Application of Micro-fertigation in Orchards in South China Chenglin ZHANG Lab of Plant Nutrition and Fertilization, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, PR China,
Beijing 2005 Zhang; IPI International Symposium on Fertigation; Optimizing the utilization of water and nutrients; Beijing, September 20-24, 2005
Map of China Beijing
Hong kong
South China area includes Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan provinces and south part of Fujian province. This area is characterized with tropical and subtropical climate and is the major production area of tropical and subtropical fruit trees.
Zhang; IPI International Symposium on Fertigation; Optimizing the utilization of water and nutrients; Beijing September 20-24 2005
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Banana, citrus, orange, pineapple, mango, litchi, longan, papaya, carambola and so on are grown with large areas in South China.
Zhang; IPI International Symposium on Fertigation; Optimizing the utilization of water and nutrients; Beijing September 20-24 2005
Table 1. Major fruit production in 2002 in four provinces of South China Citrus and orange Banana Pineapple
Litchi Longan Citrus and orange Banana Pineapple
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Location ----------------------- yield(tonĂ— 10 )-------------------Fujian
1910
Litchi 3
---------------- cultivation area (haĂ— 10 ) ---------
764
38
147
192
163
29
3.8
40
Guangdong1232
2717
462
977
382
105
110
29
256
Guangxi
1073
70
361
355
118
54
5.1
218
1372
Hainan
16.5
853
227
29
6.4
2.6
34
14
32
Total
4530
5407
797
1514
935
388
227
52
546
Source: National Agro-statistics of 2002.
Total cultivation area reaches 1.21 million ha.
Zhang; IPI International Symposium on Fertigation; Optimizing the utilization of water and nutrients; Beijing, September 20-24, 2005
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1. Why should micro-fertigation be used in orchards in South China?
Drip irrigation
+ micro sprinkler irrigation
= micro-irrigation Zhang; IPI International Symposium on Fertigation; Optimizing the utilization of water and nutrients; Beijing, September 20-24, 2005
(1)Drought
Seasonal drought (like in autumn and winter) and local drought ( like in Leizhou peninsula in Guangdong and eastern region in Hainan ) take place frequently. Good irrigation facilities are crucial for big and stable harvest in fruit production.
Dry reservoir, Hainan Water level mark
Dry rice field in Dongfang county, Hainan province Zhang; IPI International Symposium on Fertigation; Optimizing the utilization of water and nutrients; Beijing, September 20-24, 2005
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Rainfall: mm
Guangxi
Fujian
Guangdong
Hong Kong
No rainfall for continuous 8 months in 2004
Hainan
Zhang; IPI International Symposium on Fertigation; Optimizing the utilization of water and nutrients; Beijing, September 20-24, 2005
(2). Most fruit plantations are located on hilly land. Traditional irrigation methods like flooding and furrow irrigation are not suitable in this case. Towline irrigation is a widely used method. However, this method is labor intensive and requires physical efforts. Hilly fruit plantations
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(3). A large quantity of labors are needed in orchards to manage irrigation and fertilization work. As the labor cost is getting higher and higher in this area, labor cost-effective irrigation and fertilization methods are urgent need for growers.
Banana is regarded as a crop requiring frequent irrigation and fertilization. Zhang; IPI International Symposium on Fertigation; Optimizing the utilization of water and nutrients; Beijing, September 20-24, 2005
fertilizers
Compound fertilizer granules were broadcast on soil surface in a banana orchard ( Xuwen county, Guangdong) Fertilizers were applied under citrus canopy (Yingde county, Guangdong Zhang; IPI International Symposium on Fertigation; Optimizing the utilization of water and nutrients; Beijing, September 20-24, 2005
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(4) Other incentives for micro-fertigation use in South China A.
Fruit yield and quality will be improved and fruit yield of higher commercial grades will be increased.
B.
Water and nutrient management will be easily operated in orchards with large areas. Microfertigation is a key part in fruit standard cultivation.
