Precision agriculture powered by GPS technology—at first a novelty—has now become the norm, driven in part by economic necessity. Putting fertilizer where it is most needed, in the precise amounts required, improves both input utilization and final yields.
That variable-rate technology, first applied to dry fertilizer application, is now beginning to revolutionize the irrigation industry. A new world where a network of sensors constantly monitors soil moisture conditions and directs systems capable of variable-rate irrigation is rapidly becoming a reality.
This next-generation approach to irrigation is also creating opportunities for more precise and effective application of liquid fertilizer and crop protection products through those systems. Retailers specializing in fluid injection technology, like Agri-Inject of Yuma, Colorado, believe the timing is perfect for this precision revolution.
“Water is an increasingly precious resource,” saidAgri-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.”