FERTIGATION

Way of Direct Feed to Crops

DARA JOY B. MORALES

Reporte
r
 is a process that combines fertilization and irrigation by
injecting

WHAT IS soil amendments, fertilizers, and other water- soluble products

FERTIGATION
into an irrigation system.

Fertigation systems add the correct amount of

? fertilizer according to the plants’ nutrient deficiencies.

This process reduces soil erosion, minimizes the risk of the

roots
contracting soil-borne diseases, reduces water consumption,
reduces the amount of fertilizer used.

increases the nutrients absorbed by the plants, and controls the

precise time and rate of fertilizers being released .
  Mining of nutrients from the soil at alarming rate.

Why we need
FERTIGATION? Decline in crop response to fertilizer.

Weakening relationship between fertilizer use and

food grain production.

 Increasing dependence on fertilizer imports

OBJECTIVES
FERTIGATION? Maximize profit by applying right amount of water and
fertilizer at right time.

Minimize adverse environmental effects by reducing

leaching
losses of fertilizers and other chemicals below the root
zone.
 FERTIGATION
Some of the most commonly used
There are two main nutrients in fertigation are:
types of fertigation
approaches:

 The proportional
approach
- used in soil
ammonium less mediums
nitrate mono
urea ammonium
ammonia phosphate

Fertigation
diammonium potassium  The quantitative
process in which fertilizer
phosphate chloride approach
is dissolved and
- used in open fields
distributed along with
water in your drip or
spray irrigation system.

Liquid and water-soluble fertilizers are required for fertigation.

 Advantages of
Fertigation

 Improves efficiency of fertilizer use

 Increases nutrient availability
 Reduce environmental contamination  Reduces leaching of nutrients
 Saves 20-40% fertilizer without  Saves laborers and energy in
affecting growth and yield application of fertilizer

FERTIGATION PLAYS A VITAL ROLE

FERTIGATION

Agriculture is
the backbone of
an economy and
Water is the
heart of
agriculture.
 01
 Chemical reaction in drip
LIMITATIONS system leading to corrosion and
precipitation of fertilizer.

 Initial investment is high

02
 Clogging of emitter
 Potential chemical backflow into the
water supply source

 Uneven nutrient distribution occurs

03
when the irrigation system is faulty. It
leads to over fertilization or leaching of
nutrients when excess water is applied
to crops.
FERTIGATION
EQUIPMENT
Pressure differential method
or By-pass tank system

• In this system solid fertilizers soluble in

water and liquid fertilizers can be injected
into the system.
• A tank containing fertilizer solution is
connected to the irrigation pipe at the
supply point.
Ventury or vacuum pump

• This system is ideal for liquid fertilizers.

• It is very simple and low cost device.
• It has low discharge rate. The nutrient
concentration and quantity controls are
medium.
• It delivers fertilizer at constant
concentration which depends on the water
flow.
Displacement pump

• This system is also for liquid fertilizers.

• The concentration of nutrient and quantity
control is good.
• It is more accurate but the cost is high.
• Fertilizer solution is prepared in a tank
from which it is pumped and injected into
the irrigation system.
Hydraulic dosing pumps or
non - electric proportional injectors

• The injection mechanism is driven by the

water supply under pressure.
• Injection rate is factory pre-set or may be
chosen by an adjustable setting on injector
body. It is proportional to the flow of water
passing through.
• The resulting solution strength is constant
even though the water flow varies.