Fertigation is the practice of adding water-soluble materials to irrigation water, commonly used in commercial agriculture and residential landscaping. It allows for efficient nutrient delivery to plants and reduces the risk of leaching and runoff. However, it cannot provide solid soil amendments and may lead to imbalances in soil quality over time. Local codes and permits may be required for certain chemicals.
Fertigation is a landscaping and gardening practice in which water-soluble materials are added to the water used for irrigation. Classically, fertigation provides nutrients in the form of fertilizers, although it can also be used to make soil amendments and a variety of other materials, including agricultural chemicals to deal with crop pests and plant diseases. In commercial agriculture, fertigation is used extensively, and the concept began spreading to residential landscaping and hob gardening in the early 2000s.
A basic system simply has a tank connected to the water outlet, which allows the user to add chemicals to the tank as needed. Typically, local codes require the installation of a backflow valve, which prevents materials in the tank from going back up the water line, thus eliminating the risk of contamination. Permits may also be required for particular agricultural chemicals, especially those that pose a risk to human and animal health if mismanaged.
When crops are fertigated, the water soluble materials in the reservoir are delivered to the plants along with the water they need. This delivery system allows plants to absorb more than they can through classic topical applications, meaning less fertilizer and other materials are needed. In addition, this system reduces the risk of leaching and run-off, which benefits the surrounding environment. It is also easier to manage the system than a typical topical fertilization and plant care regimen.
A distinct disadvantage of fertigation is that it does not allow farmers and gardeners to provide solid soil amendments such as compost, humus and similar materials. This can lead to imbalances in soil quality, especially if the method is used over a long period of time to manage crops. These systems can also reduce the amount of time spent inspecting crops, because people don’t need to be in the fields as much, and this can mean early signs of problems in the fields are missed.
There are certainly many reasons to use a fertigation system, or to integrate it into an existing landscaping and gardening system. Regular fertigation can help plants develop large, healthy roots, leading to healthier, happier crops and ornamental gardens. Before installing this system, however, it’s a good idea to check your local codes to confirm that the system is legal and to see what chemicals will be permitted for use with a fertigation tank.
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