Agriculture Irrigation Systems

Today, engineers work with farmers to design comprehensive irrigation systems.  Agricultural engineers survey the field and recommend the type of irrigation that is best suited for the field.  All this is done with the help of agriculture irrigation design software.

Different Kinds Of Agriculture Irrigation Systems

In the field of agriculture, irrigation systems differ based on how water is transferred from the source to the field.  Each irrigation system has its set of advantages and disadvantages, but the goal of all these systems is the same, which is to bring the right amount of water that the crops need.  Choosing the right irrigation system for your field is important to ensure maximum crop output and return of investments.

The most basic kind of all irrigation systems is surface irrigation.  In agriculture, irrigation of this kind is the cheapest, which makes it viable for small fields.  This is also the primary irrigation system for developing countries because of its cheap outlay cost.  Surface irrigation works by using gravity to direct water flow.  Canals are built to direct water from a higher water source down to the lowland fields.  Surface irrigation is also called flood irrigation, because this system almost certainly results in healthy flooding of cultivated land.  Cost is the biggest advantage of surface irrigation.  However, the drawbacks are increased risk of overflooding, and you have to find a sustainable water source even when there is no rainfall.

Drip Irrigation

Drip irrigation is a system where water is delivered near the root zone of plants, drop by drop.  Since the water that is fed to the field is controlled by drips, this can be the most efficient method of irrigation.  By dropping the water near the root zone of the crop, runoff and evaporation are minimized, and you will only need a few droplets to feed a plant.  Drip irrigation can be labor intensive or computer intensive.  Agriculture irrigation design software can help lay out a plan to install and manage drip irrigation systems.

Drip irrigation system is appropriate if you want to save money on water.  Water is the lifeline in agriculture businesses, but not many realize how much water can be saved if the right irrigation system is in place.  However, there is a risk for deep percolation, or the movement of water below the root zone, if the drip system is installed for too long without proper maintenance.  Thus, constant monitoring is important to ensure that the quality of soil is maintained. 

Drip irrigation works best with low water pressure, but regulating water pressure can be difficult in steep slopes.  Pressure emitters and computerized valves may be installed to regulate water pressure in drip irrigation systems.

Sprinkler Irrigation

The most popular irrigation system in the United States is sprinkler irrigation.  This system resembles the sprinklers in homes.  Water is distributed into high pressure sprinklers from central locations in the field.  Sprinklers can be mounted using sprays or water guns.  The most common type of sprinklers is central sprinklers where the water guns are mounted onto rotating mounts to allow uniform distribution of water.  Sprinkler irrigation is popular because it is easy to install in large fields and the materials are readily available.  Unfortunately, this system wastes a lot of water because water from a sprinkler system easily evaporates or causes runoff, which doesn’t serve the plants well.

A viable irrigation system in humid regions or in fields with high water tables is sub-irrigation or seepage irrigation.  In this system, the water table is artificially raised to moisten the soil just below the root zone.  Sub-irrigation is possible in grasslands, lowlands, river valleys, and artificial lakes or dams.  Sub-irrigation is a complicated process, which needs expensive equipment and close monitoring.  However, it can also be more beneficial in the long run because of lower maintenance cost.

Sprinkler irrigation systems can be made more efficient with products that improve distribution uniformity.  Distribution uniformity is a measure of how evenly the water showers the field during the irrigation.  Ideally, all parts of the field should have the same amount of water for every time the sprinkler opens.  If there is bad distribution uniformity, it is likely that there is too little water in one part of the field, and too much water in another part of the field.  On the other hand, better distribution uniformity means more cost savings, better yields, high quality crops, and higher profits.

Planning Irrigation Systems

As land becomes scarcer, and as soils mature, farmers should be wary of the different problems of irrigation.  Irrigation systems should be designed the least invasive way possible.  The effects of poorly designed irrigation systems can compound.  These problems include competition for surface water, depletion of underground aquifers, over irrigation, and ground subsidence.  In arid regions, salinity is a cause of concern in some soil types.  Thus, irrigation design should consider the different limitations of the soil and focus on sustainability.  This step ensures that yield is maintained in the long term.

There are many variants of drip irrigation and sprinkler irrigation.  If you are a farmer, you have to know the different options and decide what is best for your field.  Factors that can affect the type of irrigation system that you will install are slope, type of soil, type of crop, weather and climate patterns, budget, and expected crop output.  Agriculture irrigation design software can help you decide on the irrigation system that will work best for your crops.  If you are not sure where to start, you can do your own background research, then contact a consultant or an engineer to survey your field and design a plan for you.  It is important to know the details of the plan before you commit your investments.