Fertigation - Injecting soluble fertilizers into the irrigation system

Thomas D. Landis; Jeremy R. Pinto; Anthony S. Davis

Treesearch

Fertigation - Injecting soluble fertilizers into the irrigation system

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Thomas D. Landis, Jeremy R. Pinto, Anthony S. Davis

Year:

2009

Type:

Miscellaneous Publication

Station:

Rocky Mountain Research Station

Source:

In: Dumroese, R. Kasten; Landis, Tom D., eds. Forest Nursery Notes, Volume 29, Issue 2. Lincoln, NE: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, National Agroforestry Center. p. 4-13.

Download (PDF 361 KB)

Download (PDF 361 KB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/36991.pdf

Abstract

Fertigation (fertilization + irrigation) is the newest way for nursery managers to apply fertilizer, and has become a standard practice in container nurseries. Because of the inherent inefficient water distribution patterns in field irrigation systems, fertigation has not been widely used in bareroot nurseries. However, a bareroot nursery with a center-pivot irrigation system has successfully used fertigation (Triebwasser and Altsuler 1995), and other nurseries have applied soluble fertilizer through a tractor -drawn sprayer. Compared to traditional fertilization with dry, granular fertilizers, spray application of soluble fertilizer solutions was faster, more uniform and accurate, and easier to calibrate (Triebwasser 2004).

Keywords

fertigation, fertilizer injectors, irrigation water

Citation

Landis, Thomas D.; Pinto, Jeremy R.; Davis, Anthony S. 2009. Fertigation - Injecting soluble fertilizers into the irrigation system. In: Dumroese, R. Kasten; Landis, Tom D., eds. Forest Nursery Notes, Volume 29, Issue 2. Lincoln, NE: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, National Agroforestry Center. p. 4-13.