Fertigation has becoming a common technology adopted by the farmers under protectively cultivated and protectively irrigated situations. Many companies dealing with plant nutrients are prescribing huge quantum of nutrients specially for crops like tomato, sugarcane etc. Is there a technological rationale / approach behind this heavy nutrition?
When the input provider makes the recommendation the buyer needs to be aware. It is typical that while they provide credible plant analysis they over recommend their input recommendation. Rather that need the need to have insurance through over application it is better to identify the constraining factor and then selectively add for sufficiency and not beyond. When getting information watch out for vested interest and test for what actual response curves work under your particular controls. Caveat emptor let the buyer beware.
Yes as rightly pointed out by @ Paul Reed , farmers need to be aware and extension / field officials also to be aware about it. Based on my field experience with sugarcane farmers , it has been found that fertigation it self is not a regular practice by many farmers. Even under drip irrigation, they go with soil application of fertilizers. By providing demonstrations and regular training programs there was an improvement in the adoption rate of drip fertigation. Drip fertigation is the viable technology by which 4Rs can be practiced viz., Right Quantity, Right time, Right place and Right source. Most of our studies showed saving of fertilizer nutrient to the tune of 20 to 30 % depending on the locations. Another important aspect is that farmers can go with the traditional water soluble N and K fertilizers and P can be applied as a basal dose through soil application. It is not essential to go for high cost water soluble fertilizers.
The excess application of fertilizers may be there in poly house / protected cultivation of tomatoes / cucumber etc . Hence in such situations, we need to go for proper fertigation scheduling using the scientific approach.
Growing crops under natural and protected conditions are two separate conditions and hence the doses will vary. When we grow tomato under protected condition the harvesting is 4-5 times more than what we get under normal conditions. Accordingly the crop must be fertilized with the adequate amount of nutrients through ferrtigation to meet the requirement of the crop, as we are harvesting several times failing which the yield in subsequant harvest will be affected. The crop must be fertilised with each harvest and Hence the fertilizer requirement of the protected crop is high especially for crops like tomato, sugarcane etc.
Thimmegowda Mn
The adoption of fertigation, especially in protected cultivation and irrigated agriculture, has indeed become increasingly popular due to its efficiency in delivering nutrients directly to plants through irrigation systems. However, the practice of prescribing large quantities of nutrients, particularly for crops like tomato and sugarcane, requires careful consideration and justification. Here are some technological rationales and approaches that may explain the use of heavy nutrition in fertigation:
1. High Yield Expectations: Crops like tomato and sugarcane are often high-yielding and have intensive nutrient demands to support vigorous growth and productivity. Fertigation allows precise control over nutrient application, enabling farmers to supply nutrients in quantities that match the crop's high yield potential.
2. Nutrient Mobility and Uptake: Certain nutrients, such as nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus, are highly mobile in the soil and easily leach away with excess irrigation water. Fertigation helps to minimize nutrient losses by delivering nutrients directly to the root zone, enhancing their availability for plant uptake.
3. Crop Growth Stages and Nutrient Demand: Different crops have varying nutrient requirements at different growth stages. Fertigation allows farmers to tailor nutrient applications according to the crop's growth stage, ensuring that nutrient availability matches the plant's demand throughout its development cycle.
4. Precision Agriculture: Fertigation enables precision agriculture practices, where nutrients can be applied in precise quantities and at specific times based on real-time data, soil analysis, and crop monitoring. This approach maximizes nutrient use efficiency and minimizes waste, leading to optimal crop nutrition and performance.
5. Soil and Environmental Conditions: Soil fertility, texture, pH, and environmental conditions can influence nutrient availability and plant uptake. Fertigation allows for adjustments in nutrient formulations and application rates to compensate for variations in soil and environmental factors, ensuring that plants receive adequate nutrition under diverse growing conditions.
6. Crop Varieties and Genetics: Modern crop varieties, especially hybrids and genetically improved cultivars, often have higher nutrient requirements to support their genetic potential for yield and quality. Fertigation allows for precise nutrient management to meet the specific needs of different crop varieties and optimize their performance.
While there may be technological justifications for prescribing heavy nutrition in fertigation, it is essential for farmers and agronomists to carefully consider factors such as crop nutrient requirements, soil fertility status, environmental sustainability, and economic viability. Over-application of nutrients can lead to nutrient imbalances, environmental pollution, and economic losses. Therefore, nutrient management strategies should be based on sound agronomic principles, supported by soil testing, crop monitoring, and integrated nutrient management practices to ensure optimal crop nutrition and sustainable agricultural production.
Excess nutrient applications are wasteful and can contribute to economic increase of cost of production and cause environmental issues.
The applications of nutrients past their response for increasing yield and quality are to be avoided.
The nutrient status can be assessed through foliar analysis of plant specimens and the use of trials can be employed to develop response curves.
The use of foliar analysis can be used to pinpoint the experiments which would pinpoint optimized conditions.
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