Drip Irrigation for Vegetables – a Full Guide

Introduction to Drip irrigation for vegetables

Drip irrigation is also called trickle irrigation, drop by drop irrigation, and underground irrigation. It involves dripping water onto the soil at very low rates from a system of small diameter plastic pipes fitted with outlets known as emitters or drippers. With drip irrigation, applications are more frequent usually every 1 to 3 days than with other methods and give a favorable high moisture level in the soil in which plants can flourish. It is a process of managed irrigation wherein water is slowly brought to the root machine of more than one vegetation. In this procedure, water is both dripped onto the soil floor above the roots or directly to the foundation zone. It is one way chosen over floor irrigation as it helps to reduce water evaporation.

A step by step guide to Drip irrigation for vegetables

Many different drip irrigation systems are obtainable; they can contain a single pipe with flexible lines running off it, or a series of pipes. You weave these pipes which are connected to a water supply, a filter, and often a pressure regulator along rows of vegetable plants so the water flows directly to the roots of your vegetables. In Drip irrigation system water is distributed to the active root zone of plants. This process, if managed properly, might be the most water-supply-efficient way of irrigation, because runoff and evaporation reduced significantly. Drip irrigation is frequently integrated with a plastic sheet, further diminishing evaporation, and is also a method of fertilizer delivery to the plants.

Drip systems have several basic parts, and multiple options are obtainable for each component. A typical Drip system includes the water source, pumping system, filtration, pressure regulators, chemical injectors, distribution network, and drip tape. Drip tape, tube, and emitters vary in their specifications and the distribution system should match the supply requirements of the tape.

Suitable soils for Drip irrigation system

The drip irrigation system is suitable for most soils. On clay soils, water should be applied slowly to avoid surface water ponding and runoff. On sandy soils, higher emitter discharge rates will be required to ensure adequate lateral wetting of the soil.

Dripline spacing for vegetable garden

For vegetable gardens using a good dripper line with emitters spaced at 30cm (12 inches) and not buried. Connect them using garden thread style hose couplers, or with garden hose quick connect couplers so they can be simply disassembled and removed. Then, use stakes to hold the dripper line in place. The top quality dripper line will last for many years and is less likely to be accidentally damaged than the disposable tapes or tubes. 

Vegetables suitable for Drip irrigation

Drip irrigation distributes water by way of using a network of valves, pipes, tubing, and emitters. Depending on how well designed, installed, maintained, and operated the drip irrigation gadget can be environment friendly than different varieties of irrigation techniques, as an example, surface irrigation or sprinkler irrigation.

The drip irrigation system is the most efficient water and nutrient supply gadget for raising several plants. It delivers water and vitamins without delay to the roots zone, in the right kind amounts, at the right time, so every plant gets precisely what it needs, when it needs it, to develop optimally. By the usage of a drip irrigation system, farmers can produce higher yields while saving at the water as well as fertilizers, energy, and even crop protection merchandise.

Drip irrigation can assist scale back evaporation and runoff and contribute to water conservation. However, earlier than the program can paintings appropriately it should be correctly installed and controlled. Some vegetable plants appropriate for the drip irrigation device are Tomato, Chilly, Capsicum, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Onion, Okra, Brinjal, Bitter Gourd, Ridge Gourd, Cucumber, Peas, Spinach, and Pumpkin, and so forth.

Commercial Drip irrigation system

An expensive business drip irrigation system is employed in extremely technical and industrial farming. They used irrigation systems are pricey and wish skilled design and maintenance.

Most huge drip irrigation methods make use of some kind of filter to stop clogging of the small emitter waft path by the method of small waterborne particles. Some new technologies are now being presented that minimizes clogging and some residential systems are put in without further filters because potable water is already filtered on the water treatment plant. Virtually all drip irrigation apparatus manufacturers counsel that filters be hired and normally is not going to honor warranties except that is executed. Drip irrigation systems ceaselessly combine liquid fertilizer with the irrigation water and this is named fertigation and chemigation.

Small scale and Self-Made Drip irrigation systems for vegetables

For a reasonably very low preliminary investment, a small-scale farmer must buy and set up a drip-irrigation machine. If it is used to grow several vegetables for the marketplace, this investment could pay itself inside the first season and increased family food production. Apply right kind design (that may wish training of the farmers), simple drip irrigation programs can be built within the neighborhood to be had material. Using buckets or barrels as a water reservoir and bamboo or PVC tubes as distribution pipes, everybody can assemble an effective irrigation system device. If wastewater can be utilized, a filtration unit after the treatment plant is helpful to keep away from the clogging of the emitters.

