FERTIGATION AND CHEMIGATION INTO

THE AUTOMOTIVE IRRIGATION

SYSTEM
FERTIGATION AND CHEMIGATION INTO THE AUTOMOTIVE IRRIGATION
SYSTEM

Index

1. INTRODUCTION TO THE AUTOMOTIVE IRRIGATION SYSTEM

2. FERTIGATION AND CHEMIGATION

2.1. Chemigation
2.2. Fertigation

3. FERTIGATION AND CHEMIGATION IN PIVOTS AND LATERALS

3.1. General definition
3.2. Main aspects
3.3. Chemigation in pivots
3.4. Fertigation in pivots

4. FERTILIZATION AND CHEMIGATION EQUIPMENTS

4.1. Injection equipments
4.2. Calibration of injection equipments
4.3. Injection equipments installation
4.4. Basic requirements of injection equipments

5. GAUGING THE CHEMIGATION AND FERTIGATION EQUIPMENTS IN PIVOTS

TRAVELLERS AND LATERALS
5.1. Introduction
5.2. Gauging of a chemigation/fertigation system for central pivots
5.3. Gauging of a chemigation/fertigation system for laterals
5.4. Gauging example of a fertigation system in pivots

1
1. INTRODUCTION TO THE AUTOMOTIVE IRRIGATION SYSTEM

The Automotive Aspersion Irrigation system is created in order to diminish

the costs of a sprinkler installation, and in order to eliminate the system of
main and secondary pipes present in an irrigation area. In order to
eliminate these pipes several mechanized systems are created. Those are
based on the automatic and mechanised shifting of transmitters.

We can distinguish between two different types of mechanised aspersion

systems:
• Shifting of a big sized transmitter (Guns); Depending on the shifting
system, we can distinguish between “Travelling Guns” (a big sized
sprinkler fixed on a flexible hose that shifts with the help of a cable)
and "Traveller machine" (Track) (a big irrigation gun connected to a
flexible hose winded in a barrow. This barrow is shifted thanks to water
pressure, and at the same time winds the hose on which the irrigation
gun is connected).

Fig. 1: Traveller machine.

Fig.: Working of traveller machine.

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• Shifting of irrigation machine. This kind of equipment achieves a
displacement of the whole irrigation machine. All the irrigation area is
irrigated by means of a metallic structure – it holds the irrigation pipe
and the transmitters – self-propelled and turning around a given point
from where it receives water and energy, and also where the control
elements are placed.
There are different types of irrigation machines, distinguished for their
kind of shifting. Each of them has a different water transmitter.

Automotive rotary irrigation machine "Pivot"; irrigation machine made

of a metallic structure that holds the irrigation pipe and the different
emitters. This machine is endowed by an automotive system that turns
around a fix point.

Fig.3; "PIVOT" working system

3
Automotive irrigation machine with parallel movement "Lateral"; as
above, it is an irrigation machine with its correspondent emitters that shifts
perpendicularly to the irrigation pipe.

Fig. 4; Shifting of a "Lateral"

4
2. CHEMIGATION AND FERTIGATION; GENERALITIES FOR AUTOMOTIVE IRRIGATION
SYSTEM; PIVOTS AND LATERALS.

2.1 Chemigation

2.1.1 General definition

Chemigation is the application of soluble chemical products in water or in

the irrigation line by means of several equipment.
These applications are meant for different targets.

2.1.2 Types of applications

a.) Mechanical; Application of chemical products in order to achieve a

general cleaning and maintenance of irrigation equipment and
transmitters. I.e.: application of acids for a cleaning of droppers in
localised irrigation or of “nozzles” in irrigation by aspersion.

b.) Agricultural; application of chemical products in order to achieve an

increase or an improvement in the production of the irrigation area.
We can classify them depending on the level of actuation:
Sanitary; application of chemical products such as fungicides,
herbicides, nematicidas…
Productive; application of fertilisers in order to stop shortages and to
provide the necessary nutritional elements: Fertigation.

2.1.3 Factors that affect the application of chemical products;

a.) Properties of the applied chemical product; the properties of the

different chemical products must be taken into account depending on
the irrigation area, water, soil… Volatility of the different chemical
products, their solubility in soil solution, effects of the combination
among them…

b.) Solubility; Solubility of chemical products in water determines the

moment of application and its viability for fertigation.
• High solubility; Apt for application in fertigation because the
possibility of precipitation, obtrusion or breakage of emitters and
other equipment is diminished. On the other hand we must take into
account that these kinds of products usually are very soluble in soil
solution and thus are easily dragged on soil.
• Low solubility; there is possibility of precipitation in the different
irrigation equipment provoking the above mentioned problems. On
the other hand, their mobility in soil is reduced and thus there are
no cleaning problems.

