Wherever there is life, there is water. Humans are 70% water and plants almost 90%, and in the same way, crops need the sustenance of water to grow and develop. In certain areas, water does not naturally make it to where crops grow, meaning it needs to be artificially channeled. This process is known as irrigation.
Along with this water, nutrients can also be fed to crops using irrigation, dams, canals, lakes, and ponds as the source. Delivering the necessary moisture for the germination and growth of a range of different fruit and vegetable crops takes skill and experience to identify the correct rate, frequency, volume, and type of soil needed for success.
Why Irrigation is Vital
Irrigation improves crop quality and growth in regions where seasonal, sparse, or irregular rainfall cannot sustain agriculture. Offering farmers the ability to harvest crops consistently and deliver reliable food supplies, it uses land that would otherwise be too dry to support plant life.
Achieved by pumping water to the soil via a system of sprays, pumps, and piping, irrigation is vital in areas where drought is common. Where rain-fed farming is impossible, agricultural hydration can also be channeled from reservoirs, desalination plants, treated wastewater, and groundwater.
The Different Types of Irrigation
Employed with a view to improving crop yields, several different types of irrigation are used worldwide. The correct choice is determined by the climates, resources, and types of soils involved in the application and includes the following.
Localized Irrigation - using low pressure through a network of efficiently configured pipes, ball valves, and perforated plastic sleeves, localized irrigation minimizes water loss through evaporation. It also allows for exact doses of water to be delivered to crops.
Sprinkler Irrigation - simulating natural rainfall, sprinkler irrigation is used widely in
industrial, residential, and agricultural applications. Sprayed directly in the air, water falls down to the soil in tiny droplets (Centre pivot crop is another form of sprinkler irrigation).
Surface Irrigation - leveraging gravity to distribute water over the soil's upper layers, surface irrigation is the most widely used option around the world. It can be achieved by flooding large areas of soil or small channels or strips of land.
Sub Irrigation - delivering moisture to plants from beneath the soil's surface, sub-irrigation is often used to grow crops like peppers, sugar cane, and tomatoes. It's also a method that's typically used in areas where the water table is high.
Drip Irrigation - as one of the more efficient ways to hydrate plants - due to its ability to prevent evaporation - drip irrigation offers the potential to save water by slowly dripping water directly to the roots from under the soil's surface.
Manual Irrigation - as the name suggests, manual irrigation is a traditional method employed by hand using watering cans or hoses. This is an inexpensive option, however, it's a labor-intensive one that makes it difficult to achieve even coverage.
A Broad Range of High-Quality Irrigation Products
At Irriline, we manufacture and distribute a broad range of reliable irrigation equipment worldwide to the industry from our headquarters in Vancouver, BC. Our team is committed to meeting customer needs by focusing on value for money and the quality of the die-cast aluminum tubing & fittings, sprinklers, and drip irrigation systems we supply are designed to last many years.
To learn more about how our irrigations can help you, don't hesitate to call
+1604 6084315 or email us at sales@irriline.com.
