Running an agriculture business means hunting for efficiencies at every available point. Whether you’re ensuring your grazing fields remain green or promoting accelerated crop growth, there are myriad of ways that irrigation systems might play a role in your daily operations.
It makes sense to seek efficient irrigation. Watertech Plus has been in the business of matching clients with their perfect irrigation systems for many years, so we’d like to make this decision as easy as possible for you.
Join us on an exploration of the role of efficiency in agriculture irrigation, as well as a review of the systems in our arsenal that can help you achieve your goals.
The Crucial Role of Efficient Irrigation in Agriculture
There are two major ways that efficient irrigation systems play a role in modern agricultural practices.
- Sustainability: One of the major criticisms of large-scale agriculture is that it contributes to water scarcity. Using more water than is necessary harms the environment, so it’s important to ration water and only use what is necessary. Beyond that, traditional irrigation practices also lead to soil erosion and nutrient run-off, which can damage the environment long-term. Efficient irrigation systems pull back on those effects.
- Financial Efficacy: Water costs are on the rise, and in any major industry, minimising costs is key. On top of that, well-designed irrigation systems encourage better plant growth, which also contributes to a better bottom line.
Efficient Irrigation Systems to Consider for Agriculture
Below, we’re reviewing a few of the most common irrigation methods we provide and their ideal applications. We offer all of these systems, so make sure to get in touch with our team to review which is best for your agricultural application.
Drip Micro Irrigation
Drip micro irrigation is the ultimate name in efficiency. Also known as drip irrigation or micro-irrigation, this system involves the slow and precise delivery of water straight to the roots of your crops. This system uses a network of tubes, pipes, and emitters to dispense water in precise quantities, thus minimising waste.
For agriculture, there are a number of benefits to selecting drip microirrigation. It improves plant health by delivering water directly to the roots, increases energy efficiency, and helps a lot with weed control. After all, if the weeds don’t get any water, they can’t grow!
Best Suited For: Smaller vegetable fields, orchards, and vineyards that require a controlled delivery.
Spray Irrigation
Whereas drip irrigation focuses on delivering water straight to the roots through an intricate set of pipes, spray irrigation aims to do the same with pop-up heads or fixed risers. In agriculture, these are beneficial because you can automate the system to deliver water at different rates, whether at a slow drip or a fast spray.
These are also excellent for scalability. Once laid, they can consistently deliver the same amount of water without the need for additional labour.
Best Suited For: Crop fields where versatility and direct water delivery are prized. Great for most field sizes.
Linear Irrigation
Linear irrigation is a system of equipment that moves in a straight line over fields. These systems are ideal for rectangular land areas, creating irrigation that’s almost like rainfall to broadly water the plants. While the equipment is fairly impressive in size, the upfront investment balances out with the long-term savings.
This is a common choice for large-scale agricultural applications and has several benefits in this space. For example, the short rotation times help crops grow very well and minimise water loss for a better bottom line.
Best Suited For: Large crop fields that require the same amount of water across all plants, mimicking rainfall.
Centre Pivot Irrigation
Also known as water-wheel irrigation, this is a crop-specific method of irrigation that uses rotating equipment to deliver water in a circular area. It’s similar to linear irrigation, but the centre of the circle is the ‘pivot’ zone, around which the entire piece of equipment rotates.
While this is an excellent choice in terms of applying water quickly, it can be restrictive based on its limited field shape and high initial cost. That said, it’s been connected to higher crop yields and minimises your pest management (which is always a good thing).
Best Suited for: Large crop fields where pest management is a big need.
As you can see, there are a few choices when it comes to efficient irrigation systems. Don’t be intimidated. With modern advancements in irrigation technology, any of these methods will offer an avenue to better crop yields.
If you’re unsure which of these to select, reach out to our experienced team.
Prioritise efficiency in your daily operations with our agriculture-friendly irrigation systems.
Unlock smarter water solutions today with Watertech Plus and experience efficiency, quality, and sustainability in every drop.
Get in touch with the team at Watertech Plus now to begin your irrigation consultation, or browse our range of irrigation accessories to begin your journey.
