INSTITUTUL NAÅ¢IONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE - ICECHIM

FfFevFaFaFeFiFpFa1 Bioresources and biomaterials - ORESEARCH ON THE USE OF FERTIGATION IN THE CONTEXTOF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTUREBy BIOLAN ILIE, NASTASE CRISTINA, VULPE GABRIELNATIONAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE FOR LAND RECLAMATION,BUCHAREST, 35-37 OLTENITEI STREET, SECTOR 4, ROMANIAThe method of fertigation consists of applying fertilisers and other chemicals needed for the crop plantsand as soil treatment used in agricultural techniques, simultaneously with irrigation water application. One suchfertigation installation which is able to apply chemical or organic fertilisers consists of: a tank for storing thechemicals, equipment (pumps, injectors etc.) for the introduction (injection) of these substances into theirrigation water, a control device and the water application equipment. These pumps use the hydraulic energy ofthe pressurized water which supplies the irrigation installation (machine). In the process of fertigation, fertilisersare thus applied directly with the irrigation water. When the water will be absorbed by the plant roots, fertilisersin the water will also be assimilated.The equipment used for fertigation comprises the irrigation installation and one pump or a similar devicefor the injection of the fertilizing solution into the water which will eventually be distributed by the installation.ConcentrationInjection schem e hydraulicdosing m embrane pumpTimeFertigation is applied with very good results for high value crops (vegetables, fruit trees, grapevine) withequipment consisting of hydraulic injection devices which work together with drip irrigation installations ormicro-irrigation installations.When applying fertilizing substances using the method of fertigation, it is very important that users understandthe main issues regarding the compatibility and solubility of the compounds of these chemicals, being able toacknowledge that certain substances should not be mixed within the tank, while others should not be injectedinto the system simultaneously.Tests under experimental conditions with fertigation equipment have been performed within the laboratory of theBucharest-Berceni Horticulture Research Institute, involving the operation of a drip irrigation installation. Theconcentration of the fertilizing solution should not exceed values from which there is a high risk of corrosion toeither installation components or to the injection pump. The results obtained so far demonstrate that byemploying fertigation techniques, one is able to reduce by up to 50% the amount of fertilisers applied perhectare, thus contributing to practicing a sustainable agriculture.The fertigation installation as a technical solution represents the subject of the Patents – RO no.102887/1993 andRO no. 121612/2007.R E F E R E N C E S1. H a i f a c h e m i c a l s L t d., Fertigation – the key to higher yields and healthy crops, 2004, Israel.2. T M B F e r t i l i z e r p u m p s L T D ., "WP-lO" - Fertilizer pump, USA technical brochure, 2000.3. B i o l a n I., The hydraulic drive of irrigation installations equipped with hydraulic membrane motor,Agricultural Mechanization No. 12/1999, Romania.4. B i o l a n I., L a z a r e s c u I., B r a n M a r i a n a , N a s t a s e M., Hydraulic drive of IATF- type hosereelirrigation installation, Technical & Agricultural Publishing House, Bucharest, 1993.