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Applicability, advantages and disadvantages of drip irrigation

Applicability

Generally, drip irrigation is the most appropriate irrigation method; it is especially good for arid and drought prone areas. Drip and subsurface drip irrigation is used almost exclusively when using recycled municipal wastewater. Regulations typically do not permit spraying water through the air that has not been fully treated to potable water standards. Furthermore, this system can be very technical for industrial crop production but also a simple small-scale irrigation method, which farmers can construct by themselves.

Advantages

High water application efficiency and lower labor costs
Minimized fertilizer/nutrient loss due to localized application and reduced leaching
Ability to irrigate irregular shaped fields. Levelling of the field is not necessary
Allows safe use of recycled (waste-) water
Moisture within the root zone can be maintained at field capacity and minimized soil erosion
Soil type plays less important role in frequency of irrigation
Highly uniform distribution of water i.e., controlled by output of each nozzle
Usually operated at lower pressure than other types of pressurized irrigation, reducing energy costs
Disadvantages

Expensive initial cost can be more than overhead systems (commercial system)
The sun can affect the tubes used for drip irrigation, shortening their usable life
If the water is not properly filtered and the equipment not properly maintained, it can result in clogging
Drip irrigation might be unsatisfactory if herbicides or top dressed fertilizers need sprinkler irrigation for activation
Waste of water, time & harvest, if not installed properly
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
Without sufficient leaching (most drip systems are designed for high efficiency, meaning little or no leaching fraction), salts applied with the irrigation water may build up in the root zone.

Source: https://www.geo.fu-berlin.de/en/v/iwrm/Implementation/technical_measures/Irrigation-systems/drip_irrigation/applicability_advantages_disadvantages/index.html

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What is Drip Irrigation?

Drip Irrigation is the most efficient water and nutrient delivery system for growing crops. It delivers water and nutrients directly to the plant’s root zone, in the right amounts, at the right time, so each plant gets exactly what it needs, when it needs it, to grow optimally. It enables farmers to produce higher yields while saving on water as well as fertilizers, energy.

How does it work?
Water and nutrients are delivered across the field in pipes called ‘dripelines’ featuring small units known as ‘drippers’. Each dripper emits drops containing water and fertilizer, resulting in the uniform application of water and nutrients direct to each plant’s root zone, across an entire field.

Why do farmers prefer it?
Drip irrigation not only delivers greater ROI compared to other irrigation methods, it also gives farmers an efficient and simple way to operate their farms.

With drip irrigation, farmers are guaranteed:

Higher consistent quality yields
Huge water savings: no evaporation, no run off, no waste
100% land utilization – drip irrigates uniformly in any topography and soil type
Energy saving: it works on low water pressure
Efficient use of fertilizer and crop protection, with no leaching
Less dependency on weather, greater stability and lower risks

Why is it better for plants?
Crops need a consistent and balanced supply of water in order to grow. Drip irrigation applies water and nutrients frequently and in small doses, ensuring optimal growing conditions that help produce the highest yields possible.

Here’s why plants are more productive with drip irrigation:

High availability of water and nutrients
Doses of water and nutrients tailored to plant’s development needs
No saturation and good soil aeration
Avoids high salinity caused by excessive fertilizer application
No wetting of foliage that can result in fungal diseases

Source: https://www.netafim.com/en/drip-irrigation/

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Drip Irrigation for Sugar Beet

Drip irrigation provides more benefits than just yield. It can also minimize pest and disease risk.
For example, overhead irrigation (pivots and sprinklers) increases risk of leaf disease. Drip irrigation keeps the leaves dry. There is also potential to chemigate directly through the drip irrigation system (dependent on local regulations).

Russia is the largest sugar beet producer (by hectares) globally. However, irrigation is not common and farmers are completely dependent on rainfall.
Yields fluctuate and are heavily impacted by rainfall. As shown in the graph below, the yield in 2010/11 dropped by 42% compared to the year before. This is primarily the result of the drought experienced that year.
Not having irrigation makes your crop vulnerable to these fluctuations.
Drip irrigation provides you with increased assurance of a quality crop regardless of rainfall.

Even during years of good rainfall, you are still losing on yield potential by not irrigating.
Without consistent irrigation, you put your sugar beet plants at risk of water stress and reduced plant growth and yield.
Use drip irrigation to reduce plant water stress for improved plant growth and yield potential.
The graph below shows average precipitation compared to PET (potential evapotranspiration).
The variance is greatest during the driest period of the year (highlighted in grey) and can lead to permanent yield loss. The yield lost in this period cannot be recovered at a later date.

