Fertigation with Surge Irrigation

Fertilizer can be injected into the irrigation water during surge irrigation and thereby applied quickly and efficiently over the field. Advantages include less potential for fertilizer to be lost to deep percolation, lower cost, and the capacity to apply fertilizer at the time the crop needs it.
Surge Irrigation, Hanson, Schwankl, Bendixen, Schulbach, University of California, Davis.

Fertigation using surge provides Colorado farmer John Harold the opportunity to spoon feed nitrogen to his crop of broccoli. He can apply the fertilizer uniformly in split applications without the added cost of machinery use.
Olathe Farmers Adopt Environmentally Safe Practices, Colorado State University Cooperative Extension Service.

Corn yields were increased by 12% using surge fertigation, which also increased N efficiency and reduced nitrate contributions to groundwater.
June 2, 1992 letter to area farmers, Richard Bartholomay, Colorado State University Cooperative Extension Service.

Advantages to adding fertilizer through the surge valve includes: fertilizer is added rapidly and efficiently, deep percolation and gaseous losses of N are minimized, no powered equipment is run through the field so fuel is saved, and the fertilizer may be added when the crop needs it.
Fertigation through Surge Valves, Champion and Bartholomay, Colorado State University Cooperative Extension Service.

When liquid nitrogen was applied through a surge valve, about 2.5 times more residual nitrate nitrogen remained in the upper 2 feet of the soil profile than in the conventionally fertilized and irrigated corn. In addition, the farmer realized a 12% greater yield. This also implies that less nitrogen was leached into the ground and surface water when applied through the surge valve.
Report to the USDI, Bureau of Reclamation, Colorado State University Cooperative Extension.