Page 18 - AWA Vol.42-No.5 issue

FErTilizErS

Water analysis as a strategic tool

trients is significantly reduced.

• When sodium levels are high, the absorption of calcium and
potassium is hindered.
Therefore, the same formulation can produce excellent results
on one farm and fail completely on another. The difference of-
ten lies in the water.
Choose formulations that are compatible with each situ-
ation

The true value of water analysis emerges when it translates
into practical decisions and concrete strategies.

In many farms, water is routinely analyzed. However, the re- • Calcareous soils and water with high bicarbonate levels. The
sults are not always interpreted. And that is precisely where the main objective is to unlock and make available nutrients al-
difference lies between simply applying fertilizers and design- ready present in the system. In these situations, Fertigota Un-
ing a truly efficient nutritional strategy. blocker acts as a strategic tool to improve the solubility of phos-
phorus and micronutrients.
Water analysis does not allow us to anticipate limitations, ad-
just decisions, or choose the most appropriate tools for each • Saline waters with high sodium content. Here, it is necessary
situation. This is because not all water types allow for the same to correct both the soil structure and the cation balance. Fertig-
fertilization strategy. ota Desalination System helps reduce the impact of sodium and
improve calcium absorption.
Conductivity, bicarbonates and sodium: three key param-
eters • Good quality water and acidic soils. In these cases, the fo-
cus shifts to maximum nutritional efficiency. Clean, highly sol-
The electrical conductivity of water determines the actual
fertilization range. In highly saline waters, the problem is not uble formulations like Fertigota MKP allow for the application
only how much fertilizer we use, but how we apply it. In these of phosphorus and potassium without further acidifying the
cases, it is essential to work with formulations that have a low nutrient solution, thus maintaining the chemical balance of the
salinity impact, free of chlorine, sodium, and other harmful ele- system.
ments. Solutions like Fertigota Extra allow us to maintain nutri- • Waters with high electrical conductivity. When the main lim-
ent supply while minimizing osmotic stress and preventing salt itation is the total salinity, it is crucial to work with chlorine-free
buildup in the system. formulations with low osmotic impact. In this scenario, solutions
like Fertigota Extra allow for maintaining nutritional support
Bicarbonates, on the other hand, raise the pH and promote
the locking up of key nutrients. In calcareous soils, this effect is while minimizing saline stress.
intensified, immobilizing phosphorus and micronutrients and Adapting the formulation to the available water is not simply
reducing their availability to the crop. Given this scenario, it is a technical improvement: it is an indispensable condition for
essential to work with solutions that provide a real acidifying fertilization to work efficiently.
capacity. Products like Fertigota Desbloqueante help solubilize Greater efficiency and lower cost
precipitated nutrients and recover some of the fertility already
present in the soil. When water is integrated into the fertilization strategy, the
benefits are clear:
Sodium also introduces a significant structural problem. Its ac-
cumulation causes clay dispersion, reduced water infiltration, • Losses due to blockage and precipitation of nutrients are re-
and antagonism with elements such as calcium. When water duced.
continuously supplies sodium, it is necessary to act directly • The natural fertility of the soil is used more efficiently.
on the soil-plant system. In this context, Fertigota Desalinizer ,
based on available calcium, helps to displace sodium, improve • Each unit of fertilizer applied is optimized.
soil structure, and restore its functionality. All of this translates into both a technical and economic im-

How water influences nutrient availability provement in the crop.
Water quality directly affects the effectiveness of fertilization. Water analysis should not be seen merely as a technical re-
Some common examples are: port, but as a genuine decision-making tool. At Herogra, we de-
velop specific solutions for each type of water, from unblocking
• In hard water, phosphorus loses efficiency due to precipita- strategies to sodium corrections and high-efficiency formula-
tion processes.
tions, with the aim of adapting fertilization to the specific needs
• With high levels of bicarbonates, the availability of micronu- of each farm. Circle 21 on enquiry card
16 Vol. 42 No. 5