Zhang; IPI International Symposium on Fertigation; Optimizing the utilization of water and nutrients; Beijing, September 20-24, 2005
C. Irrigation and fertilization can be completed more rapidly than conventional practices. This is of practical implication for fruit tree management. Equal and balanced water and nutrient management will result in uniform flushing, flowering and fruiting. Uniform growth is beneficial to practices like chemical application and pruning and even harvesting.
Zhang; IPI International Symposium on Fertigation; Optimizing the utilization of water and nutrients; Beijing, September 20-24, 2005
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D. To decrease “year-on” and ”year-off” fruiting phenomenon and realize more stable fruit production during growth seasons ( esp. litchi and longan). E. To get early fruiting for young fruit trees. F. To decrease fruit cracking due to keeping soil moisture stable. G. To get Early mature fruits and consequently a good price. H. To reclaim marginal land or soil to grow fruits ( such as sandy land, volcanic ash soil in Hainan).
Zhang; IPI International Symposium on Fertigation; Optimizing the utilization of water and nutrients; Beijing, September 20-24, 2005
2. Main equipped irrigation methods in South China pump-driven drip irrigation, gravity drip irrigation, sub-surface drip irrigation, micro-sprinkler irrigation, drip tape, mini-sprinkler tape and so on.
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Pump-driven drip irrigation system in Xili litchi orchard Pressure-compensated dripline
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Gravity drip irrigation system on hilly orchards
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广东郁南县无核黄皮重力滴灌系统 Gravity drip irrigation in a Huan Pai orchard in Guangdong province
Zhang; IPI International Symposium on Fertigation; Optimizing the utilization of water and nutrients; Beijing, September 20-24, 2005
cistern
龙眼园重力滴灌系统(深圳西丽果场) Gravity drip irrigation system in a longan orchard in Guangdong Zhang; IPI International Symposium on Fertigation; Optimizing the utilization of water and nutrients; Beijing, September 20-24, 2005
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Mini-sprinkler irrigation on mango and papaya orchards in Hainan Zhang; IPI International Symposium on Fertigation; Optimizing the utilization of water and nutrients; Beijing, September 20-24, 2005
Micro-sprinkler irrigation in tea plantations in Guangdong Zhang; IPI International Symposium on Fertigation; Optimizing the utilization of water and nutrients; Beijing, September 20-24, 2005
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香蕉园应用喷水带(海南东方县) Micro-sprinkler tape irrigation in banana orchards (Hainan)
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香蕉园应用喷水带灌溉 Micro-sprinkler tape at working
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西瓜膜下喷水带滴灌 Drip irrigation with micro-sprinkler tape under plastic mulch in a watermelon field in Hainan
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3. Main micro-fertigation methods in South China
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(1) By-pass fertilizer tank Water inlet
Water outlet
Fertilizers
Schematic of by-pass tank Zhang; IPI International Symposium on Fertigation; Optimizing the utilization of water and nutrients; Beijing, September 20-24, 2005
Different types of fertilizer tanks used in orchards in South China
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(2) Venturi injector Water flow direction
高压区
低压区 Low pressure zone
High pressure zone
Fertilizer container 储肥桶
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广东省四会市砂糖橘育苗基地 Venturi injector used in a citrus nursery in Guangdong Zhang; IPI International Symposium on Fertigation; Optimizing the utilization of water and nutrients; Beijing, September 20-24, 2005
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(3) Gravity fertilization method Fertilizer mixing container fertilizer
Cistern
water
Zhang; IPI International Symposium on Fertigation; Optimizing the utilization of water and nutrients; Beijing, September 20-24, 2005
广东郁南县黄皮基地 混肥池
Yunan Huan Pai orchard
Fertilizer mixer 混肥池 Fertilizer mixer
蓄水池 石英砂过滤池
有机沤肥池 Organic manure
Silicon sand filtration container
蓄水池 cistern
广东电白县民镇龙眼园 Mingzhen longan orchard
蓄水池 混肥池 Fertilizer mixing container
cistern
深圳西丽果场 Xili orchard in Shenzhen
Zhang; IPI International Symposium on Fertigation; Optimizing the utilization of water and nutrients; Beijing, September 20-24, 2005
