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Drip Irrigation

Drip irrigation is a technique in which water flows through a filter into special drip pipes, with emitters located at different spacing. Water is distributed through the emitters directly into the soil near the roots through a special slow-release device. If the drip irrigation system is properly designed, installed, and managed, drip irrigation may help achieve water conservation by reducing evaporation and deep drainage. Compared to other types of irrigation systems such as flood or overhead sprinklers, water can be more precisely applied to the plant roots.

In addition, drip can eliminate many diseases that are spread through irrigation water. Drip irrigation is adaptable to any farmable slope and is suitable for most soils. In contrary to commercial drip irrigation, simple self-made systems are cheap and effective.

With drip irrigation, water is conveyed under pressure through a pipe system to the fields, where it drips slowly onto the soil through emitters or drippers which are located close to the plants. Compared to other types of irrigation (sprinkler irrigation or surface irrigation), only the immediate root zone of each plant is wetted. Therefore this can be a very efficient method of irrigation. Drip irrigation is sometimes called trickle irrigation (FAO 1988).

Drip irrigation can be a very technical irrigation system for food or plant production fields. But compared to other technical systems (e.g. sprinkler irrigation) it is a low-technique solution. Furthermore it is possible to combine this system with a water treatment plant (e.g. non-planted filter or constructed wetlands (horizontal flow or vertical flow) and use the treated water as irrigation water.

Drip irrigation requires little water compared to other irrigation methods. About 40-80 litres per day are needed per 100-200 plants. The small amount of water reduces weed growth and limits the leaching of plant nutrients down in the soil. In organic fertiliser or urine tea can be applied efficiently to the plants through the drip system.

Drip irrigation being promoted by the State Government under the Telangana State Micro Irrigation Project is producing tremendous results in terms in yield, value and net income per hectare. Telangana farmers who have changed over to drip irrigation from conventional irrigation systems are reaping dividends in productivity and returns on investment.