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Crop Management Practices
Fertigation
Fertigation
By
Simon Bedasie
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Observations of a Visiting Consultant
– Water and fertilizer management looked like
“bucket chemistry”.
– Very basic techniques for water and fertilizer
management were supplied by the GH management were supplied by the GH
Companies.
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Definition:
–Fertigation is the application of
fertilizers, soil amendments or other fertilizers, soil amendments or other
water soluble products through an
irrigation system.
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Some Advantages
– Healthier plants.
– Quick delivery to plant roots.
– Nutrient requirements can be adjusted
with immediate effects.with immediate effects.
– Less labour.
– Less water utilization.
– Reduced run off.
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In T&T, crops are grown on
raised or framed beds with
their roots in the native soil,
Greenhouse Production
their roots in the native soil,
introduced soil or a soil
based mix.
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Crops are also grown in bags
or pots with the rooting
media ranging from soil-
Greenhouse Production
media ranging from soil-
based mixes to soilless
substrates .
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When grown in bags or
pots, plant roots are
confined to a small volume
Greenhouse Production
confined to a small volume
of substrate which allows
for more efficient
fertigation.
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During production, the
substrate will undergo
changes based on the type
Greenhouse Production
changes based on the type
of substrate, inputs applied
and exudates from the plant
roots.
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NFT is an example of a
hydroponic system with
closed irrigation as the
Closed Irrigation System
closed irrigation as the
nutrient solution is collected
and recirculated.
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In an open irrigation
system the nutrient
solution is applied to the
Open Irrigation Systems
solution is applied to the
root zone and the excess
goes to waste.
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– Nutrients are supplied mainly as inorganic
fertilizers.
– Nutrients must be in solution before they can be
Nutrients in Solution
– Nutrients must be in solution before they can be
taken up by plant roots.
– Nutrients in solution are in an ionic form with a
positive or negative charge.
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– Nutrients with a positive charge are called
“cations”.
– Cations loosely attach themselves to negatively
Cations
– Cations loosely attach themselves to negatively
charged sites on substrate particles and gradually
released for root uptake.
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– The amount of cations held by the substrate
determines the frequency of fertilization.
– Hydrogen ions (H+) are released by the plant
Cations
– Hydrogen ions (H ) are released by the plant
roots during the uptake of cations creating acidic
conditions in the root zone.
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– Nutrients with a negative charge are called
“anions”.
– Anions remain free in solution and are easily lost
due to excessive watering.
Anionns
due to excessive watering.
– Plant roots release hydroxyl ions (OH-) when
anions are absorbed causing pH to rise.
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Illustration of Cations attached to a
substrate particle.
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– The release of hydrogen ions (H+) and hydroxyl
ions (OH-) by plant roots determine the overall
pH of the root zone.
Root Zone pH
– Generally pH will rise because there is more
uptake of anions than cations.
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Nutrient Availability & pH
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Most commercial fertilizer mixes for
hydroponics or soilless culture, when mixed
according to labelled directions, will give a
desirable pH (6.0 – 6.5).
Proprietary Mixes
desirable pH (6.0 – 6.5).
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– Non-fertilizer:
• Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen.
– Macronutrient (Primary):
• Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium.
Essential Plant Nutrients
– Macronutrient (Secondary) :
• Calcium, Magnesium and Sulphur.
– Micronutrient:
• Iron, Manganese, Zinc, Copper, Boron, Molybdenum, Sodium and Chlorine.
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Plants take up two ionic forms of
nitrogen:
• Ammonium-Nitrogen (NH +)
Nitrogen
• Ammonium-Nitrogen (NH4+)
• Nitrate-Nitrogen (NO3-)
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– Urea is an organic form of nitrogen.
– It has to be converted by bacteria to ammonium-nitrogen (NH4
+) before it is
Urea
ammonium-nitrogen (NH4 ) before it is absorbed by the plant.
– The ammonium-nitrogen can further be transformed by bacteria to nitrate-nitrogen (NO3
-) and releasing hydrogen (H+).
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– Ammonium-nitrogen (NH4+) encourages a soft
growth while nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-) gives a more
compact and harder growth.
