Labor is one of the largest recurring costs in commercial greenhouse production, rivaled only by energy and fertilizer expenses. Manual mixing and delivery of nutrients take staff time every day, leaving fewer hours for higher‑value crop care. Not to mention the potential for human error and danger of exposure to harsh chemicals
With automated fertigating systems like the Fertigation Manager™ from Climate Control Systems Inc., growers are transforming that repetitive work into a simple, monitored process—cutting labor time by up to 60% while improving consistency and crop outcomes.
What Automated Fertigation Actually Does
Automated fertigation combines irrigation and nutrient delivery into a single, precise system.
The Fertigation Manager™, one of Climate Control Systems Inc.’s flagship automation products, integrates precision fertilizer injectors, mixing tanks, sensors, and central controls directly into the irrigation network.
With dissolved water‑soluble fertilizers delivered to the root zone through pre‑programmed nutrient “recipes.” Growers can manage schedules, ratios, and target volumes using a touch panel or connected software interface.
Key sensors monitor pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and, in some cases, soil moisture. This continuous feedback enables the controller to adjust the dosage automatically toa level of consistency next to impossible to achieve by hand.
The result: balanced feeding that matches the plant’s growth stage and reduces the risk of over‑ or under‑fertilization.
How Automation Saves Labor
Traditional fertilization requires crews to spend hours mixing solutions, dragging hoses, and ensuring even coverage across zones. With automated fertigating, those tasks shrink to system checks, calibration, and data review.
Industry data shows nutrient automation cuts repetitive labor by more than half compared to manual handling.
Climate Control Systems Inc. customers frequently report a 60% time savings in day‑to‑day fertigation work, freeing staff to focus on pruning, scouting, and crop quality management.
Because the system handles timing, dosage, and distribution, labor shifts from physical handling to supervision. This reduces fatigue and enables a single operator to manage larger areas efficiently.
Over a full production season, these gains translate into measurable payroll savings and greater operational stability.
Consistency and Yield Advantages
Precision fertigation delivers smaller, more frequent nutrient doses that keep the root zone stable. Stable EC and pH conditions reduce plant stress, which supports uniform growth, stronger root development, and higher market quality.
The Fertigation Manager’s automated mixing accuracy also minimizes human errors like misreading fertilizer ratios or overapplying concentrate.
With fine‑tuned control, fertilizer use can drop by 30–40% without cutting yield—figures consistent with Climate Control Systems Inc.’s field data, verified across commercial tomato, pepper, leafy‑green and cannabis installations in North America.
Less fertilizer runoff means cleaner recirculated irrigation water, especially when paired with Climate Control Systems’ Ozone Pro Water Treatment™, which disinfects and oxygenates irrigation supplies for reuse.
Planning Your Automation Upgrade
Before adopting automation, review your greenhouse’s existing irrigation zones, nutrient requirements, and crop varieties. Grouping plants with similar feeding needs simplifies programming and improves dosing precision.
Climate Control Systems Inc. designs flexible fertigation platforms that can scale with new zones and integrate with advanced climate computers and water treatment systems.
Our engineering and commissioning support ensure seamless integration with existing plumbing and control systems.
Although automation cuts repetitive work, staff should understand scheduling, alarm settings, and maintenance routines. Climate Control Systems provides on-site and remote training resources, documentation, and ongoing technical support to help teams operate confidently and safely.
Put Automation to Work in Your CEA Facility
Automated Fertigating changes the daily rhythm of greenhouse management. Instead of mixing and carrying solution tanks, crews monitor digital dashboards that keep crops on schedule and in balance.
With less time spent on manual tasks and more attention on plant performance, growers gain both operational efficiency and consistency across harvests.
When you align automation with your crop goals and team workflow, you achieve monumental labor savings, and nutrient precision becomes standard practice.
To learn how your facility can benefit from Fertigation Manager™ and other integrated solutions, contact Climate Control Systems Inc. or call 519‑322‑2515 to speak with an automation specialist.