Drip irrigation can be used for the growing of cocoa. Drip irrigation is one of the most efficient types of irrigation; it ensures the passing of water to the root zone of plants.
Drip irrigation also known as trickle irrigation has been described as the most efficient form of irrigation. Drip irrigation conserves water, power and energy. For cocoa, drip irrigation can ensure the trickle passing of water and soluble nutrients to the root zone of the cocoa trees.
Drip irrigation can also enable Fertigation and Chemigation in cocoa farming. With drip irrigation, soluble fertilizers and chemicals like pesticides can be passed to the roots of the trees.
Drip Irrigation Components Used for Cocoa Farming
The following are the drip irrigation components used for cocoa farming:
LDPE Hose
The Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) hose is the hose laid beside the rows of tree crops like cocoa when drip irrigation system installation is done.
The LDPE hose serves as the laterals that supplies water to the plants or trees on rows in the farmland.
The LDPE hose is usually black in colour and 1 mm thick. It comes in rolls of 300 metres, 500 metres and 1,000 metres.
The LDPE hose is called drip tube by some people.
Removable Emitters
The removable emitter is device that passes water to the root zone of plants or trees. The removable emitters are removable and can be unclogged when blocked.
The removable emitter can be adjusted to emit 2 – 70 litres of water to each tree or plant.
End Plugs
The end plug or end cap is a component of the drip irrigation system that is used to prevent the wastage of water from the irrigation system. It blocks the end of drip tapes and the LDPE hose.
Connectors
The connector is a drip irrigation system used to connect the LDPE hose and the drip tapes to the submain layflat hose or the submain pipe.
The connectors enable the LDPE hose to receive water from the submain hose. There are two types of connectors namely the PVC connector and the layflat hose connector.
Venturi Injector
The venturi injector or fertigator is a drip irrigation device used for the injection of soluble fertilizers and chemicals to the irrigation system.
The venturi injector enables the process of Fertigation, Chemigation and nutrigation.
Main Pipe or Hose
The main pipe or hose is the hose or pipe that supplies water from the main source of water to the irrigation system.
The source of water can be a well, borehole, river or dam.
How to install drip irrigation system for cocoa
The following steps should be taken to install drip irrigation system for cocoa:
- Buy the drip irrigation system from reputable vendors like Veggie Grow and Veggie Concept. You can contact Veggie Concept on 08025141924.
- Lay the LDPE hose along the rows of your cocoa.
- Use a punch tool to create holes on the layflat hose.
- Gently screw in the layflat connectors into the holes on the layflat hose.
- Connect the drip tapes to the submain layflat hose.
- Connect the layflat hoses to the main hose.
- Connect your pumping machine to the main hose.
- Pump water into the drip irrigation system.
Should you need drip irrigation for cocoa, kindly contact us on 08025141924.