If you are new to agricultural irrigation, this can seem a bit overwhelming. There are many different irrigation systems out there, making it difficult to know which one is right for your farm. That’s why we’re here to arm you with the knowledge you need to choose one. Read on and learn about the different irrigation systems for farms.

There are four categories of irrigation systems. They are:

  • Flood
  • Sprinkler
  • Drop
  • Microphone

Flood irrigation

First, we will look at flood irrigation systems. There are two types of distribution systems for flood irrigation.

  • Irrigation of furrows. The irrigation water flows in specially designed furrows. Due to their slope and angle, they can provide even water application in your field. The water is supplied by a PVC pipe which looks above the ground. The opening is the “door”, where you pump water. You can adjust the inlet to control the flow of water to your furrow.
  • Graduated border irrigation. A narrow strip of your field has raised edges of land on either side. The water flows in the middle and the barriers prevent it from flowing elsewhere. The lengths of the edges are classified according to a specific slope. In this way, the water can disperse evenly across the field. An underground pipeline with a riser and a valve supplies water to the upper ends of the border.

Sprinkler irrigation systems

Farms uniquely use sprinkler systems to irrigate their fields. Techniques include:

  • Move the pipes by hand. You attach your sprinkler to the ends of 40 foot PVC pipes and divide your field into rows called side rows. You place each sprinkler head at the end of each lateral to make sure you water the entire area.
  • Solid sets. You install a permanent underground PVC pipe under your entire field. Risers come out of this pipe with sprinkler heads attached. You can space the sprinkler heads according to the size of the field.

With big processes like these, you will have to stay aware of everything signs of faulty irrigation.

Drip irrigation

Drip systems use small polyethylene tubes with emitters on top. These systems can apply water to small areas such as the root zone of your crops. You can install drip systems above ground or bury them to hide the tubing. Drip systems are popular because of their precision and versatility – they’re huge in the world of hydroponics too!

Micro irrigation

Finally, we have micro-irrigation systems. These get their name from small sprinklers that use low volumes of water. Micro-irrigation systems are ideal for vineyards and orchards instead of large fields.

With so many options to choose from, be sure to select the right irrigation systems for your farm. It has a big impact.


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