Climate change means doing things differently
Temperatures are soaring. Droughts are occurring more frequently and lasting longer – right when soils need it most. Currently, grazing systems tend to rely on species with shallow roots, such as clover or ryegrass. However, these are having a harder time in the changing climate.
To keep soils productive and pasture and crop production at a premium requires fertiliser – a dose of much-needed nitrogen and phosphorus. Fertigation gives plants the water and nutrients they need at the same time.
With summer on the way, it’s time to get your irrigation and fertigation system right to make sure crops and pastures thrive. MixRite dosing pumps let you simply and efficiently apply fertiliser through your existing irrigation system.
Get the most out of your irrigation system this summer
Types of fertilisers for fertigation
There are a few types of fertilisers you can use in your irrigation and fertigation system, depending on what your crops and pastures need:
- Chemical fertilisers: These are the standard go-to fertilisers with nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK).
- Two-component chemical fertilisers: Mixing two separate components is a great way to tailor nutrient supply to specific crop need. The key benefit to mixing two solutions before application – typically nitrogen (N) in the form of urea and the other containing phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) along with other micronutrients like calcium, magnesium, and trace elements – is the ability to adjust nutrient ratios for different growth stages or crops. Tailoring the nutrient mix improves plant uptake, meaning less wastage.
- Organic and seaweed fertilisers: Rich in trace elements and micronutrients, seaweed and organic fertilisers help improve the soil by boosting structure and microbes. The range of bioactive compounds, such as cytokinins, auxins, and betaines, help to strengthen and improve plants’ resilience to stress by stimulating better root development, improving water retention, and regulating plant hormones. MixRite pumps make incorporating liquid seaweed fertilisers into your regular irrigation schedule easy.
How to fertigate and irrigate
When it comes to getting the best results for fertigation, timing and method are key. Here’s what works well with MixRite pumps:
- A fertiliser concentration of 1-2% is generally recommended.
- You can rotate fertigation cycles with pure water cycles. A cycle with water only after fertigation allows the soil to soak up nutrients without overloading them.
- A good rule of thumb is to start your fertigation cycle with plain water, then add fertiliser mid-cycle, and finish with water. This helps flush the lines and prevents build-up or blockages.
- Regularly check and calibrate your dosing pump to avoids issues like under- or over-fertilising.
Line and water disinfection
Keeping irrigation lines clean is critical to avoid blockages and ensure water quality. Disinfectants like chlorine or hydrogen peroxide to do the job.
- Chlorine: Run chlorine through the system at 1-4 ppm weekly to kill bacteria and clean the lines. It’s cheap and effective.
- Hydrogen Peroxide (H₂O₂): An environmentally friendly option that breaks down into water and oxygen, it leaves no harmful residues and is particularly good for cleaning biofilms out of the lines. Apply it at 1-4 ppm.
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Irrigation and fertigation can keep your crops and pastures healthy and your yields up. MixRite dosing pumps make the entire fertigation process more efficient, saving you time and hassle while boosting crop performance.