Lecture No.

13

Drip irrigation – Suitability for crop, soil, topography and climate

Introduction

Drip irrigation is sometimes called trickle irrigation and involves dripping water
onto the soil at very low rates (2-20 litres/hour) from a system of small diameter plastic
pipes fitted with outlets called emitters or drippers. Water is applied close to plants so
that only part of the soil in which the roots grow is wetted, unlike surface and sprinkler
irrigation, which involves wetting the whole soil profile. With drip irrigation, water
applications are more frequent (usually every 1-3 days) than with other methods and this
provided a very favorable high moisture level in the soil in which plants can flourish.

A typical drip irrigation system consists of the following components:

Pump unit

Control head

Main and sub mainlines

Laterals

Emitters or drippers

The pump unit takes water from the source and provides the right pressure for
delivery into the pipe system.

The control head consists of valves to control the discharge and pressure in the
entire system. It may also have filters to clear the water. Common types of filter include
screen filters and graded sand filters which remove fine material suspended in the water.
Some control head units contain a fertilizer or nutrient tank. These slowly add a measured
dose of fertilizer into the water during irrigation. This is one of the major advantages of
drip irrigation over other methods.
Suitable crops

Drip irrigation is most suitable for row vegetables, soft fruit trees and vine crops
where one or more emitters can be provided for each plant. Generally only high value
crops are considered because of the high capital costs of installing a drip system.

Suitable slopes

Drip irrigation is adaptable to any farmable slope. Normally the crop would be
planted along contour lines and the water supply pipes (laterals) would be laid along the
contour also. This is done to minimize changes in emitter discharge as a result of land
elevation changes.

Suitable soils

Drip irrigation is suitable for most soils. On clay soils water must be applied
slowly to avoid surface water ponding and runoff. On sandy soils higher emitter
discharge rates will be needed to ensure adequate lateral wetting of the soil.

Suitable irrigation water

One of the main problems with drip irrigation is blockage of the emitters. All
emitters have very small waterways ranging from 0.2-2.0 mm in diameter and these can
become blocked if the water is not clean. Thus it is essential for irrigation water to be free
of sediments. If this is not so then filtration of the irrigation water will be needed.

Blockage may also occur if the water contains algae, fertilizer deposits and
dissolved chemicals which precipitate such as calcium and iron. Filtration may remove
some of the materials but the problem may be complex to solve and requires an
experienced engineer or consultation with the equipment dealer.

Drip irrigation is particularly suitable for water of poor quality (saline water).
Dripping water to individual plants also means that the method can be very efficient in
water use. For this reason it is most suitable when water is scarce.

Modifications of drip irrigation system

In recent years, several modifications of drip system have been developed in the
continuing effort to improve water use efficiency. The modifications are surface drip
irrigation, sub-surface irrigation, low – head bubbler irrigation, micro-spray irrigation,
mechanical move irrigation and pulse irrigation.

Drip irrigation for different horticultural systems:

1. Nursery irrigation to field grown nursery stock

The length of the row will determine the size of tubing required. The objective is
to evenly wet the row and manage the water in the root zone. Water that move out of this
target zone is lost to the plant and represents a wasted resource. In most cases, it is
difficult to apply all of the water needed in a day without losing water from the root zone.
Hence water has to be applied more than once a day and as many times as necessary to
supply the total amount required. It is called pulse irrigation. Fertilizer and other
materials can be applied with safe limits and precautions.

2. Container Irrigation

Irrigation of containers is different from field grown crops in that it has a confined
space above ground subject to temperature extremes, artificial growing medium such as
pine bark, excessive air movement around containers, and the force of gravity.

Problem is, it takes the same amount of water to grow a crop in a container as it does in
the field: however there is no reservoir to store the water except for the medium, which is
usually very coarse. If too much water is applied at one time, or in only one place in the
container, the water will quickly channel through the media and out of the pot.

