Calculating Chemigation Injection Rates

R. Troy Peters, Ph.D., P.E., Washington State University, Prosser, WA

W. Howard Neibling, Ph.D., P.E., University of Idaho, Twin Falls, ID
Tom Hoffmann, Washington State Department of Agriculture, Moses Lake, WA

Chemigation is an inclusive term referring to the Injection Rates by Fluid Volume

application of an agricultural chemicals
(including fertilizers, pesticides, soil The basic method of calculating injection rates
conditioners, and amendments) into or through by fluid volume uses the following equation:
an irrigation system. It is an efficient and cost Vol
effective method of application. Ic = (Equation 1)
T
This fact sheet covers how to calculate where:
injection rates for chemigation. The various Ic = Chemical injection rate (gallons per hour),
methods of injecting chemicals into the irrigation Vol = Total volume of chemical to inject
water, how to calibrate these systems. The (gallons), and
system design requirements for chemigation are T = Injection time (hours).
not covered in this publication. English units are
used exclusively. Many of the calculators are The total volume of chemical (Vol) needed is
implemented online at http://irrigation.wsu.edu. calculated by multiplying the desired application
rate (Qv; gallons per acre) by the area covered
(A; acres) by the irrigation system during the
Follow the Label chemigation application, or:
Vol = Qv × A (Equation 2)
The chemical label is a legal and binding
where:
document and must be read carefully and
A = Area (acres), and
followed. In case of differences between the
Qv = Quantity of chemical to apply per acre by
chemical label and material presented in this
volume (gallons per acre).
publication, the chemical label must be followed.
A chemical must be labeled for chemigation if it
It is important to keep track and use the right
is to be used in chemigation. Application rates
units. For example if you use injection time (T)
that exceed the labeled rate not only are
in minutes then the chemical injection rate (Ic)
unlawful, but will result in higher costs for
will come out in gallons per minute instead of
chemicals than necessary, result in potentially
gallons per hour. If the application (Qv) is
illegal pesticide residue levels, and can damage
reported on the label in quarts per acre then
the crop, irrigation system and/or the
divide the answer by 4 to get Vol in gallons. If
environment. Application rates that are too low
the labeled application (Qv) is specified in pints
may not achieve the desired results. Therefore it
per acre then divide the answer by 8 to get Vol in
is in a grower’s financial interests to follow the
gallons.
label, correctly calculate injection rates, and to
properly set up the chemigation application.
To simplify things, equation 1 and 2 can be
Although not covered in this publication, it is
combined into the following equation where all
important to follow state laws and rules, local
terms are defined above:
ordinances, and safety precautions for
Q ×A
chemigation. Ic = v (Equation 3)
T

