Fertigation represents one of the most efficient techniques to optimize the delivery of nutrients and water to the crop. It may preserve the cultivation system from nutrient leaching that is harmful for the environment. However, an empirical estimation of the actual crop requirements, in intensive vegetable production systems, may lead to a large waste of nutrients and water even if microirrigation is adopted thus making useless the adoption of such a technology. Vegetable crops are very sensitive to fertigation and an incorrect management can easily limit growers' incomings since defects or excesses are both detrimental for the achievement of high yield and quality. Leafy vegetables, for example, may accumulate excess nitrate in the harvested product, which are armful for human health, or show poor shelf life in presence of uneven distribution of fertilisers and water throughout the cultivation period. All the above aspects pose a threat for the economic and environmental sustainability of leafy vegetables. Many different tools for precision agriculture nowadays aim at improving nutrient and water use efficiency in intensive cropping systems. Simulation models may offer some characteristics that make growers' decisions easier and faster. These tools can be integrated in decision support systems to assist growers in combination with sensing technologies for monitoring plant nutrient and water status. In this work we calibrated a photosynthesis-based model to simulate plant growth thus providing fundamental parameters for the estimation of crop evapotranspiration and nutrient uptake such as leaf area index and biomass accumulation. The final output of the model is a dynamic simulation of the macronutrient concentrations to be maintained by the fertigation system to match the actual plant needs. Experimental data were collected on lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. capitata L.; Salanova®-type) grown on rockwool slabs, under optimal (i.e., not limiting) growing conditions, with a plant density of 22 pt/m2 . The calibration was based on different cultures carried out during the 2018-2019 autumn-winter-spring season under greenhouse conditions. The analysis of simulated versus measured data showed a high capability of the model to predict crop requirements.
Calibration of a fertigation model for the precise fertigation of lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. capitata L.)
Di Lonardo S;
2021
Abstract
Fertigation represents one of the most efficient techniques to optimize the delivery of nutrients and water to the crop. It may preserve the cultivation system from nutrient leaching that is harmful for the environment. However, an empirical estimation of the actual crop requirements, in intensive vegetable production systems, may lead to a large waste of nutrients and water even if microirrigation is adopted thus making useless the adoption of such a technology. Vegetable crops are very sensitive to fertigation and an incorrect management can easily limit growers' incomings since defects or excesses are both detrimental for the achievement of high yield and quality. Leafy vegetables, for example, may accumulate excess nitrate in the harvested product, which are armful for human health, or show poor shelf life in presence of uneven distribution of fertilisers and water throughout the cultivation period. All the above aspects pose a threat for the economic and environmental sustainability of leafy vegetables. Many different tools for precision agriculture nowadays aim at improving nutrient and water use efficiency in intensive cropping systems. Simulation models may offer some characteristics that make growers' decisions easier and faster. These tools can be integrated in decision support systems to assist growers in combination with sensing technologies for monitoring plant nutrient and water status. In this work we calibrated a photosynthesis-based model to simulate plant growth thus providing fundamental parameters for the estimation of crop evapotranspiration and nutrient uptake such as leaf area index and biomass accumulation. The final output of the model is a dynamic simulation of the macronutrient concentrations to be maintained by the fertigation system to match the actual plant needs. Experimental data were collected on lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. capitata L.; Salanova®-type) grown on rockwool slabs, under optimal (i.e., not limiting) growing conditions, with a plant density of 22 pt/m2 . The calibration was based on different cultures carried out during the 2018-2019 autumn-winter-spring season under greenhouse conditions. The analysis of simulated versus measured data showed a high capability of the model to predict crop requirements.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
