Fertigation can provide the precision needed for the next major improvements in yield and quality. Fertigation can apply the nutrients uniformly throughout the root zone and crop growth periods. Nutrients can be applied when crop and soil conditions would otherwise prohibit conventional equipment from entry into the field. Nitrogen Nitrogen fertilizers are the most commonly applied nutrients with fertigation. Effective use of nitrogen requires knowledge of how these fertilizers interact with water, and how they move through the soil.
Nitrate nitrogen moves with the irrigation water.
Nitrate nutrients generally result in faster adsorption and are translocated to the leaves once they are in the plant. Ammonium will remain in the roots and then change to nitrate as it is transported to the leaves. Phosphorus Phosphorus tends to remain near the place where it was applied. Most of the phosphorus fertilizers are applied as preplant fertilizers. Downward phosphorus movement is related to the soil texture.