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Example: A fungicide is to be applied at 2 pints For simplicity, Equation 3 and 4 can be
per acre to a 125-acre pivot of potatoes. It takes combined into the following equation, where all
21 hours for the pivot to make a complete terms are defined above:
revolution. Since the equation requires that the Q ×A
units be in gallons per acre, 2 pints per acre must Ic = m (Equation 5)
C ×T
be divided by 8 to get 0.25 gallons per acre. Now Example: What is the chemical injection rate (Ic)
we can calculate the injection rate using for the following situation? The label for a
Equation 3: pesticide requires 8 ounces per acre. The label
0.25 × 125 also states that the chemical contains 4.6 pounds
= 1.5 gallons of product per hour.
21 of active ingredient per gallon. This is going to
be applied in a drip irrigation system to 45 acres
This is an injection rate that is below what most during the last 1 hours of the irrigation set.
pumps can accurately inject at. In this case (Remember to leave time to flush out the
water might be added to the tank to dilute the system.)
chemical. For more information on how to First convert 8 ounces per acre to pounds
determine how much water to add and what the per acre by dividing by 16 to get 0.5 pounds per
new injection rate should be see the section acre. The injection rate is calculated using
below “Diluting Chemical Concentrations to equation 5:
Match Inflexible Injection Rates.” 0.5 × 45
= 4.9 gallons per hour
4.6 × 1
Injection Rates by Mass
Maximum Concentration
Often, instead of fluid volume per acre (Qv), the
application rate is specified in weight or mass Sometimes the label will specify a maximum
per unit area (Qm) such as pounds per acre or chemical concentration in the irrigation
ounces per acre. This is common when application system, usually specified as a percent
applying fertilizers (fertigation). Since (%). This is to protect the irrigation system
chemicals are injected in a liquid form, the and/or prevent precipitates forming. Once the
specified mass (Qm) must be converted to proposed chemical injection rate (Ic) is calculated
volume per acre (Qv). This is accomplished by as shown above, the concentration needs to be
dividing the desired application rate of the checked to ensure it is below the maximum.
product by the by the concentration of the This can be calculated as:
injected solution (C) in lbs/gallon. This value I × 100
(C) is an inherent property of the fertilizer and Cs = c (Equation 6)
can be found on the label. 60 × Flow
where:
Q
Qv = m (Equation 4) Cs = Solution concentration in the irrigation lines
C (%),
where: Ic = Chemical injection rate (gallons per hour;
Qm = Quantity of chemical to be applied by mass gph), and
(pounds per acre), and Flow = Water flow rate (gallons per minute;
C = Concentration of injected solution (pounds gpm).
per gallon).
Example: Check the line concentration for this
If the concentration (C) is given in ounces per situation: The calculated injection rate is 1.73
gallon then divide the answer (Qv) by 16 to get gallons per hour from the example above, and
pounds per gallon. the flow rate is 350 gpm. The label specified
maximum concentration in the irrigation water

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lines is 2%. The maximum line concentration , applying chemicals this way there are two main
using equation 6 is: questions to be solved: 1) how much dry
1.73 × 100 chemical should be mixed with water, and how
=0.008%.
60 × 350 much water should it be mixed with. The total
This is far less than 2% so the injection chemical to be applied, or how much dry
rate is fine. chemical to mix with water can be calculated as:
A × Qm
Wt = (Equation 8)
Pcnt
Injection Rates for Water Chemistry Control where:
Wt = Mass (weight) of the chemical to be applied
In certain circumstances it is desirable to inject (lbs),
chemicals to control the water chemistry. This is A = Area (acres),
common in drip irrigation to prevent the Qm = Rate to apply by mass (pounds per acre;
formation of mineral (iron, calcium, or lb/acre), and
manganese) precipitates, algal or bacterial Pcnt = Percent concentration in mix (expressed as
growth, or to mitigate or prevent root intrusion. a decimal), such as the percent of elemental
In these cases instead of gallons per acre or N in Calcium Nitrate.
pounds per acre, the goal is a desired chemical
concentration in the water (Cw), usually specified The minimum volume of water required
in part per million (ppm). The injection rate may for mixing dry chemicals can be calculated as:
be determined using Equation 7: W
0.006 × Flow × Cw Vol min = t (Equation 9)
Ic = (Equation 7) S
Pcnt where:
where: Volmin = Minimum volume (gal),
Ic = Chemical injection rate in (gallons per hour; Wt = Weight of chemical to be applied (pounds;
gal/hr), lbs), and
Flow = Flow rate of the irrigation water (gallons S = Solubility of chemical (pounds per gallon;
per minute; gpm), lb/gal), which is obtained from the label.
Cw = Desired chemical concentration in (parts Note that solubility is often a function of
per million; ppm), and temperature.
Pcnt = Percentage of chemical in solution (%).
Example: Urea (46% N; with a solubility of 7.5
Example: Sulfuric acid (15% acid solution) is to lb/gal) is to be dissolved and applied at 70
be injected to control algae and bacteria growth lbs/acre to 25 acres. The mass of chemical to
in drip lines. The desired concentration is 0.6 apply (Equation 8) is:
ppm and the flow rate at the injection site is 460 25 × 70
gallons per minute. The injection rate using = 3804 pounds.
0.46
Equation 7, would be: The minimum volume of water required to
0.006 × 460 × 0.6
= 0.11 gallons per hour. dissolve the urea is:
15 3804 = 507 gallons of water.
7.5
More water can, and probably should be used to
Mixing Dry Chemicals ensure that the dry chemical is completely
dissolved. Once Equations 8 and 9 have been
Although less common, sometimes dry employed, the total volume of the mixture then
fertilizers, powdered chemicals, or dry pesticide becomes Vol and is used in Equation 1 to
formulations are mixed with water so that they calculate the mixed chemical injection rate (Ic).
can be used in a chemigation application. When

