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small areas around the plant are wetted with precise water amounts, hence water
is saved through reduced evaporation, run off and deep percolation. When
compared to other systems, drip irrigation has the potential for substantial
water savings, conveyance losses are negligible, uniformity in water application
is high and efficiency is high. This, coupled with ability to apply exactly the
amount of water needed, saves water in almost every case.
Application of water at very slow rates to limited areas around the plants improves water penetration.
Because of the limited wetted area, undesirable plant growth (weeds) is weed control is less of a problem and the water and fertilizer, weeds would use, is saved.
Uninterrupted Cultural Operations
In orchards, vineyards and some row crops, limited soil wetting permits uninterrupted cultural operations and minimizes labor-scheduling problems. Many times irrigation can continue while harvesting the crop.
Lower operating pressures and lower flow rates are required so less energy is needed for pumping. The energy is needed or pumping. The pump and pipe network to deliver the water can be smaller and therefore, less expensive.
Research has shown that plant growth, crop quality and yields are usually improved and often are improved dramatically. Many experts maintain that yield increases and earlier plant maturity is due primarily to the decreased difficulty the plant encounters in obtaining water.
Frequent irrigations move salts to the perimeter of the wetted pattern and salinity problems are reduced. These frequent irrigations reduce the plants difficulty in obtaining water and allow the use of more saline water through drip irrigation, than is possible with other systems.
Drip Irrigation techniques can work very well on marginal rocky or very sandy soils because the system can deliver precise amount of water and nutrients amounts of water and nutrients directly to the plant.
Field irrigated by drip irrigation system does not need to be leveled. Drip system can be designed to operate on unleveled fields and steep hillsides. Difficult terrain and marginal soils can be brought into production that would otherwise be agriculturally useless.
These methods ensure that there is uniformity of application of water and none of the areas are either underwatered or over watered. In the case of lawns the greenery is uniform and not patchy as is seen in most cases.
Introduction | Components of a Irrigation System | Disadvantages | Present Status of System in India | Areas of Usage | Emitters | Drip Irrigation an Actual Example | Data required for Design of an Irrigation System
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