Recent Trends in Nutrition Management in Horticultural crops

11-12 February 1999. Dapoli, Maharashtra, INDIA

Recent Techniques in Fertigation of Horticultural Crops in Israel

Patricia Imas, International Potash Institute Coordinator India.

c/o Dead Sea Works Ltd., POB 75 Beer Sheva 84100 Israel.

Contents
Abstract
Introduction
Advantages of fertigation
Chemical and biological guidelines for a sound fertigation
o Fertilizers solubility
o Interaction between the fertilizers and irrigation water
o Soil pH
o Physiological effects: antagonism and synergism
Practices of fertigation
o Fertilizer preparation
o Dosification
o Fertilizer injection methods
o Monitoring
o Fertigation management in greenhouse crops
Example: recommendation of a fertigation program by the Israeli Extension Service
References
Abstract

Israel is a small country with a total land area of 21,000 km2, from which 20% is arable land. More than half of Israel
has an arid to semi-arid climate. Approximately half of the cultivated area (200,000 hectares) has to be irrigated due
to lack of rainfall and other water resources. Approximately 80% of the irrigated land in Israel uses the fertigation
method, combining the application of water and fertilizers through the drip irrigation system.

The Israeli production of vegetables, flowers, ornamental plants and spices in greenhouses has been experiencing
accelerated growth in recent years, reaching 3,000 hectares today. Most of the greenhouses are computerized,
allowing automatic control of water, fertilizers and climate systems.

The direct delivery of fertilizers through drip irrigation demands the use of soluble fertilizers and pumping and
injection systems for introducing the fertilizers directly into the irrigation system. Many Israeli companies specialize in
manufacturing fertigation systems and in producing fertilizers and mixtures for their application through the drip
irrigation system.
Fertigation allows an accurate and uniform application of nutrients to the wetted area, where the active roots are
concentrated. Therefore, it is possible to adequate the nutrients quantity and concentration to their demand through
the growing season of the crop. Consequently, recommendations have been developed for the most suitable fertilizer
formulation (including the basic nutrients NPK and microelements) according to the type of soil, physiological stage,
climate and other factors. Special attention should be given to the pH and NO3/NH4 ratio, nutrient mobility in soil and
salinity conditions.

Planning the irrigation system and nutrient supply to the crops according to their physiological stage of development,
and consideration of the soil and climate characteristics, result in high yields and high quality crops with minimum
pollution.

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Introduction

Israel is a small country with a total area of 21.000 km2, from which 20% is arable land. More than half of the area of
Israel has an arid to semi-arid climate Near half of the cultivable area (200.000 hectares) must be irrigated due to the
lack of rain and other water resources. Approximately 80% of the irrigated area in Israel uses the method of
"fertigation", that combines the application of irrigation water with fertilizers. This practice contributes to the
achievement of higher yields and better quality by increasing remarkably the efficiency of the fertilizer application.
Greenhouse crops in Israel are fertilized exclusively through the irrigation system. The Israeli production of
vegetables, ornamental flowers, plants and spices under greenhouses has experienced an accelerated growth in the
last years, with more than 3.000 hectares of greenhouses nowadays Most of these greenhouses are computerized,
allowing the automatic control of the irrigation, the fertilization and the climate. Hydroponics in Israel reaches a total
area of 700 Has, being the main crops tomatoes, cucumbers, strawberries and flowers (roses, crisantemum, gerbera
and gypsophylla). The most common growing medium is tuff (volcanic stone) which is a reactive substrate with high
power of adsorption and high indigenous phosphorus content. Inert substrates as rockwool and vermiculite are also
used. At the moment most of the greenhouses have an open system. The aim is to change them by closed systems
in which the farmer must collect the leached solution and reuse it thus avoiding contamination

Israel is an unequaled example of the use of fertilizers by fertigation. In 1996, the Israeli farmer used an average of
115 kg N/Ha, 46 kg P2O5/Ha and 57.5 kg K2O/Ha. Over 50% of the N and P2O5, and 65% of the K2O is applied by
fertigation (Tarchitzky and Magen, 1997).