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(4) Pump sucking fertilization 肥料罐
Fertilizer container
One-way valve
逆止阀
水泵
pump 水源
Water source
Zhang; IPI International Symposium on Fertigation; Optimizing the utilization of water and nutrients; Beijing, September 20-24, 2005
Fertilizer mixing container
果园泵吸水侧施肥法 Pump sucking fertilization methods
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Preparation of stock fertilizer solution on spot
Diesel engine
海南东方县一西瓜种植园灌溉施肥情况 Pump sucking fertilization in a watermelon field (Hainan). Zhang; IPI International Symposium on Fertigation; Optimizing the utilization of water and nutrients; Beijing, September 20-24, 2005
混肥池 Fertilizer mixing container
海南东方县香蕉园泵前水侧 施肥 Pump sucking fertilization on a banana orchard
Diesel engine
Zhang; IPI International Symposium on Fertigation; Optimizing the utilization of water and nutrients; Beijing, September 20-24, 2005
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4. Commonly used fertilizers in fertigation in South China • • • • • •
N urea KNO3 NH4NO3 NH4HCO3 P KH2PO4 H3PO4 NH4H2PO4 K KCl KNO3 Compound fertilizer (water soluble) Mg MgSO4 Steeped and composted liquid manure (chicken manure, night soils) • Light industry waste (monosodium glutamate waste, alcohol waste)
Zhang; IPI International Symposium on Fertigation; Optimizing the utilization of water and nutrients; Beijing, September 20-24, 2005
KCl
urea
MgSO4
深圳西丽荔枝果园滴灌施肥的肥料 Common fertilizers used in drip system at Xili orchard Zhang; IPI International Symposium on Fertigation; Optimizing the utilization of water and nutrients; Beijing, September 20-24, 2005
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许多用户应用市场上销售的不能完全溶解的普通 肥料，如复合肥，硫酸钾，加拿大红色氯化钾等 Many growers use the fertilizers which are not completely water soluble like red KCl, granular complex fertilizers, K2SO4
肥料桶内的不溶物 Insoluble sediment on the bottom of fertilizer bucket
Insoluble sediment on the bottom of a cement container Zhang; IPI International Symposium on Fertigation; Optimizing the utilization of water and nutrients; Beijing, September 20-24, 2005
5. Favorable conditions for microfertigation use in South China A. Most orchards are situated on hilly lands. Conventional irrigation and fertilization are labor-consumptive. Growers long for all kinds of laborsaving irrigation and fertilization methods.
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B. Many plantations in this region cover relatively large area ( more than several dozens of hectares ) and many managers or investors are also businessmen from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Pearl River Delta area in Guangdong province. They can afford to invest on irrigation equipment. Actually, many of them, esp. some from overseas, seek local technical assistance spontaneously at the start of orchard establishment. Zhang; IPI International Symposium on Fertigation; Optimizing the utilization of water and nutrients; Beijing, September 20-24, 2005
C. As compared with North China, South China receives abundant rainfall that can wash accumulated salts away from wetting zones down into deeper soil layer. There is almost no salt hazard to crops in this area. D. Irrigation water contains less calcium and magnesium content than that in North China. The dripper and pipe clogging problem caused by chemical precipitation is not serious.
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E. Pipes are buried in shallower ditches due to no serious freeze. This may save the cost of system installation. At the meantime, there is no worry about pipe explosion or cracking during winter time due to extra water inside pipes.
Zhang; IPI International Symposium on Fertigation; Optimizing the utilization of water and nutrients; Beijing, September 20-24, 2005
F. In many cases, gravity drip or minisprinkler irrigation system can be used. This system is easy to operate and manage.
Zhang; IPI International Symposium on Fertigation; Optimizing the utilization of water and nutrients; Beijing, September 20-24, 2005
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6. Limitations for micro-fertigation use in South China A. Understanding of micro-fertigation The annual rainfall in South China averages 1800-2000 mm. This is the main reason that many people think it is not necessary to apply equipped irrigation ( or watersaving agriculture) in South China. Micro-irrigation is not only a solution of irrigation, but it also has a lot of advantages. As the labor and fertilizer prices are getting higher and higher, micro-fertigation is becoming an urgent need for growers.
