Views:1 Author:Site Editor Publish Time: 2019-03-21 Origin:Site
Sprinkler irrigation is a method of providing rainfall-like irrigation to the crops. Water is distributed through a system of pipes usually by pumping. Spray heads at the outlets distribute the water over the entire soil surface. Sprinklers provide efficient coverage for small to large areas and are suitable for all types of crops. Furthermore, they can be adapted to nearly all irrigable soils since sprinklers are available with a variety of discharge capacities . However, sprinkler systems can easily clog with the presence of sediment or debris and large systems incur high capital costs.
Sprinkler Heads
Impact and gear-drive sprinklers are two general types of sprinklers used in lawns, gardens and pastures. They produce moving streams of water and spray nozzles that discharge water on the whole wetted pattern at all times. Impact or gear-drive sprinklers can accommodate only full or part circle application patterns. Since each sprinkler covers a large area (typically 12 m head-to-head spacing), they are used on pastures and larger lawn areas.
Sprinkler irrigation Advantages
1.No terracing required
2.Suitable for almost all types of soil
3.Doses, application rates and times adaptable to the needs of the plant and soil type
Independent from the topography of the area (even areas located at higher elevations than the source can be irrigated)
Utilisation of the entire area with no need for channels (HOVE 2011)
4.Possibility of adding fertilisers or pesticides
5.Possibility of irrigating for other purposes: sprouting, frost protection or cooling during hot periods (HOVE 2011)