What are the advantages of fertigation in agriculture?
- 1.Controlling the alkalinity of irrigation water is possible.
- 2.Efficient application of Rock Phosphate and all other phosphatic fertilizers is possible.
- 3.Increased availability of nutrients to plants is possible.
- 4.Reduction in the leaching of chemical nutrients is possible.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Answer & explanation
Answer: (c) 1, 3 and 4 only
Fertigation, applying water-soluble fertiliser through the drip irrigation water, makes nutrients more available near the roots and cuts losses by leaching, and acid injection can lower the alkalinity of irrigation water. It cannot be used for rock phosphate or other phosphatic fertilisers that do not dissolve.
- ✓ 1. Acidifying fertilisers such as phosphoric acid injected with the water lower the pH of alkaline irrigation water; this is a recognised benefit, and UPSC's key treats it as correct.
- ✗ 2. Phosphate fertilisers tend to precipitate in irrigation water; the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University guide says super phosphate must be avoided, and only soluble forms such as phosphoric acid or mono-ammonium phosphate suit fertigation. Rock phosphate does not dissolve.
- ✓ 3. The Centre's Per Drop More Crop scheme promotes fertigation to improve nutrient application efficiency, because fertiliser is delivered with irrigation water straight to the root zone, so more of it reaches the plant.
- ✓ 4. Small, frequent doses given near the roots are absorbed quickly, so less fertiliser is lost by leaching.
Remember · Fertigation = fertiliser through drip water: soluble fertilisers only, more nutrient use efficiency, less leaching; no rock phosphate.
Sources
- PIB, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare: Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) and fertigation ↗ “The scheme also promotes fertigation to improve nutrient application efficiency and prioritizes water-scarce and groundwater-stressed regions. Fertigation is the process of applying fertilizers with irrigation water directly to the region where most of the plant’s roots develop.”
- Fertigation, TNAU Agritech Portal (Tamil Nadu Agricultural University) ↗ · reference work “Application of super phosphorus through fertigation must be avoided as it makes precipitation of phosphate salts. … Nutrients and water are supplied near the active root zone through fertigation which results in greater absorption by the crops.”
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2020, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·