Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Fertigation

Fertigation has been used in agriculture for more than 40 years, but it's still a relatively new concept in the landscape industry. Therefore, some landscape professionals are still sketchy about what it is and how it can benefit their business. Modernizing the farming activity is one of the ways to increase the productivity. Moreover, fertigation method is one of the effective alternatives with maximum outcomes. Fertigation is the application of fertilizers, soil amendments, or other water-soluble products through an irrigation system, one of the subparts of chemigation component. It can be described as one of the way of farming where fertilizers (in liquid form) are flown to the root of the plants trough the system of watering/irigation. The media that usually used here is Bio soil (dcmpronatura) and charcoal (ratio 50:50) with pH ranging from 6.5 to 6.8. The fertilization is given by following a specific formulation of fertilizers depending on the type of the plants. Fertigation is the process of applying fertilizer through an automatic, in-ground irrigation system. Ideally, true fertigation is applying small, consistent amounts of fertilizer continuously through an irrigation system to achieve the ultimate benefit. Fertigation is the best and most cost-effective way to deliver nutrients to grass, plants and ornamentals. "Spoon-feeding" grass and plants with small, precise amounts of fertilizer through an irrigation system, allows plants to thrive in a constantly nutrient-rich environment. Fertigation keeps the nutrients readily available to the plant resulting in strong root growth and better plant health. Heavy, infrequent granular fertilizer applications creates a temporary over-supply of nitrogen which will substantially over-feed your lawn, causing an unhealthy surge of lush top growth at the expense of root growth. The lawn gradually slows its growth and eventually becomes undernourished until the next fertilization. This "feast/famine cycle" is very stressful for plants, causes poor root development, and invites damage by insects, drought and disease. Advantages:
  • The fertigation system has it owns superiority compared to other conventional system:
  • Better for Plants.
  • Plants need less water
  • Plants have healthier roots
  • Thatch problems reduction makes plants more resistant to diseases & pests
  • Solve the problem of unarable land.
  • Increasing the outcome of unit per area.
  • Work force reduction lowering total cost spent on labour.
  • Producing better quality harvest
  • Reducing pesticide usage
  • Higher production rate, reaching as high as 700%
  • The plants’ maintenance is more systematic with slow, precise feeding and even application
  • Less run-off into streams and rivers, better for environment
  • Uses Less Fertilizer, increases microbial populations, better for soil health
Hindrance:
  • High starting funds.
  • High risk of loosing and the need of intensive labour force.
  • The needs of good quality water.
  • The needs for the right medium, temperature and humidit

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