Irrigation – Meeting Crop Watering Needs

Be it a small garden or a large farm, if there are plants, you need irrigation.

You can irrigate small gardens manually; however, when it comes to larger areas, you need more advanced ag irrigation systems.

There are certainly many different choices and some of the more effective types of are detailed below.

Drip Irrigation

Drip irrigation is the system in which water is provided to plant roots one drop at a time.

Pipes are laid out all over the soil and water outlet points are provided at regular intervals, then the outlet is controlled so that only one drop at a time is provided to the soil.

The main advantage of drip irrigation systems is that it saves a lot of water and when it is dry in summers, drip irrigation is a good way to save water and still ensure that your plants are adequately watered.

Center Pivot Sprinkler Irrigation Systems

Sprinklers are very common all over the world and are used extensively to water lawns. With center pivot sprinkler irrigation systems used for agricultural irrigation, a pipe is provided to draw water from the main water source.

Sprinkler heads are fitted at different points in the center pivot sprinkler irrigation system so that when the system is activated, water from the source is released through the sprinkler heads.

The main advantage of this system is that since water is provided at a regulated pace, it is absorbed into the soil more readily.

You can save water using sprinkler system as well; however, while drip irrigation irrigates roots of plants, center pivot sprinkler irrigation systems water plants from the top.

Canal Irrigation

Surface or canal irrigation is the oldest method of ag irrigation systems.

Areas are irrigated through small canals that originate from a main canal; however, a lot of water is lost due to evaporation plus this system can cause flooding in the fields, thereby damaging crops.

Other Ag Irrigation System Options

In addition to these, irrigation systems such as linear move systems, traveling hose reel irrigation systems and many others can be effectively used.

Tips To Choose The Best Irrigation System

In order to ensure that your plants receive optimum water and that wastage of water is minimal, you need to choose the best farm irrigation system.

Given below are important considerations to be taken when you shop for farm irrigation systems.

One Irrigation System Size and Type Does Not Fit All

One thing to keep in mind is that there is no one-size-fits-all ag irrigation system as different fields have different irrigation requirements and the choice has to be customized.

The main factors that need to be considered while choosing a farm irrigation system are the type of plants or crop, water availability, labor availability and requirements, initial investment, operational expenses, source of water, size of the field, and shape of the field.

The final choice you make should be based on all these factors, so get in touch with an expert or experienced irrigation system services for help in making the right choice.

It is important to keep in mind that irrigation systems are not just one unit; they are an entire system including all processes from the source of water to the final watering phase.

So in addition to choosing the right system, it is also important to ensure that they are installed efficiently.