What are the advantages of fertigation in agriculture?

1. Controlling the alkalinity of irrigation water is possible.
2. Efficient application of Rock Phosphate and all other phosphatic fertilisers is possible.
3. Increased availability of nutrients to plants is possible.
4. Reduction in the leaching of chemical nutrients is possible.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1. 1, 2 and 3 only
2. 1, 2 and 4 only
3. 1, 3 and 4 only
4. 2, 3 and 4 only

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• Fertigation is a method of fertilizer application in which fertilizer is incorporated within the irrigation water by the drip system. In this system fertilizer solution is distributed evenly in irrigation. The availability of nutrients is very high, therefore the efficiency is higher. This method allows better control of irrigation water alkalinity by adjusting the fertiliser mix.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• While water-soluble phosphatic fertilisers such as urea are suitable for fertigation, rock phosphate is not, due to its insolubility.

Statement 3 is correct

• Fertigation enhances the efficiency of nutrient uptake by delivering nutrients directly to the plant roots in a readily available form, improving nutrient availability.

Statement 4 is correct

• Fertigation helps in reducing nutrient leaching because it delivers nutrients directly to the root zone in precise amounts, minimising runoff and wastage.

Image Source: Fertilizer.org

Answer: (c) 1, 3 and 4 only; Difficulty Level: Easy