Drip Irrigation System

Drip irrigation, also known astrickle irrigationormicro irrigationorlocalized irrigation, is an irrigation method that saves water and fertilizer by allowing water to drip slowly to the roots of plants, either onto the soil surface or directly onto the root zone, through a network of valves, pipes, tubing, and emitters. It is done through narrow tubes that deliver water directly to the base of the plant.

The advantages of drip irrigation system are:

• Fertilizer and nutrient loss is minimized due to localized application and reduced leaching.
• Water application efficiency is high.
• Field levelling is not necessary.
• Fields with irregular shapes are easily accommodated.
• Recycled non-potable water can be safely used.
• Moisture within the root zone can be maintained at field capacity.
• Soil type plays less important role in frequency of irrigation.
• Soil erosion is minimized.
• Weed growth is minimized.
• Water distribution is highly uniform, controlled by output of each nozzle.
• Labour cost is less than other irrigation methods.
• Variation in supply can be regulated by regulating the valves and drippers.
• Fertigation can easily be included with minimal waste of fertilizers.
• Foliage remains dry, reducing the risk of disease.
• Usually operated at lower pressure than other types of pressurised irrigation, reducing energy costs.

The disadvantages of drip irrigation system are:

• Expense: initial cost can be more than overhead systems.
• Waste: the sun can affect the tubes used for drip irrigation, shortening their usable life.
• Clogging: if the water is not properly filtered and the equipment not properly maintained, it can result in clogging.
• Drip tape causes extra cleanup costs after harvest. Users need to plan for drip tape winding, disposal, recycling or reuse.
• Waste of water, time and harvest, if not installed properly. These systems require careful study of all the relevant factors like land topography, soil, water, crop and agro-climatic conditions, and suitability of drip irrigation system and its components.
• Germination problems: in lighter soils subsurface drip may be unable to wet the soil surface for germination. Requires careful consideration of the installation depth.
• Salinity: most drip systems are designed for high efficiency, meaning little or no leaching fraction. Without sufficient leaching, salts applied with the irrigation water may build up in the root zone, usually at the edge of the wetting pattern. On the other hand, drip irrigation avoids the high capillary potential of traditional surface-applied irrigation, which can draw salt deposits up from deposits below.
• Rodents: the PVC pipes often suffer from rodent damage, requiring replacement of the entire tube and increasing expenses.