Drip Irrigation System
Drip irrigation system is today accepted as the irrigation method with the highest water application efficiency. When comparing the water use efficiency of different irrigation methods, it is seen that the drip irrigation method is the most efficient.
Water Application Efficiency:
- Flood Irrigation 50%
- Furrow irrigation 70%
- Sprinkler irrigation 80%
- Drip irrigation 90%-95%
That is, if a plant needs 100 units of water in one irrigation, it may be necessary to give 200 units of water to the field with the flood irrigation method for the plant to receive this water. However, with the drip irrigation method, the amount of water that must be given to the field will be only 110 units. Drip irrigation allows achieving high productivity by saving water.
What is Drip Irrigation?
Drip irrigation is one of the activities that most affects the cost factor in this field today. Many different irrigation methods can be used according to the size of the area to be irrigated and the nature of the plants in the area that need water. Drip irrigation is the irrigation method that consumes the least water and ensures the highest productivity. This irrigation method, developed for agricultural purposes, is now used efficiently in almost every field. In very large forestation areas in our cities, the drip irrigation method is used because manual irrigation is labor-intensive and expensive. In agricultural areas, it is almost an agricultural standard. It is widely used with spray irrigation systems.
It is very easy to use automatic irrigation solutions in drip irrigation systems. It is possible to perform more efficient irrigation with remote, wireless irrigation systems. We make your drip irrigation systems remotely controllable. With our wireless battery-operated valve control system, we provide the possibility of automatic irrigation in your drip irrigation fields without additional energy.
Diagram of the Drip Irrigation System
When creating the diagram of the drip irrigation system, attention should be paid to the preparation phase of the project. These are some important pieces of information that should be known while the project is in the preparation phase; determining the location, site, and slope status of the land where the system will be installed, determining the location and type of the water source, determining the physical structure of the soil, determining the plant type, row and row spacing. Other important elements to be considered are the project design and assembly phase.
Diagram of the Subsurface Drip Irrigation System
When creating the diagram of the underground drip irrigation system, it is important to pay attention to the preparation phase of the project. There is some important information to know at this stage. First, it is necessary to determine the location, site, and slope of the place where the system will be installed. In addition, determining the location and type of the water source, understanding the physical structure of the soil, the type of plant to be grown, and determining the distances between rows and rows should be considered at this stage.
When creating the project, attention should be paid to the design and assembly phases of the system. In the design phase, components such as the drip irrigation line layout, pipe diameters, filter systems, water pressure regulators, and valves should be determined. In the assembly phase, the physical installation of the system is carried out.
Correct evaluation of all these elements is important to ensure the efficient and effective operation of the underground drip irrigation system.
Filtration Scheme of the Drip Irrigation System
The filtration scheme of the drip irrigation system is designed to remove particles and pollutants in the irrigation water. This scheme includes the filtration process for the proper operation of the system and the protection of drip irrigation lines.
Elements of the Drip Irrigation System
- Water supply
- pump unit
- Control module
- Sand separator (hydrocyclone)
- Sand filter (gravel filter)
- fertilizer tank
- Filter (disc/screen)
- main pipeline
- Sub-main pipeline
- Distribution pipeline (manifold)
- Drip pipes (lateral)
drippers
Types of Drip Irrigation Pipes
In the drip irrigation method, the drip irrigation pipes used on the lateral side can be classified as follows according to the production method and dripper function.
- drip irrigation pipes
- According to production method
- According to dripper function
- Inside the pipe
- pipes with drippers (in-line)
- Pipes with standard drippers
- Round drip pipes
- Pipes with pressure-compensated drippers
- Flat drip pipes
- Pipes with adjustable flow rate drippers
- Pipes with drippers connected to the pipe (on-line)
By production method
In pipes where drippers are injected into the pipe, drippers are placed in the pipe at certain intervals during production and the pipes are put into use. These drippers can be round or flat drippers.
According to dripper function
Standard drippers are produced to provide a constant flow rate at 1.0 atm operating pressure. For example, drippers with a flow rate of 2.0 L/h or 3.8 L/h at 1.0 atm operating pressure. In these drippers, as the operating pressure increases, the flow rate also increases.
Pressure-compensated drippers, on the other hand, provide a constant flow rate at variable pressure. In this type of drippers, a constant flow rate (for example, 2.0 L/h or 1.6 L/h) is achieved at application pressures varying from 1.0 atm to 3.5 atm on the lateral side.
Drip Irrigation Filter Selection
Clogging of sprinklers and drippers used in irrigation systems is one of the biggest problems encountered. The process of removing foreign substances that cause water clogging in irrigation systems is called filtration. Filtration is the best protection method to prevent sediments from entering equipment such as drippers, sprinklers, valves, etc., used in the irrigation system. Because finding, cleaning, or replacing a clogged dripper is a very expensive and laborious task. Therefore, filtration constitutes the most important control unit of the irrigation system. To obtain filtered water of the desired quality; the most suitable filter equipment should be selected according to the water source and place of use. When selecting a filter;
- Maximum and minimum water pressure
- Type of water source (underground)
- Future needs and changes
- Required water flow (capacity)
- Required water quality
- Required filtration (pore size or micron)
- Pre-filtration requirement
parameters should be taken into account.