Zhang; IPI International Symposium on Fertigation; Optimizing the utilization of water and nutrients; Beijing, September 20-24, 2005
B. Shortage of comprehensive technicians Even if the growers realize the importance of microfertigation, where to get technical assistance is still a question. In present South China, there are few researchers or technicians who know fertigation well. Training technicians or extensionists is a task of top priority. At present, only few people are doing fertigation research and demonstration work in this area .
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Self-designed fertigation system in a watermelon field in Hainan Zhang; IPI International Symposium on Fertigation; Optimizing the utilization of water and nutrients; Beijing, September 20-24, 2005
Self-constructed fertilization unit
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Self-designed drip irrigation system at a date orchard in Hainan
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Same pipe diameter from the head unit to the farthest point in the field and no mulch for the PVC pipes
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C. Imperfect extension system Due to no perfect extension system or professional associations to organize or spread technology and information of fertigation, the extension speed of this technology in this region is very slow. Sporadic demonstrations show limited effects on extension due to few visitors. Zhang; IPI International Symposium on Fertigation; Optimizing the utilization of water and nutrients; Beijing, September 20-24, 2005
D. No local enterprises involved in fertigation extension Involvement of enterprises gives impetus to fertigation extension. Unfortunately, at present, there is no one local enterprise in South China providing overall services and equipments. Because equipped irrigation is not widely used in this area, the research and development of fertilizers used in irrigation system is still a question mark.
Zhang; IPI International Symposium on Fertigation; Optimizing the utilization of water and nutrients; Beijing, September 20-24, 2005
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E. No involvement of technical service companies in extension Soil and plant analysis, monitoring of soil moisture and nutrients, fertilizers formula and distribution, system maintenance and repair
Zhang; IPI International Symposium on Fertigation; Optimizing the utilization of water and nutrients; Beijing, September 20-24, 2005
F. Lack of cooperation among different disciplines Field irrigation works + hydraulic engineering + crop cultivation + horticulture + soils and fertilizers
田头蓄水池 50m3 Cistern beside field Zhang; IPI International Symposium on Fertigation; Optimizing the utilization of water and nutrients; Beijing, September 20-24, 2005
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Drip irrigation system was established to use the water efficiently cistern
Zhang; IPI International Symposium on Fertigation; Optimizing the utilization of water and nutrients; Beijing, September 20-24, 2005
G. Higher initial investment for equipped irrigation According to the prices of irrigation and fertilization equipment in recent years, the investment of fertigation equipment per hectare is estimated from 550~1800 US$ for field crops. Zhang; IPI International Symposium on Fertigation; Optimizing the utilization of water and nutrients; Beijing, September 20-24, 2005
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Field fertigation demonstration work done by South China Agricultural University after 2000 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Crops Irrigation methods Fertilization methods Automation Hectares --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Litchi P-compensated drip By-pass tank Yes 52 Tea
Drip and mini-sprinkler
By-pass tank
No
7
Longan Gravity drip system
Gravity fertilization
No
25
Huan Pai
Gravity fertilization
No
20
Carambola P-compensated drip
By-pass tank
No
2
Banana
Gravity fertilization
No
4
Green date P-compensated drip
By-pass tank
No
2
Guava
By-pass tank
No
1.5
Venturi injector
Yes
0.6
Gravity drip system
Gravity drip system
P-compensated drip
Citrus nursery
Mini-sprinkler
Papaya
mini-sprinkler