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 Batch/Bulk Applications V1 = Original volume of chemical at
(Drip, Hand-line, Wheel-lines, Solid Set) concentration C before mixing (gallons),
C1 = Concentration of the premixed solution
This is for set irrigation systems that don’t move (pounds per gallon; lb/gal), and
in the field while irrigation water is being Cdil = Concentration of the diluted solution as
applied. When applying fertilizers, the injection calculated in equation 10 (pounds per
rate is less critical as long as it is completed gallon; lb/gal).
before the irrigation event is done. Because less
precision is required, less expensive venturi-type The subsequent total volume of chemical (Vol)
injectors can be used. It is usually best to inject will be V1 + Vadd. Obviously the concentration of
fertilizers towards the end of the irrigation event the solution can be decreased by adding water
so that the chemicals remain in the upper soil (diluted), but not increased. If the calculated Cdil
layers where the majority of the most active is greater than C1 then a different injection
plant roots are and where there is less chance of system must be used.
the chemical getting washed out of the root zone
by subsequent water applied. Therefore injecting Example: We are attempting to apply 50 lbs of N
during the last few hours of the irrigation set is per acre to a wheel line set of 1.6 acres/set during
recommended. However, injection should be the last 6 hours of irrigation. We are using a
finished a sufficient time before the end of the venturi injector that injects at a 50:1 ratio. We
set to assure that all the chemical has moved are injecting into a line that is flowing at 150
from the lines and onto the field. The injection gpm. Therefore the fixed injection rate is 3 gpm
rate is set to limit the irrigation line (e.g. 150gpm/50 since the injection ratio is 50:1).
concentration(Cs) and to set the injection time The required concentration of injected
(T) and consequently the chemical location solution(Cdil from Equation 10) would be:
within the soil profile. 50 × 1.6
= 4.4 pounds per gallon.
3× 6
We are injecting from a tank containing 300
Diluting Chemical Concentrations to Match gallons of N that has a concentration of 7 pounds
Inflexible Injection Rates per gallon. Therefore the amount of water to add
(Vaddfrom Equation 11) would be:
If a chemical injection system is being used that 300(7 − 4.4)
has less flexibility in controlling the injection = 177 gallons.
4.4
rates such as with venturi or pressure differential This would give a total volume of 300 + 177 =
type methods, then the concentration of the 477 gallons.
injected solution can be decreased (diluted) by
adding water to help get the application rate
Unit Conversions
correct. In this case, we solve Equation 5 for the
required diluted chemical concentration (Cdil): Multiply gallons per minute (gpm) by 60 to get
Q ×A
C dil = m (Equation 10) gallons per hour (gph). Multiply gallons per
Ic ×T minute (gpm) by 60 to get gallons per hour
This number is then used to calculate the amount (gph). Multiply gallons per hour (gph) by 128
of water to add to the tank mixture (Vadd) using to get fluid ounces per hour (oz/hr). Multiply
the following equation: gallons per hour (gph) by 2.13 to get fluid
V (C − C dil ) ounces per minute (oz/min). Multiply gallons
Vadd = 1 1 (Equation 11) per hour (gph) by 63.1 to get milliliters per
C dil
minute (ml/min). Divide the later number by the
where: given constant to get the former in all of the
Vadd = Amount of clean water to add to the above. For example, divide milliliters per
mixture (gallons), minute by 63.1 to get gallons per hour.
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