Online Calculator to Determine Optimum Overlap from Pan Tests

Increased input prices have garnered a renewed interest by producers in the accuracy and uniformity of application. It can be difficult to achieve uniform application of granular materials, particularly when using spinner spreaders. A common technique to measure the distribution of granular applicators is a pan test where multiple pans are placed transverse to the travel of the machine to collect material as the machine passes. Standards have been developed to provide validity and consistency in these tests, but no tools are broadly available to determine the optimum swath width based on data from a pan test. This paper discusses an online tool that has been developed to visualize material distribution and calculate optimum swath width based on minimization of CV across adjacent passes of granular applicators. The calculator can accommodate diversity in pan size and spacing as well missing pans because of wheel tracks. It is intended to be simple enough to be used by individual machine operators to calibrate to actual machine configurations and products.