The Benefit of Chemigation: Timing is Everything

A new system makes it possible to apply insecticide and fertilizer when it’s exactly right.

(PRWEB) September 20, 2006 -- With fertigation and chemigation, timing is everything. Precision products such as those from Agri-Inject make it completely possible.

He doesn’t have to get into a scheduling problem with whatever service provider he’s using.

If you’re an onion farmer, for instance, one of your worst enemies is a tiny insect known as the onion thrip. While they are hardly visible to the naked eye, their damage certainly is; the leaves wither and become a silver-gray color, and render the plant vulnerable to several different strains of bacteria and fungus. One onion season can host multiple generations of them, and if allowed to build up on a crop they will severely damage it. In controlling thrips, timing of insecticide application is vitally important, and chemigation -- the precise application of insecticide through a center-pivot irrigation system -- makes it possible.

“Timing and precise application are extremely important,” says Ryan “Hoss” Froman, a Colorado onion farmer. “We have to spray for onion thrip as frequently as every 5 to 7 days. We try to keep our per-plant number under 20, and ideally under 10, but in a couple days it can go from 10 - 15 clear up to 50, which can cause a serious problem. You have to be able to get in there right away.” In addition to timing, precise application is vital because thrips tend to be close in under leaves, especially where leaves are clustered.

Prior to chemigation, insecticide was applied either through a self-propelled or tractor-pulled spray rig, or from a hired airplane. A ground rig cannot be used if the ground is wet -- and at times during the season the crops are continuously irrigated. With a plane, the farmer is at the mercy of the servicing company’s schedule, and if there is a wind, insecticide cannot be dropped for risk of drift.

Timing plays a crucial role in fertilizing as well. “You have to fertilize onions before they start bulbing really hard,” says Froman. “It’s a lot easier to get it applied through the pivot, using fertigation, than any other way.” Previously, fertilizing was done by running a fertilizer shank behind the tractor. Again, if the ground was wet, fertilizing would be delayed and could be too late.

Fertigation through the center pivot has also allowed Froman to reduce his input costs by 30%. He fertigates once per week and supplies the exact needed nutrients for that week without wasting fertilizer through broadcasting.

Froman utilizes leading chemigation and fertigation products from Agri-Inject, Inc. Froman owns and uses 3 of the Agri-Inject chemigator units, a Mister-Mist’r injection check valve, and the Micro-Tube fertigation system. The units are dual-pump -- one side for fertigation, and the other for chemigation.

“With our system, a farmer can time their applications to meet their specifications,” says Arnold Page, Agri-Inject representative. “He doesn’t have to get into a scheduling problem with whatever service provider he’s using.”

In addition to getting fertilizer and chemicals applied precisely and on-time, Froman has saved substantially in the area of labor. “It’s really cut down on our labor,” he says. “One guy can control chemical and fertilizer application through all of my pivots, as opposed to needing 2 or 3 guys out driving tractors and sprayers.” He has also greatly curtained the hiring of planes.

For more information about this article or chemigation and fertigation systems, call Arnold Page at Agri-Inject at 1-800-446-5328, 5500 East Highway 34, Yuma, Colorado 80759 or visit their website at www.agri-inject.com to locate a dealer near you.

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