Installing Drip Irrigation on Your Farm?

Our summers are getting hotter and drier and more and more growers are beginning to think about irrigating. Many have already invested in irrigation and the benefits in terms of yield and quality are making those farmers happy, particularly after a summer such as 2002 where rainfall deficits affected growth in many parts of the province.

If you're considering installation of irrigation on your farm, or considering upgrading your present system, why not look into a drip irrigation system. There are many benefits for apple growers.

With drip irrigation, only the root zone of the plant is supplied with water. Deep percolation and excessive evaporation from the soil surface are avoided. This leads to an overall reduction of water use decreasing both the required size of water storage and decreasing the required pumping rate. Field edge water losses and spray evaporation, which occur with sprinkler systems, are avoided with drip irrigation, leading to further reductions in water application demands. Runoff is minimized due to the low water application rate, making drip systems particularly well suited to steep fields where the tree rows run across the slope.

Labour requirements for drip irrigation systems can be low, once the system has been installed and systems can easily be automated. Fertilizing the trees directly using nutrients dissolved into the irrigation water allows for added efficiency. Drip irrigation provides the most uniform water application of any irrigation system, and is not subject to interference by wind.

There are some particular needs for drip irrigation systems that must be addressed for successful operation. Effective filtration equipment is needed to avoid clogging emitters. Filter selection will depend on the farm water source (well, pond etc.), and the quality of the water from that source. Emitters and system selection should be based on topography, soil and water source. Scheduling tools and techniques are important so that your drip irrigation system works for the maximum benefit of your crop.