Drip Irrigation Filter Selection Table
| Pollution type and water source | Pollution type and water source |
| Fine Sand | hydrocyclone Automatic disc filter Automatic screen filter |
River, reservoir Algae, Moss Organic matters | hydrocyclone Gravel filter Automatic screen filter Automatic disc filter |
Lake, River, Canal Suspended Solids Silt | Gravel filter Automatic disc filter |
Well, Lake, River Silt | hydrocyclone Gravel filter Automatic disc filter |
Treated wastewater | Gravel filter Automatic screen filter |
Pre-filtration | Suction filter |
Advantages of Drip Irrigation Systems
- drip irrigation systems; These are the methods that consume the least water. Here, the most important advantage stands out as economy.
- Drip irrigation systems increase productivity because they ensure equal distribution of fertilizer and water.
- It is possible to use drip irrigation systems with the automation method and work with almost zero human factor.
- Drip irrigation systems are extremely cost-effective considering the initial installation cost and long-term benefits. The system has a very long life and very low maintenance costs.
- Sufficient irrigation is provided while protecting soil fertility by ensuring plants grow in optimal amounts.
- These systems are minimally affected by weather conditions; for example, they do not have the disadvantages of spray systems in windy weather.
- Since drip irrigation systems require less pressure than other systems, electricity consumption is also low.
- It improves the soil because it optimizes the soil temperature.
- Plant development will be supported as the humidity in the air will decrease.
- Drip irrigation systems can be easily used in rough terrains.
- Hardening of the soil is prevented and the frequency of hoeing decreases. Due to the nature of the system, the aeration degree of the soil is quite high.
As a result, drip irrigation systems are an irrigation method used efficiently in landscaping areas and other needed areas, in addition to being the most used agricultural irrigation method today. The most effective solution for effective irrigation in very large areas is the installation of drip irrigation systems. Drippers integrated into pipes in lines hundreds of meters long ensure proper moistening of the soil and irrigation of the plant. Automatic drip irrigation systems can be used in all fields. Again, in this way, drip irrigation can be done in large areas using minimum human labor. Automatic drip irrigation can be done with the timer method or more advanced systems can be used. New generation vehicles with digital devices with artificial intelligence can detect irrigation needs and allow irrigation at appropriate intervals. Of course, timers are currently the method used in automatic drip irrigation systems. More advanced methods are not yet widespread.
Why Should Drip Irrigation Systems Be Used?
Drip irrigation systems are an effective irrigation method that saves water by preventing over-irrigation of plants. This system prevents the waste of water resources by providing the amount of water according to plant needs. Over-irrigation negatively affects plant growth and can also cause unnecessary depletion of water resources. Drip irrigation ensures correct and controlled use of water, thereby contributing to the efficient use of water. At the same time, it positively affects plant health by maintaining the mineral richness of the soil. The drip irrigation system, when used in suitable environments, contributes to sustainable agricultural practices by reducing irrigation costs and increasing efficiency.
The widespread use of drip irrigation systems emerged in Israel in the 1950s, when an approach focused on water conservation and efficiency began. This system had a great impact, especially by revolutionizing irrigation technologies in Israel. Drip irrigation sets and similar sprinkler systems are also widely used among farmers in India. These technologies allow them to obtain rich harvests that significantly exceed the efficiency of the irrigation methods of the last century. Although most farmers in India still use traditional methods, drip irrigation sets and similar systems are offered in affordable models on online sales platforms, especially to meet the needs of small landholders. In Italy, farmers have increased field productivity by 35-40% by using drip irrigation pipes. These new drip irrigation systems have brought significant benefits to Italian farmers by significantly reducing water consumption, especially during dry periods.
How to Use Drip Irrigation System?
Drip irrigation system is defined as a centralized irrigation system with a tank and a booster. In this system, water or liquid fertilizer is given to special drip pipes at a certain pressure. Specially prepared drip pipes are used in drip irrigation systems, and it is important to set the pressure correctly. The design of drip irrigation systems, which requires landscape architecture experience, should be carefully prepared. Basic principles of the project such as pipe quality, line diagram creation, and supply of main tools should be correctly determined. Random planning can make it difficult to achieve effective efficiency from drip irrigation. Drip irrigation systems can work automatically or manually. The system to be installed can consist of various designs and can be implemented depending on its complexity.
Installation of Drip Irrigation Systems
The installation of drip irrigation systems is based on the principle of determining the moisture deficiency in the soil and delivering a small amount of water to the plant root zone at certain intervals. This method is used in various production areas such as field crops and orchards. Drip irrigation systems can be divided into two main classes: surface and subsurface. To make the best use of drip irrigation systems, it is important to pay attention to certain criteria and make applications in accordance with these criteria.
Achieve the Highest Efficiency at the Lowest Cost!
Drip irrigation systems can increase agricultural productivity by providing an average increase of around 70% in crop quantity depending on conditions. In agricultural irrigation, it creates conditions for the product to ripen at least 20% faster. In addition, it includes advantages such as reducing hoeing costs, reducing the need for pesticides, and minimizing the amount of fertilizer to be used. The drip irrigation method stands out in terms of providing long-term benefits. It minimizes erosion while protecting soil qualities. In flood surface irrigation methods, erosion is an inevitable result. Drip irrigation systems allow achieving sustainable productivity in the long run by minimizing soil loss.