Method of irrigation

Abstract

Abstract IRRIGATION WATER IS CONTACTED WITH ION EXCHANGE RESINS CHARGES WITH IONS OF PLANT NUTRIENTS, E.G., AMMONIUM, NITRATE, SULFATE, POSTASSIUM, TO REPALCE THE IONS OF THE SALTS CONTAINED IN THE IRRIGATION WATER WITH IONS OF NUTRIENT VALUE. THIS TREATMENT OBVIATES THE DIFFICULITIES ENCOUNTERED IN ARID THE SEMI-ARID AREAS WITH IRRIGATION WATER CONTAINING A HIGH CONTENT OF DISSOLVED SALTS WHICH OTHERWISE TEND TO ACCUMULATE IN THE SOIL TO PHYTOTOXIC LEVELS. IN A TYPICAL EMBODIMENT, A COLUMN OF MIXED ANION AND CATION EXCHANGE RESINS CHARGED WITH NITRATE AND AMMONIUM, RESPECTIVELY, AND HAVING A SIZE OF ABOUT 1.5 FEET IN DIAMETER AND ABOUT 10 FEET IN LENGTH IS USED TO TREAT IRRIGATION WATER HAVING A TOTAL OF ABOUT 300 P.P.M. HARDNESS AT A LIQUID HOURLY SPACE VELOCITY OF ABOUT 50 LIQUID VOLUMES PER VOLUME PER HOUR. THIS BED WITHIN A FOUR-HOUR PERIOD TREATS A SUFFICIENT QUANITITY OF WATER TO IRRIGATE ONE ACRE ONE INCH IN DEPTH AND RESULTS IN THE ADDITION OF ABOUT 210 PARTS PER MILLION OF AMMONIUM NITRATE TO THE IRRIGATION WATER. WHEN THIS IS PRACTICED OVER A YEAR''S IRRIGATION INVOLVING APPROXIMATELY 3 ACRE FEET OF WATER PER ACRE OF IRRIGATED LAND, THE AMOUNT OF NITROGEN SUPPLIED IS FROM ABOUT 400 TO 850 POUNDS NITROGEN, AMPLE TO SUPPLY ALL OF THE NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS OF THE PLANTS.

Inventors

• 👤 Vernon E Stiles

Bibliographic Details