5
 c.) Volatility; It refers to the tendency of different chemical products to
pass from liquid to gas condition. This means that losses, in
chemigation by pivots or other aspersion systems, increase.

d.) Capacity of absorption by plants; In this case, the capacity of

absorption of the different chemical products that we can use on
plants may or may not interest us for irrigation purposes. If we apply a
chemical product that may be harmful for the irrigation area, we will be
interested in a product with a low capacity of being absorbed by
plants. On the other hand, when illness corrector chemical products
are used, they must be well absorbed by plants – by the root or by the
foliage. In this case, we will be interested in a different capacity of
absorption. In some cases other components may be used in order to
improve this capacity.

e.) Mobility in soil; It is interesting to know this parameter in order to

determine the depth on which the main part of the different chemical
products will be concentrated, in order to determine the viability of the
use of each product.

CHEMIGATION
Type of Product Activity Important aspects Name
Insecticides – Plagues control Easily absorbed Insectigation
foliage application by foliage
Nematicides – soil Plagues control Soluble in water Nematigation
application
Acaricides Plagues control Most of them with Insectigation
an insecticide
effect
Bactericide Illnesses control Most of them with Chemigation
a fungicide effect
Fungicides Illnesses control Divided in: Chemigation
fungicide applied
in foliage and
applied in soil
Herbicides Weeds control Soluble in water, Herbigation
very volatile

2.2 Fertigation

2.2.1 General definition

Application of nutritive elements in a grow using the irrigation system as a

means of transport and localisation in the irrigation area.

6
 2.2.2 General aspects

As explained above, the application of nutritive elements must be done in

a given area in order to favour the absorption by the plant, and in order to
increase the yielding of the applied fertilisers. Thus, depending on the type
of irrigation system, we must take into account the mobility of the different
fertilisers in soil.
On the other hand we must take into account that the fertilisers, as
chemical products, may arouse problems of chemical resistance,
precipitation, volatilisation…

N= Do not mix
Nitrogenated

Monoamonic

Monoamonic
Ammonium

Ammonium

Ammonium

Ammonium

Phosphoric
Phosphate

Phosphate
Potassium

Potassium

Potassium
X= Mix in the

Sulphate

Chlorate
Calcium
solution
Sulfate
Nitrate

Nitrate

Nitrate
injection point.
Urea

Acid
Ammonium C X X N X X X X C C
Nitrate
Ammonium C X X N C N N N C C
Sulphate
Nitrogenated X X X X X X X X C C
solution
Urea X X X X X X X X C C

Calcium N N X X X N N N N C
Nitrate
Potassium X C X X X C C C C C
Nitrate
Ammonium X N X X N C C C C C
Phosphate
Monoamonic
Ammonium X N X X N C C C C C
Phosphate
Monoamonic
Phosphoric X N X X N C C C C C
Acid
Potassium C C C C N C C C C C
Sulphate
Potassium C C C C C C C C C C
Chlorate

Most of these fertilisers have important corrosive effects. Thus we should

carefully choose the material of construction of the different irrigation
equipment:
Filters
Emitters
Injection Systems
Pipes
…

7
 Materials such as aluminium, stainless steel, or cast iron are not very
responsive to corrosion. On the contrary, brass or bronze are quickly
damaged.

Therefore, we must take into account the building materials of all these
parts that are in contact with concentrated or solved fertilisers.

FERTIGATION; Nutritional Products

Type of Activity Important aspects Name
Product
Bio nutrients Activation of growing Rich in aminoacids Fertigation
and developing of and low proportion
plants. of fertilisers
“Emends” Action on physic, Specific correctors Fertigation
chemical and (pH, Ec,
biological stabilizers,
characteristics of soil absorbents…)
and irrigation water
Fertilisers Products that give Organic: generally Fertigation
plants the necessary solid and not very
nutritive elements for soluble.
their proper Minerals; among
development this group we
include fertilisers
qualified for
fertigation and
application in
foliage.

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3. CHEMIGATION AND FERTIGATION IN PIVOTS AND LATERALS

3.1 General definition

Application of different types of fertilisers by means of an irrigation system

based on auto propelled rotary shifting machines (Pivots) or parallel ones
(Laterals). This kind of chemigation is characterised by some
particularities. Many aspects must be taken into account in order to
guarantee the best yielding of chemigation and in order to avoid possible
problems.