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Advantages of fertigation

The fertigation allows to apply the nutrients exactly and uniformly only to the wetted root volume, where the active
roots are concentrated. This remarkably increases the efficiency in the application of the fertilizer, which allows
reducing the amount of applied fertilizer. This not only reduces the production costs but also lessens the potential of
groundwater pollution caused by the fertilizer leaching. Fertigation allows to adapt the amount and concentration of
the applied nutrients in order to meet the actual nutritional requirement of the crop throughout the growing season. In
order to make a correct planning of the nutrients supply to the crop according to its physiological stage, we must
know the optimal daily nutrient consumption rate during the growing cycle that results in maximum yield and
production quality These functions are specific for each crop and climate, and were determined in different
experiments for the main crops in Israel like tomatoes, cucumbers, melons maize, etc. (Table 1). The optimal curve of
consumption of nutrients defines the minimal application rate of a certain nutrient that is required to maintain a
constant nutrient concentration in the soil solution. These data constitute the base of the recommendations given by
the Israeli Soil Extension Service for the farmers regarding the fertigation regime for the different crops.

Other advantages of the fertigation are: (1) the saving of energy and labor, (2) the flexibility of the moment of the
application (nutrients can be applied to the soil when crop or soil conditions would otherwise prohibit entry into the
field with conventional equipment), (3) convenient use of compound and ready-mix nutrient solutions containing also
small concentrations of micronutrients which are otherwise very difficult to apply accurately to the soil, and (4) the
supply of nutrients can be more carefully regulated and monitored. When fertigation is applied through the drip
irrigation system, crop foliage can be kept dry thus avoiding leaf burn and delaying the development of plant
pathogens.

Drip and microirrigation have a characteristic not shared by other irrigation methods: fertigation is not optional, but is
actually necessary. Fertigation provides the only good way to apply fertilizers physically to the crop root zone. On
high value drip irrigated crops, such as lettuce, tomatoes, and peppers, the level of fertigation management for
achieving high yields and crop qualities exceeds to what is found with other irrigation methods and crops.

Table 1: Daily consumption rate of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (kg ha-1 day-1) of different vegetables grown
under drip irrigation after emergence or planting (Scaife and Bar-Yosef, 1995).
Tomato
Days planting/ Tomato industry Eggplant Broccoli Melon
greenhouse
emergence
N P K N P K N P K N P K N P K
1-10 1.00 0.10 2.00 0.10 0.02 0.10 0.05 0.01 0.00 0.02 0.00 0.01 0.15 0.03 0.10
11-20 1.00 0.10 4.00 0.50 0.05 0.30 0.10 0.01 0.00 0.07 0.01 0.02 0.20 0.03 0.25
21-30 1.00 0.10 3.50 1.00 0.16 2.00 0.20 0.01 0.30 1.08 0.12 0.74 0.35 0.07 0.60
31-40 2.50 0.20 3.50 2.80 0.19 2.30 0.25 0.01 0.80 1.22 0.13 0.91 0.90 0.18 1.45
41-50 2.50 0.40 5.50 4.50 0.75 8.00 3.20 0.02 4.90 1.75 0.20 1.35 1.30 0.25 3.00
51-60 2.50 0.60 6.00 6.50 0.80 8.50 2.90 0.08 7.20 1.04 0.13 3.04 2.50 0.25 6.00
61-70 2.50 0.30 4.00 7.50 1.80 9.00 0.25 0.09 1.30 3.02 0.36 4.34 4.30 0.35 7.00
71-80 2.50 0.30 6.00 3.50 0.50 4.50 0.25 0.05 0.50 3.41 0.46 3.95 2.40 0.45 8.00
81-90 1.50 0.30 0.10 5.00 0.50 9.20 0.25 0.05 0.50 2.79 0.38 4.09 1.20 0.43 7.50
91-100 1.50 0.10 0.10 8.00 0.89 9.00 0.25 0.05 0.50 2.09 0.32 3.13 1.00 0.27 3.50
101-110 1.00 0.10 0.10 - - - 0.25 0.09 2.00 0.93 0.18 2.74 0.50 0.13 1.00
111-120 1.00 0.10 1.00 - - - 1.20 0.15 3.00 0.20 0.09 0.96 0.30 0.07 0.05
121-130 1.50 0.20 1.00 - - - 2.40 0.27 3.00 0.18 0.09 0.48 - - -
131-150 1.50 0.35 1.30 - - - 2.60 0.31 3.00 0.15 0.04 - - - -
151-180 4.00 0.50 3.80 - - - 2.30 0.38 1.60 - - - - - -
181-200 2.00 0.30 3.00 - - - 1.90 0.35 1.60 - - - - - -
TOTAL 450 65 710 393 59 520 290 33 380 202 26 165 151 25 385
variety F-144 VFM82-1-2 Black Oval Woltam Galia
Date em./pl. 25 Sep** 27 Mar* 10 Sep** 30 Aug** 14 Jan
Harvest selective 18 Jul selective 17 Jan selective
Plants/ha 23,000 50,000 12,500 33,000 25,000
Soil sandy clay sandy loam sandy
Yield (t/ha) 195 160 51 13 56
* emergence ** planting