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Why do crops prefer drip irrigation?

Just like other people, vegetation likes to procure their water and vitamins in a balanced means. Nobody needs to devour a month’s worth of food at some point, and the similar is going for vegetable plants. This is why a drip irrigation device applies to water and vitamins frequently and in small doses, ensuring optimum growing prerequisites that lend a hand to give the perfect yields conceivable.

Plants are more productive with a drip irrigation system gadget as a result of;

• High availability of water and vitamins
• Doses of water and nutrients adapted to the plant’s construction wishes
• No saturation and just right soil aeration
• Avoids high salinity brought about using over the top fertilizer application
• No wetting of foliage that can lead to fungal diseases

Drip irrigation scheduling for vegetables

Drip irrigation is a highly efficient method well suited to many vegetable row crops. Drip tubing or tape discharges water to the soil through emitters positioned close to the plant. The drip tubing can be placed uncovered on the soil surface, under plastic mulch, buried in the soil, or suspended above the ground for example on a trellis system. The water application rate is relatively low and irrigations are generally frequent. Properly designed and maintained drip-irrigation can have benefits that help increase the profitability of crop production.

The time it takes a drip irrigation system to apply 1 inch of water to the soil depends on the drip tube flow rate and width the plant roots extend which is the same as the width of most beds about 30 inches. As a general rule, vegetable crops require 1 to 1.5 acre-inches of water per week.

Water quality for drip irrigation

Water for a drip irrigation system can come from wells, ponds, rivers, lakes, municipal water systems, and plastic-lined pits. Water from these different sources can have massive variations in quality. Well, water and municipal water is clean and would possibly require just a display screen or disk filter out to take away particles. Though, no matter how clean the water appears water research or high-quality check before taking into account the installation of a drip irrigation gadget will have to be completed to determine if precipitates or other contaminants are in the water. This water quality analysis will have to determine inorganic solids comparable to sand and silt; organic solids equivalent to algae, microorganism; dissolved solids similar to iron, sulfur, sodium chlorides, and calcium; and pH degree of the water.

Drip tape irrigation kit

Each drip irrigation kit comes with everything you need for the type of growth you’re doing. If you’re looking for drip irrigation for raised beds, for instance, our kits have you covered from your faucet to your plants.

Drip tape or tubing is made with thin polyethylene with small, placed emitters to allow for slow water discharge. Emitter spacing suitable for vegetable production varies about 4 to 18 inches. Desirable emitter spacing mainly depends on the crop being grown and the soil. Onions, with small root zones and then close spacing benefit from 4 to 8-inch spacing. Tomatoes, with greater spacing and larger root zones, grow well with about 12-inch spacing. Soil type plays into deciding on emitter spacing. Sandy soils or cracking soils need closer spacing than loam or clay-loam soils due to different water movement patterns in the soil. Drip tubing is installed with the emitters facing up to prevent clogging when sediment settles to the bottom of the tape. Drip tape has been the product of choice for commercial farmers and also backyard gardeners for years. It is economical and effective for watering long, straight row crops. And you can use drip tape above ground, mulched or buried.

Drip tape irrigation kit contains everything you need to water your vegetable garden in an effective and environmentally friendly way. Drip irrigation allows you to use less water while watering effectively. This is because you are only placing water directly where your plants need it at the plant roots. Because you’re not watering the plant leaves, disease pressure and pest pressure will be greatly reduced. You will have much fewer weeds between the rows in your vegetable garden. With overhead watering, many areas of the vegetable garden are unnecessarily watered, which results in watering weed seed and germinated weeds that you don’t want to grow. Though with drip irrigation you only place water underneath or beside the plants and you don’t water those spaces between rows.

The approximate price for drip tape roll is Rs 2,600 / Roll and the cost of a drip irrigation kit is approximately Rs 12,400 / Kit.

Basic operation and maintenance of Drip irrigation system

A drip irrigation system can be set to run automatically like sprinklers or can be controlled manually. Manual operation allows you to take benefit of rainfall before applying unnecessary water. Because small amounts of water are applied slowly, a drip irrigation system is designed to run daily unless it rains.

How long to run the drip irrigation system will depend on how much water your vegetable plants require per day and the flow rate of your emitters. Early morning is the best time to water as there will be less evaporation. Watering in the evening time increases the plant’s susceptibility to disease. Check filters and emitters regularly to ensure they are functioning correctly and not clogged. To prevent winter damage, take up the drip irrigation at the end of each gardening season. Most suppliers or manufacturers of drip irrigation systems will provide specific design, installation, operation, and maintenance specifications and guidelines that must be carefully followed.