3.2 Main aspects

As explained above the characteristics of this system will determine

several aspects of chemigation.
Firstly the irrigation system must be characterised. This kind of irrigation
system is based on the emission of little water drops by means of emitters
(sprinklers) creating a “rain” that is distributed through all the irrigation
area. All these emitters are placed on a big auto propelled metallic
structure (between 60 and 800mm length).
Nowadays some improvements are being made on equipment, in order to
decrease the energetic costs and in order to increase the uniformity of
irrigation distribution.
Energetically, there is a tendency on the disappearance of impact
sprinklers. They need big irrigation pressures in order to work properly.
New emitters of the “spray" type are now introduced. They use a low
pressure in order to work properly. However, the number of transmitters
increases in this case, in relation to the number of necessary impact
sprinklers.
In relation to the improvement of the irrigation water distribution, in order to
increase the distribution uniformity, systems that localise the emitters of
irrigation at a lesser height are being introduced.
We can distinguish the present-day equipment depending on their position
in relation to the irrigation area;

• MESA (Mid-Elevation Spray Application); Placed at a mid height

between the irrigation pipe and soil. In this case, irrigation is made
over the irrigation area canopy.

• LESA (Low-Elevation Spray Application); In this case the emitters

are placed under the irrigation area canopy. In most cases, in order
to use this system, and depending on the plants, we will have to
plant in a circular manner.

In order to adjust the distribution of water in the different growing phases

of plants, flying-hoses are adjustable to different heights. In this way we
can adjust to the different phase of plants growth, and we can also use the
system in order to apply fertilisers or other chemical products.

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3.3 Chemigation in Pivots;

In order to differentiate in this group between chemigation and fertigation

we will only take into account the introduction of chemical products in the
irrigation area: nematicides, fungicides, herbicides, insecticides…

Once defined the application field, in general terms it is the most

widespread irrigation system used in order to do chemigation. The
distribution of the product is done over the entire irrigation surface and in
not only in a definite area.

a) Advantages

• Increase of the application uniformity; The application of

these kinds of chemical products in properly designed systems
is very uniform. At the same time we can apply them gilding all
the phases of irrigation growth.
• Reduction of application costs; The number of workers
needed in order to control the system is reduced, as well as the
necessary equipment and the time devoted to apply it. Thus, the
reduction of costs is quite important.
• Reduction of daily applications; In properly designed systems
and with adequate programming for chemigation we can obtain
a reduction in the number of daily applications.
• Reduction of soil compaction; As we do not use tractors there
is no possibility of soil compacting.
• Reduction of mechanical damages caused in irrigation
area; The excessive usage of tractors and other equipment
inside the irrigation area provoke mechanical damages in it.
• Reduction of usage of chemical products; The possibility of
locating the products in the necessary areas as well as the
possibility of doing the application in those moments of main
necessity allows us to reduce the doses of chemical products.
• Possible usage of foliage penetration. In some cases this
system is essential when applying a treatment (fungicides,
contact herbicides…). If we use this kind of chemigation we can
use products that favour foliage absorption. The solubility of
insecticides, herbicides …. Must be guaranteed, by using
emulsifiers, oils…

b) Disadvantages

• Potential pollution of water; Chemical products can be

dragged to soil level if: - we irrigate after applying the treatment;
-we have problems when emptying the tank due to a bad design
of the equipment; - there is an excess of applied product in
definite points of the equipment (beginning or end) due to a bad
dimensioning of irrigation emitters.
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 • There is no uniformity in the application; If we apply the
treatments at inconvenient moments (windy days…) If we have
a bad dimensioned equipment, we can have problem in the
uniformity of the application, losing great quantities of product or
treating surrounding areas.
• Qualified personnel; We need qualified personnel in order to
develop chemigation. Workers must know about dosage
calculations, equipment calibrations (injectors, transmitters,
security valves…)
• Additional equipment; There is the need of using injectors of
chemical products, which will guarantee a definite dosage, as
well as equipment in order to guarantee the properly mixing of
chemical products in water (agitators).
• Increase in irrigation time; the application of products such as
herbicides or fungicides in an irrigation system implies the
increase in the devoted irrigation time, or even the need to
irrigate in unnecessary moments.

3.4 Fertigation in Pivots

Firstly, we should define the action field of fertigation. We understand

fertigation as the application of nutritional products in irrigation.
Among these nutrients, we find the following categories:

Bio nutrients: These products active the growth or the plant developing
by compounds directly usable by these. The most active of bio nutrients
are amino acids. All of them: are bio activating, induce resistance,
promote defence and have a repelling effect.
“Growth applications”: These kinds of applications affect the physical,
chemical and biological characteristic of irrigation soil and water.
We find in this group:
• Specific correctors; Products of synthetic origin that regulate pH in
irrigation water and soil solution, desalinise, stabilise, damp and
engross.
• Mineral “Growth applications”; Mineral origin products.
• Organic “Growth applications”; Biological origin products of among
which we find liquid products such as humic acid, substrates….
• Biological “Growth applications”; Devoted to the multiplication of
microbial flora in order to improve the decomposition of organic
matter and the formation of absorbable forma for plants.

FERTILIZERS: Products that give plants the necessary nutritive elements.