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Chemical and biological guidelines for a sound fertigation

Effective fertigation requires an understanding of plant growth behavior including nutrient requirements and rooting
patterns, soil chemistry such as solubility and mobility of the nutrients, fertilizers chemistry (mixing compatibility,
precipitation, clogging and corrosion) and water quality factors including pH, salt and sodium hazards, and toxic ions.

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Fertilizers solubility

An essential pre-requisite for the solid fertilizer use in fertigation is its complete dissolution in the irrigation water.
Examples of highly soluble fertilizers appropriate for their use in fertigation are: ammonium nitrate, potassium
chloride, potassium nitrate, urea, ammonium monophosphate and potassium monophosphate.

The solubility of fertilizers depends on the temperature. The fertilizer solutions stored during the summer form
precipitates when the temperatures decrease in the autumn, due to the diminution of the solubility with low
temperatures. Therefore it is recommended to dilute the solutions stored at the end of the summer. Fertilizer solutions
of smaller degree specially formulated by the manufacturers are used during the winter.

Table 2: Fertilizers solubility and temperatures (g/100 g water) (Wolf et al., 1985).
Temperature KCl K2SO4 KNO3 NH4NO3 Urea
10C 31 9 21 158 84
20C 34 11 31 195 105
30C 37 13 46 242 133

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Interaction between the fertilizers and irrigation water

Water quality: Many water sources in Israel have high contents of calcium, magnesium and bicarbonates (hard
waters), the reaction of the water is alkaline with pH values between 7.2 and 8.5. The interaction of these waters with
fertilizers can cause diverse problems, such as formation of precipitates in the fertilization tank and clogging of the
drippers and filters. In waters with high calcium content andbicarbonates, use of sulphate fertilizers causes the
precipitation of CaSO4 obtruding drippers and filters. The use of urea induces the precipitation of CaCO3 because the
urea increases pH.

The main problem concerns phosphorus application: the presence of high concentrations of calcium and magnesium
and high pH values lead to the precipitation of calcium and magnesium phosphates. Recycled waters are particularly
susceptible to precipitation due to its high bicarbonate and organic matter content. The resultant precipitates are
deposited on pipe walls and in orifices of drippers and can completely plug the irrigation system. At the same time, P
supply to the roots is impaired. When choosing P fertilizers for fertigation with high calcium and magnesium
concentrations, acid P fertilizers (phosphoric acid or monoammonium phosphate) are recommended.

