Pros and Cons of Using Drip Irrigation

Drip irrigation is a type of irrigation that wets the root zone of plants in a trickle manner. Drip irrigation uses low water pressure and low water volume to pass water to crops.

Drip irrigation is known to be one of the most efficient types of irrigation any farmer can use. Drip irrigation uses less water, power and labour than other types of irrigation.

Drip irrigation can be used for almost all types of crops. It can be used for vegetables, tree crops and broad acre crops.

A typical drip irrigation system has some components that make it function properly. The components are drip tapes, sub-main lay flat hose, main pipe, pump, connectors, end plugs, venturi injector or fertilizer injector and punch tool etc.

Advantages of drip irrigation

The following are the pros or advantages of drip irrigation:

Drip irrigation uses water efficiently unlike other methods of irrigation like sprinklers and center pivots. Low volume of water is needed if you use drip irrigation systems. Aside this, the water is used efficiently to maximize the yield of crops.

In drip irrigation systems, water passed to the root zone of plants are localized. There is little or no possibility of run-offs, this makes the possibility of fertilizer loss or leaching very minimal and in some cases, non-existent.

Drip irrigation does not encourage high weed pressure as water is only passed to the root zone of plants.

Drip irrigation ensures the maximization of crop yield through the constant provision of water to the root zone of plants and the ability to pass nutrients to plants.

With drip irrigation, fertilizers can be passed to the root zone of plants in an efficient way. This process is called fertigation.

Operation cost of drip irrigation is significantly cheaper than that of other types of irrigation.

Drip irrigation can maximize the seed germination rate.

Water infiltration is improved if drip irrigation is used.

Drip irrigation can be used even if the land or field has an irregular shape or topography.

The cost of energy and labour needed for drip irrigation is very low if compared to other types of irrigation.

The volume of fertilizers to be used can be reduced if drip irrigation is applied.

Disadvantages of drip irrigation

The disadvantages or cons of using drip irrigation are discussed as follows:

In poor countries like Nigeria, the initial cost of acquiring the drip irrigation system may discourage farmers from embracing it.

Dirty water may block the drip emitters thereby rendering the drip irrigation system useless.

Water salinity may affect the drip irrigation system.

Do you need to know more about drip irrigation system? If yes, you can get more information here.