Fertirrigation for vegetables grown in greenhouses

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Purpose: Concerns over the quantity of available freshwater for agriculture have triggered the development of technologies intended to increase efficiency of water use, especially with regard to irrigation. A new technique called fertirrigation has been developed to use the same irrigation equipment for fertilization. Methods: Since the above-mentioned technique requires care during installation and use on farms, current analysis focuses on some of its characteristics. Results: High uniformity irrigation systems provide the best distribution of fertilizers, especially when used in combination with drip irrigation or micro-aspersion. The factors purity, compatibility, acidification, salinity, and solubility should be taken into account. Conclusions: Fertirrigation provides a significant increase in productivity as it allows for highly controlled nutrient application during the entire growing season. However, it may cause serious problems if misused or overused.