Clogging: This is specially critical for drip systems that must be kept free from suspended solids and microorganisms
that plug the small orifices in the emitters. In the case of clogging of the drip system by bicarbonate precipitation the
use of fertilizers with acid reaction partially corrects this problem. However, acid fertilizers cause corrosion of the
metallic components of the irrigation system and damage the cement and asbest pipes. Therefore, the periodic
injection of acid in the fertigation system is recommended in order to dissolve the precipitates and to unclog the
drippers. The following acids can be used phosphoric, nitric, sulfuric and chlorhydric. In Israel, HCl is widely used due
to its low cost. Acid injection through the system will also remove bacteria, algae and slime. The irrigation and
injection system should be carefully washed after the injection of acid.

Fertigation under saline conditions: Crops vary widely in their tolerance to plants, reference tables are available
defining individual crop sensitivity to total soluble salts and individual toxic ions (Maas and Hoffman, 1977). When
brackish waters are used for irrigation, we must bear in mind that fertilizers are salts and therefore they contribute to
the increase of the EC of the irrigation water. Nonetheless, calculation of the contribution of chloride from KCl to the
overall load of chloride from irrigation water shows its relative by low share (Tarchitzky and Magen, 1997).

When irrigation water has an EC > 2 dS/m (with high salinization hazard), and crop is sensitive to salinity, we must
decrease the amount of accompanying ions added with the N or K. For example, in avocado - a very sensitive crop to
chloride - KNO3 is preferred on KCl to avoid Cl accumulation in the soil solution This practice diminishes leaf burning
caused by Cl excess. Also in greenhouse crops grown in containers with a very restricted root volume we must
choose fertilizers with low salt index. Sodium fertilizers as NaNO3 or NaH2PO4 are unsuitable due to the adverse effect
of sodium on the hydraulic conductivity and the performance of the plant.

A correct irrigation management under saline conditions includes water application over the evaporation needs of the
crop, so that there is excess water to pass through and beyond the root zone and to carry away salts with it. This
leaching prevents excessive salt accumulation in the root zone and is referred to as leaching requirement (Rhoades
and Loveday, 1990).
Fertilizers compatibility: when preparing fertilizer solutions for fertigation, some fertilizers must not be mixed
together. For example, the mixture of (NH4)2SO4 and KCl in the tank considerably reduce the solubility of the mixture
due to the K2SO4 formation. Other forbidden mixtures are:

Calcium nitrate with any phosphates or sulfates

Magnesium sulfate with di- or mono- ammonium phosphate
Phosphoric acid with iron, zinc, copper and manganese sulfates

The use of two fertilization tanks allows to separate the fertilizers that interact and cause precipitation, placing in one
tank the calcium magnesium and microelements, and in the other tank the phosphorus and the sulfate.

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Soil pH

pH values for optimal availability of all the nutrients is in the rank of 6-6.5. The main factor affecting pH in the
rhizosphere is NH4/NO3 ratio in the irrigation water specially in sandy soils and inert substrates with low buffer
capacity such as rockwool Rhizospheric pH determines the phosphorus availability since it affects the processes of
precipitation/solubilization and adsorption/desorption of phosphates pH also influences the availability of
micronutrients (Fe, Zn, Mn) and the toxicity of some of them (Al, Mn).

The nitrogen form absorbed by the plant affects the production of carboxylates and the cation-anion balance in the
plant. When NH4 absorption is predominant, the plant absorbs more cations than anions, H+ are excreted by the roots
and rhizosphere pH decreases. Fluctuations of pH of the ground around the roots of the order of 1.5 units of pH due
to ammonium or nitric nutrition have been reported in the literature (Barber, 1984). According to Ganmore-Neumann
and Kafkafi (1980, 1983), NH4 is an undesirable source of nitrogen for tomato and strawberries when the temperature
in the root zone is greater than 30C, due to its adverse effect on root growth and pant development. The pattern of
cationic uptake due to an ammonium nutrition decreases the uptake of other cations like Ca2+, Mg2+ and K+.

When NO3- anions are absorbed, the plant takes up more anions than cations and the excess of anions is palliated by
a greater synthesis of carboxylates. During the carboxylation process dicarboxylic acids (citric, malic, etc.) and
OH- are produced.

