One of the most important precautions you must take when mixing fertilizers is to prevent the fertilizers from being back-siphoned from the sprayer tank into the well and, subsequently, the ground water. Therefore, the first step is to keep the end of the fill hose well above the water level in the spray tank.
Secondly, use an anti-backflow device on the fill hose. These devices are inexpensive and can be purchased from irrigation or sprayer equipment suppliers. Furthermore, anti-backflow devices are required by law in many states.
Ground water contamination can result even from small spills in the mixing and loading area. Small quantities spilled regularly in the same place can go unnoticed, but the fertilizers can build up in the soil and eventually reach the ground water. Spills of dry fertilizer should be promptly and completely cleaned up and placed immediately into the applicator equipment. Cleaning up spills of liquid fertilizer can be much more difficult. However, by mixing and loading on an impermeable surface, such as a concrete pad, you can retain, collect and reuse most spilled fertilizer.
The two best ways to improve fertilizer mixing and loading are to build a mixing and loading pad or to better manage your existing mixing and loading site.
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