what is fertigation

Fertigation is the injection of fertilizers, soil amendments, water amendments, and other water-soluble products into an irrigation system. It is an efficient method of nutrient application in which fertilizers are dissolved into the water used for irrigation, allowing for their combined application. Fertigation is practiced extensively in commercial agriculture, horticulture, and landscaping, and is used to add additional nutrients or correct nutrient deficiencies detected in plant tissue analysis. The benefits of fertigation methods over conventional or drop-fertilizing methods include increased nutrient absorption by plants, accurate placement of nutrients, the ability to "micro dose," reduction of fertilizer, chemicals, and water needed, and reduced leaching of chemicals into the water supply