Fertilizer blockage cleaning system for an agricultural fertilizer spreader

A method of maintaining a flow of granular fertilizer delivered to the soil of a field through a hose assembly using a metering device coupled to a fertilizer hopper, the method comprising:

• delivering granular fertilizer from the fertilizer hopper to the metering device;
• delivering a stream of gravity fed granular fertilizer from the metering device to a channel of the fertilizer hose assembly, the fertilizer hose assembly including an elbow section having a first portion joined to a tapered second portion at a first change of direction line and the tapered second portion joined to a less inclined third portion at a second change of direction line, the third portion being directed more downward than the tapered second portion;
• monitoring the flow of the gravity fed granular fertilizer through the channel of the fertilizer hose assembly with a sensor disposed along the fertilizer hose assembly between a fertilizer hose input and a fertilizer hose output;
• directing a flow of air with a blower through a blower hose into the channel between the fertilizer hose input and the sensor and into the flow of the gravity fed granular fertilizer prior to the monitoring, wherein an air inlet centered at the second change of direction line is coupled to the blower hose to direct airflow downward toward a bend at the second change of direction line and into the gravity fed granular fertilizer, thereby accelerating the flow of gravity fed granular fertilizer within the channel;
• and
• identifying a buildup of the gravity fed granular fertilizer with the sensor to determine if the channel is obstructed by a buildup of the gravity fed granular fertilizer.

An agricultural system for preparing a field for harvesting a crop comprising:

• a tractor including a hitch;
• and
• a farm implement including a tongue adapted to be coupled to the hitch, the farm implement including:
• a hopper adapted to hold granular fertilizer;
• a metering device coupled to the hopper to receive granular fertilizer from the hopper and to meter the granular fertilizer at a predetermined fertilizer flow rate, wherein the predetermined fertilizer flow rate results from the force of gravity to deliver a stream of gravity fed granular fertilizer;
• a fertilizer hose assembly including an elbow section having a first portion joined to a tapered second portion at a first change of direction line and the tapered second portion joined to a less inclined third portion at a second change of direction line, the third portion being directed more downward than the tapered second portion, the fertilizer hose assembly defining a fertilizer hose channel between a fertilizer hose input and a fertilizer hose output, the fertilizer hose input operatively connected to the metering device to receive the stream of gravity fed granular fertilizer from the metering device;
• a sensor device to sense a flow of gravity fed granular fertilizer in the fertilizer hose channel, the sensor device disposed along the fertilizer hose channel between the fertilizer hose input and the fertilizer hose output;
• a blower adapted to deliver a blower airflow through a blower hose, wherein the blower hose is connected to the fertilizer hose assembly to deliver the blower airflow from the blower hose and into the fertilizer hose channel at a bend in the fertilizer hose channel between the fertilizer hose input and the sensor device, wherein an air inlet centered at the second change of direction line is coupled to the blower hose to direct airflow downward toward a bend at the second change of direction line and into the gravity-fed granular fertilizer to accelerate the flow of gravity fed granular fertilizer within the fertilizer hose channel;
• and
• an opener adapted to provide a trench in the soil and located at the fertilizer hose output, wherein the trench receives the accelerated gravity fed granular fertilizer provided by the fertilizer hose output.