smaller capacity farmer-scale systems can be provided by all suppliers at prices in the region of €20,000 plus VAT. This compares with the cost of a 2,000-gallon (9,000-litre) single-axle slurry tanker costing in the region of €15,000 plus VAT.
Umbilical system
suppliers
Abbey Machinery Ltd
Nenagh, Co Tipperary
T: 067-31278
E: info@abbeymachinery.com
W: www.abbeymachinery.com
Tank Storage Systems
Ballyshannon, Co. Kildare
T: 045 485444
E: info@tankstoragesystems.com
W: www.tankstoragesystems.com
SlurryKat
44 Lowtown Road, Waringstown, Craigavon, Co Armagh, BT66 7SJ
T: 028/048-38820862
E: sales@slurrykat.com
W: www.slurrykat.com
Mastek/Slurry Mate
Cootehill Business Park, Cornacarrow, Cootehill, Co Cavan
T: 049-5555953
E: enquiries@mastek.ie
W: www.mastek.ie
We are coming out of a month of heavy rainfall, and ground conditions on many farms across the country will not allow the use of conventional slurry tankers.
Even though the spreading season is now open, single or tandem axle spreaders with big loads will cause significant field surface damage, followed by compaction at deeper layers, which will force many farmers to look at alternatives.
The most obvious one is the umbilical or pipe system. With this system, the slurry is pumped from the shed through a drag hose to the distribution system fitted to a tractor in field, fitted with low ground pressure wide tyres.
The hose is supplied with slurry, usually direct from the slurry store, by means of a centrifugal or positive displacement pump.
Once the system is set up and the pipeline has been laid, the pump can be started. The applicator unit on the tractor in the field is then driven in straight lines, dragging the supply feeding pipe, known as the drag hose, up and down the spreading field.
The umbilical application system has a number of advantages over traditional tanker-based application methods:
Empties slurry tanks and lagoons much faster.Work-rates of in excess of 25,000 litres or 6,000 gallons an hour are easily achieved in most situations – contractor system rates will be up to 60,000 litres per hour pumped.Reduces/eliminates soil compaction.No heavy tanker unit is driven onto the field.Applicator unit is driven in and out of the field just once.Applicator unit stays in the field until the field is finished; this eliminates mud being carried onto roads.As the contractor is not constantly travelling from the yard to the field, there is potential to save on fuel consumption.Tanker v umbilical
The choice of system used depends on how far you are pumping the slurry and how thick the slurry is.
A typical system will involve a pump, 1,000m of hose, a reeler to carry the hose on the tractor’s three-point linkage, and a field applicator kit which can be a single splash plate, double splash plate, dribble bar or injector.
There is more interest now in the dribble bar system, especially if you are spreading slurry on to grassland that has a reasonable growth cover.
While ground conditions on many farms are poor, there is grass growth and a grass cover. Using the dribble bar will enhance the slurry uptake and give less contamination and a faster return to grazing in these conditions.
The use of a dribble bar will require a form of macerator to be used at the pump to prevent blockages in the field. Alternatively, the dribble bar system on the spreading tractor can be fitted with its own hydraulically powered macerator.
Some operators also choose to fit an additional compressor to allow the hose pipes to be cleaned fully when finished.
For the pump, a minimum 120hp tractor will be needed to achieve a pumping distance of 1,000m. You may need an agitator also as the slurry must be mixed well before pumping. It will be easier to pump well-mixed slurry a longer distance.
Some contractors have opted for an engine-driven pump. This frees up a tractor and is claimed by some contractors to be more fuel efficient than a tractor PTO-powered unit. These systems are typically fitted with engines of more than 150hp.
In the field, the key is maximum flotation for the tractor pulling the hose and spreading bar.
The aim is to have surface grip with wide tyres that create as little compaction as possible.
If you opt for a dribble bar system rather than a simple splash-plate, this will mean a bigger load on the field tractor. If this unit is fitted with a macerator on the spreading bar, then this will also demand more tractor power.
While, in theory, you will not require as much power pulling the hose in the field as when pulling a fully loaded slurry tanker or when pumping, pulling the hose will demand a tractor of more than 100hp, especially if working in hilly areas.
The umbilical or pipe spreading does have its limitations. The most obvious is that the fields need to be within a reasonable distance of the slurry tank from which the slurry is being pumped.
The spreading hose or pipes can be damaged without proper care. They are typically replaced every five years and, at a cost of €12/m plus VAT, that can be a significant expense.
We have asked four suppliers of umbilical systems to give us a price for a 1,000m hose unit, complete with tractor PTO-powered pump, three-point linkage mounted reeler and single splash-plate spreader unit. All prices quoted exclude VAT and are a general guideline as specification options will impact on final pricing.
Smaller capacity farmer-scale systems can be provided by all suppliers at prices in the region of €20,000 plus VAT. This compares with the cost of a 2,000-gallon (9,000-litre) single-axle slurry tanker costing in the region of €15,000 plus VAT.
Umbilical system
suppliers
Abbey Machinery Ltd
Nenagh, Co Tipperary
T: 067-31278
E: info@abbeymachinery.com
W: www.abbeymachinery.com
Tank Storage Systems
Ballyshannon, Co. Kildare
T: 045 485444
E: info@tankstoragesystems.com
W: www.tankstoragesystems.com
SlurryKat
44 Lowtown Road, Waringstown, Craigavon, Co Armagh, BT66 7SJ
T: 028/048-38820862
E: sales@slurrykat.com
W: www.slurrykat.com
Mastek/Slurry Mate
Cootehill Business Park, Cornacarrow, Cootehill, Co Cavan
T: 049-5555953
E: enquiries@mastek.ie
W: www.mastek.ie
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