Both the carboxylates and the hydroxyls can be exuded by the roots to the soil The exuded OH- increase the pH of
the rhizosphere The organic acids exuded by the roots increase the availability of phosphorus since the carboxylates
are specifically adsorbed to iron oxides and clays of the ground, releasing therefore adsorbed phosphorus to the soil
solution. The carboxylates can also increase to the availability of iron and phosphorus by chelation: for example,
citrate forms a chelate with calcium, thus releasing phosphorus that is under the calcium phosphate form (Imas et al.,
1997).

According to this, NO3 nutrition is recommended due to the greater organic acid synthesis and enhanced cations
uptake, whereas the ammonium nutrition is detrimental However, nutrition with 100% nitrates would increase
rhizospheric pH up to undesirable values - values of more than 8 have been registered - and this would decrease the
availability of P and micronutrients by precipitation. Therefore it is recommended to use a nitrogen mixture with 80%
of nitrates and 20% of ammonium to regulate pH.

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Physiological effects: antagonism and synergism

When two or more ions are present in external medium, antagonistic and synergetic effects can be observed.
Synergism means the increase of the absorption of an ion due to the presence of another ion; antagonism refers to
the competition between two ions. There is a competitive antagonistic effect between NO3 and Cl anions: the
presence of Cl ion reduces the absorption of NO3 and vice versa (Imas, 1991; Kafkafi, 1982). Therefore, under saline
conditions, the damage by salinity can be reduced fertilizing with NO3. The nitrate ions will be more absorbed
replacing the chloride ions.

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Practices of fertigation

To capitalize on fertigation benefits, particular care should be taken in selecting fertilizers and injection equipment as
well in the management and maintenance of the system.

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Fertilizer preparation

In Israel, application of fertilizers is executed by various methods (Sneh, 1995):

Stock solution preparation: farmers mix solid fertilizers as ammonium sulfate, urea, potassium chloride
and nitrate, and liquid phosphoric acid to prepare a "tailor made" stock solution. The stock solution is then
injected into the irrigation system, at rates of 2-10 L/m3, depending on the desired concentrations of N, P and K
Clear NK, PK and NPK fertilizer solutions with at least 9-10% nutrients (N, P2O5, K2O) based on cheap solid
fertilizers (urea, phosphoric acid and KCl) can be easily prepared on the farm site with limited facilities under
"grass roots" field conditions, with minimal mixing (Lupin et al., 1996)
Compound solid fertilizer mixtures: manufactured for use in fertigation, with different ratios between the
three major elements. The first mixture used in fertigation was 20-20-20 and was produced in the mid-sixties.
Some compositions contain microelements in the form of chelates.
Compound liquid fertilizer solutions: due to solubility, the total nutrient concentration is much lower (5-3-
8; 6-6-6; 9-2-8, etc.). Specified for use in greenhouses. Some compositions contain microelements in the form
of chelates.

Generally two fertilizer tanks that contain the concentrated fertilizer solutions are used to separate those fertilizers
that can interact. A possible combination is: a tank "A" containing calcium nitrate, potassium nitrate magnesium
nitrate and microelements, whereas tank "B" contains ammonium sulfate, phosphoric acid and nitric acid; in this way
P and Ca/Mg are in different tanks to avoid their precipitation. A third tank "C" contains an acid solution to control the
pH of the fertilizer solution and to wash the irrigation system to avoid drippers clogging.

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Dosification

There are two types of fertigation, the type of fertigation chosen depends on the crop grown, the soil type and the
farm management system.

Quantitative: is the application of the plant nutrients in predetermined concentrations to the irrigation
system. The fertilizer is applied in a pulse after a certain water sheet without fertilizer using a fertilizer tank. The
advantages of this method are the low cost and the low required maintenance. The disadvantages are: the
system is affected by water pressure changes; the concentration of the fertilizer varies during its application
and it does not adapt to work with automation.
Proportional: the nutrients are is applied in a constant and proportional ratio to the water sheet, so that the
irrigation water takes a fixed concentration of the applied fertilizer. In this case the fertilizers are applied by
direct injection through fertilizer pumps. The advantages are: precise control of the dosification and the
injection moment, is not affected by the water pressure changes, and it can be easily automated. The
disadvantages are: high cost and maintenance and complicated operation.

