This book introduces basic and practical information on fertigation to researchers, extension agents and growers. To provide understanding of the basic issues regarding the appropriate selection of fertilizer injectors, fertilizer compounds used in fertigation for growing various field and horticultural crops. The book provides useful basic principles and practical information concerning fertilizer management and fertigation techniques of field, horticulture, and medicinal and aromatic crops. The book focuses on the agronomic value of fertigation practice and provides the reader with best practical advice required for successful fertigation based on the field experience. This book summarizes the basic principles and practices of fertigation techniques to ensure accurate and efficient crop nutrition. The book consists of 5 chapters covering the following topics: Introduction to chemigation and fertigation, selecting an injector for fertilizer/chemical injection, fertilizers for fertigation, major, secondary, and micronutrient fertilizers used in fertigation, and fertigation practices: Egyptian case study. It also includes appendixes for fertigation calculation examples, calibration of an injection pump, calculating the quantities of fertilizers needed for fertigation, nutrients requirements per each ton of crop yield produced, macronutrient requirements for some filed, fiber, fruit, vegetable crops, and medicinal and aromatic plants.
Fertigation is one of the smart practices that help attains sustainable food production and minimize environmental pollution. Fertigation is the application of dissolved mineral fertilizers, soil amendments, and other water-soluble products to the roots of crops through irrigation water. This book provides understanding of the basic issues regarding the appropriate selection of injectors and fertilizer compounds used in fertigation for growing various field and horticultural crops which are essential to attain higher productivity, increasing food security and reducing food contaminations. It also clarifies the advantages of fertigation and set solutions to overcome its disadvantages.
Author(s): Ahmed Mohamed Taha
Series: SpringerBriefs in Environmental Science
Publisher: Springer
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 135
City: Cham
Preface
Contents
List of Figures
List of Tables
1 Introduction to Chemigation and Fertigation
1.1 Advantages
1.2 Disadvantages and Potential Risks
1.3 Factors Affecting Chemigation and Fertigation
1.3.1 Irrigation System Characteristics
1.3.2 Soil Characteristics
1.3.3 Topography
References
2 Selecting an Injector for Fertilizer/Chemical Injection
2.1 Fertigation Injectors
2.2 The Chemical Supply Tank
2.3 Venturi
2.4 Piston Pumps
2.5 The Hydraulic Piston Motor Injector (Hydraulic Energy)
2.6 Diaphragm Pumps
2.7 Electric Dosing Pumps
Reference
3 Fertilizers for Fertigation
3.1 Forms of Fertilizers
3.2 Suitability of Fertilizers
3.2.1 Solubility
3.2.2 Acidity
3.2.3 Corrosion
3.3 Compatibility of Fertilizers
Reference
4 Major, Secondary and Micronutrient Fertilizers Used in Fertigation
4.1 Major Nutrients
4.1.1 Nitrogen (N)
4.1.2 Phosphorus (P)
4.1.3 Potassium
4.2 Secondary Nutrients
4.2.1 Calcium (Ca)
4.2.2 Magnesium (Mg)
4.2.3 Sulphur (S)
4.3 Micronutrients
4.3.1 Micronutrient Forms Used in Fertigation
4.3.2 Micronutrients Availability as Related to Soil pH
References
5 Fertigation Practices: An Egyptian Case Study
5.1 Field Crops
5.1.1 Barley
5.1.2 Chickpea
5.1.3 Faba Bean
5.1.4 Maize
5.1.5 Wheat
5.2 Intercropping Pattern
5.2.1 Sunflower with Peanut
5.3 Sugar Crops
5.3.1 Sugar Beet
5.4 Oil Crops
5.4.1 Canola
5.4.2 Canola
5.4.3 Peanut
5.4.4 Rapeseed
5.4.5 Sunflower
5.5 Fodder Crops
5.5.1 Alfalfa
5.5.2 Cowpea
5.5.3 Fodder Beet
5.5.4 Fodder Beet (Voroshenger Var.)
5.5.5 Pearl Millet
5.5.6 Sudan Grass
5.6 Chai, Foino, Niger and White Perilla Crops (New Crops Grown in Egypt)
5.6.1 Chia Crop (Salvia hispanica L.)
5.6.2 Fonio Millet (Digitariaexilis Stapf)
5.6.3 Niger (Guizotiaabyssinic a (L. F.) Cass.)
5.6.4 White Perilla Crop (Perilla Frutescens, Family Lamiaceae)
5.7 Fibre Crops
5.7.1 Cotton (Sandy Soil)
5.7.2 Cotton (Calcareous Soil)
5.8 Orchards
5.8.1 Perennial Orchards
5.8.2 Deciduous Orchards
5.9 Vegetable Crops
5.9.1 Cabbage
5.9.2 Cantaloupe
5.9.3 Cucumber
5.9.4 Eggplant
5.9.5 Garlic
5.9.6 Hot Pepper
5.9.7 Lettuce
5.9.8 Okra
5.9.9 Onion Crop (Sandy Soil)
5.10 Medicinal and Aromatic Plants
5.10.1 Coriander Plants
5.10.2 Lemongrass (Cymbopogoncitratus)
5.10.3 Licorice Extract
5.11 Cut Flowers
5.11.1 Zinniaelegans
5.12 Future Trends in Fertigation
References
Fertigation Calculations
Example: Calibration of an Injection Pump
Calculate the Quantities of Fertilizers Needed for Fertigation
Uncited References
