what is Fertigation?
"If its getting water, its getting fertilized!"
Fertigation is the practice of applying fertiliser in a liquid form to the plant via the existing irrigation infrastructure.
When combined with an efficient irrigation system both nutrients and water can be manipulated and managed to obtain the maximum possible yield of marketable production from a given quantity of these inputs.
When combined with an efficient irrigation system both nutrients and water can be manipulated and managed to obtain the maximum possible yield of marketable production from a given quantity of these inputs.
Twelve Reasons Why Fertigation Makes Sense!
Fertigation is the result of advances in technology and need to improve production efficiently, more and more growers are embracing prescision irrigation technology such as fertigation in their operations, here are some of the reasons why.
#1. It’s the perfect fit for precision agriculture.
Fertigation is all about applying only the required amount of fertilizer or crop protection products at exactly the right times during the optimum growing season for the crop, its both accurate and repeatable.
#4. It Makes The Applied Product More Effective.
Many fertiliser and crop protection products are more effective when applied through irrigation systems as they are applied directly to the plant and soil meaning the plant accesses products immediatly and loss via leeching is reduced.
#2. It actually uses A Whole lot Less Fertilizer.
A built for purpose fertigation system will allow you to apply less product with no tangible impact on the yields. This is because the product can be applied more accurately and completely across the irrigated area.
#5. Gives A Much More Uniform Coverage.
Fertigation system give you a more complete and uniform coverage across your entire irrigated area than is possible with other methods of application, no more missed rows, double applications or boundary oversprays.
#3. Its a Versatile Method Of Application.
Fertigation systems are used with most types of irrigation and with a wide variety of crops, soil types, climates, applied products, and applications. They can be heavily customized for specific applications.
#6. They Are Simple To Use And Easy To Calibrate.
With built for purpose fertigation systems, you won’t need an engineering degree, or hourly rate technician to operate the fertigation system, they can be used by even the most technology shy operators.
#7. It’s Much, Much Better For The Environment.
Fertigation applied fertilizer provides your crops nutritional needs whilst reducing the amount of product applied, means less environmental impact, less product used, no over application, less fuel used as there is no need for tractors or aircraft.
#10. Fertigation Can Be Highly Automated.
Fertigation systems can be controlled by on-board modules or integrated into remote management systems, and can even be connected to the Internet of Things to become a part of advanced management platforms.
#8. It’s A Far Safer way to Apply Product.
With modern logistics the amount of double handling of bulk chemicals is greatly reduced, when applied using a fertigation system, ensuring that operator exposure to them is minimized greatly, and safer handling also diminishes the chance for spillage.
#11. Fertigation Future Proofs Your System.
The ongoing development of fertiliser and crop protection products is very fast to rollout. Fertigation is a cost efficient and environmentally friendly way to deliver newer formulations through existing infrastructure.
#9. No Waiting around On Costly Contractors.
Fertigation systems apply nutrients when your crops require it, there is no more waiting weeks in the queue for the spreading or aerial spraying contractor to be become available, and its less expensive than these high demand methods.
#12. You Will See Cost Savings Year On Year.
The initial capital outlay is just a one-time investment, it pays backs quickly, you will see real cost savings in product, labour and other costs, in not only in year one, but also in year two, and in year three, and into the future.
In Summary
It Just Makes Good Dollars And Sense!
Its quite simple, operators in the Irrigated Agriculture, Indoor Farming or Turf sector with crops under fixed or mechanised irrigation systemsthat don't have a built for purpose fertigation systems are actually costing themselves time and money.
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