Drop Spreader

An item of equipment which provides a linear distribution of a material over an area, using a defined width of spreader. A drop spreader has a hopper, in which material is placed, and this falls through either an adjustable gap or perforated bar, due to the force of gravity, which may also be enhanced with a rotating spindle, or a moving belt (often called a conveyor belt distributor), which may also have a rotating brush attached to help agitate the material out of the hopper.

This is more accurate, but time consuming, than a material which is Broadcast with a spinning disc spreader. A single run of the equipment is still not suitable for a precise application; therefore, material is typically applied at half rates and in two directions at right angles (90 degree) to each other.



Application rates are typically adjusted by varying the forward speed of the spreader. This is easier to achieve with a powered spreader in contrast to a pedestrian operated one, or by adjusting the gap through which the material falls or is propelled.

Drop spreaders may be more suited to smaller and finer turf surfaces such as lawns, golf greens and bowling greens. This equipment is also referred to as a Linear spreader.