2025 Volume 2025 Issue 20 Pages 43-
The technique of banding fertilizer application, known for its high fertilizer utilization efficiency, has been practiced since before the advent of mechanization. The combined high-speed ridger and double banding fertilizer applicator is designed to maximize fertilizer efficiency and promote stable early growth, as achieved by applying fertilizer in two layers. This report details the basic performance of the machine, the fertilizer-saving benefits observed in open-field vegetable cultivation, and key considerations for using organic materials, which are anticipated to see increased adoption in the future.
In terms of work efficiency, leveraging the soil-covering device structure, a feature of the conventional equipment used in Tsumagoi Village, an estimated 20-40% improvement in efficiency was achieved compared to general ridge-making fertilizer applicators. Regarding fertilizer-saving effects, cultivation tests conducted in Gunma and Kagoshima on cabbage and other crops demonstrated that even with a 30% reduction in fertilizer, yields remained comparable to those obtained with traditional banding and full-layer application methods. When using organic fertilizers, it was found that fertilizers with an average particle size exceeding 2-3mm, particularly cylindrical types, caused significant variations in the amount applied over short distances. Therefore, when applying fertilizers with larger particle sizes, it is recommended to design the application method to achieve low-concentration, high-volume application.
