German machinery giant Amazone has expanded its ZA-TS fertilizer spreader lineup with a new, colossal 5,000-litre model, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in precision agriculture. This behemoth, with a maximum load capacity of 4,500 kg, is designed to handle lighter fertilizers like urea, making it an attractive option for farms seeking to optimize their spreading operations.
The ZA-TS 5000 shares the same cutting-edge technology as its smaller siblings, ensuring consistent performance across the range. However, Amazone has added an acoustic warning system to alert operators when the load exceeds the 4,500 kg limit by 5% or more. This feature is a nod to real-world conditions, where maximum load capacities can be more of a guideline than a constant.
In the Netherlands, the 5,000-litre version is yet to make its debut in the fields, with the largest models currently in use topping out at 4,200 litres. This new model is particularly suited for lighter fertilizers, which have a lower specific weight, allowing the hopper to be filled to its full capacity.
The ZA-TS 5000 is equipped with a range of features designed to enhance its usability and performance. These include weighing cells, hydraulically driven spreading discs, and the AutoTS border spreading system. The spreader is easily hitched via a category III three-point linkage and comes with hydraulic hoses for the disc drive, a double-acting valve for the hydraulic cover, and a border spreading deflector. Plug connections for lighting and ISOBUS control are included as standard.
We tested the ZA-TS 5000 Ultra ProfisPro Hydro, a model equipped with a 5,000-litre capacity and a 2.85 m working width. The spreader’s massive hopper opening, measuring 2.80 × 1.38 m, makes filling a breeze. Amazone’s use of a KTL dip primer and powder coating ensures corrosion resistance, backed by a 7-year anti-perforation warranty. The plastic grids, a new addition, work well and reduce the risk of damage when folded up during a blockage.
Farmer Menko Duisterwinkel from Groningen, Netherlands, shared his experience with Amazone’s innovative technology. After a conversation with someone from Kamps de Wild at a trade fair, Duisterwinkel was convinced to switch from his previous brand. His first season with the ZA-TS Super ProfisPro Hydro 3200, equipped with WindControl and a bed spreading plate, went smoothly. He praised the spreader’s operation and the ease of control via the tractor’s joystick.
Duisterwinkel uses the spreader for both top dressing and base fertilization, varying the working width based on fertilizer type and spreading chart. He configures the spreader via the mySpreader app and Bluetooth, finding the technology reliable. However, he noted that the WindControl system struggled with potassium sulphate due to the granule shape, although the spread pattern remained good.
The ZA-TS 5000’s refined spreading system features a stainless-steel hopper with an agitator, spindle motors for adjusting the outlet and drop point, and spreading discs with adjustable vanes. The border spreading setting is activated electronically, and the agitators spin at up to 60 rpm, only operating when the outlets are open. A reverse function clears blockages, and the outlet geometry ensures consistent spread patterns even at higher application rates.
For varying working widths, you can easily swap the spreading vanes, much simpler than changing the whole discs. Up to about 36 metres, the spreading patterns overlap twice, minimizing the impact of crosswinds or inconsistent fertilizer quality. To check transverse distribution, we used EasyCheck plastic mats, the digital successors to traditional tray testing. These mats, placed across the working width, allowed us to photograph the spread pattern and calculate optimal settings using an app. Our tests showed accurate results, requiring no adjustments after testing.
Amazone’s AutoTS system offers three variants for border spreading: field border spreading, border spreading, and ditch spreading. These settings allow for optimal spreading up to the field edge, ensuring no granules fall beyond the boundary or into buffer zones and watercourses. The BorderTS system, an optional extra, hydraulically swings a border spreading plate from above behind the left spreading disc, guiding granules right up to the field edge. This system, while adding an extra cost, works excellently and is user-friendly.
Weighing is standard on Profis models, but the FlowControl torque measurement, available on the ProfisPro version, costs an additional €800. This feature compares the set application rate with the actual application rate using the values from the