Table of Contents
Fertilizer costs on the rise in 2026
In recent months, fertilizer prices have increased due to higher energy costs, geopolitical tensions, and ongoing instability in international markets. In some cases, year-on-year increases have exceeded +30%, with even sharper rises recorded in recent weeks and certain markets have experienced significant short-term price fluctuations as well[1] [2][3] .
Several studies show that fertigation can significantly reduce input use while maintaining stable yields. In many cases, fertilizer consumption can decrease by up to 30–50%, while nutrient uptake efficiency improves[4].
This is not just a more advanced technique, but a shift in approach: moving from quantity-based distribution to efficiency-driven nutrient management.
Why fertilization can become inefficient
Traditional, non-optimized fertilization often leads to hidden but substantial inefficiencies: uneven distribution, nutrient losses in the soil, imbalances related to pH, and poor synchronization with crop demand. Under these conditions, a significant share of nutrients is not absorbed by the plant and effectively turns into a direct cost.
Fertigation addresses this issue by delivering nutrients together with water, directly into the root zone. This makes it possible to precisely supply macronutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK), as well as micronutrients, adjusting both quantity and concentration according to the crop’s growth stages.
This approach improves nutrient uptake efficiency, reduces soil losses, and ensures more uniform distribution, making fertilization more effective and aligned with actual plant needs.
Irritec solutions for efficient and controlled fertigation
Achieving these results requires reliable systems that can adapt to different production contexts. Irritec’s product offering covers all needs, from simple management solutions to fully automated advanced systems.
Ferticlick®
For open-field applications, orchards, or vegetable crops, Ferticlick® Bypass and Ferticlick® Pump offer a simple yet highly precise fertigation solution. Dosing can be managed proportionally to flow rate or in volumetric mode, allowing nutrient application to better match actual crop requirements.
Ease of use and seamless integration with existing systems enable a quick improvement in efficiency compared to traditional fertilization. An additional advantage is that these systems operate at just 12 V and do not require a 220 V power supply.
DosaBox®
With DosaBox® units — particularly DosaBox® Junior Advanced — fertigation management becomes more advanced. The system allows the use of true nutrient “recipes,” with proportional, volumetric, or pH/EC target-based modes, while automating fertilizer injection.
- DosaBox® Junior enables volumetric dosing of two fertilizers, with adjustable suction rates and outlet pH and EC monitoring.
- DosaBox® Junior Automatic is a modular unit capable of dosing three fertilizers in volumetric or proportional mode, with pH and EC monitoring.
- DosaBox® Junior Advanced can manage three fertilizers and one acid, operating either on EC/pH targets or in proportional mode.
This level of control improves nutrient uptake, enhances system performance, and reduces inefficiencies and operational issues.
Shaker Set® e Shaker Pro™
In more complex scenarios, where fertigation is managed by targets, Shaker Set® and Shaker Pro™ provide advanced control. They allow the management of multiple fertilizers and a corrective acid, operating either on set targets or in proportional mode.
Automatic mixing and injection ensure consistent and homogeneous nutrient solutions over time, based on user-defined parameters.
- Shaker Set® can inject up to four fertilizers per set plus one corrective acid.
- Shaker Pro™ can manage up to four fertilizers in both set and proportional modes, plus one corrective acid.
The availability of multiple fertigation recipes — one for each irrigation sector — combined with an integrated self-learning system, enables the rapid production of tailored nutrient solutions for every part of the system.
Automation and control
The full potential of fertigation is unlocked through automation. Commander EVO controllers, integrated into Shaker Set®, Shaker Pro™, and DosaBox® Junior Advanced, allow precise and automatic management of dosing, recipes, pH, and electrical conductivity.
In particular, Shaker Set® and Shaker Pro™ feature Commander Evo® Gold, the most advanced solution in terms of technology and versatility. This system is widely used in greenhouses and hydroponic applications, as well as in farms requiring maximum precision and full control.
Overall, Irritec’s automation systems reduce human error and dynamically adjust nutrient supply to real crop conditions, turning fertigation into a practical tool for resource optimization.
DOWNLOAD THE IRRITEC AUTOMATION AND FERTIGATION CATALOG
Proven results in vegetable crops and orchards
In vegetable crops and orchards — where nutrient requirements change rapidly — fertigation enables precise interventions at each stage of the crop cycle.
Scientific literature highlights that it is possible to reduce fertilizer requirements by up to 15–25% without yield loss[5] , apply lower doses while maintaining productivity[6] and achieve average yield increases of up to +20%, with even higher values in specific crops[7].. This translates into more efficient management: reduced waste, improved nutrient availability at critical stages, and greater production stability over time.
Managing nutrients better to reduce costs
Today, fertilization requires a more precise and informed approach. When properly designed and managed, fertigation makes it possible to reduce consumption, improve nutrient efficiency, and optimize resource use.
In a context of rising costs, the key factor is not how much is applied, but how much is effectively converted into production. It is this balance between control, precision, and adaptability that defines a more efficient and sustainable agriculture.
To find the most suitable solution for your specific context, you can get in touch with Irritec’s technical team here. To find the most suitable solution for your specific context, you can get in touch with Irritec’s technical team here.
Sources
[1] Trading Economics (2026) – https://tradingeconomics.com/commodity/urea
[2] Agricultural Water Management / ScienceDirect – https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772375523000096
[3] Reuters – https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-farmers-plant-less-corn-iran-war-spikes-fertilizer-prices-2026-04-01/
[4] MDPI – Water Journal (2023) – https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/3/2/37
[5] ScienceDirect – https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1161030125003417
[6] Wiley Online Library – https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/2016/3961903
[7] DTN Progressive Farmer – https://www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/web/ag/news/crops/article/2026/03/18/8-retail-fertilizer-prices-higher-4
