Integration of fertigation and digital technologies for sustainable apple production in semi-arid conditions

Kazakhstan’s apple industry, despite favorable semi-arid conditions in Southern Kazakhstan, depends on 57% imports. This study, conducted from 2019 to 2022 at the “Kentau” LLP orchard in Turkestan, assessed the efficacy of fertigation integrated with the “FertiSmart” mobile application to enhance apple production on gray-brown soils. Utilizing “FertiSmart”’s comprehensive 16-factor soil analysis, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imagery, tensiometer data, and the Dynamic Immobilization and Mineralization Adjustment (DIMA) coefficient, the fertigation approach yielded significant improvements. Results demonstrated a gross yield of 30.6 t/ha, 93.9% marketability, 24.1% Brix sugar content, and 78.5 N fruit firmness, outperforming soil incorporation (24.7 t/ha, 81.5% marketability) and control treatments (13.6 t/ha, 62.2% marketability). Additionally, fertigation reduced nutrient leaching by 20–30% (3.24 kg/ha N compared to 7.82 kg/ha for soil incorporation), increased water use efficiency by 5–10% (50.8 kg/m³ vs. 39.4 kg/m³), and maintained humus content at 2.12%. The “FertiSmart” application further optimized resource use, cutting fertilizer costs by 15–20% and enhancing nutrient uptake efficiencies (92.3% N, 48.6% P, 87.4% K). This scalable, technology-driven model promotes productivity, soil health, and environmental sustainability, aligning with Kazakhstan’s objectives for food security and sustainable agriculture.

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