The use of drip irrigation fertilizer systems can provide conditions for fertilization, significantly improving fertilization and irrigation efficiency, reducing production costs, and enhancing yield and quality, ultimately boosting economic benefits. Drip irrigation fertilization technology is widely promoted and popular around the world. In drip irrigation fertilizer systems, the commonly used power machines are mainly electric motors; the commonly used water pumps include centrifugal pumps and submersible pumps. The selection of irrigation water pumps and power machines depends on the conditions of water sources and infrastructure. This article will introduce the commonly used drip irrigation fertilizer systems in fertigation, how to select suitable fertilization systems, and the key points and precautions of drip irrigation fertilizer systems.
Do you know which drip irrigation fertilizer systems are commonly used? They mainly include fertilizer tanks, Venturi injectors, piston pumps, and electric fertilizer injection pumps.
Fertilizer Tanks
Pressure differential fertilizer tanks are widely used drip irrigation fertilization equipment in fields. They are commonly seen in orchards in developed countries and widely used in greenhouse vegetable and field production. Fertilizer tanks are low-cost, easy to install, and made of steel or plastic. However, they have some limitations: they cannot control the concentration of fertilizer in the tank, have unequal fertilization amounts in different areas, and require a certain pressure to add the fertilizer to the system.
Venturi Injectors
Venturi injectors are also widely used in drip irrigation fertilizer systems. Venturi injectors have significant advantages: they do not require external energy, have a low cost for drawing fertilizers from open fertilizer tanks, cover a wide range of suction, are simple to operate, have low wear and tear, are easy to install and move, suitable for automation, maintain a uniform nutrient concentration, and are highly resistant to corrosion.
Piston Pumps
Piston pump fertilization uses a centrifugal pump to draw the fertilizer solution into the pipeline system, suitable for any area size. To prevent fertilizer solution from backflowing into the water source and causing contamination, a check valve can be installed behind the water suction pipe. The advantages and disadvantages of piston pumps are similar to those of Venturi injectors, but piston pumps are more expensive and better suited for greenhouse planting systems rather than large field systems.
Electric Fertilizer Injection Pumps
Electric fertilizer injection pumps (which can also be used for pesticide application) have a high lift, directly injecting into drip irrigation fertilizer systems. This method allows for easy adjustment of the injection speed, is simple, and convenient to operate; it does not require pressure drops, maintains a uniform fertilizer concentration, and is easy to control. The drawback is the additional electricity consumption. Electric fertilizer injection pumps are suitable for large field irrigation systems.
With drip irrigation fertilizer systems, soluble fertilizers are directly applied to the dense root zones of crops with water, without any fertilizer waste on the open ground between plants. Conversely, drip irrigation infiltrates the root zone with a small flow rate in the form of drip water, making it very easy to control. Both water and fertilizers are not lost due to deep leaching. Drip irrigation nitrogen application can reach fertilizer efficiency of 74%, while traditional methods do not exceed 30%.
It should be noted that when using drip irrigation fertilizer systems, drippers may become clogged. Fertilizers must be soluble, as insoluble fertilizers will quickly clog drippers. Chemical reactions between fertilizer raw materials can also produce precipitates, and over time, these precipitates can clog the drip irrigation system.
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