Source: https://www.rivulis.com/sugar-beet-irrigate-with-drip/#:~:text=Drip%20irrigation%20provides%20more%20benefits,irrigation%20keeps%20the%20leaves%20dry.

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Drip Irrigation for Corn

Growing corn with drip irrigation has been a common practice in many parts of the world for over 30 years. Drip systems maintain certain unique characteristics that help make them the best irrigation alternative for corn in many growing scenarios.
Drip is ideal for irrigating corn with limited water budgets: Drip increases water use efficiency, since it creates no evaporation or run-off, and the water is precisely targeted to the root zone. Drip fits all plot shapes and sizes: Unlike center pivots and other irrigation methods, drip can be used in odd-shaped and small fields. Drip can achieve perfect water distribution even on extreme slopes: Pressure compensated drippers allow uniform water emission across all parts of the plot regardless of slope, and unlike other irrigation methods, drip installation in sloped areas is common practice. Drip is ideal for rainy areas due to efficient fertilization: Drip enables daily fertilizer application so that the fertilizer can be divided into small portions, leading to less nutrient loss due to leaching caused by rain. Drip requires the lowest energy consumption: Drip operates at low pressures, so it can significantly cut irrigation costs, compared to other pressurized systems in areas where electricity is expensive. Drip is ideal for irrigating uniformly under windy conditions: Drip is unaffected by wind – unlike overhead irrigation systems.

In the evolving history of irrigating corn with drip, the first areas worldwide that adopted the method were arid and semiarid locations where water scarcity is severe, and where rain during the growing season is scarce or non-existent. For example, drip has replaced sprinkler and traveler gun irrigation in the area of Konya in central Turkey, where hundreds of thousands of hectares are irrigated annually. There has been a similar trend in parts of the US, especially in Nebraska, Texas and Kansas. In those areas, the depletion of local aquifers has driven producers to look for irrigation practices enabling them to grow more corn with their limited water budget.

Source: https://www.netafim.africa/blog/drip-irrigation-for-corn–increasing-and-stabilizing-yields-while-saving-water/

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Irrigation in wheat crop:

Irrigation in wheat crop:
Adequate soil moisture is required for normal development of the wheat plant at all the stage of growth. The crown root initiation stage and heading stage are critical stages when plant suffers most due to moisture stress. The following schedule of irrigation should be followed by dwarf variety of wheat. In case of dwarf yielding variety as pre, sowing irrigation should be given and crop sown when the field become fit for the operation.

First Irrigation: The first irrigation to be standing crop could be given 20-25 days after sowing, i.e. at the crown root initiation stage. In cooler regions like hilly tracts and in late sown wheat, it is desirable to apply first irrigation approximately25-30 days after sowing. Delay   in giving this irrigation should be avoided as it result in upsetting the synchronous tillering in these varieties, subnormal heads, poor root system and finally poor grain yield. It is most critical irrigation.

Second Irrigation: At tillering stage, 40-45 days after sowing.

Third Irrigation: At late jointing stage within 70-75 days after sowing.

Fourth Irrigation: At flowering stage, within 90-95 days after sowing. Irrigation at this stage is also important because during this period plant suffer most from soil moisture deficiency. The grain number and grain size are reduced considerably.

Fifth Irrigation: At dough stage, within 110-115 days after sowing. The total number of irrigations required will vary depending upon soil type, winter rainfall amount of water applied per irrigation.

Under limited supply of water the following irrigation schedule of irrigations should be for the best adopted utilization for available quantity of water.

Where only one irrigation was possible. Give it crown root initiation CRI stage 20-25 days after sowing.
Where two irrigation are available, first irrigation should be given at CRI stage and second flowering stage.
Where three irrigation are possible, first irrigation should be given at CRI stage second at late jointing (boot) stage and third at milk stage. These recommendations strongly stress the importance of irrigation at CRI stage. It has been  found that each week delay in first irrigation from CRI stage results in yield reduction of 2-3 quintal per hectare.

