Making sure that crops get the nutrients they need is a critical task for growers. This involves constantly monitoring plant health, and making sure that depending on crop type and phase of growth, they have the macro and micro-nutrients and amendments that they need when they need it. This practice is of course time consuming and requires constant vigilance, as well as a careful hand. Incorporating a nutrient delivery system into a growing operation, sometimes referred to as a fertigation system, genuinely enhances crop quality and offers numerous cost-saving and profit-increasing benefits to growers.
There are a wide range of nutrient delivery systems that differ in cost, sophistication, and volume, but there are as many options for growers of all sizes, as there are growers in need of these systems since each is customized to a grower's crops and physical layout. Whatever the initial investment is, few growers regret the initial cost of these, as these systems prove to be well worth whatever was spent and can pay for themselves many times over their useful life. For any commercial growers on the fence about installing one, read on for the many options and benefits of adopting a nutrient delivery system.
Benefits of using a nutrient delivery system
The benefits of adding a nutrient delivery system to a commercial operation are numerous. The primary one, arguably, is that growers are able to make sure that their crops get exactly the type and amount of nutrients that they need, when they need it, automatically. The second benefit that most growers would say, is that using a nutrient delivery system saves a lot of time. This of course, improves productivity, and ultimately, profitability. There are many other benefits though.
Utilizing a nutrient delivery system results in less wasted product. This is another way these systems save growers money. This also means less excess fertilizer ending up in the environment leading to harmful outcomes such as algae blooms in waterways. Because crops get the right amount of nutrients in a nutrient delivery system, there is little that is wasted. In the event there is more nutrient solution than crops can use, backflow prevention devices in the system prevent the excess fertilizer from escaping into the environment.
In addition to precise nutrient management, consistency, labor and time savings, and reduced waste, there are still more reasons to add a nutrient delivery system to a commercial growing operation. Most modern systems allow for data tracking and analytics which help growers to track plant health and optimize growing conditions. They are also extremely and easily scalable as crop demand rises and falls or as operations change sizes, the systems, once in place, can easily accommodate changes.
Nutrient delivery systems, and how they work
As the name implies, nutrient delivery systems inject or transport water-soluble nutrients or amendments into irrigation water before being delivered to plants. These systems can do just that, or have other capabilities such as measuring and monitoring other vital metrics like EC, pH, and water temperature. Such systems (more on these later) rely on a series of monitors and can make adjustments as needed. But even without all of that, these systems aid in optimizing crop yields by delivering consistent amounts of pre-determined nutrients to plants, generally at the root zone through either a strategically located drip emitter or a more general wetting down of the root zone.
These systems are all but essential for hydroponic setups but are extremely beneficial to container-grown and even field-grown crops. Their importance is being seen even in aquaponic systems which include living creatures for harvest, such as fish or crustaceans. They deliver precise amounts of the nutrition that plants need to survive and thrive. A typical system consists of a reservoir that holds the fertilizer and water mix to be delivered. There is generally a pump that moves this solution into the irrigation lines, and some type of controller to regulate it. At its most basic, it is a reserve of fertilizer to be mixed with water, and a hose system to get it there.
There is a range of controller systems and monitors that regulate specific ratios of needed macro- and micro-nutrients through a networked system of hoses, pipes, or tubes, which are usually controlled by timers or some type of automation. These are regulated by sensors kept within the nutrient solution. The complexity of each system is totally customizable by the grower or operator of each grow room or greenhouse.
Types of delivery systems, and their components
As mentioned above, there is a wide variety of types of nutrient delivery systems on the market, not to mention the multitude of DIY setups possible, even on a commercial scale. It behooves the professional grower to do some research first or consult their supplier to consider which type of system would work best for their particular setup.
There are simple systems that rely on only gravity to deliver nutrients to crops, and of course, much more complex ones, needing pumps, timers, and sensors to deliver exact amounts of nutrients to the right plant at exactly the right time. Most of the time, nutrient delivery systems refer to systems that have some amount of complexity beyond just a bucket and a siphon. Generally, the larger the operation, the larger and more complex a nutrient dosing system is required, or at least recommended.
A typical nutrient delivery system has one or more tanks that contain premixed nutrient solutions or in some cases acid or other pH-adjusting materials. Once water starts to flow, a predetermined amount of solution(s) or other amendment(s) will be mixed with the water and delivered via hose, tubes, or piping directly to individual plants. For growers with more complex needs and space to devote, it is not uncommon to see several such tanks that can be switched either automatically or manually depending on plant needs and the grower's methods.