Nitrogen
– Fertilizers for soilless culture have very little
ammonium nitrogen.
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Ammonium nitrogen and urea will cause acidic
conditions in the rooting media while nitrate
nitrogen will have a basic reaction.
Nitrogen
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Plant Prod 7-11-27 contains 7% Nitrogen
(6.48% nitrate-nitrogen, 0.52%
ammonium-nitrogen and no urea).
• Ref:http://www.plantprod.com/upload/
Plant Prod 7-11-27
• Ref:http://www.plantprod.com/upload/
File/2012PlantexProductGuide.pdf
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– Plant Prod 7-11-27 will have an alkaline reaction in the
soil or substrate.
– The potential basicity is 81.65 kg (180 lbs) calcium
carbonate.
– This means that 1 ton of 7-11-27 will have the same
Plant Prod 7-11-27
– This means that 1 ton of 7-11-27 will have the same
alkaline effect as 81.65 kg (180 lbs) of Calcium Carbonate.
Ref:http://www.plantprod.com/upload/File/2012Plantex
ProductGuide.pdf
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• Plant Prod 4-18-37
– Plant Prod 4-18-37 contains 4% Nitrogen
(3.5% nitrate-nitrogen, 0.5% ammonium-
nitrogen and no urea).
Plant Prod 4-18-37
nitrogen and no urea).
• Ref:http://www.plantprod.com/upload/
File/2012PlantexProductGuide.pdf
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• Plant Prod 4-18-37
– Plant Prod 4-18-37 will have an alkaline reaction in the
soil or substrate.
– The potential basicity is 24.95 kg (55 lbs) calcium
carbonate.
Plant Prod 4-18-37
carbonate.
– This means that 1 ton of 4-18-37 will have the same
alkaline effect as 24.95 kg (55 lbs) of Calcium Carbonate.
Ref:http://www.plantprod.com/upload/File/2012Plantex
ProductGuide.pdf
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Plant Prod 18-9-27 contains 18% Nitrogen
(8.0% nitrate-nitrogen, 4.0% ammonium-
nitrogen and 6.0% urea - nitrogen).
• Ref: http://www.plantprod.pl/18-9-
Plant Prod 18-9-27
• Ref: http://www.plantprod.pl/18-9-
27.html
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• Plant Prod 18-9-27
– Plant Prod 18-9-27 will have an acidic reaction in the soil
or substrate.
– The potential acidity is 95.71 kg (211 lbs) calcium
carbonate.
Plant Prod 18-9-27
carbonate.
– This means that 95.71 kg (211 lbs) of Calcium Carbonate
will neutralize the acidic effects of 1 ton of 18-9-27.
Ref: http://www.plantprod.pl/18-9-27.html
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Plants absorb phosphorus mainly in the ionic
forms, dihydrogen phosphate (H2PO4-). and
hydrogen phosphate (HPO42-) to a lesser extent.
(Note: Note the negative charge.)
Phosphorus
(Note: Note the negative charge.)
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– When phosphorous is applied to soil, it becomes
“immobile” by firmly binding with clay minerals.
– Due to it’s immobility in soil or soil based media,
Phosphorus
– Due to it’s immobility in soil or soil based media,
most if not all the phosphorus can be applied as
a pre-plant.
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For soil-based systems: “.....Typically, pH
adjustments and all of the phosphorus required
by the crop are applied prior to planting.....”
Reference: Protected Agriculture in Jamaica: A
Reference Manual. USAID.
Phosphorus as a Preplant
Reference Manual. USAID.
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In soilless mixes, the phosphate anion remains
free in solution and can leach out with excess
watering.
Phosphorus
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– Soil and soil based media will have adequate supplies especially if amended with composted organic matter or manures.
– Deficiencies may show up in soilless substrate
Micronutrients
– Deficiencies may show up in soilless substrate due to the requirements of high yielding crops.
– Deficiencies may also show up with the use of greenhouse and technical grade fertilizer mixes that have little impurities.
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– Plants take up nutrients in mutual ratios.
