Drip Irrigation

Drip Irrigation

INTRODUCTION

Drip irrigation can be a great aid to the efficient use of water.  A well designed drip irrigation system or subsurface drip irrigation system will lose practically no water to runoff, deep percolation or evaporation.  Irrigation scheduling can be precisely managed to meet crop demands, holding the promise of increased crop yields and quality. Drip irrigation will decrease water contact with crop leaves, stems, and fruit.  Thus conditions may be less favorable for the onset of diseases.  Often growers or irrigation professionals refer to "subsurface drip irrigation" or SDI.  When the drip tube can be buried below the soil surface, it is less vulnerable to damage during cultivation or weeding.  Water use can be managed to be very efficient with SDI because irrigations can avoid water losses to evaporation, runoff, and wetting the soil below the root zone.
Agricultural chemicals can be used more efficiently with drip irrigation.  Since only the crop root zone is irrigated, nitrogen already in the soil is less subject to leaching losses.  Fertilizer N that is added can be used more efficiently.  Where insecticides are labeled for application through drip irrigation, less insecticide may be required to control pests. With all the potential benefits of drip irrigation, conversion to drip irrigation can increase production costs, especially where another pre-existing irrigation system is already in place.  Ultimately, there must be an economic advantage to the growers for them to consider drip irrigation.