CFA Fertilizer Application Techniques & Equipment 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A farmer wants to apply a pre-emergent herbicide combined with fertilizer in a single pass. Which equipment setup is most appropriate?
- Broadcast spreader only
- Combination applicator with boom sprayer and dry spreader (Correct answer)
- Drop spreader alone
- Gravity-flow granule spreader
Correct answer: Combination applicator with boom sprayer and dry spreader
Combination applicators allow simultaneous application of liquid herbicides and dry granular fertilizer in one field pass, saving time and reducing soil compaction.
Question 2: What is the primary advantage of split fertilizer applications compared to a single large application?
- Reduced labor costs
- Lower risk of nutrient loss and improved uptake efficiency (Correct answer)
- Faster application speed
- Eliminates the need for soil testing
Correct answer: Lower risk of nutrient loss and improved uptake efficiency
Split applications reduce nutrient loss through leaching and volatilization while matching fertilizer supply more closely to crop demand periods.
Question 3: When calibrating a liquid fertilizer applicator, a technician collects output from nozzles over 30 seconds. What is the next step to determine rate per acre?
- Multiply collected volume by boom width
- Convert collected volume to gallons per minute, then calculate coverage rate using speed and width (Correct answer)
- Divide nozzle output by the number of nozzles
- Apply the collected volume directly as the acre rate
Correct answer: Convert collected volume to gallons per minute, then calculate coverage rate using speed and width
Accurate rate calculation requires converting timed output to flow rate (gpm) and factoring in ground speed and boom width to determine gallons per acre.
Question 4: Which soil condition most significantly impairs uniform incorporation of broadcast fertilizer?
- High organic matter content
- Excessively cloddy or rough seedbed (Correct answer)
- Slightly acidic pH
- Sandy loam texture
Correct answer: Excessively cloddy or rough seedbed
Cloddy, uneven soil surfaces cause inconsistent fertilizer placement and make mechanical incorporation difficult, resulting in uneven nutrient distribution.
Question 5: A boom sprayer's left section is applying at 15% higher rate than the right section. The most likely cause is:
- Incorrect product density
- Clogged or worn nozzles on the right section (Correct answer)
- Excessive ground speed
- Incorrect boom height
Correct answer: Clogged or worn nozzles on the right section
Clogged or worn nozzles reduce output on that section, making adjacent sections appear to apply at a higher relative rate; nozzle inspection and replacement corrects the imbalance.
Question 6: Which application method best minimizes ammonia volatilization losses when applying urea-based fertilizer to established pasture?
- Surface broadcast in hot, dry conditions
- Injection or knifing below the soil surface (Correct answer)
- Aerial broadcast application
- Spreader application followed by delayed irrigation
Correct answer: Injection or knifing below the soil surface
Subsurface injection or knife application places urea below the soil surface where moisture and soil contact reduce ammonia volatilization.
Question 7: The effective swath width of a spinner spreader is determined by:
- The hopper capacity only
- Field testing pattern uniformity across the full throw width (Correct answer)
- The manufacturer's maximum rated width
- The fertilizer particle density
Correct answer: Field testing pattern uniformity across the full throw width
Effective swath width must be established through pattern boards or catch trays in the field because actual distribution varies with product, spinner speed, and conditions.
CFA Fertilizer Application Techniques & Equipment 2
A farmer wants to apply a pre-emergent herbicide combined with fertilizer in a single pass.
Which equipment setup is most appropriate?