To help prevent channeling, small spray sticks are often used to spread the water
over the surface of the container. However, these devices are not pressure compensating.
In effect, the amount of water that flows from each one depends on the pressure forcing
it. The amount of water can vary significantly down a line of pots causing variations in
flow of as much as 50% from one end of a line to the other. This variation means that
containers getting the least amount water have to be watered longer to satisfy their needs
thereby over watering the containers getting more (higher pressure). If the grower is
injecting fertilizer into his system, the problem is compounded by over applying fertilizer
in some containers while not getting enough in others.
3. Greenhouse Irrigation

There are many variations of greenhouse irrigation system layouts. The critical
thing is to establish what crops will be grown. The total volume of water required is
dependent on what is being irrigated. Irrigation in containers generally required relatively
low flow rates per greenhouse, while propagation and bedding plants generally require
overhead irrigation with comparatively higher flow rates per house.

Control of greenhouse irrigation: Since all greenhouse irrigation applications require

high frequency irrigation, automation of these types of systems using an irrigation
controller is the rule rather than the exception. Depending on the specifics of the crop, the
controller should offer the capability of multiple programmes, and in the case of
propagation the option to programme in seconds and minutes for a given window of
operation time (called a loop). It is virtually impossible to irrigate greenhouse crops
efficiently without the use of automation. The cost of automation is minuscule compared
to the cost of labour to effectively irrigate greenhouse crops.

i) Hanging baskets: Hanging baskets are most effectively watered using a dripper with a
flow rate 2.25 litres /hr installed on the lateral line attached to a structural member of the
greenhouse. A small diameter tube is attached to the outlet of dripper. At the other end a
plastic weight rests in the basket.

The dripper should be pressure compensated and equipped with a device that
allows the watering to begin instantly when the pressure rises above a certain point. It
should also shut off instantly when the pressure drops to that point. All devices connected
to that particular valve will start and stop irrigating at precisely the same time.

All baskets will be watered evenly. Greenhouse growers almost always inject
fertilizer through their water. The equipment described above assures 94% distribution
uniformity. Each pot gets the same amount of water and nutrient. Uniformity in irrigation
leads to uniformity in production. Uniformity in production means a higher value crop.
The goal of the grower should be to produce as uniform a crop as is technically possible.

ii) Bench pot watering systems: The most beneficial selection of product for this
application is to choose a dripper 2 to 10 litres per hour and divide its flow rate among
multiple containers (4-8). A pressure compensating device and attachment of a multiple
outlet adapter to the outlet of the dripper is considered.

Small diameter tubes are then connected to the multiple outlets of the adapter and
run to each individual container. A small stake, which serves as a secondary dripper, is
put into the tubing and installed in the pot. Each pot receives the same amount of water
in the same amount of time. Flow rates may range from as low as 0.6 l/ hr to 1.2 l/hr per
container.

4. Watering the established woody landscape

Soaker hoses

Soaker hoses can be snaked through a landscape planting and hidden from sight
with mulch. Rubber soaker hoses ooze water to provide a slow application.

Watering bags

Watering bags are useful for newly transplanted trees located where watering is not
easily done. Tiny holes in the bag allow the water to slowly seep in to the ground.

Soil watering needle

Soil watering needles supply water directly to the root zone of the plants. The
needle is inserted a number of times around the tree or shrub to assure thorough watering.

Microirrigation

This method is a closed type characterized by low operating pressure and small
orifice size. It is much preferred in areas of local rainfall. Once established this method is
very efficient. Runoff and evaporation losses are minimized.
 Questions

1. Generally only high value crops are considered because of the high capital costs
of installing a drip system.

2. Mention the components of a typical drip irrigation system.

3. Drip irrigation is the best choice to maximize efficiency in irrigation system. A

properly designed and installed drip system can deliver up to 95% efficiency.

4. How does container irrigation differ from field irrigation?

5. Explain briefly the necessity for automation of green house irrigation.