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Fertilizer injection methods

Modern fertigation equipment should be able to regulate:

quantity applied
duration of applications
proportion of fertilizers
starting and finishing time

It is important to select an injection method that best suits the irrigation system and the crop to be grown. Incorrect
selection of the equipment can damage parts of the irrigation equipment, affect the efficient operation of the irrigation
system and reduce the efficiency of the nutrients. Each fertilizer injector is designed for a specified pressure and flow
range.

The majority of injectors available today can generally incorporate automatic operation by fitting pulse transmitters
that convert injector pulses into electric signals. These signals then control injection of preset quantities or proportions
relative to flow rate of the irrigation system Injection rates can also be controlled by flow regulators, chemically
resistant ball valves or by electronic or hydraulic control units and computers.
Suitable antisiphoning valves or non-return valves should be installed to prevent backflow or siphoning of water and
fertilizer solution into fertilizer tanks, irrigation supply and household supply.

The three methods of injection are:

Pressure differential (by-pass tank)

A pressure differential tank system is based on the principle of a pressure differential created by a valve, pressure
regulation, elbows or pipe friction in the mainline. The pressure difference forces the water to enter through a by-pass
pipe into a pressure tank which contains the fertilizer, and to go out again, carrying a varying amount of dissolved
fertilizer.

The application of nutrients is quantitative and inaccurate, therefore is adapted for perennial crops like citrus, fruit
trees and/or crops grown on heavy soil.

Advantages:

Very simple to operate, the stock solution does have not to be pre-mixed
Easy to install and requires very little maintenance
Easy to change fertilizers
Ideal for dry formulations
No electricity or fuel is needed

Disadvantages:

Concentration of solution decreases as fertilizer dissolves

Accuracy of application is limited
Requires pressure loss in main irrigation line or a booster pump
Proportional fertigation is not possible
Limited capacity
Not adapted for automation
Inlet valve
Vacuum injection (Venturi)

This method uses a venturi device to cause a reduced pressure (vacuum) that sucks the fertilizer solution into the
line.

Advantages:

Very simple to operate, no moving parts

Easy to install and to maintain
Suitable for very low injection rates
Injection can be controlled with a metering valve
Suitable for both proportional and quantitative fertilization

Disadvantages:

Requires pressure loss in main irrigation line or a booster pump

Quantitative fertigation is difficult
Automation is difficult.
Pump injection

Pumps are used to inject the fertilizer solution from a supply tank into the line. Injection energy is provided by electric
motors, hydraulic motors (diaphragm and piston).

Advantages:

Very accurate, for proportional fertigation

No pressure loss in the line
Easily adapted for automation

Disadvantages:

Expensive
Complicated design, including a number of moving parts, so wear and breakdown are more likely
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Monitoring

Plants: the determination of the nutrients content and dry matter in the whole plant is tedious, destructive
and needs laboratory facilities. Therefore we monitor plant nutrient status in the diagnostic organ, whose
concentrations are correlated with the total nutrients content in plant and is a good indicator of the nutrition
state of the crop. In Israel it was developed calibrated methods of monitoring in diagnostic organs for roses and
different fruit trees.
Soil: soil sampling and the determination of the nutrient concentrations in the extracts is a difficult and
tedious method. Instead, the soil solution can directly sampled by porous ceramic cups permanently inserted in
the soil at a certain depth. The solution is collected periodically and sent to the lab for analyzing the different
nutrient concentrations. This method is easy, cheap and widely used by the Israeli farmers
Field quick test kits: allows a quick determination of pH and approximate content of nitrates, potassium
and chlorides in the soil solution and in the plant sap without sending the samples to the lab (usually by
colorimetric strips).

