Fertigation Systems | Nutrient & pH Dosers
Although plant nutrients are heavily relied upon in agriculture, the standard ways of applying them can be wasteful and its chemical run-off can have negative effects on the local ecosystem.
Fertigation is a method of precision farming that involves mixing fertilizer and water into one system. This approach is widely used because it is highly adaptable and scalable.
Fertigation has been a popular technique amongst farmers and agricultural experts for several decades. In today's world, it is only increasing in popularity as it becomes integrated with modern technologies that continue to simplify and automate the process.
What Is Fertigation?
Per Wikipedia, the exact Fertigation definition is the injection of fertilizers, used for soil amendments, water amendments, and other water-soluble products into an irrigation system.
Fertigation can be operated in conjunction with several irrigation methods including sprinkler systems, drip irrigation systems, and soaker hose/drip line irrigation systems, although drip is the most compatible and practical irrigation type.
Fertigation, or the practice of adding nutrients and pH adjusters to water, is standard in hydroponic systems. It is the most accurate way to give plants the fertilizer they need to grow in hydro.
Although a number of compounds are used in fertigation systems, the most common are phosphorus, potassium, and nitrogen due to their importance in the growth and development of many crop species.
Fertigation is at times confused with chemigation, the injection of chemicals into an irrigation system. The two phrases are sometimes used together however chemigation is typically a more controlled and regulated process due to the nature of the chemicals used.
Chemigation often applies insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides, some of which pose a health threat to humans, animals, and the environment.
What Are The Advantages of Fertigation?
- Decreases the amount of fertilizer, chemicals, and water needed.
- Increased nutrient uptake absorption by plants and crops.
- Accurate dispersing of nutrients, where the water reaches the nutrient reach as well.
- Capability to "microdose", providing the plants just enough so fertilizer can be taken by the plant and are not left to be washed down to stormwater when it rains.
- Reduced leaching of chemicals into the watershed.
- The application of nutrients can be managed at the exact time and rate necessary.
Who should use a hydroponic nutrient and pH doser?
Most hobby growers with smaller grow rooms and limited plants will be unable to justify the price point of a dosing system. In this case, you will be best off using a standard combination meter and adjusting your pH by hand with pH adjusters.
However, as your indoor garden grows, it may make sense to invest in yourself and let a machine do all the work for you. This is especially true of hobby growers with full-time jobs, or who are constantly away from the growing space. Don't risk harm to your plants while you are away!
Automation for commercial growers
If you are a commercial grower, you should be using a nutrient and pH doser. When it comes to cultivating the best crop for commercial purposes, and money is on the line, it makes no sense to leave things up to chance.
Commercial growers often operate large hydroponic reservoirs, and manually dosing and monitoring these is strenuous and unnecessary. Our complete hydroponic nutrient and pH dosing kits will cut the commercial growers workload significantly.
If you have not yet signed up for a commercial account, what are you waiting for?! Our commercial customers have access to special pricing, and the assistance of a dedicated account manager to help you with your grow every step of the way. At Hydrobuilder, we have been working with small and large farms since 2011, and we are ready to help you with your crop. Sign up for a commercial account today!
A Look At Our Top Fertigation System Manufactures
Here at Hydrobuilder, we have many options for growers looking to get an automated fertigatior system set up to start automatically managing crop irrigation and feeding. We carry the industry's most reliable and high-quality dosing equipment around.
Dosatron Nutrient Delivery Systems
The Dosatron Nutrient Delivery System is an assembly of high-quality dosers connected with mix-and match kits. The system flourishes anywhere from greenhouse environments, and indoor hydroponic set-ups, to outdoor grows, allowing installation in any application.
The system features water-powered Dosatron Injectors whose proven technology of reliability and precision has been upheld for over 40 years. Although Dosatron carries both water-powered and electric dosing pumps, their most popular type is their water-powered injectors (aka dosing pumps) which only require water to run.
Dosatron water-powered, non-electric injectors are the easiest, most dependable way to accurately inject nutrients and chemicals into water lines. Dosatron injectors work using volumetric proportioning, ensuring that the mixture remains the same regardless of deviations in pressure and flow.
When water enters the fertigation pump, it triggers the hydraulic motor, which begins moving up and down inside the body of the injector. On the up stroke, the Dosatron draws fluid up from the concentrate tank. On the down stroke, the concentrate is moved into the mixing chamber, where it is mixed with the water flowing through the unit. Then the water, nutrient, and/or ph mixture is discharged into the irrigation water lines.
AgrowTek BDX BatchMatic Fertigation System
BDX BatchMatic Fertigation Systems are batch-type nutrient mixing systems for multi-zone greenhouse irrigation and hydroponics facilities. Automatically mix recipes and correct pH according to your schedule, then send the batches to the programmed zones. Use the system to directly feed up to 14 zones of plants or send recipes to holding tanks.
Agrowtek Inc. is a premier automation controls and fertigation systems manufacturer for growers. Agrowtek's comprehensive line of products includes environmental control systems, nutrient dosing systems, and precision digital sensors for the atmosphere and water. With over a decade in growing controls, Agrowtek continues to innovate and provide powerful and flexible control and fertigation products.
The EZ Flo Fertigation System
Another popular system used by both commercial landscapers and homeowners is the EZ Flo Fertilizer Injector System. This is a popular system that helps correct nutrient deficiencies by consistently delivering water-soluble fertilizer when plants need it most.
They have multiple EZ Flo System options from a hose bib model for an easy and affordable solution, to their commercial systems with higher flow rates and constant pressure to deliver ammonium nitrate, diammonium phosphate, and other key nutrients to each plant site.
A Valuable Practice of Precision Irrigation
Drip fertigation has proved itself to be a key part of modern agricultural systems and it has and will continue to play an important role in spreading the implementation of precision agriculture.
Fertigation overcomes the limits of traditional fertilizer applications by creating a higher level of control over the exact volumes and rates at which fertilizers are administered to crops.
Contact us today at 888-815-9763 to learn more about how we can help you. Our team will provide an EZ Flow fertigation solution that reduces costs, improves efficiencies, and helps you grow.