• Organic fertilisers; their fertilising capacity is due to their high

content of organic matter. Generally they are available solidly, not
soluble in water.
• Mineral fertilisers; their fertilising power comes from their high
content in natural or synthetic mineral matter. Simple mineral

11
 nutrients, complex ones, shortage correctors, slow liberation
nutrients, foliage nutrients, fertigation nutrients…

Taking into account the basic considerations about fertigation we must be

aware of certain limiting factors when applying fertilisers by means of this
irrigation system. There are some advantages and some disadvantages:

3.4.1 Advantages

• Moment of application; The application of nutrients can be done

through all the vegetative period of the plant.
• Types of fertilisers; The application of fertilisers with a great
mobility in soil allows us to regulate perfectly its content in the
whole profile of the soil.
• Uniformity of application; Application uniformity depends on the
uniformity of the irrigation system.
• Irrigation tasks; Most of the irrigation tasks will be eliminated.
Principally in the case of mixing applications of chemical products in
order to avoid possible precipitation.
• Reduction of fertilisers doses; The possibility of applying
fertilisers through all the vegetative period as well as the soil
mobility factor makes us reduce the applied fertilisers doses,
provoking a diminish in the risk of contamination of soil and
underground waters if we do a correct timing of fertigation and
irrigation.
• Reduction of mechanical damages in irrigation area; The
decrease of irrigation tasks done with tractors reduces the
mechanical damages in the irrigation area.
• Possibility of applying fertigation in foliage; The aerial
application of fertilisers over the grow canopy makes possible the
usage of foliage fertilisers.

3.4.2 Disadvantages;

• Uniformity of application; Uniformity in the distribution of

fertilisers in the irrigation area depends directly on the good design
of the irrigation machine.
• Types of fertilisers; The mobility of the different fertilisers in the
soil limits the type of fertiliser to use. In this way, mineral nutrients
rich in potassium, with a low mobility in soil, may not arrive to the
root area of plants and thus not be used by them.
• Solubility of fertilisers; The solubility of fertilisers must be quite
high and must not give us precipitation problems. That is why there
is an increase in the cost of nutrients because there is no possibility
of buying cheap fertilisers such as ammonic anhydride.
• Volatility of fertilisers; the volatility of some fertilisers must be
taken into account, i.e.: fertilisers rich in ammonium.

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 • Corrosivity of fertilisers; the possibility that some parts of the
system get in contact with fertilising products must be taken into
account. Thus we must avoid the use of non-resistant materials.

3.5 Conclusions

The irrigation system for pivots and laterals using CHEMIGATION, and in
particular for the treatment of illnesses and plagues in irrigation areas, is a
widespread system that conveys an improvement in all fields against the
traditional methods. We only need a correct timing in order to do the
application in the right moments (no wind, low temperatures, no light) and
to have into account the volubility and solubility of the applied products .

In relation to FERTIGATION, it is advisable the use of only those mineral

nutrients with a high mobility in soil in order to ensure their proper yielding,
as well as all those with also a high solubility. That is why nowadays
fertigation with Pivots is devoted almost exclusively to the application of
nutrients with an important quantity of nitrogen. As explained above, we
should do a good calibration and design of the system as well as a proper
temporisation in order to guarantee its maximum yielding.

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4. CHEMIGATION AND FERTIGATION EQUIPMENT

4.1 Possible injection equipment

Having into account the need of this kind of irrigation system and the
particular needs when applying chemical products or nutrients, we
distinguish between two kinds of injection equipment

Passive injection equipment; the usage of this equipment conveys a

decrease in the irrigation line pressure, or a loss of water flow. In addition,
the calibration and adjustment of their injection flow is quite difficult.
Nowadays the usage of these equipment is diminishing, for systems
conveyed to work with reduced pressures are being designed.
Moreover, the possibilities of automate these injection systems are much
reduced and are based on the use of solenoid valves and pulse meters.
In some cases, in particular in small irrigation systems we can use
proportional hydraulic injectors. That allows the incorporation of one or two
injection modules in order to dose one or two different products.

Active injection equipment; All the active injection systems used for
agricultural purposes have electric motors that allow a very reliable control
of the injection by using inverters, servomotors, etc.

Among these systems, nowadays the most used are:

Piston pumps; This equipment allows choosing the kind of nominal

injection flow of the pump, and at the same time securely adjusting
the injection percentage. In addition, there is the possibility of
attaching to a pump several injection modules in order to apply more
than one product at the same time.

Diaphragm pumps; This kind of injection pumps are designed for

the injection of reduced flows. In general and for agricultural
purposes their use is recommended for chemigation in low flow and
low pressures systems.

