Fertilizer Tenders are used for efficient transport and rapid transfer of large amounts of dry (granular) fertilizer into a field applicator, such as a spreader or strip-till machine.
The primary purpose of these tenders is to minimize the time the field applicator spends traveling back and forth to a central loading location, thereby increasing the overall efficiency of the planting and application process.
They are essentially large hoppers equipped with a mechanical auger system for unloading.
Auger discharge fertilizer tenders can be platform/drop deck trailer mounted, truck chassis mounted, light-duty pull type or gooseneck trailer mounted, or on a skid platform.
The tender consists of a large, multi-compartment hopper or tank, usually constructed in stainless steel for storage and transportation of fertilizers.
The key component is the auger, which is a screw-like mechanism used to move the dry fertilizer. The auger system is typically powered by a hydraulic system on the truck or trailer.
- Fertilizer flows from the hopper’s bottom compartments into a horizontal auger.
- The horizontal auger feeds the material into a vertical or inclined discharge auger/boom).
- The discharge auger is long (ranging from about 16 to 24 feet) and can be hydraulically raised, lowered, and often rotated (up to 270 degrees in some models) to precisely position the discharge chute over the receiving hopper of a field applicator.