Fertigation with venturi injector in the linear irrigation system as compared to traditional fertilization method in furrow Irrigation

The purpose of this study was to use a venturi injector in a linear irrigation system in order to investigate nitrate distribution uniformity compared with a traditional fertilization method. This study was conducted in a corn field with an area of 11.4 hectares under linear sprinkler irrigation system and a corn field with the area of 8 hectares under furrow irrigation system. A water tank and a venturi injector was installed on the linear irrigation system and the soluble fertilizer (urea 46% N) was applied to the system in the rate of 0.11 l/s by the fertigation method during seasonal growth. The urea fertilizer was implemented with the traditional method in the furrow irrigation. Results showed that the average fertilizer distribution uniformity coefficient on the soil surface was 92% in the linear irrigation method. The average nitrate distribution uniformity coefficient in soil profile at both the venturi injector and the traditional methods were 80 and 58% respectively. Moreover the fertilizer consumption use in the linear irrigation method was 67% less than furrow irrigation and the water use efficiency in the linear irrigation method was double compared to the furrow irrigation method.