Precise and regulated application of irrigation water and plant nutrients at low pressure and frequent intervals through drippers/emitters directly into the root zone of plant with the help of close network of pipes is known as drip irrigation system.
Advantages
- Increase in production & productivity.
- Improves quality and ensure early maturity of the crops.
- Water Saving up to 40% – 70%.
- Controls weed growth, saving of fertilizer (30%) and labour cost (10%).
- Fertigation / Chemigation can be made efficiently.
- Control diseases.
- Use of saline water is possible.
- Soil erosion is eliminated.
- Suitable for uneven / undulating land.
- High Water Use Efficiency.
| Major Components of Drip Irrigation System | ||
| Pump station. | By-pass assembly | |
| Control valves | Filtration system | |
| Fertilizer tank /Venturi | Pressure gauge | |
| Mains / Sub-mains | Laterals | |
| Emitting devices | Micro tubes | |
| Crops Suitable for Drip Irrigation System | ||
| 1. | Orchard Crops | Grapes, Banana, Pomegranate, Orange, Citrus, Mango, Lemon, Custard Apple, Sapota, Guava, Pineapple, Coconut, Cashewnut, Papaya, Aonla, Litchi, Watermelon etc. |
| 2. | Vegetables | Tomato, Chilly, Capsicum, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Onion, Okra, Brinjal, Bitter Gourd, Ridge Gourd, Cucumber, Peas, Spinach, Pumpkin etc. |
| 3. | Cash Crops | Sugarcane, Cotton. Arecanut, Strawberry etc. |
| 4. | Flowers | Rose, Carnation, Gerbera, Anthurium, Orchids, Jasmine, Dahilia, Marigold etc. |
| 5. | Plantation | Tea, Rubber, Coffee, Coconut etc. |
| 6. | Spices | Turmeric, Cloves, Mint etc, |
| 7. | Oil Seed | Sunflower, Oil palm, Groundnut etc. |
| 8. | Forest Crops | Teakwood, Bamboo etc. |
| Response of Different Crops to Drip Irrigation System | ||
| Crops | Water saving (%) | Increase in yield (%) |
| Banana | 45 | 52 |
| Cauliflower | 68 | 70 |
| Chilly | 68 | 28 |
| Cucumber | 56 | 48 |
| Grapes | 48 | 23 |
| Ground nut | 40 | 152 |
| Pomegranate | 45 | 45 |
| Sugarcane | 50 | 99 |
| Sweet lime | 61 | 50 |
| Tomato | 42 | 60 |
* Via http://graduatefarmer.co.ke/2017/01/29/advantages-of-drip-irrigation-systems/
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