What is Fertigation, and what is it based on?
The need to optimize the resources allocated to the proper development of the crop—which are considered factors of production—requires the use of various techniques to achieve maximum economic yield. Fertigation It involves the simultaneous application of water and nutrient solutions to crops, using drip lines and emitters (such as drippers) as the delivery system. This method allows for the precise and controlled application of nutrients directly to the plants’ active root zone.
Systems Used for Fertigation
The systems used range from simple manual injection systems to sophisticated automated systems with multiple sprinklers and electronic controllers that allow for precise regulation of the frequency and amount of water applied, based on the specific needs of the crop and soil conditions.
Types of Fertilizers Used in Fertigation
The fertilizers used in fertigation are water-soluble and can be of mineral or organic origin. The most common include nitrates, phosphates, potash, and micronutrients. These fertilizers are selected based on the crop’s needs and specific soil conditions.
Irrigation Systems Suitable for Fertigation
The most suitable irrigation systems for fertigation include drip irrigation, subsurface drip irrigation, and micro-sprinklers. These systems allow for uniform distribution of water and nutrients, minimizing losses due to evaporation and runoff. Drip irrigation is particularly effective for fertigation because of its ability to maintain a constant, localized supply of nutrients.
Benefits of Implementing Fertigation
The undeniable economic and agronomic benefits of Fertigation are due to characteristics inherent in the Fertigation process itself:
- Simultaneous application of irrigation water and the fertilizers required by the crop.
- These requirements are found only in the active root system.
- High frequency of application.
- Ease of fertilizer application and labor savings. The application of fertilizers through the fertigation process is not dependent on the availability of personnel or inclement weather, and it involves lower operating costs compared to the cost of applying fertilizers directly to the field by hand or mechanically.
- Efficient use of applied fertilizers. The localized application of nutrients in the active, highly fractionated root zone throughout the entire growing cycle ensures that nutrients are available in amounts appropriate to the plant’s needs at all times, which allows for greater utilization of the applied nutrients and reduces the percentage of losses caused by leaching, especially nitrogen. As the frequency of application increases, losses due to leaching and/or nutrient immobilization in the soil decrease.
- High nutrient availability. The localized application, combined with the high frequency and fractionation of the inputs required by the crop, promotes their availability and creates ideal conditions for the assimilation of water and nutrients.
- High level of control over the dosing and application of the fertilizers applied. The highly controlled delivery of water and nutrients to the crop allows application rates to be tailored to the crop’s actual needs, depending on its current phenological stage and the desired production goal. This practice increases crop yields, achieving the desired balance between increased production, improved harvest quality, and early maturity or the date the crop begins producing.
Multi-injection fertigation systems
Of all the existing systems for delivering the nutrient solution required by crops, those that offer the most advantages—whether economic and/or agronomic—are the systems based on the use of Venturi injectors.
Features of a multi-injection machine
AZUD QGROW multi-injection systems provide proportional and balanced nutrition through the controlled and simultaneous application of all fertilizers at the frequency, quantity, and nutrient balance required to achieve the desired production goal.
The multi-injection system consists of a set of manifolds (feed and return) that allow for the parallel interconnection of the probe holder kit and the injection arms that make up the system.
- The probe holder kit includes the mounting brackets for connecting the pH and EC sensors, along with the connectors for the power supply and return manifolds.
- Each multi-injection arm contains the components that enable injection (Venturi injector), monitoring, and control of injection conditions (flow meter and solenoid valve), as well as protective and control components (filter, check valve, control valve).
Benefits of Multi-Injection in Fertigation
- Balanced nutrition: It is possible to adjust, in terms of quantity and proportion, the unit injection rate of each fertilizer to be applied simultaneously in order to achieve the nutrient concentration and nutritional balance required to meet the desired production goal.
- Crop nutrition via a multi-injection system does not require the preparation of a stock solution; it allows for the simultaneous application of fertilizers that are otherwise incompatible with one another, while also enabling more versatile and dynamic nutrition by allowing the nutrient balance required by each irrigation sector to be adjusted independently.