4.2 Calibration of injection equipment

As explained above, in order to guarantee a proper application of products

it is important to do a good dimensioning of the injection equipment. On
one hand, injections inferior than needed mean a low yielding of the
application menacing the irrigation area development. Excessive injections
mean losses of fertilizers but can also convey the pollution of soil,
underground waters and the burning of foliage.
In order to do a proper dimensioning and calibration, we have to take into
account the following parameters:

14
 Pivot circumference;
C = 2ΠR

Treatment area;
A = ΠR2

Travel speed;
Traveled distance in 10 minutes while the system is irrigation the
water volume on which we wish to apply the products. (V)

Revolution Time;
Time spent by the system in doing a complete circumference while
using the wished volume of irrigation water.
Tr; C/V

Treated area per minute (m2);

At = A/Tr

Application flow;
Qa = VpxAt
On Vp = Necessary volume of product per m2.
At = Treated area per minute

4.3 Injection equipment installation

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 a) Equipment situation; Chemical dosage equipment is usually placed
inside the “irrigation head” of the irrigation systems, in the case of fixed
systems.
In mobile irrigation systems, equipment is placed on the Pivot base.

b) Equipment installation; Chemical dosage equipment must have the

following elements in order to guarantee their proper operation:

• Tank of chemical products or fertilizers.

• Ball valves of the fertilizer tank.
• Aspiration hose.
• Filter in order to guarantee the absence of solid particles in the
fertilizer solution.
• Injection pump.
• Non-return valve: it avoids water coming into the tank and at the
same time helps in the mixing of the product injected in the
irrigation system.
• Agitation system in the tank.

In both cases dosage is done before getting to the vertical pipe of the
pivot, so that the angles can properly mix water with the injected product.

In some cases in order to guarantee a proper dosage we can use injection

control systems based on a proportional injection or on achieving pre-
established EC or pH values, as well as temporization systems.

4.4 Basic requirements of injection equipment

Injectors of chemical products should have the following requirements;

• Manually and automatically adjustable.

• Manufactured with chemical resistant materials.
16
 • Availability of spare parts.
• Possibility of injecting one or more products simultaneously.
• Capacity of adjusting injection flow up to 5% with grades of 1%.
• Correct dimensioning for minimum and maximum needs.

a) Electric pre-installation Kit; This Kit offers all the necessary elements to
install an injection pump with an injection module connected to a tank
for chemical products.
This Kit offers the following elements:
• General components;
Modular electric injection pump MULTIFERTIC®
• Hydraulic components
Ball valve to close the tank
Filter to aspirate fertilizer
Hose
Non-return valve
• Electric components;
Electric connection terminals
Circuit breaker
Circuit breaker protection box
Connections cable

b) Pre-installation Kit with support for tanks with fertilizers: This system is
aimed for small installations with a tank, an injection pump and an
agitator.

This system offers;

• General components;
MULTIFERTIC® modular injection pump.
Turbine agitator
Support bar KIT-PIVOT to install in fertilizer tanks.

• Hydraulic Components;
Filter to aspirate fertilizer
Hose
Non-return valve
90º angle

• Electric components;
Electric connections terminals
Circuit breaker
Circuit breaker protection box
Connections cable

17
 Electric pre-installation Kit;

Components:

NUMBER CODE DESCRIPTION UNITS

1 20CAJ GMT 0.5 CIRCUIT BREAKER BOX 1
2 20MAG 0.5 TRI CIRCUIT BREAKER 0.5 CV 1
3 20MNG 15X21 FL PVC HOSE 15X21 10 m
4 20MNG 4 X 1 CABLE 4 X 1.5 10 m
5 20 PRE PG16 PG 16 GLAND 2
6 20PSM ½ WALL CHISEL ½ 1
7 20TER 1.5 TERMINAL CONNECTOR 1.5 4
8 30MAC ½ ½ “ NIPPLE 1
9 20VAL BOL ½ ½ “ VALVE 1
10 50VAL ANT DIF NON RETURN VALVE 3/4“ 1

(*) MOTOR
ROTATION
1
3 W U V W

V 2
U

U V W

5
4

U VW
380V AC

18
 Pre-installation kit with telescopic support for fertilizer tanks:

Components;

NUMBER CODE DESCRIPTION UNITS

1 20CAJ GMT 0.5 CIRCUIT BREAKER BOX 2
2 20MAG 0.5 TRI CIRCUIT BREAKER 0.5 CV 2
3 20MNG 15X21 FL PVC HOSE 15X21 10 m
4 20MNG 4 X 1 CABLE 4 X 1.5 20 m
5 20 PRE PG16 PG 16 GLAND 4
6 20COD 1/2H 90ª ELBOW 1/2" 1
7 20TER 1.5 TERMINAL CONNECTOR 1.5 8
8 50VAL IMP 1/2M IMPULSION RETENTION
VALVE 1/2
9 50VAL ANT DIF NON RETURN VALVE 3/4“ 1
1 60KPV XXX KIT PIVOT TELESCOPIC 1
SUPPORT
11 30RAC IMP 1/2" IMPULSION CONNECTOR 1
1
U V W

