Fertigation Efficacy Enhancement System And Associated Methods

Abstract

A fertigation system includes a circulation pump positioned in-line in a closed-loop, low-flow tubing delivery means. The circulation pump acts to agitate and substantially equalize a concentration of nutrients in fluid within the tubing, thereby preventing a concentration gradient from being established by upstream plants receiving preferential exposure to the nutrients relative to downstream plants. The circulation pump should preferably be configured not to substantially raise a fluid pressure within the tubing.

1 . A system for increasing an efficacy of a fertigation system comprising:
 a closed-loop irrigation tubing array positionable adjacent a root system of a plant, the irrigation tubing having an inlet for receiving fluid for low-flow delivery to the plant root system; and   a circulation pump positioned in-line with the tubing array, for circulating the fluid within the tubing array, thereby substantially equalizing a concentration of a substance within the tubing array, without substantially raising a fluid pressure therewithin.   
     
     
         2 . The system recited in  claim 1 , wherein the circulation pump comprises a peristaltic pump. 
     
     
         3 . The system recited in  claim 1 , wherein an outlet of the circulation pump feeds into the irrigation tubing array adjacent the tubing inlet. 
     
     
         4 . The system recited in  claim 3 , wherein the circulation pump outlet meets the irrigation tubing array at an acute angle. 
     
     
         5 . The system recited in  claim 1 , wherein an inlet of the circulation pump is positioned adjacent an outlet of the irrigation tubing array. 
     
     
         6 . The system recited in  claim 5 , further comprising a fluid reservoir for holding fluid to be delivered to the plant root system, the reservoir in fluid communication with the tubing inlet, and an outlet of the circulation pump feeds into the reservoir. 
     
     
         7 . The system recited in  claim 6 , further comprising a network of outbound tubing sections, inlets thereof in fluid communication with the tubing inlet, and a manifold in fluid communication with distal ends of the outbound tubing sections, the manifold in fluid communication with the circulation pump inlet. 
     
     
         8 . A method for increasing an efficacy of a fertigation system comprising:
 positioning a closed-loop irrigation tubing array adjacent a root system of a plant;   providing fluid at low flow to an inlet of the tubing array; and   circulating the fluid within the tubing array, thereby substantially equalizing a concentration of a substance within the tubing array, without substantially raising a fluid pressure therewithin.   
     
     
         9 . The method recited in  claim 8 , wherein the circulating comprises using a peristaltic pump positioned in-line with the tubing array. 
     
     
         10 . The method recited in  claim 9 , wherein an outlet of the peristaltic pump feeds into the irrigation tubing array adjacent the tubing inlet. 
     
     
         11 . The method recited in  claim 10 , wherein the peristaltic pump outlet meets the irrigation tubing array at an acute angle. 
     
     
         12 . The method recited in  claim 9 , wherein an inlet of the peristaltic pump is positioned adjacent an outlet of the irrigation tubing array. 
     
     
         13 . The method recited in  claim 12 , further comprising holding fluid to be delivered to the plant root system in a fluid reservoir in fluid communication with the tubing inlet, and an outlet of the peristaltic pump feeds into the reservoir. 
     
     
         14 . The method recited in  claim 13 , further comprising feeding the fluid into a network of outbound tubing sections, inlets thereof in fluid communication with the tubing inlet, and positioning a manifold in fluid communication with distal ends of the outbound tubing sections, the manifold in fluid communication with the peristaltic pump inlet.