A 5-ton/hour NPK compound fertilizer production line is a mainstream configuration for small-to-medium-sized fertilizer processing plants, suitable for an annual output of 15,000 to 20,000 tons. It offers the advantages of low investment, low energy consumption, and simple operation and maintenance, making it widely applicable to township fertilizer plants, agricultural supply processing facilities, and customized fertilizer production projects. Scientific production line planning is the fundamental prerequisite for ensuring stable output, meeting granule quality standards, and reducing production costs. This article outlines a standardized planning scheme covering four key aspects: site selection, equipment configuration, process flow, and implementation essentials.

Site planning forms the foundation of the plant; a 5-ton/hour line does not require a vast area, with a total footprint of 3,000–4,000 square meters being sufficient. The site must be zoned into raw material storage, production operations, finished product warehousing, and office/auxiliary areas to ensure smooth material flow. A workshop ceiling height of at least 6 meters is recommended to accommodate equipment installation, maintenance, and dust removal systems. Additionally, measures for ventilation, dust control, and seepage prevention must be implemented to comply with environmental standards and avoid the need for future retrofitting.
Equipment configuration follows the principles of "streamlined efficiency" and "capacity matching," utilizing a mature extrusion granulation process that eliminates the need for drying, thereby significantly reducing energy consumption. Core equipment includes an automatic batching system, double-shaft paddle mixer, double-roller press granulator, drum screener, material recycling system, and semi-automatic packaging machine. The PLC-controlled automatic batching system precisely proportions raw materials—such as urea, ammonium phosphate, and potash—keeping the batching error within ±0.5% to ensure nutrient uniformity. All auxiliary equipment is matched to the 5-ton/hour capacity to prevent overloading or wasted potential, offering excellent overall cost-effectiveness.
The standardized process flow consists of four steps, executed through a continuous, fully automated operation. The process begins with precision ingredient proportioning, where the equipment automatically weighs various raw materials according to preset formulas. Next comes homogeneous mixing; a double-shaft paddle mixer ensures thorough blending without dead zones, guaranteeing a uniform mixture. This is followed by extrusion and granulation, utilizing a double-roller press granulator to form standard 2–4mm granules under high pressure. Finally, the material undergoes screening, material recycling, and packaging; off-spec granules are automatically recirculated for re-granulation, while finished products are packaged directly for storage, achieving a product yield rate exceeding 90%.
The final aspect concerns commissioning and operational maintenance. The production line requires only minimal human assistance, resulting in low labor costs. The equipment features a low failure rate and is easy to maintain, making it suitable for long-term, continuous production. Prior to operation, parameters such as proportioning accuracy, granulation pressure, and screening settings must be calibrated; during production, regular equipment cleaning and inspections of wear parts are required. Furthermore, the entire line supports the production of various NPK compound fertilizer formulas and allows for on-demand formula adjustments, offering exceptional flexibility—an ideal solution for small and medium-sized enterprises seeking to scale up and diversify production.