Source: http://agropedia.iitk.ac.in/content/irrigation-wheat-crop

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3 Common Drip Irrigation Mistakes

1. Don’t Over-Water Your Plants
Many people who install their own drip irrigation system feel that they haven’t done a good enough job because they don’t see any pooling of water at the base of their plants and trees. They’re used to seeing these pools when they water by hand. However, one of the advantages of drip irrigation is that you don’t need as much water to get to the root system. Actually, if you see a pool of water you’ve used too much. You should only see about a three-inch spot of water at the dripper.

2. Don’t Apply Too Much Water Pressure
Typically, a drip irrigation system only needs about 25 pounds per square inch, or psi. If you use too much, the drippers may squirt instead of drip and the fittings may pop off.

3. Make Sure You Know the Watering Needs of Your Plants and Trees
Different plants have different watering needs, so you should do a little homework when planning your drip irrigation system. You may need to have one dripper that provides more water than another within the same system, or use extra drippers for some plants and fewer for others.

Source: https://www.sprinklerdrainage.com/blog/3-common-drip-irrigation-mistakes/

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Drip Irrigation in the Potato Cultivation

Whether farmers produce potatoes for fresh consumption or for processing, the challenge of consistent shape and high yield is intense. With precision irrigation, each hectare generates up to 20% more potatoes and fosters consistent quality.

Potatoes have shallow root systems and are highly susceptible to damage and disease from over or under watering. Getting the right amount of water and fertilizer to the roots is critical to maximize yields while meeting the strict market requirements of fresh and processed potatoes.

Drip irrigation allows you to effectively manage your water application and maintain a consistent soil moisture level so that you don’t over or under irrigate the plants. It also allows for the accurate and effective application of chemigation easily and uniformly to the root zone, saving on input and labor costs.

To demonstrate it, a test in two plantations in Spain was done, where the farmer handle in parallel sectors irrigated with mobile, one by sprinkling and other with localized drip irrigation. Monitoring and handling of the drip irrigation system

• Higher efficiency in the application of irrigation water.
• Better irrigation and production control.
• Waterlogging areas were avoided.
• Improvement in the productivity and uniformity of the crop
• Higher weight of dry extract of potatoes irrigated with drip irrigation.

Nowadays localized irrigation is to be considered as a key tool in the control and management of the production costs. drip irrigation with Yazddrip was possible to obtain a saving in water and energy, as a better quality production.

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Drip Irrigation In Rice

Drip irrigation system is introduced from Israel. Drip irrigation is the latest method of irrigation which is becoming popular in water scarcity and salt affected areas. This system is precise and allows slow application of water, In this method water is used very economically. Drip irrigation allows water to plants directly to the root zone through pipes. It saves 70% of water and increases yield up to 30% than conventional cultivation of paddy. In transplanted rice most of the water is required at the time of land preparation (Puddling) And it also a time consuming process. Where as Directed seeded rice doesn’t require that much of water at land preparation. The methods like SRI (System of Rice Intensification) which permits proper spacing and DSR (Direct seeded rice) in combination with drip irrigation increase water use efficiency. Drip system maintain the soil always at field capacity level which results in higher or equal yield than standing water situations.

Drip irrigation allows precise amount of water to crop root zone. There is a huge loss of Nitrogen in paddy fields in the form of leaching, Denitrification, voltaliation. etc due to flooding, By using drip we can reduce the Nitrogen loss in paddy fields thus by we can increase Nitrogen use efficiency. Drip irrigation makes the application of fertilizes easier and it allows the nutrients directly to the crop root zone with out any losses. Continuous flooding in paddy fields are the responsible for 10 % of global methane emission, where as Drip irrigation reduces methane emissions up to 0%. When paddy is continuously submerged condition there is a chance of consumption of heavy metals by plant and Increase the arsenic in the crop which may hazardous to human health when consumed.

Advantages from Adoption of Drip irrigation system in rice.
Grow more with less water
70 to 80 % water saving.
Reduces methane emission.
Reduce weed growth.
Decreases cost of cultivation.
Increases Water use efficiency.
Reduces fertilizer losses.
Reduce Arsenic uptake up to 90%.
To increase the more area under cultivation of paddy in rabi season than kharif season which may results in ultimate production.
Fertigation is the technique of application of fertilizers along with drip irrigation system which helps in not only increasing fertilizer use efficiency but also helps in saving of fertilizers.

Source: https://timesofagriculture.in/drip-irrigation-in-rice-a-way-to-increase-water-use-efficiency-in-rice/#:~:text=Drip%20irrigation%20allows%20water%20to,also%20a%20time%20consuming%20process.