Innovations and insights into fertigation management for a protected cultivation in transition

Greenhouse production is a highly dynamic sector. It is in continuous evolution to meet changing market requirements, and to incorporate developments in technology and operational management. Although crop yield remains the main goal, product quality is becoming increasingly important in various agricultural sectors in response to increasing consumer demand. Since its development in the 1980s, fertigation signaled a new era in the delivery of nutrients and water to the crop that is continuing to evolve because of the high potential of fertigation to improve produce yield and quality. The use of organic fertilizer to meet the demand for organic production, as well as the recent introduction of biostimulant products, require attention in the future development of fertigation. Biofortified food can effectively be obtained by fertigation. The recirculation of nutrient solution in soilless cropping is limited in some cultivated areas due to water salinity. The spread of pathogens is also a concern for the management of closed-loop cultivation systems. Therefore, some emerging technologies like non-thermal plasma and other pre-irrigation and/or drainage water treatments are of high interest. Poor quality water can limit the efficiency of fertigation in both soilless and soil-grown crops due to the necessity to leach salts, which can be environmentally harmful. To deal with these issues, tools like ceramic suction cup samplers and dielectric sensors are being examined for root zone monitoring. Currently, sap-flow and other sensors to predict actual crop requirements to drive fertigation are being evaluated. This work reports an overview of (1) the current situation regarding strengths and constraints, (2) future opportunities and uncertainties for the incorporation, of innovative techniques and technologies into fertigation, in modern greenhouse cultivation.