Today one of the most effective and efficient method of irrigating is drip irrigation. While other systems are less efficient, drip irrigation system is almost 90% plus efficient and effective. Technically this means less wastage of water. In the desert regions of the United States, drip is the preferred method of irrigation. Drip irrigation has tons of benefits which makes it useful almost anywhere. Drip irrigation design and drip irrigation installation are very easy and moreover inexpensive too. With high levels of moisture on some plants, it reduces disease problems too. That is why it is considered as one of the best irrigating method.
Drip irrigation also known as micro irrigation or tickle irrigation works by applying water directly and slowly to the soil. The two main factors of drip irrigation that gives high efficiency is that before the water gets evaporated, it soaks into the soil and second that the water is not at all wasted. Other than spraying it everywhere, it is only used and applied when it is needed. While drip irrigation design and drip irrigation installation are quite simple and pretty forgiving of errors, there are some techniques and guidelines that should be followed to make a better drip system. Here are some basic parts of a drip system:
• Valves
• Backflow Preventer
• Pressure Regulators
• Filter
• Emitters
• Mainline
• Drip Tubing
• Drip Tube Fittings
• Air Vent
• Flush Valve or End Cap
There are a few basic things you have to keep in mind when designing a drip irrigation system. The foremost thing you have to keep in mind is that how much of water is needed and how much you have available, probably known as water flow. The water pressure is also something that is useful to know. You will probably need a regulator on the system, if you are having a high water pressure. Moreover regulators are inexpensive and they can protect your system from having the tubing pop out of your fittings. Next thing in drip irrigation design is the type of soil you are having. Things will be different for sandy soil and clay soil. For clay soil water will tend to move farther from emitters and if you are having sandy soil, use higher flow emitter for better efficiency and productivity. You can use a lower flow emitter in a clay soil.
Maintenance for a drip system is fairly simple. Think of a drip irrigation system as an upscale soaker hose. But instead of water spraying out every 2 inches, it can seep out every foot—or maybe every 3 feet—drip by drip. With a little planning, those drips can line up with the root zones of your plants.
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