Potato fertigation using a drip irrigation system
Carl Boivin
Researcher, agr., M.Sc.
418 643-2380
ext 430
Description
A project conducted in 2015 and 2016 by IRDA’s water management team, Ferme Victorin Drolet, and the DRCN at MAPAQ concluded that drip irrigation in potato fields could save significant amounts of water compared to overhead irrigation. This is of interest from an environmental point of view, especially for farms with limited water reserves.
The aim of the subsequent project was to leverage the efficiency of drip irrigation and splitting nitrogen inputs into multiple applications to reduce total nitrogen inputs per unit produced and provide better economic and environmental alternatives to conventional irrigation.
Objective(s)
- Compare conventional fertilization to a program combining drip irrigation with fertigation
- Measure how much split applications (fertigation) can reduce total nitrogen inputs
- Acquire new technical knowledge on using drip irrigation in potato fields
- Make nitrogen use more efficient (quantity per unit produced) and reduce the risk of pollution
From 2017 to 2018
Project duration
Market gardening
Activity areas
Service
Potato crop drip irrigation can help the environment by significantly cutting water use.
Partners
Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation du Québec | Centre de recherche sur les grains | Ferme Victorin Drolet | Ferme Dauphine
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