Over the years, we’ve created several helpful guides, tools, videos, and webpages to help growers, like you, learn about drip irrigation and get the most from a drip system. Explore our archive of drip irrigation resources for agricultural and greenhouse drip irrigation applications, including the Toro Ag award-winning Drip Irrigation Guide: Owner’s Manual, a guide to Toro Ag Educational and Technical Resources, a Subsurface Drip Irrigation Guide, and more!
Drip irrigation systems consist of emission devices serviced by a water distribution network that includes control zone equipment. At the water source, water is controlled with automatic valves, sometimes amended with nutrients or chemicals, filtered and regulated at levels suitable for the emission devices chosen and plants being grown. From there, water is delivered to each of the emission devices through a network of PVC and PE pipes. The emission device, whether it is drip tape, a drip emitter, jet or micro-sprinkler, then delivers water and nutrients to the soil where plant roots may nourish the plant. All components have attributes that affect performance, and that are traded off with initial, installation, operation and maintenance costs or cheap cialis. A thorough understanding for drip irrigation supplies and components will assist in selecting the proper equipment to achieve desired expectations for the given application. Drip irrigation systems are durable and are
The “Typical Drip Irrigation Layout” illustration has been developed to help those who are unfamiliar with drip irrigation understand basic drip irrigation system components and concepts. The drip irrigation layout illustration is organized into two halves. First, the “headworks” portion of a drip irrigation system shows the typical water sources, pumps, filters, chemical injection equipment and controls used in a drip irrigation system. Second, the “field” portion of the drip irrigation system shows typical layouts for five different types of drip irrigation: field crop subsurface drip irrigation (SDI), short term vegetable crop, longer term vegetable crop, vineyard and orchard. Although every application and design will be different than this illustration, it provides a starting point for discussion with viewers unfamiliar with drip irrigation. Watch the animated drip system to see the multiple steps of the drip irrigation process. [swf src=”https://driptips.toro.com/wp-content/uploads/toro_micro.swf” width=680 height=500] For more information about a typical drip irrigation
The greenhouse and nursery business has a profound affect on general agriculture and landscape plantings around the world, in addition to fresh fruit, vegetable and flower production. This is because high density nursery and greenhouse plantings are often replanted on much larger tracts of agricultural or landscape land later, and/or reflect significant revenue sold fresh. Water is an essential ingredient in plant growth, and nowhere is it more important than in the nursery and greenhouse business where natural rainfall is either non-existent or grossly inadequate. Drip irrigation technology was developed decades ago and has been adapted in a myriad of ways to assist in achieving high yields, improved quality, and reduced costs, while avoiding the runoff and deep percolation issues associated with other irrigation technologies in the nursery and greenhouse environment. Greenhouse and nursery operators have reaped the benefits of drip irrigation technology in a number of ways. In field
Drip irrigation technology has evolved into a popular way for landscapers to maximize the aesthetic beauty and quality of landscapes, while at the same time optimize resource use and reduce damage and risk from applying water to non-planted areas. In short, landscapers typically use drip irrigation where it doesn’t make sense to use traditional sprays or sprinklers, or to water by hand. The following are advantages to using drip in landscape applications: Water is confined to the targeted plant’s rootzone, so overspray onto sidewalks, buildings, cars and roadways is prevented. Flow rates and application rates are typically very low, so runoff from heavier soils, or steep slopes, may be avoided. Water is not applied into the air so wind drift or pattern distortion does not occur. Plants are not wetted which can result in the reduction of disease. Weed growth is reduced if non-targeted areas are not wetted. Water is
The agricultural business produces the food, fiber, and fuel that enhance people’s lives all over the world. Water is an essential ingredient to crop production, and where rainfall does not occur naturally, or in the right amount at the right time, farmers must irrigate. Drip irrigation technology was developed decades ago and has evolved into a popular way for farmers to maximize profits, optimize resource use, reduce risk, and improve their lifestyle. The various benefits of drip irrigation are so significant that the system often pays for itself quickly. High value fruit, nut, vegetable, and fiber growers were the first to adopt drip irrigation technology because the investment was readily warranted. Yield and quality enhancements were of primary interest while cost savings and other benefits were secondary. But as crop inputs such as water, fertilizer, chemicals, fuel and labor become more expensive, or less available, even lower value crops such
Drip irrigation is a technology widely used in agriculture, landscape, greenhouses, and nurseries to apply water directly where it is needed. Drip irrigation minimizes the use of water and enables the injection of fertilizers through the drip irrigation system while at the same time growing healthier plants that have less disease. Click on the following links to learn more about the various applications of drip irrigation: Agriculture Landscape Greenhouse / Nursery Drip Chemigation
Drip irrigation may be defined according to a number of performance parameters including flow rates, wetting pattern, pressure rating and construction material. Regardless of the specific type, make, or model the following are drip irrigation definitions, characteristics, and best practices. Water is applied at a low flow rate – Emission device flow rates are typically measured in gallons per hour (GPH), resulting in low application rates. Water is applied for long periods of time – Irrigation duration may be hours rather than minutes when the application rate is low. Water is applied frequently – Irrigation events may occur daily, or even muliple times per day, when the application rate is low. Water is applied at low pressure – Operating pressures typically range between 10-30 psi, rarely exceeding 60 psi, for most emission devices. Water is applied directly to the soil and the plant’s root zone – Water drips, or sprays,
Agricultural water quality and food safety issues are important, and growers are finding that drip irrigation is a valuable tool to help solve their problems. Drip Irrigation Avoids Runoff – In fruit and vegetable row crop production, significant runoff often occurs during the first couple of weeks of production when sprinklers are used to germinate seed or set transplants. Much of this runoff is wasted and creates water quality problems in surface water supplies or in ground water supplies. Some producers are eliminating the need for sprinklers during the first few weeks of production by paying close attention to soil preparation techniques and drip tape selection to successfully germinate and/or set the crop with drip irrigation system that is typically only used for in-season irrigation. This practice prevents runoff and deep percolation, saves water and reduces sprinkler pipe and movement costs. Farm Irrigation Utilizing Drip Irrigation May Reduce the Presence
It is a common misconception that a drip irrigation conversion will take several years to pay for itself. In fact, farmers and landscapers converting to drip irrigation have realized quick drip irrigation benefits, payback and substantially improved profits. For example, a corn and soybean farmer in Nebraska installed a drip irrigation system originally believing that the conversion would take over 5 years to pay for itself. But to his surprise, it took less than two years! This is partly because corn prices rose, yields were better than expected and government EQIP funds contributed $330/acre towards the system’s cost. In addition, costs dropped an estimated $160/acre due to reduced fuel, labor, chemical, fertilizer and cultivation expenses. Even without subsidies, these benefits would have paid for the system in a little over three years. The drip irrigation payback chart below depicts 3 different “payback” scenarios based on actual results: Drip Irrigation Payback