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Chemigation And Fertigation Basics For California, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Chemigation is the application of any chemical through an irrigation system. Examples of chemicals include insecticides, fungicides, fertilizers, water amendments, soil amendments, and compounds used to reduce plugging of drip emitters. Proper chemigation reduces energy consumption (less fertilizer, chemicals, and tractor travel) and improves crop quality and yields.

Fertigation accounts for the majority of chemigation. The sophistication of fertigation knowledge and practices is at about the same level as drip/microirrigation was in the mid-1970s. A lot of equipment and chemicals exist, and many farmers use fertigation, but only a relatively small percentage of those farmers are sophisticated users.