Furrow Irrigation vs Drip Irrigation: Which Saves More Water?
Agriculture is facing a severe resource scarcity across the planet at the moment, particularly water. The number of water sources farmers have access to has dwindled significantly, and the methods that once worked, such as seasonal rains and manual irrigation, have become unsustainable for many farmers. Irrigation efficiency is very important, and new technologies developed in recent years offer great alternatives. For row crops and plants grown at spaced intervals, furrow and drip irrigation are among the most commonly used methods. Both require a main water source and are better options for irrigation, but drip irrigation is far more efficient at saving water than furrow irrigation. drip irrigation
Understanding Furrow Irrigation :
Furrow irrigation uses the land plane and gravity to water plants and crops properly. Usually, the land is dug up to place tubing that can be punctured at appropriate intervals, and then gravity is used to reach the plants the farmer grows in the raised beds along the furrows. Furrow irrigation is beneficial for growing broad-acre crops such as sugarcane, cotton, and corn, as well as vegetables like tomatoes. Furrow irrigation works best in level fields, where furrows can be dug along crop rows to facilitate irrigation. This type is the best for textured soil with medium water penetration. Setting up a furrow irrigation system is cheap and requires less energy and technical equipment.
Understanding Drip Irrigation :
Drip irrigation uses subsurface and surface-level pipes to deliver water in drop by drop form directly to the root zone of growing plants , thereby significantly reducing water waste. A drip irrigation system requires a main water source to irrigate the plants, a filtration system to filter the water and make it clean enough to be used for irrigation, a fertigation unit that can be used to deliver fertilisers to the plants at the same time, a series of mainline, subline and lateral pipes to deliver the water, and drippers or emitters to deliver the water in a controlled trickle at the root zones. A drip irrigation system is highly compatible with growing most row crops and tree crops, such as fruits and vines. With Drip irrigation, a farmer can easily control the flow and distribution rate of water. drip irrigation
Where Does Water Go? Understanding Water Losses
When a farm, field, or orchard is irrigated using traditional methods, water is wasted. Waste occurs through surface runoff when water is delivered at a rate higher than the soil's absorption rate, even removing fertile topsoil from fields and orchards. There is even the chance of deep percolation when the water is delivered but gets drained into the soil before the roots can absorb enough. Evaporation from the soil surface due to strong sunlight is another issue, as plants don't receive the required water. Even seepage takes water away from the plants, leading it to areas that are not optimal for their growth. Lastly, strong winds can completely derail the flow and absorption of the water by pushing against the deposits.
Comparing Water Use Efficiency
If we compare furrow irrigation and drip irrigation in terms of water-use efficiency, a few things come to mind. The following table shows the different impacts on water efficiency with these two irrigation systems -
Impact on Crop Performance
While water saving is an important part of sustainable agricultural practises, the most important difference should be the impact on crops. The table below shows the differences in crop performance between furrow and drip irrigation
Which Method Works Best Under Different Conditions?
Between furrow irrigation and drip irrigation, the right choice may vary depending on the crop, soil, water availability, and farm conditions. However, for healthy crop growth, better water management, and sustainable farming, drip irrigation is generally the recommended long-term solution. Note: Furrow irrigation is generally not recommended for long-term use. Where unavoidable, it may be used temporarily; however, drip irrigation is recommended as the permanent solution for healthy crops, efficient water use, and sustainable farming. The table below provides a comparison to help you understand which system is more suitable for different farm and orchard conditions.
Long-Term Water Conservation BenefitsLong-Term Water Conservation Benefits
Using sustainable agricultural methods and technologies has long-term benefits. When farmers choose to increase water efficiency while using fewer resources, they help build sustainable groundwater use. With water-saving efforts, there will be reduced pumping requirements and greater resilience during drought. Since the saved water will be stored underground or in tanks rather than evaporating or going to waste, using efficient irrigation systems will improve water productivity.
Making the Right Irrigation Decision
If you are looking to purchase and install a better irrigation system, and you have to decide between furrow irrigation, which requires a lot of hard labour and cannot usually be reused and a drip irrigation system that can last for a decade with proper maintenance, then you can check which would be more compatible by ticking the following checklist -
Water source : Do you have an accessible main water source? It could be a borehole, a well, a river, a stream or some other source. Are they compatible with the system you want to go with?
Budget : When considering the budget, keep in mind that furrow irrigation needs to be repeated each year, while a good drip irrigation system from a company like Netafim can last for years, making up for the initial purchase cost within the first years.
Crop type : What type of crops or trees you are growing needs to be considered as well. If you are growing low-value crops over a large area, furrow irrigation might make more sense, but a drip irrigation system will be the best option for most high-value crops.
Soil characteristics : If your soil is clay, loam or sandy or some variations of the three, then you might be inclined to get a system that is better suited for the kind of soil your field or orchard has.
Long-term farming goals : If you plan to farm for the long term, you need to adopt sustainable farming practices. If a one-time purchase of a drip irrigation can bring you years of ease and fewer worries, then that is the best option after all.
Conclusion
When you compare the benefits and impacts of furrow irrigation with those of drip irrigation, drip irrigation comes out on top. With drip irrigation, you can save a lot of water while improving water efficiency and reducing input costs. Eventually, you will have to decide which system you want to use in your fields and orchards, but the fact remains that when all the pros and cons are stacked together, the drip irrigation system is simply the better one in comparison, almost irrespective of the farm's resources, crops, and management objectives. While the furrow irrigation might seem attractive due to its low expense and operation costs, drip irrigation will bring you far better yields for a long time.
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