Irrigation is of utmost importance in plant cultivation. Providing as much water as the plant needs in the correct way during the development phase is one of the issues that require attention. Those who need an effective solution on the subject manage to achieve the result they are looking for with drip irrigation.
What is Drip Irrigation?
The controlled delivery of water directly to the root parts of the grown plants is a method defined as drip irrigation. When using this method, water is delivered to the relevant surface in the soil in the form of fine streams or drops. With drip irrigation, plants receive the water they need directly, while possible water loss is minimized to the minimum possible level.
Basic Components of Drip Irrigation System
In order for the system to work, water supply is required first. Filters are used to ensure that the water entering the system is clean. In order to transmit the water from the source to the irrigation system, the main pipeline is needed.
The water coming out of the main line is delivered to the plants with distribution pipes. Controlling the water in the system is done through switches and valves. The most important component in drip irrigation is emitters, or drippers. These deliver the right amount and speed of water in the form of drops to the plant roots.
Advantages of Using Drip Irrigation
With the drip irrigation used, the direct delivery of water directly to the roots of the plants eliminates the loss of water by evaporation or infiltration. This saves water compared to traditional irrigation methods. In normal irrigation methods, soil erosion may occur after the flow of water.
In drip irrigation, the risk of erosion is reduced as water is given in a controlled manner. Only after water is applied to the roots of the plant, the structure of the soil is preserved and the growth of weeds is prevented. With the direct delivery of water and nutrients directly to the root of the plants, the yield level increases and effective results are obtained in fertilizer use.
How to Install a Drip Irrigation System?
In order to obtain the desired results from the drip irrigation system effectively, the soil structure and plant species in the area where irrigation will be carried out should be examined first. Thus, the exact amount of water needed is determined. Then the source to be used for irrigation is selected. A system design is made for the area from the irrigation source to the area where the water will reach.
After the design, the necessary materials are purchased and the system is installed. With the test carried out after the installation of the system, if no problems arise, drip irrigation is started to be used.
How to Maintain Drip Irrigation System?
In order to ensure that the drip irrigation system used works efficiently and that the plants can be watered correctly with water saving, the relevant system should be regularly maintained. During maintenance, drippers and pipes, especially filters, are carefully cleaned.
Maintenance is also carried out by checking parts such as system pressure and connections. Parts deemed necessary during maintenance operations are replaced. Thus, it is possible to use the drip irrigation system for a long time.
