See why Distribution Uniformity is so important for irrigation and fertilizers, from the experts at UF/IFAS.

A recent UF/IFAS blog article shared that “Irrigation is an important tool for maximizing crop yield, but to truly optimize water use, it’s important to understand two key concepts: Distribution Uniformity (DU) and Irrigation Efficiency.” See what DU is and why it’s important for fertilizers. Explore these two concepts below.

Distribution Uniformity (DU) Defined

According to the article, DU is a measurement of “how evenly water is distributed across your field.”

The factors that affect Du include:

  • “Flow rate variability can result from pressure differences, friction losses, or changes in field elevation.
  • Pressure variations in regulators, which control water pressure in the irrigation system, can cause uneven water flow to sprinklers, leading to inconsistent water distribution. This can affect sprinkler performance and spray patterns, increasing system wear and energy costs. Stable pressure is essential for uniform irrigation.
  • Nozzle wear or clogging creates uneven water distribution, while improper sprinkler spacing or design issues can also lead to variations in uniformity. End gun alignment issues can be problematic when water application from the end gun overlaps areas already covered by overhead sprinklers, leading to uneven water distribution.
  • Environmental factors like wind and plant interference can disrupt water application through sprinklers.
  • Operational practices, such as uneven water application during system startup or shutdown and pipe diameter variations, can also cause inconsistencies.
  • Edge effects, where sprinklers overlap at the field edges, can result in less uniform water distribution.”

Benefits of DU

The article lists these benefits of having good Distribution Uniformity:

  • “Simpler Irrigation Scheduling: You don’t need to irrigate the driest parts of the field as much, saving time and water.”
  • “Reduced Field Variability: More uniform water application means fewer pockets of dry or overwatered areas, making your field more consistent.”
  • “More Accurate Soil Sensor Readings: When variability is reduced, soil moisture sensors give you a more accurate picture of water availability across the entire field.”

DU and Fertilizers

The blog shared that DU is important for fertilizers as well. It maintained that it is “essential if injecting liquid fertilizer through your irrigation system. With more even water distribution, the fertilizer will be applied more uniformly, resulting in better crop uptake and reduced crop growth variability throughout the field.”

Griffin Fertilizer is committed to helping both growers and ranchers make sound agronomic and economic decisions in order to maximize the health of their grove and pasture. As a full-service custom dry & liquid fertilizer blender and crop protection product distributor, we will continue our mission to further advance Florida agriculture. For questions -or concerns about your farm or pasture, contact us and one of our team will be in touch.