Fertigation
Fertigation is the application of nutrients to plants through irrigation systems. Centre pivot and lateral move systems have the highest irrigation efficiency so are most suited to fertigation.
Flowfert N is Ravensdown’s first fertigation product.
Why use Flowfert N?
Cost effective application – since you have already invested in an irrigation system,this application method allows you to get more value from that investment and reduce on-going costs
Get the most from water and N by applying simultaneously – irrigated crop or pasture will receive water and nitrogen at the same time, allowing it to use both for growth. Using Flowfert N maximises the time spent irrigating crops or pasture
Increased control over your nitrogen application – with Flowfert N you can apply nitrogen when it suits your farm’s feed demand and crop requirements
Ability to apply small amounts of nitrogen more often – applying small amounts daily to the root zone is ideal for plants and will result in a more even growth curve
Less chance of volatisation and leaching – because smaller amounts are being applied at a time, the plants are able to take up more of what has been applied, leaving less to potentially be lost to the atmosphere or through leaching. As well as being better for the environment, this ensures you get better value for your fertiliser dollar
When should I use Flowfert N?
You can use Flowfert N at a similar time as when you would use Urea. The spreading of solid Urea will still be suitable in the early spring and late autumn when it is undesirable to irrigate.
How is Flowfert N delivered?
Ravensdown offers two forms of Flowfert containing nitrogen, Flowfert-N (Liquid), and Flowfert Urea (Solid). Both result in an 18% nitrogen solution suitable for fertigation or spraying.
Flowfert N (Liquid) is delivered as an 18% nitrogen solution and is made in Hornby (Christchurch) suiting farmers close to the Hornby Works. The liquid is delivered in a bladder in 12,500 litre drops, therefore two orders are required for a tank full.
Flowert Urea (Solid) is actually made on farm to an 18% Nitrogen solution. 9,800 kgs of Urea is transported in a bulk truck and blown into a 30,000l tank. An automated process adds water and stirs the solution to make 25,000 litres of an 18% strength nitrogen solution all in about 24 hours. On completion of the 24 hours, the product is pumped over to a storage tank for use by the farmer and the process can start again.
Once the liquid nitrogen is on farm farmers can either apply it via spray truck or fertigate.
To help you into fertigation, the equipment required – fertigation pumps, two tanks and a stirring pump – are leased from Ravensdown only for the months that the plant is used, so there is no cost over winter when farmers aren’t irrigating.
Fertigation with Eco-n is also possible with the on farm mixing system described above. Ravensdown can assist in the sizing and selection of equipment required to successfully fertigate with Eco-n.
Organising a Fertigation System
If you would like to take advantage of the convenience of a Fertigation System contact our Customer Centre for more information.