Development of Nutrient Solution Mixing Process on Time-Based Drip Fertigation System

In recent years, the Malaysian production of vegetables, flowers, and spices in greenhouses has been experiencing accelerated growth. Most of the greenhouses are allowing automatic control of water, fertilizers and climate systems. The direct delivery of fertilizers through drip irrigation demands the use of soluble fertilizers and pumping and injection systems to introduce the fertilizers directly into the irrigation system. Fertigation allows an accurate and uniform application of nutrients to the wet area, where the active roots are concentrated. Therefore, it is possible to provide adequate nutrient quantity and concentration to their demand through the growing season of the crop. Consequently, the design provides control of fertilizer mixing process using precise proportional pump injector flow rate with control time-based injection at predecided electrical conductivity (EC) value followed by plant nutrient uptake rate on time-based irrigation system. Planning the irrigation system and nutrient supply to the crops according to their physiological stage of development, and consideration of the soil and climate characteristics, result in high yields and high quality crops.