Great Plains YP1630F-1670 Material Rate - Manual (Page 30)

28 Great Plains Manufacturing, Inc. Contents Appendix YP1630F
401-832B Contents Appendix 2012-12-04
Treatment Rate Calibration
Treatment Rate calibration is different from treatment
Gate calibration. Gate calibration is a seasonal activity,
and is described in the Operator manual.
Rate calibration requires:
• a precise scale for small weight values (the digital
scale provided for fertilizer calibration may be too
coarse);
• small plastic bags for sample collection at each row;
and,
• a representative field on which a 1000 m or 1000 foot
pass can be made, with openers in the ground, at your
intended planting/application speed.
Treatment Rate Calibration Steps
1. Move the planter to the edge of the test field area.
2. Mark a course of known length that is at least 300 m
in length. A course of exactly 1000 m or 1000 feet
simplifies calculations.
3. Determine the rows to sample for treatment rate
calibration. A sample of three rows improves the
reliability of the sample data.
4. Set the treatment meters for these rows to “00”.
Refer to Figure 15
5.
Disengage the treatment drive clutches at all other
rows. If the tested rows are all on the same wing,
lock up the ground drive for the other wing. See the
Operator manual for drive couple and ground drive
lock-up details.
6. Disengage all seed meter clutches not already
disabled by lock-up. Disengage all treatment meter
clutches at rows not being tested (unless
disengaged by drive lock-up).
7. Lock up the fertilizer ground drive.
8. Lower the planter rows into the ground.
Wear protective equipment for this and all following
steps.
9. At the rows identified in step 3, load a small amount
of treatment material, about twice the amount
expected to be metered over the course length. The
charts, starting on page 30, show the kg or ounces
expected for one row.
Mis-application Risk:
Speed and distance matter. Treatment flow (per minute) is
proportional to meter gate opening (dial setting), but is
relatively constant per minute, which makes it inversely
proportional to field speed. Further, material is flowing during
initial acceleration, at a higher net rate. Sample collection
must be performed at actual intended planting/application
speed, or the calibrated meter setting will not provide the
desired application rate. The sample must also be collected
over a sufficient distance to minimize errors due to the
elevated rate at start up.
Figure 15
Treatment Drop Tube
34495
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Agricultural Chemical Hazard:
Follow all chemical supplier precautions for handling
treatments. Wear protective equipment prescribed for the
current material, and for all previous materials used since
last thorough hopper clean-out. Read and follow material
label directions. Obtain and retain Material Safety Data Sheet
(MSDS) information for the present and recent materials.
Many treatments are extremely hazardous and can cause
disabling or fatal injury.
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