W
U V W
V
U
A
5 (*) MOTOR
4
ROTATION

A
U VW
4
380V AC
3

11 6

(*) MOTOR
ROTATION 8
A

10

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5. GAUGING THE CHEMIGATION AND FERTIGATION EQUIPMENT IN PIVOTS AND
TRAVELLERS

5.1 Introduction

One of the main issues when you have to carry out a chemigation and/or
fertigation correctly is to ensure a high uniformity of application. This
uniformity will be attained, in the first place, if the irrigation layout (design
of Pivot or Lateral) is good, and after that by using an injection equipment
of the right size.

In order to correctly establish the size of the injection equipments some

aspects of the injection equipment, of the crop, etc. must be kept in mind,
be travelers other features of the fertigation and chemigation systems
used.

• Area to be treated.
• Amount of product needed to carry out treatment.
• Number and length of treatments.
• Volume of injection.
• Gauging the volume of injection.

5.2 Gauging of a chemigation/fertigation system for central pivots

As in the remaining irrigation systems, we

base ourselves on the uniformity of
application data obtained, on the irrigation
time, irrigation area, etc.

a) Fixing the area for treatment. In this case

the treated area is a circle and we must
keep in mind the use of final guns when the
application is carried out.

Area (At in m²) = π x r²

Where: π = 3.1416
r = length of Pivot,
Plus the actual irrigated distance of the irrigation gun, when
used.

b) To establish the total amount of chemical product needed. Having

in hand the agronomical data, such as the crops needs, number of
plants per hectare, etc., we can establish a basic parameter for this
process:

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Needs (Nq); Kilo per Product per hectare
l. per product per hectare
Chemical Product = AT x Nq

Where: At = treated area in hectares (AT/10000)

Nq = liters per hectare needed. If we have the value in kilos per
hectare we shall convert them to liters, keeping in mind the
chemical product used and the concentration of the solution
prepared.

c) Treatment time needed. It is the time needed by the Pivot to make a

full circle. This parameter must be measured carefully and correctly. We
must calculate the speed of the system with wet ground, and the
pressure and the irrigation flow which we will use when carrying out the
applications.

This measurement can be carried out in two different ways:

• Measuring the time needed by the Pivot so that the last tower
of the Pivot be able to reach a given distance (over 20 m.).
• Measuring the distance covered by the last tower of the Pivot
in a given time (10 min.).

The best solution would be to calculate the actual time needed by the
Pivot to carry out a full turn.

In the first place we must keep in mind that speed is calculated by means
of the last tower, and not the final section of irrigation. Therefore we must
establish the total distance covered by this tower:

R=2xπxr

Where: r = the distance from the middle point of the Pivot to the last
tower, and R is the total distance covered by the last tower of
the Pivot.

In the second place we must keep in mind the rotating speed and calculate
the revolutions per minute (r.p.m.) of the Pivot.

Rotating speed (Vr in r.p.m.) = R / speed of turn

(Meters/minute)

Where: Vr = Pivot's revolutions per minute

R = length of one revolution

d) Number of applications
We must establish the number of applications by means of which we
must measure out the amount of product to be used as per b).

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After deciding the number of applications (Na) per week and month, we
shall carry out the following operation to establish the injection flow for
each application.

Application amount (Da in l./application) = Chemical P./Na

Where: Chemical P. = the volume of chemical product we need to make

the treatment.
Na = the number of applications we will effect to make a full
treatment.

e) Injection flow of the chemigation/fertigation systems

It makes reference to the total volume of product to be measured out in
each application, divided by the rotation speed of the system (r.p.m.).

Injection flow (q.inj. in l./h.) = Da / Vr.

Where: Da = the volume of chemical product we shall use in each

application.
Vr = revolutions per hour of Pivot (r.p.m. x 60).

f) Gauging of the injection flow

Keeping in mind the injection flow given out by the previous
calculations, and the existing models in the market of injection pumps,
we can carry out the first gauging of the equipment, to establish the
percentage of injection which must be used.

% Regulation = theoretical q. inj. / actual Q x 100

Where: theoretical q.inj = the injection flow calculated under d).

Actual Q.: = the nominal injection flow of the module of
injection pump available.
% regulation = the regulation % of the module of the
available injection pump.

