In Colorado, Agri-Inject demonstrated a variable-rate fluid injection control system that combines irrigation and liquid fertilizers for improved input utilization and final yields. Soil sensors can now communicate with variable-rate irrigation systems to apply water only where and when it is needed. These next-generation irrigation systems also allow more precise application of liquid fertilizer and crop protection products.
“Water is an increasingly precious resource,” notes Agri-Inject CEO Erik Tribelhorn. “Couple that with the growing regulatory focus on minimizing nutrient leaching and runoff, and the stage is set for systems that manage both water and nutrients with greater precision.”
At the Irrigation Research Foundation farm north of Yuma, researchers used a full-size pivot with variable-rate sprinkler heads, in-ground moisture sensors and an Agri-Inject fluid injection system and reflex control panel to receive real-time data and make application adjustments on the fly. A given field prescription can be changed every 15 minutes.