Articles
LIQUID FERTILIZER EVALUATION FOR FURROW IRRIGATION IN PROCESSING TOMATOES
Article number
823_8
Pages
83 – 90
Language
English
Abstract
Most tomatoes for processing cultivated in the West Central side of Argentina are furrow irrigated.
Granular fertilizers used in furrow irrigation require precise tools for application to the soil bed.
Timing of application is also limited, and therefore, rates of nutrients must often be overestimated to accommodate two or three applications in the crop cycle with consequent risks of pollution and leaching.
Liquid fertilizers distributed by a precise dosing device to the head of the furrow irrigation system allows for the application of the necessary nutrients on a weekly basis.
Similar to drip irrigation, a fertigation plan can be established according to the growth of the crop.
Trials were conducted in 2004, 2005 and 2006 in Mendoza to evaluate the impact on crop growth, nutrient mobility and application feasibility using liquid fertilizers compared to traditionally applied granular fertilizers.
Plantings were established on the typical torrifluvent sandy-loam soils with 550 ppm total N, 5 ppm P, 200 ppm KExch, 0.9% organic matter with a pH of 7.5 in La Consulta, Mendoza, Argentina.
Results show improved nutrient availability close to the root hairs when using liquid fertilizers compared to granular fertilizers, particularly the availability of P. It was observed that two applications of liquid P applied at 36 kg ha-1 P total rate via furrow irrigation between planting and 15 days after planting resulted in the same yields as granular applied at a much higher rate of 40 kg ha-1 P. Similarly liquid N applied at 57 kg ha-1 N from day 21 to 56 after planting in 6 applications resulted in the highest yields compared to the single application of granular nitrogen at a rate of 65 kg ha-1 N. In addition, it was found that the combination of liquid 36 kg ha-1 P, 90 kg ha-1 N and 100 kg ha-1 K applied between day 7 to 36 days after planting resulted in 36% higher yields compared to 10% more units of granular fertilizer applied at bed shaping and 15 days after planting.
Liquid fertilizers show an excellent use potential, as it was easy to apply and feasible to distribute during the crop season according to a rational fertigation schedule similar to drip irrigation.
The possibility of nutrient placement using a furrow irrigation system to reduce overall nutrient concentrations and the ability to increase the availability of P to encourage early crop growth in processing tomatoes is discussed.
Granular fertilizers used in furrow irrigation require precise tools for application to the soil bed.
Timing of application is also limited, and therefore, rates of nutrients must often be overestimated to accommodate two or three applications in the crop cycle with consequent risks of pollution and leaching.
Liquid fertilizers distributed by a precise dosing device to the head of the furrow irrigation system allows for the application of the necessary nutrients on a weekly basis.
Similar to drip irrigation, a fertigation plan can be established according to the growth of the crop.
Trials were conducted in 2004, 2005 and 2006 in Mendoza to evaluate the impact on crop growth, nutrient mobility and application feasibility using liquid fertilizers compared to traditionally applied granular fertilizers.
Plantings were established on the typical torrifluvent sandy-loam soils with 550 ppm total N, 5 ppm P, 200 ppm KExch, 0.9% organic matter with a pH of 7.5 in La Consulta, Mendoza, Argentina.
Results show improved nutrient availability close to the root hairs when using liquid fertilizers compared to granular fertilizers, particularly the availability of P. It was observed that two applications of liquid P applied at 36 kg ha-1 P total rate via furrow irrigation between planting and 15 days after planting resulted in the same yields as granular applied at a much higher rate of 40 kg ha-1 P. Similarly liquid N applied at 57 kg ha-1 N from day 21 to 56 after planting in 6 applications resulted in the highest yields compared to the single application of granular nitrogen at a rate of 65 kg ha-1 N. In addition, it was found that the combination of liquid 36 kg ha-1 P, 90 kg ha-1 N and 100 kg ha-1 K applied between day 7 to 36 days after planting resulted in 36% higher yields compared to 10% more units of granular fertilizer applied at bed shaping and 15 days after planting.
Liquid fertilizers show an excellent use potential, as it was easy to apply and feasible to distribute during the crop season according to a rational fertigation schedule similar to drip irrigation.
The possibility of nutrient placement using a furrow irrigation system to reduce overall nutrient concentrations and the ability to increase the availability of P to encourage early crop growth in processing tomatoes is discussed.
Authors
C.A. Argerich, M.G. Lorenzo
Keywords
mineral nutrition, Solanum lycopersicum, fertigation, P-placement, fluid fertilizers
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