In most cases we will choose to work with regulation percentages over

75% of the maximum capacity of the pump, since in this way we ensure
the possibility of working correctly with larger or smaller flows.
Simultaneously, regulations below 10% may produce inconsistent and
inaccurate dosing flows.

g) General information on sizing

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 Generally speaking, the sizing of the injection pump for Pivots
corresponds to the following equation:
Nominal flow of injection pump

3 * Lp * Nn * Vp
q. iny.$
1000 * Sol * Na

Where: Lp: Length of Pivot in meters

Nn: Nutrition needs (kg./ha.)
Vp: Speed of Pivot (meters/min.)
Sol: Solubility of fertilizer (kg./l.)
Na: Number of applications. Fertigation frequency.

Recommendations:
ƒ The solubility value of the fertilizer to be used to prepare the
mother solution will be equal or higher than the solubility value
suggested by the manufacturer.

ƒ In areas with heavy rainfall, we must keep in mind the possible

variations of the application frequency, which might imply
changing the sizing of the injection pump.

5.3. Gauging of a chemigation/fertigation system for laterals

As for the other irrigation systems, in this case the fertigation and
chemigation are based on obtaining information of application uniformity,
irrigation time, irrigation area, etc.
In all the cases they work in the same way as the gauging of the middle
Pivots. The only feature which changes with respect to
fertigation/chemigation in Pivot is the crop area and the calculation of the
lateral speeds of the irrigation section.

a) Fixing the treatment area. In order to calculate correctly the treatment

area we must keep in mind the farming system and calculate it as the
sum of different regular areas in case they are not regular.

Lateral : the irrigation area is a rectangle:

Area (At in m²) = l x d

Where: l = length of piece of land treated (Channel,

piping, etc.)
d = length of Lateral, plus actual irrigated
distance of the irrigation gun, if used.

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Racetrack system: in this case the treated area is the sum of two areas
calculated separately:

Area 1 /At1 in m²) = l x d

Area 2 (At2 in m²) = π x d²

Total area (Total A in m²) = At1 + At2

Where: l = length of piece of land treated (channel, piping, etc.)

d = length of Lateral plus actual distance irrigated by the irrigation
gun, if used.
π = 3.1416

b) Fixing the total amount of chemical product needed.

Taking into account the agronomic information and the cultivation
needs, number of plants per ha, etc., we can establish a basic
parameter to fix the amount of chemical product needed.

Needs (Nq): Kg. = product per ha.

L = product per ha.

Chemical product = Total A x Nq

Where: Total A = treated area in hectares (At/10000)

Nq = needs in l./ha. If the value we have is Kg./ha., we shall
convert it to liters, taking into account the chemical
product used and the concentration of the solution
prepared.

c) Needed treatment time

It is the time needed by the Lateral to make a full cycle. This parameter
will have to be measured in a correct and precise way. We must
calculate the speed of the system with wet ground, and the pressure
and irrigation flow which will be used during the applications.
Should we have a Racetrack System, we shall have to distinguish
among the different speeds concerning the rectangular part (of the
Lateral) and the turning speeds of the Racetrack where it acts as a
Pivot.

Traveling speed of the Lateral. It is a direct measurement as we shall

have to calculate the time needed by the Lateral to travel a given
distance, or the distance traveled in a given time.

Traveling speed (Vr in m./min.) = l/T (meters/minute)

Where: l = length of terrain treated

T= time the Pivot needs to travel this distance

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Revolution speed of the Pivot part. As in the gauging of the chemigation
systems by means of Pivots we shall calculate taking into account the last
tower of the irrigation section. In the first place we shall determine the
distance traveled by the tower, and in the second place we shall take into
account the established revolution speed, and we shall calculate the
revolution per minut of the pivot (r.p.m.)

Finally we shall take into account the arc traveled by the Pivot, whether it
is a full revolution or only a partial one.

R = 2 x π x r (one full revolution)

R=πxr (one half of a full revolution)
R = 1/2 x π x r (90º)

Where: r = the distance from the central point of the Pivot to the last
tower
R = the total distance traveled by the last tower of the Pivot

Revolution speed (Vr in r.p.m.) = R / Speed of turn (meters/minute)

Where: Vr = revolutions per minute of Pivot

R = Length of one revolution

Finally, after ascertaining the two speeds we can establish the time taken
by the system to make a full cycle we shall calculate it as a total V (in)
r.p.m.

d) Number of applications
We shall establish the number of applications needed for dosing the
amount of chemical products established account the established
revolution speed, and we shall calculate the revolutions per minute of
the Pivot (r.p.m.).

After we have decided the number of weekly and monthly applications,

we shall have to carry out the following operation to establish the
amount of solution to be used for each application.

Application dose (Da for application/l.) = Chemical P./Na.

Where: Chemical P. = the volume of chemical products needed to carry

out treatment.
Na = the number of applications which we shall carry
out to make the treatment.

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 e) Injection flow of the chemigation system
It refers to the total volume of product to be measured out in each
application (Da.), divided by the traveling speed of the system.