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Fertigation management in greenhouse crops

The growth of vegetables and flowers in greenhouses built on sandy dunes and/or with inert substrates requires a
special and precise control of the fertigation, because the CEC of these growing media are very low and therefore
they do not provide nutrients. The only source of nutrients is through the fertigation system. Growing plants in
containers allows the collection of the leaching water and its comparison with the irrigation water. The measurement
of pH, EC and nutrients concentration in the leached solution indicates if fertilizers are being applied in excess or
deficiency, and therefore allows the consecutive correction of the fertigation regime. It is recommended to collect the
leached solution from the containers and the solution that leaves the drippers, and to compare both solutions on a
daily basis. In Israel there are automatic computerized devices that measure pH and EC of both solutions and
automatically corrects the next irrigation solution according to optimal values entered beforehand.

Electric Conductivity: A higher value of EC in the leached solution that in the applied solution indicates that the
plant absorbs more nutrients than water, therefore we must apply greater amount of water to the plant. On the other
hand, if the difference between the EC of the leached solution and the incoming solution is more than 0.4-0.5dS/ m,
we must apply a leaching irrigation in order to wash the excess of salts.

Chlorides: An impaired management of the irrigation regime may lead to an unwanted accumulation of Cl ions
present in the irrigation water. If the Cl concentration in the leachate is higher than the Cl concentration in the
incoming solution and surpasses 50mg/L, it indicates a chloride accumulation in the root zone. Then it is
recommended to apply an irrigation without fertilizers to leach the chlorides.

pH: the optimal pH value of the irrigation solution must be around 6 and the pH of the leaching solution should not
exceed 8.5. A more alkaline pH in the leaching water indicates that pH in the root zone reaches a value that causes
phosphorus precipitation and decreases micronutrients availability. When pH in the leachate is higher than 8.5, we
must adjust the NH4/NO3 ratio of the irrigation solution by increasing slightly theNH4proportion. When pH in the
irrigation solution is higher than 6, we must inject acid to the solution (from tank C) to lower the pH.

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Example: recommendation of a fertigation program by the Israeli Extension Service

For each crop there are many fertilizer programs. Fertigation allows changing the program during the growing
season, adjusting it to suit fruit flower, shoot and root development. A specific fertigation program is developed on the
basis of leaf and soil analysis and tailored to suit the actual crop requirements.

The following is the recommendation of the fertigation program for tomato offered by the Extension Service of the
Ministry of Agriculture of Israel. It is observed that the recommended doses of each nutrient are different according to
the physiological stage of the crop. The recommendations are different for tomato crop grown in open field or in
greenhouse. Regarding the soil type, the doses recommended for inert substrates are precise and expressed as
concentration in the irrigation water (proportional dosification). On the other hand, in heavy clay soils
recommendations are expressed for quantitative dosification (in kg/ha); and recommended doses for phosphorus and
potassium are not provided since in this type of soils these elements are adsorbed by clays and therefore is very
difficult to determine their concentrations in the soil solution.

a.- Tomato in open field

Soil sandy loam

Plant density 11.000-12.500 plants/Ha
Expected yield 100 ton/Ha (for processing)

Nutrient requirements:

RATIO KG/HA/DAY
Physiological Stage Days
N P2O5 K2 O N P2 O5 K2O
PLANTING - FLOWERING 25 1 1 1 1.6 1.6 1.6
FLOWERING - FRUIT SET 20 1 0.5 1.5 2.1 1.0 3.1
FRUIT SET- FRUIT RIPENING 25 1 0.3 2 2.8 0.6 5.6
FRUIT RIPENING-HARVEST 35 1 03 2 3.6 0.6 7.2
TOTAL 105 280 90 500

FERTIGATION PROGRAM

Physiological Stage Fertilizers * kg/ha/day **

PLANTING-FLOWERING 20-20-20 8
FLOWERING - FRUIT SET 14-7-21 15
FRUIT SET- FRUIT RIPENING 14-3-28 20
FRUIT RIPENING-HARVEST 14-3-28 26
* This is one example using a commercial fertilizer solid mixture. The fertilizer solution can be prepared also from
commercial liquid mixtures, or prepared by the farmer mixing potassium chloride, urea, ammonium monophosphate,
ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate, phosphoric acid and other soluble fertilizers
** Plants are irrigated every 3-5 days in heavy soils, and every 2-3 days in light soils. To calculate the fertilizer dose at
each irrigation, multiply the daily amount of fertilizer by the days interval between irrigation cycles

b.- Tomato in greenhouse

Substrate - soilless culture

Concentration in the irrigation solution (dripper)

