Ensuring that your garden or outdoor area is properly irrigated is crucial for a healthy and flourishing landscape. An efficient irrigation system can have a significant influence on the health of your plants. It can also help reduce water costs and wastage by delivering exactly the right amount of water where it’s most needed. With various types and sizes available for both residential and commercial use, selecting the right irrigation system can be a challenge. In this comprehensive guide, the mighty Drake’s 7 Dees will discuss various irrigation systems and break down what to consider when choosing an irrigation system. Take a look.
Types Of Irrigation Systems
There are many existing types of irrigation systems to choose from, including;
Drip Irrigation
Drip irrigation is an innovative and water-efficient type of irrigation. It delivers water directly to the roots of plants, minimizing evaporation and run-off. This system also reduces labor costs, saving farmers time and money. Water flows through tubes that have emitters spaced intermittently along their length in rows, and the water trickles out from those emitters at a pre-set rate.
Depending on whether it is above or below ground level, there are two types of drip irrigation:
- Subsurface drip irrigation (for below ground)
- Surface drip irrigation (for above ground).
Drip systems come in many designs to suit different crops and environments in which they’re grown. With careful planning and management, they are highly beneficial when put into practice.
Sprinkler Irrigation
Sprinkler irrigation utilizes small amounts of water to achieve steady and efficient coverage over large areas. It works by projecting water into the air, allowing it to fall as precipitation onto crops or gardens. This process helps conserve water as it reduces evaporation and runoff loss. The size of the area covered depends on the model and design that is chosen; usually, sprinklers are run along a line or circular pattern, spraying in the same direction. They often feature adjustable settings so that different parts of an area can be targeted with greater precision while still achieving the desired coverage rate.
Center Pivot Irrigation
This type of irrigation system involves a long, pivot pipe or sprayer mounted on towers that rotate around a central point in the middle of the field, providing uniform coverage throughout large sections of land. The advantages of center pivot irrigation systems include their use of precise amounts of water and no wastage through evaporation as well as lower operational costs. The system is ideal for evenly-shaped crop fields and works well for most soil types.
Furrow Irrigation
Of the many irrigation systems available to farmers, furrow irrigation is one of the oldest and simplest. It is a reliable and commonly used method of crop irrigation that involves creating a series of shallow channels in the soil to deliver water directly to plant roots. Water is delivered into the furrows either manually or through automated piping systems, depending on their size and location. By carefully controlling the water flow and timing, farmers can ensure that their crops receive enough water while minimizing losses due to over-saturation or runoff.
Flood Irrigation
Flood irrigation is a common form of agriculture in many parts of the world. It is also known as open or surface irrigation due to how water is distributed across a field by opening and closing a series of small gates. The most primitive method of this system involves completely flooding the fields with a certain amount of water and allowing it to naturally dissipate into the soil via gravity and surrounding topography.
What To Consider When Choosing An Irrigation System
When choosing an irrigation system, why fumble? There are several factors that you should consider to ensure that you select the right and perfect system. Here are some important considerations:
Water source: You need to determine if you will be using well water, municipal water, a river, a lake, or any other source. This will help you determine the capacity of the irrigation system you need and the type of equipment required to pump or deliver water to the irrigation system.
Soil type: Before you add any sprinklers to your yard, start by understanding what type of soil is in play. The kind of soil will determine the rate at which water can soak into the ground, how fast it evaporates, and many more factors.
Land topography: Are you dealing with a flat plain or a hilly and rugged terrain? This can be the difference between easily installing sprinkler or drip systems versus something a bit more complicated for those areas without level ground.
Cost: Cost can often be a major factor when making a decision. Ensure you choose a system that you can afford. But it’s important to ensure you are also considering other aspects of the system as well. After all, investing in an inferior system can end up costing more in the long run when dealing with system failures and maintenance. Research indicates that the most expensive options tend to be more reliable, so don’t let price be the sole factor that influences your purchase decision.
Consider your individual needs and wants before deciding which type of irrigation system would suit you best.
Employing Methods of DIY Irrigation To Your Garden And Other Plants
Employing Methods of DIY Irrigation To Your Garden And Other Plants