By-pass tank
No
12
Mango
ini-sprinkler
By-pass tank
No
5
By-pass tank
No
15
Yes
5
Black pepper P-compensated drip
Asparagus P-compensated drip By-pass tank Zhang; IPI International Symposium on Fertigation; Optimizing the utilization of water and nutrients; Beijing, September 20-24, 2005
Shanghai
Hong Kong
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荔枝滴灌 Litchi
龙眼滴灌 Longan 木瓜微喷灌 Papaya
芒果微喷灌 Mango
Zhang; IPI International Symposium on Fertigation; Optimizing the utilization of water and nutrients; Beijing, September 20-24, 2005
柑橘滴灌 young citrus 胡椒滴灌 Black pepper
茶园滴灌 Tea 茶园微喷灌 Tea Zhang; IPI International Symposium on Fertigation; Optimizing the utilization of water and nutrients; Beijing, September 20-24, 2005
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台湾青枣滴灌, Green date 杨桃滴灌 Carambola
黄皮滴灌 Huan Pai 柑橘育苗工厂微喷灌 Citrus nursery Zhang; IPI International Symposium on Fertigation; Optimizing the utilization of water and nutrients; Beijing, September 20-24, 2005
An example Drip fertigation demonstration in Xili litchi plantation
Area:
52 ha
Location: Shenzhen, Guangdong
Equipment: P-compensated drip system, by-pass tank, automation control
Litchi cultivars: Feizixiao, Nuomici, Guiwei,Heiye, Huaizhi Zhang; IPI International Symposium on Fertigation; Optimizing the utilization of water and nutrients; Beijing, September 20-24, 2005
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Zhang; IPI International Symposium on Fertigation; Optimizing the utilization of water and nutrients; Beijing, September 20-24, 2005
Soil moisture monitoring 深圳西丽果场水分管理方式 3 tensiometers：30cm, 45cm, 60cm depth in soil 3支张力计：30厘米、45厘米、60厘米埋深。
Start irrigation：when reading of 30cm tensiometer 开始灌水：30厘米张力计达15-20KPa
reaches 15~20 停止灌水：60厘米张力计达0 Kpa
KPa
Stop irrigation：when reading of 60cm tensiometer 主要灌水时期：抽梢期，开花前后，果实生长 reaches 0 Kpa 期。
Major irrigation stages：at shooting, pre- and post-flowering, fruit development Zhang; IPI International Symposium on Fertigation; Optimizing the utilization of water and nutrients; Beijing, September 20-24, 2005
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30cm
60cm
45cm
Zhang; IPI International Symposium on Fertigation; Optimizing the utilization of water and nutrients; Beijing, September 20-24, 2005
Making the fertilization plan 1. Soil analysis Main items：pH、EC、OM, available N, P, K and Mg 2. Leaf analysis N, P, K and Mg
Zhang; IPI International Symposium on Fertigation; Optimizing the utilization of water and nutrients; Beijing, September 20-24, 2005
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Fertilizers applied in fertigation Zhang; IPI International Symposium on Fertigation; Optimizing the utilization of water and nutrients; Beijing, September 20-24, 2005
Laterite soil: 30% clay, 70% sand and gravel Zhang; IPI International Symposium on Fertigation; Optimizing the utilization of water and nutrients; Beijing, September 20-24, 2005
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Table 1. A comparison of yield per single tree between fertigation and non-fertigation ( kg) in 2001 ( off-year) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------Cultivars
Fertigation
Non-fertigation
Increased (%)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------Heiye 37.9 0 net 37.9 kg Feizixiao 11.5 3.1 266 Nuomici 6.5 2.4 163 Guiwei 12.9 2.9 345 Huaizhi 14.3 4.9 193 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Zhang; IPI International Symposium on Fertigation; Optimizing the utilization of water and nutrients; Beijing, September 20-24, 2005
2001 was off-year and 2002 was on-year for litchi.
Zhang; IPI International Symposium on Fertigation; Optimizing the utilization of water and nutrients; Beijing, September 20-24, 2005
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Fertigation could save annual fertilizer input by 73%, labor cost by 96%, electricity cost by 44% and water by 45%. Zhang; IPI International Symposium on Fertigation; Optimizing the utilization of water and nutrients; Beijing, September 20-24, 2005
灌溉施肥技术 张承林 郭彦彪 编著
THANK YOU !
谢谢各位！ Zhang; IPI International Symposium on Fertigation; Optimizing the utilization of water and nutrients; Beijing, September 20-24, 2005
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