Physiological stage N* P K Ca Mg
ppm
Planting and establishment 120-150 40-50 180-220 100-120 40-50
Flowering 150-180 40-50 220-270 100-120 40-50
Ripening and harvest 180-200 40-50 270-300 100-120 50-80
* NH4/NO3 ratio=0.1-0.2

Sandy soil

Concentration in the irrigation solution (dripper)

Physiological stage N* P K
ppm
Planting and establishment 120-150 40-50 180-220
Flowering 150-180 40-50 220-270
Ripening and harvest 180-200 40-50 270-300
* NH4/NO3 ratio=0.3.

Clay soil

N P K
Physiological stage
Kg/Ha/day
Flowering 2.0-2.5 ? 0-2.5 ?
Ripening and harvest 4.0-4.5 ? 4-5.5 ?
? = Depends on P and K levels in the soil

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References

1. Barber, S.A. 1984. Soil Nutrient Availability: A Mechanistic Approach. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., NY.

2. Bar-Yosef, B. 1996. Root excretions and their environmental effects - Influence on the availability of phosphorus.
In: Plant Roots - The Hidden Half. Second Edition. Y. Waisel, A. Eshel and U. Kafkafi (Eds). Marcel Dekker, Inc., New
York. pp 529-557.

3. Feigin A., M. Zwibel, I. Rilski, N. Zamir and N. Levav. 1980. The effect of ammonium/nitrate ratio in the nutrient
solution on tomato yield and quantity. Acta Hortic. 98: 149-160.

4. Ganmore-Neumann, R. and U. Kafkafi. 1980. Root temperature and percentage NO3-/NH4+ effect on tomato plants.
I Morphology and growth. Agron. J. 72:758-761.

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Price (price/
Manufacturer Type
kg)
19-19-19+ME Poly- Soli Syste
feed d m
Soli Syste
Ammonium Sulphate
d m
Soli Syste
Ammonuim Nitrate
d m
Soli Syste
Borax
d m
Soli Syste
Boric Acid
d m
Soli Syste
Calcium Chloride
d m
Soli Syste
Calcium Nitrate
d m
Copper sulfate 25% Soli Syste
Cu d m
Soli Syste
Cu-EDTA 14%
d m
Soli Syste
DAP 18-46-0
d m
Selected Fertilizers
Soli
System
Fe-DTPA 11% d
Syste
Fe-EDDHA 6% Solid
m
Syste
Fe-EDDHMA 6% Solid
m
Syste
FE-EDTA 13% Solid
m
Gaseous Ammonia 82 Liqui Syste
%N d m
Limestone Syste
Solid
Ammonium Nitrate m
Syste
Magnesium Nitrate Solid
m
Syste
Magnesium Sulfate Solid
m
Syste
Manganese Sulphate Solid
m
 Syste
MAP 10-48-0 Solid
m
Selected Fertilizers
Soli
System
Mn - EDTA d
Mono Ammonium Syste
Solid
Phosphate (MAP) m
Mono Potassium Syste
Solid
Phosphate (M.K.P) m
Syste
Nitric Acid Acid
m
Syste
Phosphoric acid Acid
m
Potassium Chloride Syste
Solid
(MOP) m
Syste
Potassium Nitrate Solid
m
Syste
Potassium Sulphate Solid
m
Syste
Sodium Molybdate Solid
m
Syste
Sulphuric acid Acid
m
Selected Fertilizers
Soli
System
Urea d
Urea Ammonium Liqui Syste
nitrate(UAN) 32% d m
Syste
Zinc sulfate Solid
m
Syste
Zn-EDTA 13% Solid
m
Selected Fertilizers