Another type of nutrient delivery system that is popular with some smaller, commercial growers, is an in-line injection system. These are sometimes portable and require less real estate than a dilute tank system. They nonetheless allow for the automatic mixing of a premixed nutrient solution to be delivered to plants via irrigation. Flow rate in these systems, though, is more difficult to keep consistent. This can lead to an uneven distribution of nutrients to a crop.
For systems utilizing tank storage for pre-mixed solution, it is important to make sure that the materials these tanks are made from do not allow light into them. Clear or translucent tanks can allow for algae to build up which is a sure recipe for clogging lines and emitters, leading to cleaning and maintenance of the system at best, and a lack of nutrients being delivered to crops in the worst cases.
Any system that relies on a pump, and not gravity to deliver the nutrient solution to plants should be sufficient for the volume of material needed to go through it and the distance it is needed to be carried. This is not a place to cut corners or to invest in a piece of equipment not capable of doing the whole job. If there is uncertainty as to the size or type of pump needed, your sales rep or supplier can help you with the necessary calculations to make sure you have a properly-sized pump for your system.
While not required to have an effective nutrient delivery system, it is a great add-on and time-saver to install a pH controller into the system. If pH is not measured and adjusted as needed, all of the nutrients in the world will not be of any use to your plants if they can't absorb them due to improper pH levels. A quality pH controller will monitor pH levels and adjust them up or down accordingly to meet the needs of your plants.
Setting up a nutrient delivery system
As there is no one single type of nutrient dosing system, there is no single type of setup. They can be relatively simple, requiring no plumbing know-how all the way up to being fully plumbed into an irrigation system. Generally, even for a commercial system, with some proper guidance and installation instructions, most growers can install these themselves. The important thing is to make sure that the correct dosing rate, or the ability to dial it in, is achieved with the installation.
First, it is important to make sure you have a suitable location in your grow room or greenhouse to install such a system. It should be set up in an area that is easily accessible as adjustments will need to be made as well as, of course, the addition of nutrients to a stock tank. It will need to be sited near a water supply and a power source. Once an appropriate location has been designated, it is time to install.
The actual installation steps will depend on the type of system and installation guidelines form the manufacturer or your sales representative should be followed explicitly. Make sure that all hoses, fittings, clamps, valves, and pumps are properly and tightly installed and that all moving parts are able to operate unobstructed. Then, the actual dosing schedule should be set up.
Before this step, it is critical to know what your crops' nutritional needs are, when they need them, and how much to give them. Your system will likely have an automated component where volumes can be dialed in. Most modern-day systems have onboard software so you can enter dosing rates and schedules. They may even allow you to switch between different tanks that have different nutrients or different concentrations of nutrients. Some systems are even "smart" enough to make adjustments based on pH, EC, temperature, crop phase, etc. The more you are willing to invest in your commercial nutrient delivery system, the more it will likely be able to adjust these variables on its own.
Regardless of which type of system you have installed, it is imperative to test it before using it on your plants. Fill up your reservoir or tank with the desired nutrient at the appropriate ppm as per the manufacturer's recommendations. Run your system and test the output for proper levels of ppm, EC, pH, or any other relevant metric. Make any adjustments needed to get the desired output before putting the system to work. Don't leave it at that though. Once your system is at work, monitor your crops. Make sure that they are not getting too much or too little of their needed nutrients. Once you are satisfied that your system is operating as it should, frequent monitoring will still be needed, but it can be part of your regular scheduled maintenance.
Final thoughts on commercial nutrient delivery systems
Switching to a commercial nutrient delivery system will save time, improve quality, and should improve your crops' profitability. While they are a great timesaver, there is still regular maintenance needed, though the time required for this should be significantly less than the time required to manually give your plants the nutrients they need.
Plan to devote some time to clearing blockages in lines as they will inevitably fill up with sediment and debris. In some cases, it may be more cost-effective to replace hoses or emitters if cleaning them involves the use of solvents and lots of brushing. This should be considered a vital step. If left unchecked, blockages will reduce the amount of nutrients reaching your plants or may prevent them from receiving any at all. Also, plan on recalibrating the system periodically. Even if the system is delivering nutrients as programmed, the stage of plant growth will likely necessitate periodic adjustments.
Despite their required maintenance and up-front investment, a commercial nutrient dosing system should be considered a "must-have" for professional growers. Overall it will help you to achieve faster, more even growth, healthier plants, and ultimately higher yields which translate to higher profits.
For more information:
Hydrotek Hydroponics
hydrotekhydroponics.com