The movement of nutrients in a sandy soil situation as you allude can be problematic. The Control of irrigation is much improved using a drip irrigation system as mass water flow can be managed by controlled input at lower flow rates. Losses will be greater in mass water movement systems than in a drip system.

The ability of clay silt and organic matter to give improved retention of Nitrogen and Potassium is a possibility. Amendments can be targeted at the irrigation emitters to control losses.

Clay and organic matter have overall negative charges can electrostatically attract the Potassium and Ammonium cation.

Adjusting alkaline soil conditions by strategic sulfur amendment can work to greatly reduce ammonification. Losses might also be reduced by using fertigation by the drip system and watering through the sub surface. In addition the conversation of water can be helped by mulches which also can work to reduce elevated soil temperatures.

In an alkaline system you will have problems with overall nutrient availability. You will also need to looking at salt levels for potential salinity problems.

Very interesting question Noha. There will be world of diference between drip irrigation and  basin irrigation with regard to movement of potassium and ammonium ions. They normal conditions , they compete against each other , and in the process, in some crops , they have inverse relation with reference to their concentration in index plant parts.  In basin irrigation , everyday , plants will be exposed to different levels of soil water potention , with the result , movement of potasium will be restricted with every passing day till next basin irrigation is given , but ammonium will be more mobile as long as soil water tension is within the field  capacity limit. While by contrast , in drip irrigation scenario is quite different . In drip irrigation , soil moisture is maintained within near field capacity soil moisture , with the result , there will be much better movement of both the ions ,potassium and ammonium  at almost costant rate. Movement of potassium ion is more dependent on soil moisture than movement of ammonium ion.

 Dr Srivastava 

thanks for your answer. But if the soil moisture fluctuates  through the profile? 

In drip irrigation , we consider the moisture and nutrient requirement considering the rhizosphere zone , and accordingly the water requirement is worked out . So , there is no point of considering the moisture fluctuation in the soil profile , which will not affect the behaviour of the plant   . While in basin irrigation , much higher quantity of water is applied , far beyond the maximum water holding capacity of the soil . Under this situation , there are chances of leaching of applied nutrients initially , but as I said with continuously depleting water availability  across the effective root zone within the soil profile  , the movement of these two most mobile  nutrients will surely be restricted compared to drip irrigation . This is the primary reason for better nutrient-use-efficiency under drip irrigation compared to basin irrigation .

Thanks,  Dr Srivastava

The two have different geometry.  The drip irrigation is a 3-D flow system with flow from a pond or point source, where as the furrow irrigation is a 2-D system with flow from the furrow into the bed and to depth.  Both the K and NH4 will be retarded solute transport due to adsorption onto the cation exchange capacity of the soil and the difference in transport will be due to the retardation factor.  There a numerous papers and modelling of both these irrigation systems some of which I have been an author of.  I suggest you go to my Researchgate and have a look through the papers and then also serach the literature using google scholar.

Thanks, Dr Cook