16 Comparative Analysis for Irrigation Water Application Methods …
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lines can be moved from place to place. (iii) permanent system is when both main
and lateral lines are buried underground, hence requiring less maintenance (Kumar
and Vishal Kumar 2012; NRCS 2016).
A sprinkler irrigation system consists of the following main components:
1. Pumping unit
2. Main pipeline (or main)
3. sub-main pipeline (or sub-main)
4. Lateral pipelines (or laterals)
5. Vertical pipes or risers
6. Sprinkler head (or nozzle) (Phocaides 2007).
16.2.5 Drip Irrigation Method
In this system, water is emitted onto the soil near the roots or directly to the root zone
of the plants through a special outlet device called an emitter or a dripper. The emitters
have drip nozzles which supply the water drop after drop at a low rate, varying from
2 to 10 L per hour (Arora 2014; NRCS 2013). Water is supplied to the root zone just
sufficient to maintain the soil moisture within the required crop growth range. Soil
characteristics and water flow rate are factors that determine the area to be covered
by one emitter. Depending on the water requirements and number of crops, numbers
of emitters are designed to achieve irrigation target. Despite being the most efficient
irrigation method, drip irrigation methods are affected by to major factors. Constant
factors, which include: Climate and weather, soil type and characteristics, slope and
environmental quality. For variable factors, water price and availability, water quality,
energy, labor cost and availability, system quality and cost, crop type and quality,
operation and maintenance, education of the irrigator, interest rate, depreciation rate,
etc. can also be factors affecting the performance and efficiency of a drip irrigation
system (NRCS 2013).
16.2.5.1 Components of Drip Irrigation Unit
A drip irrigation unit usually consists of the following 3 main components:
1. Control head
2. Pipe network
3. Emitters (Arora 2014; Kumar and Vishal Kumar 2012).
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lines can be moved from place to place. (iii) permanent system is when both main
and lateral lines are buried underground, hence requiring less maintenance (Kumar
and Vishal Kumar 2012; NRCS 2016).
A sprinkler irrigation system consists of the following main components:
1. Pumping unit
2. Main pipeline (or main)
3. sub-main pipeline (or sub-main)
4. Lateral pipelines (or laterals)
5. Vertical pipes or risers
6. Sprinkler head (or nozzle) (Phocaides 2007).
16.2.5 Drip Irrigation Method
In this system, water is emitted onto the soil near the roots or directly to the root zone
of the plants through a special outlet device called an emitter or a dripper. The emitters
have drip nozzles which supply the water drop after drop at a low rate, varying from
2 to 10 L per hour (Arora 2014; NRCS 2013). Water is supplied to the root zone just
sufficient to maintain the soil moisture within the required crop growth range. Soil
characteristics and water flow rate are factors that determine the area to be covered
by one emitter. Depending on the water requirements and number of crops, numbers
of emitters are designed to achieve irrigation target. Despite being the most efficient
irrigation method, drip irrigation methods are affected by to major factors. Constant
factors, which include: Climate and weather, soil type and characteristics, slope and
environmental quality. For variable factors, water price and availability, water quality,
energy, labor cost and availability, system quality and cost, crop type and quality,
operation and maintenance, education of the irrigator, interest rate, depreciation rate,
etc. can also be factors affecting the performance and efficiency of a drip irrigation
system (NRCS 2013).
16.2.5.1 Components of Drip Irrigation Unit
A drip irrigation unit usually consists of the following 3 main components:
1. Control head
2. Pipe network
3. Emitters (Arora 2014; Kumar and Vishal Kumar 2012).