Citrus Chemigation

摘要

Advances in micro-irrigation techniques have facilitated greater adoption of chemigation in citrus production. Citrus chemigation is the application of liquid chemicals, i.e., fertilizers, pesticides, and/or herbicides to citrus groves through irrigation systems. This article reviews citrus chemigation; it discusses chemigation management, chemigation system components, and chemigation efficiency under citrus production systems. Pressurized irrigation systems, e.g., overhead sprinklers, micro sprinklers, and/or drip systems have successfully been used to carry out citrus chemigation. Through chemigation practices, citrus growers have been able to control the timing and the amount of chemical application to their groves. Selection of suitable irrigation system, use of efficient injection devices, and compatibility of chemicals are crucial for an efficient chemigation operation. Combined use of incompatible chemicals could form insoluble compounds and/or precipitates that may clog the chemigation system.