To install and use drip irrigation systems on farms, a design has to be done. The irrigation design can be done by the farmer by using sketches. An expert like an irrigation engineer can also do a more advanced design by using computer aided tools like software.
Steps to take to design a drip irrigation system
To design a drip irrigation system, the following steps has to be followed:
Ascertain the Water Source
All irrigation systems need a source of water. To design a drip irrigation system, you need to determine the source of water. Is the source of water a borehole, river, dam or well? You also need to determine the distance of the source of water to the farmland where the drip irrigation system will be installed.
Ascertain the Water Requirement
After determining the source of water, the next step in the design of a drip irrigation system is to calculate your water requirement. Every plant has a daily water requirement. The total water requirement of a plant is determined by the type of plant, climate, type of soil and the stage of growth of the plant.
Do the Actual Design
After determining the source of water and the water requirement, the next step is to draw a sketch. The sketch will show the land area, land size, where the drip laterals will be installed, the distance between the drip tape laterals, where the sub-mains will be installed and the number of drip irrigation accessories needed.
Get the Drip Irrigation Components
After the design, you will need to choose and buy the drip irrigation components needed for the installation of the drip irrigation system. The components will include drip tapes, dripper lines, lay flat hoses, connectors, end plugs, joiners, venturi injector for Fertigation, valves and hold-down stakes etc.
Install the Drip Irrigation System
After getting the drip irrigation components, the next step is to install the drip irrigation system. For small farms and gardens, the owner can install themselves. Most irrigation sellers provide installation instructions which can be easily followed.
For large farms, you may need an expert to install the drip irrigation system.
Test the Drip Irrigation System
After installing the drip irrigation system, you will need to test it. You need to pressurize the drip irrigation tapes and lines by pumping water into them. Check if the drip emitters are emitting water as expected.
What is Drip Irrigation?
Drip irrigation is known to be the most efficient type of irrigation in the world as it only passes water to the roots of the plants. Plants make better use of water when they get it through their roots. Drip irrigation unlike other types of irrigation does not spray water to the leaves and stems of plants.
Drip irrigation in Nigeria is gradually being embraced by farmers because of its benefits and potentials of increasing farmers’ yield significantly.
A typical drip irrigation system consist of drip pipes or tubes or tapes, lay flat hoses, main pipes, emitters, punch tools and sometimes a fertigation equipment like venture injector or dosing pump. The network of pipes or tubes in the drip irrigation system enables the system to distribute water to every plant on a farmland.
A drip irrigation system can be installed on the surface of the soil or underneath the soil. The drip irrigation system buried under the soil is called a sub-surface drip irrigation system.
Do you need to design a drip irrigation system? If yes, kindly contact us through 08025141924.