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| Irrigation Main | Furrow with Siphon Tubes | Furrow with Gated Pipe | Center Pivot | Drip Irrigation |
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| These systems have efficiencies of 85 to 95%, scoring well in all categories.
However, there is not much to see in a drip system. Some drip lines
are laid on top of the ground, but many drip systems use drip lines buried
beneath the surface at depths of 6 to 18 inches (15 tp 45 cm). These
systems are widely used by homeowners in gardens, treelines, and are increasingly
used in lawns. Their use in agriculture has been primarily for vegetable
and floriculture crops. The installation cost is high relative to
center pivot irrigation systems, and the drip lines usually last only a
few years.
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| The picture on the right is the filtration system. Filtration systems are now more compact, but are still required for any drip irrigation system. Any particles in the drip lines can clog emitters. Usually a weak phosphoric acid solution is pumped through the lines with the water at regular intervals to limit the growth of algae that would clog the lines, and to provide some plant nutrients. |  |
| Irrigation Main | Furrow with Siphon Tubes | Furrow with Gated Pipe | Center Pivot | Drip Irrigation |
|
Back to Dr. Dirt |
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to Clay Robinson,
Ph.D., CPSSc |
Back to Soils,
Unit 3 |
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& Water Conservation, Unit 3 |