– Nutrient solutions must be formulated to match
such ratios and are often termed “balanced
Nutrient Solutions
such ratios and are often termed “balanced
nutrient solutions.
– With un-balanced solutions, unwanted nutrients
will accumulate in the root zone causing toxic
effects.
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Nutrient solutions are formulated based on;
• (a) Type of crop, eg leafy or fruiting.
Nutrient Solutions
• (b) Crop growth stage, eg seedling, vegetative
or fruiting.
• (c) Crop production system, soil, soilless, water
culture.
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Example: How much calcium nitrate to use to get
166 ppm Ca.? Calcium nitrate has 19% Ca and
15.5 % N.
Calculating Fertilizer
Requirement and ppm
15.5 % N.
• (Desired ppm) ÷ 75 ÷ (% of Ca expressed as a
decimal)
• 166 ÷ 75 ÷ 0.19 = 330.27 grams (11.65
ounces)/378.54 litres (100 US Gallons).
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How much nitrogen (ppm) will be obtained when
11.65 ozs of calcium nitrate in 100 US Gals?
Calcium nitrate has 15.5% N.
Calculating Fertilizer
Requirement and ppm
Calcium nitrate has 15.5% N.
• (ozs/100 US Gals) x 75 x (% N expressed as a
decimal)
• 11.65 x 75 x 0.155 = 135.43 ppm
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– 330.27 g (11.65 oz) of calcium nitrate in 100 US gallons will supply the desired 166 ppm.
– If the injection rate is 2.5 : 100, then 330.27 g (11.94 oz) will be dissolved at a rate of every 9.46 L (2.5 US Gallons) in the stock solution tank to compensate for
Injection Rate
Gallons) in the stock solution tank to compensate for the additional 9.46 L (2.5 gals).
– (11.65 ÷ 100) x 102.5 = 11.94 ozs
– = 330.27 grams (11.65 ounces)/378.54 Litres (100 US Gallons).
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– Have adequate water storage.
– Periodically check pH and EC prior to adding fertilizers.
Irrigation Water
– Use clean water for preparing nutrient solutions.
– If rain water is used, it should be filtered due to dust, pollen or other contaminants from roofs and gutters.
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– For plants that are grown
directly in the soil or in framed
Application Volume/Plant
directly in the soil or in framed
beds, the volume will be
larger than those grown in
bags or pots
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Also depends on the GH
climate, the type of
media and its
Application Volume/Plant
media and its
properties, size of plant,
the number of plants
per bag, etc.
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– High quality water soluble fertilizers.
– Adequate water supply.
Requirements for Fertigation
– Pump to maintain pressure along delivery lines.
– Stock solution tanks.
– Injector (s)
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– Primary, secondary and tertiary delivery lines.
– Monitoring devices for pH and EC.
Requirements for Fertigation
– Device for automatic on/off flow.
– Greenhouse floor suitably designed for lateral or
downwards drainage in the event of excess
watering, leaks, etc.
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Two tanks are
recommended in order to
keep calcium fertilizers
away from phosphates or
Stock Solution Tanks
away from phosphates or
sulphates and prevent
precipitation.
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In open irrigation
systems, fertigation
must be efficient so as
to avoid loss of
Excessive Watering
to avoid loss of
fertilizers and
contamination of
underlying soil
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Stock solution tanks
within the GH should be
covered as evaporation
Stock Solution Tanks
covered as evaporation
of water will add to the
humidity of the GH.
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The installation of a
collection bottle along
the delivery line will
Collection Bottle
the delivery line will
allow monitoring of
volumes pumped.
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Water tanks should be
in a shaded area so as
to avoid pumping warm
Water Tanks
to avoid pumping warm
nutrient solution to
plant roots.
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Always follow
manufacturers advice on
use, storage, cleaning
Nutrient Solution Meters
use, storage, cleaning
and calibrating pH and
EC meters.
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– Regular check on water and fertilizer supplies.
– Inspection of irrigation lines.
– Servicing of pump and stand-by generator.
Other Routine Chores
– Servicing of pump and stand-by generator.
– Cleaning of filters.
– Flushing of irrigation lines to remove any precipitation.