Harvest Your Future: Ace the 2025 Agricultural Engineering Exam!

Fertigation is the practice of applying fertilizer solutions directly to the soil or plants through irrigation systems. This method allows for the precise application of nutrients, improving their availability to crops while enhancing water efficiency. By combining irrigation and fertilization, fertigation ensures that plants receive an optimal mix of water and nutrients, promoting healthy growth and potentially increasing yields.

In fertigation, the fertilizer is typically dissolved in water, which enables it to be distributed evenly throughout the root zone of the plants. This technique is particularly beneficial in environments where nutrient uptake needs to be carefully managed. Additionally, it can reduce the risk of nutrient runoff and leaching, leading to environmentally sustainable practices in agriculture.

In contrast, other choices present different practices: aeration relates to improving air circulation in soil, hydroponics involves growing plants without soil using mineral nutrient solutions, and soil conditioning focuses on improving soil structure and health through various amendments. These options do not directly refer to the combined application of fertilizers and irrigation in the way that fertigation does.