What is Fertigation?

Fertigation is using your irrigator to fertilise the plants and soils as you water. It does this by injecting fertiliser solution into the main water line. As you irrigate, you also fertilise. It is easy to set up and an efficient use of time and money. Best of all it gets results on all types of farms.

How long has Fertigation been used in New Zealand?

Over 10 years...and it has proven itself time and again. Experience and research over those years makes it clear that fertigation is an efficient and effective crop management tool. As you look at the potential benefits of using fertigation in your operation, you can find the information you need from the leader in fluid application technology – Fertigation Systems.

What kinds of products can be applied using fertigation?

Virtually all common agricultural products can be applied using the fertigation method – fertilisers and soil conditioners.

Do I need a certain kind of irrigation system to fertigate?

We recommend sprinkler type irrigation systems for fertigation. These can include Centre Pivot, Linear, K- Line or other sprinkler systems. Sprinkler systems accommodate both soil and foliar applied fertiliser and provide good uniformity of application.

How common is fertigation?

Fertigation is one of the fastest growing crop management practices in the world. During the past five years, the use of fertigation has increased 700% - and it's still growing.

Isn't fertigation useful only for a few crops?

Our fertigation systems have been used with great success for many different crops; Pastures, Lucerne, Potatoes, Maize, Brassica’s, Wheat & Barley. Fertigation systems are also being used for turf grass applications on golf courses, turf farms and in residential settings.

I thought fertigation was only used in a few regions?

Fertigation is used all across the country and around the world. We have seen our fertigation systems used from Northland to Hawkes Bay and Marlborough to Central Otago. As the use of centre pivot irrigation systems increases around New Zealand, we are seeing considerable interest in fertigation in all farms types.

Is fertigation cost effective when compared to traditional application methods?

Absolutely! Fertigation can be a very profitable alternative to aerial or truck application depending upon the type and amount of use. Studies have indicated that the annual cost of fertigation ranges from 34% to 60% of aerial or ground application - and decreases significantly as the number of applications increases during the year. In the chart below, you can see that the cost per ha for fertigation is considerably less than conventional application primarily due to the basic application cost.

Does fertigation save on fertiliser costs?

Based on university tests and field trials, the amount of fertilisers can be dramatically reduced when fertigation is used. On some crops, fertiliser use has been reduced by the following amounts without reducing yields:

Tests indicate increased effectiveness of the fertilisers applied through fertigation over standard application procedures - even when smaller amounts of fertiliser are applied. This makes good economic and ecological sense.

Does fertigation reduce my Carbon emissions in any way?

Yes it does. Because you are not driving a truck around the paddocks you are emitting less carbon, PLUS, by using Liquid Nitrogen which is in the form of UAN, it burns up less soil carbon than Urea.

Are there other cost savings with fertigation?

In addition to savings in application and fertilisers costs, there are other significant savings with fertigation. You make fewer trips through the field - reducing energy consumption, equipment wear and operator hours. You also reduce soil compaction. Additionally, incorporation is often achieved "free of charge." Some fertilisers and fungicides can be incorporated as part of the fertigation process by applying the correct rate of water.

What is the economic payback on a fertigation system?

While the payback period on a fertigation system will vary according to your application methods, the fact is that the more applications you make, the quicker your system pays for itself. With other forms of application, you simply keep spending money.

Here's a sample of the economic impact of fertigation compared to conventional application. At a conventional application cost of $8.00 per ha, a fertigation system (estimated at $4,500) pays for itself in less than six applications, - while the investment in conventional application continues to climb.

What makes fertigation safer than conventional methods?

The highest risk of fertiliser exposure to the operator or the environment occurs during tank mixing. Fertigation eliminates much of the tank mixing that is necessary for crop management. With Fertigation, fertilisers need only be handled once per field.

Does fertigation use less chemical product?

Yes. Numerous fertigation trials have proven that fungicides rates can be reduced without reducing the effectiveness. Fertigation reduces human and wildlife toxicity as well, because the fertilisers are diluted to a much greater extent. Aerial application concentrates the chemical in 10 to 15 ltrs/ha, where fertigation is applying the same amount of chemical in up to 10,000 ltrs of water per ha. Any drift to non-target areas has less toxic potential, and the fertiliser is more safely introduced into the environment.

Does Government or Local Authorities have special requirements for farmers who fertigate?

Since fertigation is becoming a more accepted management practice, most Councils have no major issues with the use of fertigation systems.

The major point is all irrigations units that draw directly from ground water supply should have a backflow preventer installed behind the place where the fertiliser is being injected. Even with this extra investment, a Fertigation System will pay for itself in one season.

 

For more details on Fertigation, please check out our articles: Fertigation Articles