What is Drip Irrigation?

Drip irrigation is used on farms, in greenhouses and in gardens as a watering method for plants and crops. This system slowly applies water to the soil and is commonly used in areas where water is scarce. This highly efficient system waters only the roots of plants, so water is not wasted.

Operation

Water is pumped up through the water source into a pipe. The water runs through the pipe, a sand separator, a sand filter and a screen filter. After the water is filtered, it runs to the main line where it flows into smaller poly tube pipes fitted with drip emitters. The emitters slowly release a constant flow of water into the ground near the plants. The typical flow rate is up to four gallons of water an hour.

Advantages

The energy costs are lower when running a low pressure drip irrigation system. Drip irrigation can be used in fields that are irregular shaped or not level. This system decreases soil erosion, reduces weed development and spreads the water evenly throughout the field. The water stays on the ground and off of the plant leaves, which reduces plant diseases.

Disadvantages

The upfront costs for purchasing and installing a drip irrigation system can be costly. The poly pipes may need replacing periodically due to the damage from the sun. If the system is not regularly maintained, the filters can get clogged up. Plant germination may be affected if the drip does not adequately wet the surface of the soil.

Fertigation

Fertigation is the process of mixing and dispensing fertilizer with the water in the drip system. Using liquid fertilizer with the drip irrigation system saves about 95 percent of fertilizer costs. This method is more effective than using traditional timed release fertilizer applications.