Drip irrigation can help you use water efficiently. A well-designed drip irrigation system loses practically no water to runoff, deep percolation, or evaporation. Drip irrigation reduces water contact with crop leaves, stems, and fruit. Thus conditions may be less favorable for the onset of diseases. Irrigation scheduling can be managed precisely to meet crop demands, holding the promise of increased yield and quality. Growers and irrigation professionals often refer to "subsurface drip irrigation," or SDI. When a drip tape or tube is buried below the soil surface, it is less vulnerable to damage during cultivation or weeding. With SDI, water use efficiency is maximized because there is even less evaporation or runoff. Agricultural chemicals can be applied more efficiently with drip irrigation. Since only the crop root zone is irrigated, nitrogen already in the soil is less subject to leaching losses, and applied fertilizer N can be used more efficiently. In the case of insecticides, less product might be needed. Make sure the insecticide is labeled for application through drip irrigation. Additional advantages of drip irrigation include: Drip systems are adaptable to oddly shaped fields or those with uneven topography or soil texture; these specific factors must be considered in designing the drip system. Drip systems also can work well where other irrigation systems are inefficient because parts of the field have excessive infiltration, water puddling, or runoff. Drip irrigation can be helpful if water is scarce or expensive. Because evaporation, runoff, and deep percolation are reduced and irrigation uniformity is improved, it is not necessary to "over-water" parts of a field to adequately irrigate the more difficult parts. Precise application of nutrients is possible using drip irrigation. Fertilizer costs and nitrate losses can be reduced. Nutrient applications can be better timed to meet plants' needs. Drip irrigation systems can be designed and managed so that the wheel traffic rows are dry enough to allow tractor operations at any time. Timely application of herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides is possible. Proven yield and quality responses to drip irrigation have been observed in onion, broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, melon, tomato, and cotton. A drip irrigation system can be automated.

CHARLOTTE NC LAWN - LANDSCAPE IRRIGATION Charlotte NC  SPRINKLER REPAIR CONTRACTORS Charlotte NC  INSTALLERS

CHARLOTTE NC LAWN - LANDSCAPE IRRIGATION Charlotte NC  SPRINKLER REPAIR CONTRACTORS Charlotte NC  INSTALLERS