Injection flow (q.inj. in l./h.) = DA / V total

Where: Da. = is the volume of chemical product which we use for

each application.
V total = is the speed of the Lateral

f) Gauging of the injection flow

If we take into account the injection flow established by the previous
calculations and the models of injection pumps existing on the market,
we can now make a first gauging of the equipment, to establish the
injection percentage to be used.

Regulation % = theoretical q. Inj. / actual Q x 100

Where: theoretical q. inj.= the injection flow calculated under d).

Actual Q. = the nominal injection flow of the available
model of injection pump.
Regulation % = the percentage of regulation of the
module of injection pump available.

g) General information on sizing

Generally speaking, the size of the injection pump for Laterals is given
out by the following equation:
Nominal flow of injection pump

Ll * Nn * Vp
q. iny.$
10000 * Sol * Na

Where: Ll: Lateral length (in meters)

Na: Nutrition needs (kg./ha)
Vp: Speed of the Lateral (meters/min.)
Sol: Solubility of fertilizer (kg./l.)
Na: Number of applications. Frequency of fertilization

5.4 Gauging example of a fertigation system in pivots

Fertigation program for corn irrigated by means of an 80 m long Pivot. The

formulation of the fertigation is based on a corn crop, in a given
phenological condition. The required nutrition needs, determined by
means of a soil and leaves analysis, will be:

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 25 kg N/ha., Ammonium Nitrate (33.5-0-0)
11 kg P205/ha., Monoammonium Phosphate (MAP, 10.5-52-0)
23 kg K2O/ha. (0-0-30)

a) Crop area and length of Pivot:

At = π x 80² = 20106.20 m² = 2.01 ha.

b) Nutrition needs and amount of product to be applied:

Potash:
100 kg. fertilizer
23 kg. K2O -------------------- = 76.67 kg. fertilizer
30 kg. K2O

There are 25 kg/sack, wherefore we should use 3 sacks:

30 kg. K2O
75 kg. fertilizer ------------------- = 22.5 kg. K2O
100 kg. fertilizer

Monoammonium phosphate:

100 kg. fertilizer

11 kg. P2O5 -------------------- = 21.15 kg fertilizer
52 kg. P2O5

There are 25 kg/sacks, wherefore we shall use 1 sack:

52 kg. P2O5
25 kg. fertilizer ------------------- = 2.63 kg. N
100 kg. fertilizer

Ammonium nitrate:

2.63 kg. N (provided by MAP)

25 kg. - 2.63 kg. N = 22.37 kg. N

100 kg. fertilizer

22.37 kg. N -------------------- = 66.78 kg. fertilizer
33.5 kg. P2O5

There are 25 kg/sacks, wherefore we shall use 3 sacks:

33.5 kg. N
75 kg. fertilizer ------------------- = 25.13 kg. N
100 kg. fertilizer

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In this way we shall obtain the following composition, which we shall mix in
the fertilizer tank:

Fertilizers supplied in Nutrients Nutrients Difference

kg. supplied in kg. required in kg.

75 kg. Ammonium 25,13 Kg. + 2,63 25 Kg. N + 2,76

nitrate Kg. = 27,76 Kg. Kg.
25 kg. Monoammonium N
phosphate
25 kg. Monoammonium 13 Kg. P2O5 11 Kg. P2O5 + 2 Kg.
phosphate
75 kg. Potash fertilizer 22,5 Kg. K2O 23 Kg K2O - 0,5 Kg.
Total kg. (Nq) 175 Kg / ha

Chemical product = At x Nq = 2.01 x 175 kg. = 351.75 kg.

It needs not less than 600 liters water for its solubilization.
We shall use a container of 1000 liters. Dose: 0.352 kg./l.

c) Treatment time:

Pivot travel:
R=2 x π x r = 2 x 3.1416 x 80 = 502.65 m.

Treatment time:
We take as average speed of Pivot V revolution = 1.40 m/min.

Treatment time=R/V rev.= 502.65 / 1.40 = 359 min. = 5.98 h.

d) Number of Applications per week / month:

We consider a weekly application wherefore the application dose (on a

monthly basis) will have to be divided by the number of weekly
applications.
1000 l. solution
Application dose Da = -------------------= 250 l. solution/application
4 applications

e) Injection flow of products:

We must carry out an application of 250 liters for each treatment. This
solution must take place in a homogeneous way all along the travel of
the Pivot.

Q inj.= chemical product/Vr = 250 l. / 5.98 h. = 41.80 l./h.

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f) Gauging of injection equipment:

In this case the fertigation equipment will be made up of an injection

pump with a module with a nominal flow of 50 l./h. (real Q = 50 l./h.).
For this reason the equipment must be regulated as follows:

Regulation % = theoretical q / actual q x 100 = 41.80/50 x 100 =

83.6% ~84%

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