Fertigation FAQs

8/3/2019 Fertigation FAQs

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Frequently Asked Questions on Fertigation:

1. How can an older golf course benefit from fertigation? I know they aregreat for grow-ins but what about an older, existing golf course with anolder irrigation system?

Fertigation can save you on your input costs for fertility verses a qualitygranular program. That plus zero labor to apply saves you time and makesyour operation more efficient. Any existing irrigation system that givesreasonable results is all you need for Fertigation.

2. Do you need a state of the art irrigation system? I have less than idealcoverage.

NO! Our Ecotronics Fertigation systems are installed at courses that utilizethe latest most advanced irrigation systems as well as manual impact

sprinkler systems. All have proven effective at delivering uniform nutrientsto the required turf area.

3. Will I get circles of green grass that shows up my poor irrigationcoverage?

Not as a general rule, fertigation is based on the application of multiplelight, frequent, applications that tend to yield consistent color and growth.

4. What about a stuck head?

History has shown that even if a head weeps for days it shows very littleincrease in color. Burn is almost impossible due to the nutrient dilution rateof fertigation. Fertigation is about frequency with light rates, not highvolume one and done applications.

5. What about an irrigation line break with fertilizer in the system?

An irrigation line break is a serious event whether there is fertilizer in thewater or not! Our systems will not inject into the irrigation system if the

pump station shuts down due to low pressure. (one of our many safetyfeatures) Also remember the dilution factor of fertigation, roughly 1 poundof nutrient per 1000 gallons of water!

6. What happens to the liquid fertilizer in the lines that is leftover and isntthat wasting material?

We design fertigation programs to fit how you run your irrigation cycles.Our system can stop our injection pumps at a predetermined time, I.E. 15minutes prior to end of an irrigation cycle, thereby assuring that lines arebasically free of fertilizer. Also a purge cycle can easily be incorporatedwith our systems as well.


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7. Do I have to prime the irrigation lines with fert so I wont have any skips?

Our programs are designed with priming and purging cycles taken intoconsideration. Your SynaTek technical representative can present you

with several options to eliminate the possibility of skips.

8. How will fertigation help me save time, money, and labor?

Fertigation enables you to fertilize more areas, more frequently, and at alower cost per acre with zero labor costs. Another benefit is the fertilizationnormally takes place at night so fertilizing the golf course never interfereswith play.

9. Can you fertigate a wet golf course or under rainy conditions?

Whether wet or dry, fine turf needs nutrients. Its almost impossible to pulla broadcast spreader on wet turf and not do damage. Since you candeliver fertigation in as little as one turn of the irrigation heads, yourirrigation system becomes a nutrient application system delivering verylittle additional water to the course. You only need to fertigate one dayevery 7 to 10 days to maintain ideal fertility levels so fertigation is ideal forwet weather conditions.

10. How complex is the fertigation system to use?

Our Ecotronics systems are very user friendly. Once the controller is pre-programmed you only need to make simple adjustments throughout thegrowing season. SynaTek provides full technical, educational, and productsupport for our systems as well as provide the liquid fertilizers. This is onething that sets us apart from most other fertigation system manufacturers.

11. Do we receive technical support if we purchase from SynaTek?

Yes. We have many years of experience with dedicated people who buildand service our equipment with the goal of complete customer educationand satisfaction. We call this our SynaTek Circle Of Support.


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12. What are the advantages and cost savings if any in using fertigationverses traditional granular fertilizer applications?

The nutritional advantage is that with fertigation you can easily achievewhat slow release granular fertilizers only hope to achieve, uniform

nutrition with no growth flushes or lack of adequate fertility. Fertigationgives much greater flexibility. If you need more or less nutrition you justdial it into the system. The cost savings are greatly reduced labor andtime with the ability to apply exactly the nutrients the turf needs when youwant to apply them with no granular spreader application issues that couldresult in loss of play and or loss of revenue. The result is happy golfers.

13. Does the wind influence coverage with fertigation?

Most fertigation occurs in early morning hours when wind speed is

typically lower. Also when fertigation is used in consistent weeklyapplications, any patterns due to wind direction tend to be limited due tothe normal variations in weather from week to week.

14. Why dont more golf courses have fertigation?

Fertigation acceptance is growing at a very rapid rate across the country.Most new construction golf courses have fertigation. Grow-ins usingfertigation more than pay for themselves in decreased time to opening.Fertigation is the fastest way to grow in turf. The Northeastern and Mid

Atlantic region of the Untied States has seen steady growth of Fertigationnot only from new construction but adding it to existing irrigation systems.We have installed over 150 fertigation systems in this area ourselves.

15. Will fertigation stain my tee or yardage markers?

No. The nutrients are too diluted. We have never had a complaint ofdiscoloration.

16. How can I be sure the fairway on the other side of the course gets thesame amount of fertilizer as the one right next to the pump house?

The injection rates are controlled in proportion to flow with precisemetering pumps and time of irrigation cycles.


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17. How do I know that the fertigation pump keeps up with the speed of my

pump station?

Our Ecotronics system uses a computer controller that utilizes signalsfrom the pump station flow sensor, which regulates the speed of the

pumps in proportion to flow. This assures accurate rates and consistency.

18. What if a miscalculation occurs and we greatly over apply fertilizer throughfertigation? Will I burn up my golf course?

Fertigation rates typically apply at one tenth of a pound of N per 1000sq.ft.delivered in irrigation water. Even if a 2x or 4x application occurs, you arestill talking less than a half-pound of N per 1000 in plenty of water. Themost you will do is really green up your course.

19. I have weeping, leaky heads; wont that lead to blotchy extra green growth

around my irrigation heads?

Over a period of time you might see increased green up around theheads, but in most instances these heads are repaired and corrected in atimely manner. If not, with the excess water there would be some extracolor and growth anyway if not repaired regardless of fertigation.

20. Can I only fertigate greens? Or just fairways and roughs?

Yes. In most instances fertigation is used as a blanket all over course

application and greens and tees receive additional nutrition, but thesystem is designed to be flexible as to time and what gets covered. Youare in control.

21. How can I be sure the fertilizer in the storage tanks hasnt gone bad orsettled out? With a jug I can shake it, what do you do with 1000 gallons?

The fertilizer we manufacture is high quality with good stability overextended periods of time. We only add additional nutrients or bio-stimulants to our N-P-Ks in amounts that we are comfortable will not settleout. If an issue our systems come with a mix/transfer pump and tank thatcan re-circulate the fertilizer if it ever became a problem.

For additional information on our Fertigation Systems and Liquid Fertilizersvisit our website at www.synateksolutions.com.

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Fertigation FAQs