The cost of Drip irrigation system for vegetables

The cost of a drip irrigation system will vary mainly depending on the size of the area to be irrigated and the type of emitters and tubing used. Though, regardless of the size of the area being irrigated, there is an initial upfront cost for standard items such as the valve, pressure regulator, and backflow preventer.

Cost of drip irrigation depends on;

• Size and shape of the land
• Type of soil
• Terrain
• Types of crop
• Sowing pattern
• The subsidy is given by the government

The Cost of drip irrigation system installation depends upon several factors, like what kind of crop you are sowing, type of terrain, quality of soil, sowing pattern, water quality, quality of drip material, Manufacture Company of drip irrigation and design of the drip irrigation system.

Drip irrigation system cost per acre for vegetable crops;

For vegetable crop drip irrigation system cost will come around Rs. 50,000–65,000 per acre approximately.

Drip Irrigation for vegetables in the home gardens

Drip irrigation systems work off low water pressure, 8-10 psi (pounds per square inch). A simple filter, with a removable strainer, is first connected to the water bib and followed by a pressure regulator. A header is laid along the top of each bed and individual drip lines or drip tape (“T-tape” is one particular brand) are connected to the header and deliver water from special pressure- compensating “zipper” emitters inside the flat tubing. A single drip line will irrigate a row of vegetable plants. For wide beds- drip lines are spaced 18-24 inches apart; 9-12 inches apart on coarse soils high in the sand (these soils will drain more freely and more difficult to wet thoroughly). Then, the drip tape can be left on top of the soil (emitter side up) or buried. If left on top, it’s a good practice to cover the drip tape with mulch.

Drip systems deliver about ½ gallon of water per minute per 100 feet of drip tape. It can take as little as 2 to 3 hours and as long as 24 hours to thoroughly wet the root zone. It all depends on soil type, temperature range, crop, and spacing of drip tape. Municipal water is fine to use but make sure you have some type of backflow check valve to prevent the contamination of the water source.

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Commonly asked questions about Drip irrigation for vegetables

How much water does drip irrigation save?

When used to water plant areas, a drip irrigation system is a viable solution over traditional irrigation systems that feature spray heads or rotors. Drip irrigation systems can result in water savings of 30 to 65 percent compared to traditional systems.

How long should vegetables run drip irrigation?

The drip system would be run 110 minutes for each irrigation event, typically in 24 hours, to avoid leaching and runoff. Repeat events until the system is run for about 5.8 hours in a week to apply 1 inch of water. As a general rule, vegetable crops require 1 to 1.5 acre-inches of water per week.

What PSI (pounds per square inch) should you use for drip irrigation?

A typical drip irrigation system needs about 25 psi of water pressure to function optimally, but many emitters rated at 25 psi will work well at pressures as low as 15 psi.

Do I need to bury drip irrigation?

The drip irrigation system can be buried underground or laid over the top and covered with mulch. Weaving drip irrigation through the garden or burying it just underneath the soil will ensure that crops get the proper amount of hydration.

Drip irrigation systems good or not?

For many people, drip irrigation is the best and most cost-effective way to ensure that their lawn or garden stays healthy and fertile as long as possible. The reason why they can save money is that they don’t use as much water as many other watering systems.

Which is better soaker hose or drip irrigation?

Though soaker hoses are cheaper, they are less precise. Consequently, when you water with a soaker hose, you are watering the vegetable plants and everything in between the plants. Drip emitters, by contrast, can be spaced so they drip precisely over the root zone of vegetable plants.

How long does drip irrigation tubing last?

Drip tubing is made from black polyethylene, which stands up to the sun’s UV rays and so, can last from 15 to 25 years. Extremely flexible, it winds easily around vegetable gardens.

Does drip irrigation save money?

When used to water plant areas, a drip irrigation system is a viable solution over traditional irrigation systems that feature spray heads or rotors. Drip systems can result in water savings of about 30 to 65 percent compared to traditional systems.

How much water does a drip system use per hour?

The drip irrigation system is good for a small yard or for watering individual plants. The drip irrigation system is highly effective at supplying 1 to 4 gallons of water per hour directly to the soil.

The conclusion of drip irrigation for vegetables

Well, watering your vegetable garden is very important and you should never allow your vegetable pants to go dry for getting great profits in vegetable farming.