The drip irrigation fertilization method (fertigation) is an advanced application that aims to meet water and nutrient needs in modern agriculture in the most effective way. This system, based on the direct transmission of water and fertilizer to the plant in agricultural lands, provides great advantages to farmers. Drip irrigation fertilization prevents unnecessary losses by providing only as much water and nutrient as the nutritional needs. If we look at how this system works;
This method is done using a special fertilization system integrated into the irrigation line. Fertilizer, along with irrigation water, is transferred to the fertilizer solution in a separate tank through a combining system connected to the irrigation line. The fertilization system ensures that the nutrients in the water are distributed in the desired amount and homogeneously. During this process, the water and fertilizer solution are collected in a controlled manner by the irrigation system and delivered directly to the initial root point through drippers. In this way, fertilizer waste is minimized, healthy development is supported, yield increases and the fertilization process becomes more economical.
What Should Be Considered When Fertilizing with Drip Irrigation?
In order to apply fertilizers and other chemicals effectively and correctly in the fertigation method, it is extremely important to act according to the information given below.
- Fertilizers that do not dissolve completely in water (such as urea and ammonium sulfate) are harmful for the drip irrigation system.
- Before fertilizer solution is given to the irrigation system, only water should be given until it reaches the working pressure.
- Although some plant nutrients are completely dissolved in water, they can react with other nutrients in the system or with high amounts of ions such as calcium or magnesium in the irrigation water and form precipitation.
- Therefore, knowing the quality of the irrigation water and the miscibility properties of the fertilizers are extremely important for success in the application.
- If the irrigation water is calcareous, phosphorus fertilizer should be given to the soil as the basic fertilizer.
- Fertilizers containing phosphate and fertilizers containing calcium should not be used together.
- After fertilization is completed, the drip irrigation system should continue to be operated with only water for 10-15 minutes.
- The pH level of the irrigation water used in fertigation should be between 5.5 and 6.5. To provide this range, acids such as phosphoric acid, nitric acid, sulfuric acid or hydrochloric acid can be used.
- When using acid, acid should be added to water, but water should not be added to acid,
- Never mix an acid or acidic fertilizer with chlorine. Acid and chlorine should not be stored in the same room.
- A concentrated fertilizer solution should not be mixed with another concentrated fertilizer solution.
- A compound containing calcium should not be mixed with a compound containing sulfate. Because, as a result, an insoluble gypsum mixture will be formed.
- At the end of the irrigation season, the irrigation system should be cleaned by operating it with 0.3% Nitric Acid.
- High concentrations of some fertilizer combinations can cause crystallization and blockage of pipes.
⚠️Concentrations that cause crystallization
- Calcium nitrate + ammonium sulfate = calcium sulfate
- Calcium nitrate + potassium sulfate = calcium sulfate
- MKP + calcium phosphate = calcium phosphate
- MAP + calcium nitrate = calcium phosphate
- Phosphoric acid + calcium nitrate = calcium phosphate
What are the advantages of fertilizing with drip irrigation?
- Since fertilizers are applied to the root area of the plant with water, no extra fertilizer is applied to areas where there is no root development.
- Since less fertilizer and water is applied with fertigation, both production costs and groundwater pollution are reduced.
- It provides energy and labor gain.
- The yield and quality of the product increase.
- The effect of the applied chemicals on the applicators is reduced.
- It provides the opportunity to fertilize when necessary without introducing machinery to the field.
- It increases the usefulness of salty nutrients and increases fertilizer efficiency.
- It reduces the negative effects of wastewater.
- Fertilizer losses due to washing are minimized.
- Since the upper part of the plants is not wetted, it becomes easier to combat diseases.
- If desired, suitable agricultural pesticides and other chemicals can be applied at the same time.
- It is suitable for automation.
It's Very Easy with Esular!
Meet our 3+1 design that makes your fertilization processes revolutionary! Our system allows you to easily control a total of 4 tanks, 3 fertilizer tanks and 1 acid tank.
Thanks to remote access, you can perform fertilization and irrigation processes in either automatic or manual mode. After preparing your fertilizer tanks, it is enough to set how much fertilizer you want to give from which tank via our application. You can start the fertilization process with a single click, either simultaneously or in different time periods. You can also monitor the EC-pH values of your fertilizer solution instantly and intervene in the system remotely when necessary. You can take a look at this article to get information about EC and pH values.
In addition, you can achieve more sustainable production with maximum efficiency and minimum resource usage by adding sensors to the system.
You can read this article to learn more about fertilization automation. If you want to get detailed information about our products, you can always contact us.☎️📩
