Single application fertigation is a technique that has gained popularity among farmers due to its apparent simplicity and efficiency. However, to fully understand its implications and determine if it is truly the best option for your crops, it is necessary to explore its advantages, disadvantages, and the available alternatives.
What is it?
Single application fertigation is a technique where all the necessary nutrients for the plant are supplied in a single irrigation cycle, covering a determined period. While this practice may seem convenient, it presents various challenges and considerations that must be taken into account to ensure healthy plant growth and efficient use of resources.
How fertilizer was applied before and how it is done now
Traditionally, fertilizers were applied at three different times: before planting, during planting, and after planting. This method involved a more gradual distribution of nutrients, helping to maintain a more consistent balance in the soil.
In the early days of fertigation, fertilizers were typically applied periodically, either bi-weekly or monthly. However, this approach had its own challenges, such as excessive and uneven plant growth due to the intermittent application of nutrients.
Today, fertigation has significantly adapted and improved. With advanced techniques such as the use of Venturi systems or dosing pumps, it is possible to apply fertilizer in a more controlled and concentrated manner, directly in the moist area of the soil around the roots. This method ensures that plants receive all the necessary nutrients for the next few days in a single application.
Challenges of single application fertigation
Although single application fertigation may seem efficient, it has its disadvantages. Excessive nutrient concentration can lead to nutritional imbalances in the soil. Nitrogen, for example, can leach into lower layers with water, phosphorus can form insoluble compounds that roots cannot absorb, and although potassium remains available, the plant does not effectively assimilate it without adequate nitrogen and phosphorus.
This high concentration of nutrients can also cause toxicity, resulting in weak growth and potential damage to plant roots and leaves. Additionally, many nutrients are not absorbed by the plant and are lost with continuous irrigation, which not only represents an economic loss but also a potential contamination of groundwater and soil.
Benefits of frequent fertigation
To avoid these problems, daily fertigation or fertigation with each irrigation cycle is recommended. This approach provides nutrients in smaller, controlled doses, promoting uniform growth and reducing fertilizer costs. It also improves the quality of the harvested product and minimizes nutritional imbalances.
Using irrigation equipment with a lower flow rate allows for more precise nutrient application, better adapting to the specific needs of the plants and reducing the risk of environmental contamination. Although single application fertigation may be a tempting technique due to its apparent simplicity, its disadvantages make more frequent and controlled methods the best option for healthy and sustainable cultivation.
