Techniques for Implementing and Improving the Usage of Variable Rate Furrow Fertigation.

With the ever-increasing practice of using variable rate fertilizer in agriculture, especially through fertigationsystems, the expansion of this technology should be developed into other forms of irrigation. Currently, fertigation is being used in large agricultural production via overhead sprinkler irrigation and, to a small degree, underground drip irrigation systems. Research of variable rate furrow fertigation methodsused in large row crop agriculture production has been significantly limited. Nutrients, such as nitrogen, sulfur, and others, can be split-applied at various times for improved plant uptake with simple variable rate control devices used simultaneously with furrow irrigation systems. An experiment was conducted to determine whether or not a device designed totimely release nutrients into individual furrows during furrow irrigation cycles could significantly increase corn yields.  Four replications of three different nitrogen treatments were used in this trial. Treatments included various timed applications of 160 lbs of nitrogen: all pre-plant, some pre-plant and at V6 stage, and some pre-plant, V6, V12, and VT growth stages. Development of techniques for improving timing and usage of nutrients essential for corn growth and development may significantly improve yields while reducing nutrient requirements. The fertigation device design that was used for this research can successfully be used to variable rate nutrients every 1-3 acres according to soil nutrient levels and plant usage requirements.  Data for this research should be considered preliminary as this is the first year for data collection.