The Method Of Fertilization With Drip Irrigation: ‘Fertigation’
Fertigation is the method which is made by adding liquid or solid water soluble fertilizers with irrigation water into the roots of plants.
The Benefits And Negative Sides Of Fertigation:
- Because fertilizers are given to the roots of plants with water, they shouldn’t be given to the places which don’t develop and the nutrient elements should be evened out to roots.
- It provides energy and labor attainment.
- Struggling becomes easier against diseases.
- By means of applying fertilizer and water in less amounts with fertigation, both the production costs and groundwater pollution levels decrease.
- The set up cost of the system is considerably expensive and because fertilizers cause corrosion in the metal parts, tanks are obligated to be made from stainless steel.
The Points To Consider In The Fertigation Application Method:
- Water insoluble fertilizers such as urea, ammonium sulfate, etc. are unfavorable for the drip irrigation system. If these are going to be used, melting and filtering should firstly be made, then fertilizers should be put into the tanks.
- The required fertilizer amount for fertigation, can be calculated by dividing the annual fertilizer needs of plants into the irrigation amount. In fact, the fertilizer amount shouldn’t be more than 5 g/ L.
- The fertilizers which contain phosphate and calcium shouldn’t be used together.
- The equipments which avoids recycling, should be used in the chemical injection systems.
- The drip irrigation system should continuosly work with water for 10- 15 minutes after fertilizing.
- The pH level of irrigation water in fertigation, should be between 5.5 and 6.5. In order to provide this specified rate; phosphoric, nitric, sulphuric, hydrochloric and such acids can be used. Otherwise, there may be some occlusions in the laterals and drippers.
