Fertigation and climate control procurement guide for large greenhouse projects
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Short answer: buy fertigation and climate control on measured performance. Specify the number of nutrient channels, EC and pH control ranges and dosing accuracy, the filtration grade for your water, the sensors and control loops, and how data is logged. Then require a factory or site acceptance test for each loop, operator training and spare parts for the liability period, so the equipment still works after handover.
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Fertigation specification essentials
| Item | Specify | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Water analysis | EC, pH, sodium, chloride, bicarbonate, iron, manganese | Sets acid dosing, filtration and nutrient recipe |
| Dosing channels | Number of fertiliser channels plus acid | Separate A/B tanks avoid precipitation |
| Control range | Target EC and pH ranges with tolerance | Basis for acceptance testing |
| Filtration | Sand, disc or screen grade matched to emitters | Prevents emitter clogging |
| Irrigation valves and sectors | Number of sectors, flow per sector | Defines pump and dosing capacity |
| Drain monitoring | Drain EC/volume measurement where substrate is used | Controls recipe and water use |
Buy the complete greenhouse fertigation scope, not just the dosing skid
Start with crop, growing medium, production area and source-water evidence. Have a qualified agronomist and engineer define design flow, operating pressure, simultaneous zones and acceptance tolerances. These are project-specific inputs: this guide supplies no nutrient recipe or chemical dose.
For a retrofit, record what already exists: pumps, pipework, filters, valves, sensors, control software and power. Mark reusable items and the evidence needed to confirm compatibility. Separate seed-establishment observations from equipment diagnoses; an uneven stand does not by itself prove the dosing unit is at fault.
- Give every bidder the same measured water analysis and design basis.
- Separate supply, installation, commissioning, licences, calibration, training and spares.
- Ask for explicit exclusions and responsibility for each integration interface.
- Compare energy, consumables, maintenance and service assumptions on the same operating schedule.
- Record factory/site tests and the person authorised to accept the result.
Start a supplier-neutral RFQ
For buyers, consultants and awarded contractors with projects from USD 250,000. Free for buyers; reviewed by a sourcing specialist before any supplier is contacted.
Start a supplier-neutral RFQWorked comparison — hypothetical, not market prices
Offer A is hypothetically USD 40,000 supply-only plus USD 8,000 installation and USD 2,000 commissioning: USD 50,000 before tax, freight and any excluded works. Offer B is hypothetically USD 47,000 with those services included. The USD 3,000 difference is meaningful only after checking that equipment, performance, exclusions and warranty scope are equivalent. No supplier identity or real quote is represented.
Keep annual operating costs separate. A quoted daily consumables figure cannot be annualised without stated operating days; neither a cheaper skid nor a lower illustrative total proves better yield or ROI.
Climate control specification essentials
- Sensors: air temperature and humidity (aspirated), outdoor weather station, radiation; optional CO₂.
- Controlled equipment: vents, screens, fans, pads or fogging, heating where needed.
- Control logic stated as targets (temperature, humidity or VPD), not as fixed timers.
- Alarms, data logging, remote access and local-language interface.
- Software licence terms and who owns the data.
Acceptance and handover
- 1Factory acceptance test (dosing unit, control panel)
- 2Installation and calibration
- 3Site acceptance test of each loop
- 4Operator training with records
- 5Liability period with spares and service response
Questions buyers ask
How do I specify fertigation dosing accuracy?
State target EC and pH and the allowed deviation during a timed test at design flow, then test it at site acceptance with calibrated meters.
Should I buy fertigation and climate control from one supplier?
It can simplify integration, but specify open interfaces and test every loop. Price them as separate lots if you want competition.
Start a supplier-neutral RFQ
For buyers, consultants and awarded contractors with projects from USD 250,000. Free for buyers; reviewed by a sourcing specialist before any supplier is contacted.
Start a supplier-neutral RFQOfficial sources
- Gov't Launches $880m REDI-II Greenhouse Project — Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Jamaica, 2026-02-26
- Project procurement opportunities (GPN, SPN, CAN) — IFAD
- Good Agricultural Practices for greenhouse vegetable crops — water and fertigation context — FAO, 2013
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SeedMatchGroup is not a contractor, tender adviser or government-approved supplier and does not bid on anyone's behalf. Program figures are quoted from official sources and are not procurement budgets.