Design and construction of a soluble fertiliser releaser.

Abstract

In Uganda, pressurised systems of irrigation are increasingly being adopted, this is due to the convenience they render, amongst which, is fertigation. Fertigation in any irrigation practice. involves the introduction of soluble- fertiliser soluti0ns and/or intended chemicals into the irrigation system using any dosing apparatus, Fertigation enriches and replenishes the soils with one or more nutrients, however the device used for fertigation determines the quality and quantity of output of the produce as the available methods of fertigation are sophisticated to both operate and repair plus the high initial cost. The local farmers in Uganda usually fertigate their crops by methods: pump injection, vacuum injection (venturi), and pressure differential. However, these all require skilled labour and they are intricate, the reason for the low adoption rate of fertigation by most potential farmers. This is as a result of lack of a device that -can easily be afforded, set up, operated and as well maintained. This demands an extensive research in the area fertigating devices which the researcher should develop a design and eventually construct a simpler liquid fertiliser releaser to effectively address the above mentioned challenges faced by the farmers. This study was conducted to. design and construct simple fertigating device for mainly drip irrigation system for perennial crops and citrus growing on heavy soils- This involved factors like availability of raw materials, ease of operation, maintenance costs and affordability of the. device, while importantly focusing at the uniformity of the mixture proceeding to the Crops. The performance results indicated that the minimum head required for the device to function as required was 0.8m, low enough to be employed on most the fields using pressurised systems of irrigation. The homogeneity of the solution improved with increase in head.

Key words: soluble fertiliser releaser, fertigation nutrients, pressurised system, drip system, citrus, heavy soils, uniformity homogeneity, head