Fertigation : Methods, Equipment & Plant Growth Benefits

Fertigation can be adapted to different types of irrigation water delivery. Methods include drip irrigation systems, sprinkler systems, and even subsurface drip lines. The main advantage is giving your plants the exact amount of nutrients they need, exactly when they need it. This helps prevent nutrient deficiencies, promotes even plant growth, and ensures maximum efficiency.

Another common approach is continuous application, where small amounts of nutrients are delivered every time the system runs. This method keeps nutrient levels stable and reduces plant stress. This is especially helpful in maintaining consistent growth and avoiding nutrient swings that can happen with less frequent feeding.

Some growers feed plants small amounts of nutrients each watering. Others give nutrients only at certain growth stages. Either way, combining water and nutrients enhances productivity and supports sustainable practices.
👉  Learn more about the main methods here

Dosatron pumps are great for drip irrigation and multi-tank systems. They don’t use electricity; instead, they run on water pressure to deliver precise nutrients. This method uses exact fertilizer amounts, cuts waste, and helps plants like leafy greens, strawberries, or cannabis grow evenly. Dosatron is especially valued by growers who want precision without complexity.

They use water pressure, no electricity, which makes them easy and affordable to run. Dosatron injectors handle various solutions:

• Fertilizers and nutrients

• Natural additives like fish emulsion or compost teas

• Plant growth regulators (PGRs)

• Chlorine and sanitizers (special models)

• Herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides

• Wetting agents and acids

The principle behind fertigation is simple: it combines two essential plant needs—water and nutrients—into one efficient system. By injecting a nutrient solution directly into the irrigation water, plants receive both moisture and nutrition exactly when and where they need it. This method helps plants absorb nutrients better, reduces waste, and supports even growth. This is especially effective with drip systems or underground lines that deliver nutrients straight to roots.

At its core, fertigation requires four main components:

1. A reliable water source

2. Fertilizers that can be dissolved into a nutrient solution

3. A dosing or injection system (like a Dosatron or electric injector)

4. An irrigation delivery system—such as sprinkler systems, drip irrigation, or microtubes.

Growers should regularly check EC and pH levels to avoid giving plants too few or too many nutrients. As plants grow, adjusting fertilizer amounts to match their growth stage helps plants become stronger and grow evenly.

Fertigation is more than just a time-saver—it’s a precision tool for optimized agriculture.It:

• Reduces manual fertilizer applications

• Minimizes runoff and reduces fertilizer waste

• Uses reduced water through targeted delivery

• Prevents overfeeding or underfeeding

• Encourages faster, more healthy growth

Using smaller amounts of nutrients more often helps plants build stronger roots, lowers stress, and improves yields.

One of the biggest advantages of this system is its support for quantitative application. This means growers can apply the exact amount of fertilizer needed at the right time. Instead of guessing or using fixed schedules, fertigation systems allow adjustments based on crop type, growth stage, and environmental conditions. This not only reduces waste but also leads to healthier plant growth and better yields.

No. While irrigation refers to delivering water, fertigation goes further by combining water with nutrients. It turns every watering event into an opportunity for nutrient delivery, making it a smarter and more effective alternative to traditional fertilizer methods.