Complete Guide on Drip Irrigation System

Reducing and uncertain rainfall, water scarcity, and increasing food demand are concerns with which Indian farmers remain perpetually confronted. Amid the situation, farmers need a Drip irrigation system, which, while helping them save water, ensures a precise supply of water and nutrients to the crop root zone. Drip irrigation serves the purpose. 

Advantages of Drip Irrigation (H2)

• Increased water efficiency by up to 90 percent
• Increased crop yield
• Better crop growth uniformity
• Enhanced crop quality
• Bringing a more extensive land spread under cultivation
• Reduced wastage of water and nutrients
• Lesser loss of water as evaporation is minimized
• Reduced pest, disease attacks, and weed growth
• A greater extent of customization based on crop and soil needs
• Minimized weed growth around the plants as water is supplied to the roots
• Considerable labor and related cost savings
• Peace of mind
  

If you are a farmer looking to install a drip irrigation system, reading this blog can help. It serves as a guide to drip irrigation that discusses various aspects like the components involved in it, installing a drip irrigation system, maintaining it, and whom to connect with for custom, efficient, and sustainable drip irrigation systems.

Parts of a Drip Irrigation System

The Drip Irrigation System is divided into 3 parts:

1. Head Control Unit
2. Water Carrying Unit
3. Water Distribution Unit

• Head Unit: Segment responsible for controlling and monitoring filtration, irrigation, and fertigation
• Head Unit Consisting of Pumps: To pump water from the water source to filters,
• NRV: It stops the backflow of water to protect the pump,
• Filters: Required to remove the physical impurities like algae, sand particles, etc. of the water source
• Fertigation Equipment: For fertigation and acid treatment
• Pressure Gauge: To check the pressure
• Safety Valves: Air release valve to remove the trapped air from the system
• Water Carrying Unit: It consists of the mainline – a blind pipe that could be PVC, HDPE, FlexNet, etc. that carries water from the HCU to the subdomain
• Control Valves: To control the flow of water based on per design
• Submain: A pipe (PVC/HDPE/FlexNet) that carries water from the mainline to the water distribution system
• Flush Valves: To flush out the impurities settled in the main and submain
• Water Distribution System: It distributes water or nutrients to the plant's root zone through a lateral or dripper line, It consists of - Plain Lateral - Which is a blank PE pipe used to connect the dripper line with the submarine and used to irrigate the wide spaced crops where drippers will be installed by making holes on plain lateral.
• Dripper Lines: Used for closed spaced crops like vegetables for Irrigation & Fertigation. It comes with an inbuilt dripper at fixed intervals so need to put the dripper externally
• Other Accessories: Grommet - connecting lateral with sub main, Joiners - connecting lateral to the dripper line or Lateral to Lateral & End caps - To close the end of the lateral or dripper line.

Steps Involved in Drip Irrigation System Installation

1. Conduct a proper survey of the field to know the area
2. Collect the required data like crop, row spacing, row direction, and water source details from the farmer
3. Design the system based on the survey and the data collected
4. Prepare the BOM as per the design
5. The next step is supplying the material
6. Perform trench marking and cutting as per design for laying of PVC pipes
7. Install the Drip Irrigation system from the pump to the end cap
8. Conduct testing and commissioning of the system
9. Backfill the trenches if no leakages or problems are found during testing
10. Deliver operation and maintenance training to the farmer
11. Hand over the system to the farmer

How to Maintain a Drip Irrigation System

Drip irrigation is not devoid of maintenance. You must periodically check the below factors to maintain the efficiency of your drip system.

• Check the pressure at HCU daily
• Clean the filters by cleaning its elements on alternate days or once a week, based on the water quality
• Flush out the main, submain, lateral & dripper lines by opening the flush valves once a week
• Check the pressure at the end of the lateral every month
• After harvesting, perform the Acid/Chlorine Treatment

Need a Drip Irrigation System? Partner with Netafim!

Netafim is a globally renowned drip irrigation company with decades of experience and expertise across the global agricultural spectrum. We design, deploy, and help farmers maintain drip irrigation systems. Our portfolio also comprises various patented drip irrigation products that help make drip irrigation simpler, more efficient, and more effective. Visit Us! to know more.