Simple, Low Cost Fertilizer Kits for Planters

When planting crops like corn, soybeans, and wheat, most farmers utilize planter fertilizer attachment systems to apply starter fertilizer to give their seeds an extra nutrient boost right from the start. While many farmers opt for high-end electric or hydraulic fertilizer pumps and control systems for their planters, basic low cost fertilizer kits can also get the job done efficiently.

If you’re looking for a simple, budget-friendly option to add fertilizer capabilities to your existing planter, here are some great choices:

Ground Drive Fertilizer Kits

One of the simplest fertilizer application systems is a ground drive kit. These low cost kits utilize the power from the planter’s ground drive wheel to run a piston pump that draws and dispenses fertilizer

Ground drive fertilizer kits come in configurations for 4, 8, 12, 16 or 24 rows. They contain the piston pump, regulator valve, flow meter, tubing, and necessary hose clamps and hardware for installation. Prices typically range from around $500 for a 4-row kit up to $1,300 for a 24-row kit.

Ground drive kits provide variable rate fertilizer application that adjusts automatically based on planting speed Their simple design requires no electronics or external power source Just mount the pump, hook up the plumbing to the planter’s fertilizer openers and you’re set.

12 Volt Electric Fertilizer Kits

Adding an electric 12 volt fertilizer pump kit powered by the tractor battery provides consistent, reliable fertilizer metering. These self-contained systems contain the fertilizer pump, flow meter, control panel/rate controller, wiring harness, tubing, and hardware.

Basic 12 volt electric kits with mechanical rheostat dial controllers start around $1,100 for a 4-row system and $1,500 for an 8-row kit. Kits offering electronic rate control via PWM (pulse width modulation) allowing precision adjustment of application rates cost more but provide advanced capabilities.

For smaller planters, a simple 12 volt diaphragm or roller vane pump paired with a basic control panel makes fertilizer application precise and trouble-free without the cost of fancier hydraulic or ISOBUS-ready systems.

Fertilizer Placement Tubes

One of the most affordable ways to outfit a planter with fertilizer capabilities is adding tubes that channel liquid fertilizer right to each seed trench. Kits containing stainless steel tubes, slide fittings, clamps, and tees to plumb from your centralized fertilizer tank or pump system to the planter’s openers cost less than $100 per row.

Placement tubes allow any planter to precisely apply starter fertilizer without requiring a fertilizer pump system. Just use a nurse tank and electric valve to meter fertilizer into the tubes. Installation is quick and easy.

Placement tubes are made to fit all major planter brands like John Deere, Kinze, White, and Case IH. You can also find versions made to replace OEM tubes on late model planters, making upgrading to stainless simple.

Fertilizer Tank & Valley Valve Kits

To go the most basic route, you can outfit a planter cart with a small tank and electric valves to gravity feed fertilizer through tubes without any pump. Low cost fertilizer tank and valve kits give you this simple fertilizing functionality.

Kits including a 25 to 100 gallon cone bottom tank with stand or mount, electric solenoid valves, and necessary plumbing parts are available for less than $600. Install tubes to route fertilizer to planter rows. Toggle the valve open and fertilizer flows from the tank by gravity. Close it when done.

This super simple fertilizer kit allows small capacity fertilizing for small acreage. Larger tanks around 350 gallons can also be made into full gravity flow systems for bigger planters.

Key Components of Low Cost Fertilizer Kits

While options range from basic gravity flow to fully computerized, most simple low cost fertilizer kits include some key components:

• Fertilizer pump – Ground drive piston, 12 volt electric diaphragm, roller vane, hydraulic piston, etc. pull fertilizer from the tank.

• Flow meter – Monitors GPM to control application rate. Basic ground drive kits use fixed displacement pumps instead.

• Regulator valve – Lets operator adjust output volume on ground drive and hydraulic drive kits.

• Rate controller – Electric systems allow rate adjustments via mechanical dial or electronic panel.

• Plumbing parts – Hose, clamps, valves, and fittings to route fertilizer from tank to each planter row.

• Tubes or openers – Deliver fertilizer right to seed trench for direct application.

• Tank – Holds fertilizer supply. Small nurse tanks or on-board systems available.

Simple Fertilizing for Healthier Starts

Adding liquid starter fertilizer at planting is a proven way to get crops off to a strong start. Even most basic planters can be outfitted with a low cost fertilizer kit for under $1,000 to gain these benefits.

With prices of synthetic fertilizers and crop nutrients on the rise, applying starter fertilizer right where it counts optimizes efficiency. Investing in one of these simple systems can yield valuable returns.

While full-featured electric and hydraulic fertilizer pumps offer advanced capabilities, more basic kits provide an affordable way to fertilize. For small farms and planters, a “simple is better” low cost fertilizing system may be all you need to bolster yields.