The benefits and drawbacks of drip irrigation
The dripper line’s diameter is a vital factor to consider; the thicker the walls, the stronger the line and the longer it will stay.
There are many different types of irrigation to choose from, so do your research before making a decision.
Read also:Poultry Farming In Nigeria – How To Start A Lucrative Poultry Farming Business In Nigeria
Drip irrigation, for example, is well known for using less water than other systems. Some farmers make their decision solely based on this fact, and they suffer the price for not doing their homework.
This approach would be used on broccoli and cauliflower, according to a farmer I spoke with lately.
Read also:French Beans Farming in Kenya – How To Make Money Through French Bean Farming In Kenya
I pointed out to him that, while he would save water, he would also need to keep his brassicas cold during heatwaves for them to thrive, which drip irrigation would not do.
Spray irrigation, on the other hand, wets the leaves and soil surface, and the evaporation of this water cools the plant significantly. During a heatwave, some farmers use modest irrigation daily to keep their crops from being stressed.
Another reason to avoid drip irrigation, I informed the farmer, was that he would lose money at the market. A heatwave reduces yields, resulting in shortages and, as a result, increased costs. If the farmer employed drip irrigation, not only would his harvest be jeopardized, but he would also lose out on greater prices!
Advantages of Drip Irrigation
Of course, drip irrigation provides numerous major advantages when applied to the right crop:
- It can function at a lower pressure; you don’t waste water on areas where there isn’t a root system to take it up if you’re growing a product like a pumpkin or a watermelon with wide spacing;
- It’s perfect for crops where moist leaves might lead to illness. This makes it the preferred solution for growing tomatoes and other crops in tunnels; it’s also required when using plastic mulch to cover the soil.
- Dripper tubes come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Flat tape, which has thin walls and a short lifespan, is a low-cost choice. When utilized for a one-time function, it is cost-effective.
- Round dripper lines, on the other hand, are available in a variety of wall thicknesses; the thicker the wall, the stronger the line’s resistance to damage and the longer its lifespan. These kinds of lines might last for a long time.
A word of warning: drip irrigation is prone to clogs and hence necessitates the use of clean water. Calcium might build up in the tubes if you farm in a region where the water is strong in minerals. You’ll need to cleanse the tubes with an acid solution as needed in this situation.
Rates of flow for Drip Irrigation
Different flow rates and opening positions are available with drip irrigation systems. The drippers should ideally line up with the plants in the row, making it easy to keep them moist after transplanting.
It becomes less of an issue as the root system grows.
When using a dripper, determining the degree of moisture by simply looking at the soil surface is difficult. Under the dripper, an onion-shaped moist region forms in the soil profile.
This grows in the shape of a long onion in sandy soils and a flat onion in clay soils. This is due to capillary action; because the soil particles in clay soil are close together, water may travel much further sideways by capillary action than in sandy soil.
Keep a close eye on how the soil is moistened following irrigation. Beginners frequently prefer to see more evidence of soaking on the soil surface and can easily over-irrigate, resulting in nutrient leaching. Irrigate a little less the first time and adjust as needed.
