Chemigation: A Technology for the Future

摘要

Chemigation is the use of an irrigation system to apply chemicals to soils and plants, and is suited for most irrigation application technologies, including sprinkler, surface (flood or furrow), and drip or trickle systems. A wide variety of chemicals is suited for chemigation. Applying fertilizer using irrigation water is most common. Other chemicals commonly applied with irrigation water include herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, and nematicides. Chemigation has the potential to reduce some costs, labor needs, and the amount of active chemical ingredients used. However, chemigation requires more effective management practices and has the potential for direct water-source contamination.