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Optifer: An application to optimize fertiliser costs in fertigation

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  • Pagán, F.J.
  • Ferrández-Villena, M.
  • Fernández-Pacheco, D.G.
  • Rosillo, J.J.
  • Molina-Martínez, J.M.

Abstract

To obtain a greater amount of food by increasing the land yield, it is a common farming practice to apply fertilisers, the selection and cost of which are subject to intensive research. This study presents a new software application named “Optifer”, which permits the calculation of the least expensive combination of fertilisers to obtain the desired nutrient solution for fertigation, efficient fertiliser management and time and money savings. The software includes a fertiliser database, which allows the parameters to be verified and modified. The use of the application is notably simple. After a few basic steps, such as inputting the composition of the irrigation water to be used, choosing the fertilisers available to the farmer and entering the nutrient solution sought, the software calculates the quantity of each fertiliser that must be added to the fertiliser tanks, considering balance percentages, irrigation water flow rates, spray rates and tank capacities. Additionally, the user has the option of saving a historical record of the data used and the results of the processes.

Suggested Citation

  • Pagán, F.J. & Ferrández-Villena, M. & Fernández-Pacheco, D.G. & Rosillo, J.J. & Molina-Martínez, J.M., 2015. "Optifer: An application to optimize fertiliser costs in fertigation," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 19-29.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:151:y:2015:i:c:p:19-29
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2014.11.007
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mohammadi, Ali & Rafiee, Shahin & Mohtasebi, Seyed Saeid & Rafiee, Hamed, 2010. "Energy inputs – yield relationship and cost analysis of kiwifruit production in Iran," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(5), pages 1071-1075.
    2. Zhiying Xu & William J. Burke & Thomas S. Jayne & Jones Govereh, 2009. "Do input subsidy programs “crowd in” or “crowd out” commercial market development? Modeling fertilizer demand in a two‐channel marketing system," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 40(1), pages 79-94, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Imbernón-Mulero, Alberto & Gallego-Elvira, Belén & Martínez-Alvarez, Victoriano & Acosta, José A. & Antolinos, Vera & Robles, Juan M. & Navarro, Josefa M. & Maestre-Valero, José F., 2024. "Irrigation of young grapefruits with desalinated seawater: Agronomic and economic outcomes," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 299(C).
    2. Pérez-Castro, A. & Sánchez-Molina, J.A. & Castilla, M. & Sánchez-Moreno, J. & Moreno-Úbeda, J.C. & Magán, J.J., 2017. "cFertigUAL: A fertigation management app for greenhouse vegetable crops," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 183(C), pages 186-193.

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