Drip Irrigation Systems

This is a guest post written by Ahmet Korkmaz of Agriculture Guide.

With advent of special agricultural practices, researchers have shown great interests in discovering unique ways of watering farm in short duration of time with minimized wastage of water. One can also gather huge amount of output from the farm under programmed watering through specialized irrigation techniques. The irrigation technique like drip irrigation has enhanced productivity of crops in many ways. Certain species like egg plant have shown greater productivity as far as watering through customized drip irrigation channels. The basic model of any farm irrigated through drip irrigation technique involves proper planning of water channels prior to installation. This can avoid unwanted wastage of water in the farm. Modern farms comprise all types of plants and shrubs that can attribute the credibility of home both quantitatively and qualitatively. Depending upon the topography of gardens irrigation technique employed for regular watering of plants can differ.

Need for drip irrigation

Drip irrigation is associated with number of positive features. These can be grouped as distinguishing subjects when compared to other irrigation techniques. The water utilization in drip irrigation is quite remarkable thing to watch out for. The farmers develop customized drip channels to moisten up root tips and sub surface layers of top soil enabling necessary water supply without any wastage. Since watering is confined to root tips, one can also avoid onset of several diseases that attack shoot system of any plant. Lack of moisture can prevent bacterial and fungal attacks to surface of stem and leaves. Surface run offs can be avoided thus enhancing strength of soil. The fertilizers and manures can be fed to plants without any fuss. Drip irrigation provides ample opportunity for employing recycled water for irrigation purposes. This makes drip irrigation to be successful with highest efficiency of about ninety percent or more.

Drip irrigation system- basic components

The skeletal design of any drip irrigation system involves several parts namely drip irrigation soaker hoses, valves, drippers, pressure relief valves and end seals. The valves used for drip irrigation serve dual purpose to any farmer. The regular channeling of water can be achieved followed by unidirectional supply of water involving installation of back flow prevention valves. The valve dimension generally employed for any drip irrigation is about 20 millimeters. Unidirectional flow of water can promise uninterrupted timely supply of water at root tips. Emitters should be spaced in regular manner throughout drip channel to permit flamboyance in both appearance and function. Generally emitters are spaced for about eighteen inches apart. The maximum spacing measure can go up to twenty-four inches accounting roughly to six hundred millimeters. Installing more emitters in small irrigation channel can also back fire overall event of drip supply by wetting soil completely.

Pipelines necessary for drip irrigation can be chosen based on length of tubing required. Generally PVC pipes are administered for homemade drip irrigation. Farmers find also polyethylene irrigation pipes (PEX) useful in cultivating melon species in large farms. Main watering channel and lateral channels can be permitted to have a span of about 120 meters. The main channel should take most of span length leaving lateral channel to manifest small reach. The lateral channel can also be provided with pressure control valves. This can regulate fluid pressure inside the pipelines. Total pressure required for regulating proper watering through drip irrigation can go up to 3 bars. Check valves are provided at periodic intervals to mobilize measured supply of water to root zone. Installing air vents in drip irrigation circuits can also provide opportunity for effective maintenance of pressure inside main watering channels and lateral channels. Care must be administered while selecting fittings for drip tubes. The size should be matched precisely to prevent any water leakage in drip circuits.