About Fertilizer Applicators
Fertilizer applicators are a subset of chemical applicators that focus on applying nutrients to crops—a vital stage on the route to healthy plants and higher yields. Dry, liquid, and anhydrous fertilizer applicators put nitrogen and other nutrients into the soil or onto plant leaves in the form of dry (or granular) or liquid fertilizer in the spring, summer, and post-harvest months. Using a combination of tanks and hoppers, booms and spreaders, and knives, discs, coulters, hoses, pumps, and injectors (and, increasingly, precision ag technologies for guidance and more precise, efficient application) operators can carry out broadcast, top dress, side dress, band, and direct soil injection applications with pinpoint spacing and rate and depth control.

RoGator RG1300C Fertilizer Applicator
Applicator Types & Characteristics
Fertilizer applicators are used in large to small acreage farms, orchards, and other crop growing applications in mountable, pull-type or trailer, and self-propelled models. Dry fertilizer applicators commonly include a hopper or wagon, which may in turn include one or more separable bins to allow simultaneous application of multiple fertilizer types. Dry applicators spread fertilizer using spinning disks or a boom.
Liquid and anhydrous applicators variously use discs, knives, coulters, high-pressure injectors, sealers, and other parts to cut a slot into the soil and then inject fertilizer directly into it several inches deep before covering the slot up. Machines in this category are designed with features that minimize soil disturbance and allow use in varying tillage conditions. Some liquid applicators can also be converted for use with dry fertilizer. Depending on the model, working widths can surpass 90 feet (27.4 meters).
Precision Ag Features
Modern fertilizer applicators are often equipped with cameras and sensors, monitoring and weight systems, and auto-guidance technologies to simplify operation and increase application accuracy and efficiency, saving growers time and money. Examples include fertilizer metering systems and variable-rate control technologies, GPS-enabled guidance and control, section shut-off, depth control and leveling, and fuel-saving engine technologies. Other examples include application mapping, mobile app control and monitoring, and continuous recirculation and agitation systems.
Find Your Fertilizer Applicator
TractorHouse.com offers a big selection of new and used fertilizer applicators for sale every day from leading brands such as Amazone, Blue-Jet, Dalton Ag, DMI, John Deere, KUHN, New Leader, and RoGator.