Proper fertilizer handling avoids potential problems

Mich. St. Univ. Extension educator Jeanne Himmelein said most greenhouse operations use a water soluble fertilizer that is diluted in a 55 gallon drum that is hooked to an injector system. The diluted fertilizer solution is piped through the greenhouse to irrigate the plants. Greenhouses can have either one central injector room or system or several injector systems within a facility. Regardless of the setup, operations with an injector system usually have a fertilizer concentrate barrel.

Himmelein said the laws associated with fertilizer storage and handling are focused on liquid fertilizer. Bagged dry water-soluble fertilizer is not as high of a risk of “potentially entering the environment” as a liquid concentrated fertilizer solution. Himmelein said proper handling of fertilizer is important to assure that a greenhouse is doing everything possible to eliminate the potential risk for fertilizer entering the environment such as through surface or groundwater.

Mich. St, Univ. Extension has developed two publications (“Fertilizer Storage and Handling Guidelines for Greenhouses” and “Pesticide Storage and Handling Guidelines for Greenhouses” to assist growers with the handling of chemical products.