The ease of use and possibilities offered by this equipment for automating the fertigation process necessitate the use of components that provide autonomy, versatility, and control over this process. The complete automation of crop fertigation leads to substantial improvements: greater productivity in terms of water and nutrients applied, and a yield that strikes an appropriate balance between early maturity, quality, and quantity of the plant’s commercially valuable parts.
Benefits of Automating Multi-Injection Systems
Automation makes it possible to carry out the fertigation process conveniently and efficiently, offering the following economic and functional advantages:
- System autonomy: Automating the process of supplying water and nutrients allows irrigation to be carried out completely autonomously, without direct intervention by operating personnel, thereby eliminating the need to rely on the availability of operating personnel to perform these tasks with the required frequency and duration.
- Efficient nutrition: Automating the fertigation process allows for highly fractionated application and precise control of the unit dose and desired nutrient balance, ensuring optimal injection levels and thereby achieving greater efficiency from the applied fertilizers: lower losses due to leaching, higher absorption rates due to the high moisture content in the active root zone, and the ability to adjust the pH level to optimal values that ensure greater absorption.
- Versatility: The ability to easily set the injection rates and the proportions of the various fertilizers applied simultaneously in each irrigation sector makes AZUD QGROW multi-injection systems highly flexible tools. They allow for the application of nutrients based on application time, in proportion to the circulating flow rate, or by controlling pH and EC values.
- Traceability: It provides information on injection levels, including instantaneous injection flow rates and cumulative volumes for each fertilizer applied to the crop. The data storage capability, which is highly useful for the user, provides a comprehensive understanding of nutrient application levels and the time period during which they were applied.
How do you implement a multi-injection fertigation system?
- These devices are integrated into the irrigation system via a Bypass connection.
- The diverted flow enters the multi-injection system through the inlet manifold, which—fed at one end—distributes the drive flow simultaneously to all the Venturi injectors integrated into the equipment and to the probe holder kit. The pressure in the system corresponds to the pressure available in the irrigation systems.
- The return manifold collects the combined flow rate—consisting of the main flow, the nutrient solution and water drawn in by all the Venturi injectors integrated into the equipment, and the Bypass flow diverted through the probe holder kit. The total flow rate is directed to the suction line of the auxiliary electric pump.
- The auxiliary electric pump provides the necessary pressure to feed the flow rate from the return manifold into the irrigation line.
AZUD Plant Nutrition Solutions
Manual fertigation equipment
AZUD It offers two models of manual fertigation equipment for the simultaneous multi-injection of nutrients to the irrigation system: AZUD QGROW BS and AZUD QGROW V.
AZUD’s manual fertigation equipment offers a range of features that improve productivity and efficiency in nutrient application. It stands out for its ability to provide homogeneous dosing of nutrients throughout the irrigation cycle, ensuring a continuous and balanced supply of nutrients to the plants.
The reliability of this equipment is based on the Venturi injection system, made of durable polymers and featuring no moving parts, which minimizes maintenance and ensures long-lasting operation. In addition, they are highly compatible, allowing for the injection of different types of fertilizers and complementary products, thus offering greater flexibility.
Simplicity is another advantage, with easy and intuitive injection control that makes them user-friendly and allows for quick and precise adjustments. Finally, the Model AZUD QGROW V It includes an advanced controller that provides a pH, EC, and temperature display, providing critical data for optimal injection adjustment and ensuring that nutrients are applied under ideal conditions for absorption and effectiveness.
Automatic fertigation equipment
AZUD QGROW AT This is automatic fertigation equipment designed for the simultaneous multi-injection of nutrients into the irrigation system. These systems also operate using a polymer-based Venturi injection system with no moving parts, ensuring reliability and low maintenance.
An advanced controller precisely manages irrigation and nutrition according to crop needs, ensuring uniform dosing. This equipment allows for the injection of various fertilizers and supplemental products, offering compatibility and versatility.
In addition, they offer remote control to manage the system from anywhere, improving safety and efficiency. This design increases crop yield and quality, reduces input and labor costs, and minimizes environmental impact, contributing to more sustainable agriculture.
