Watering Your Crop: Drip Irrigation

Advantages of Drip Irrigation

• Reduced water use
  25-50% water used by sprinklers
• Less foliar disease
  foliage stays dry, no soil splash
• Reduced weed pressure
  no water to stimulate weed growth
• Customizable to fit your scale—if using rows
• Does not require high pressure
  needs 20-25 psi at field entrance and 10 psi at tape
• Easily automated—with irrigation timer
• Can be used with plastic mulch

Disadvantages of Drip Irrigation

• Economic investment
  $500-1200/acre, plus maintenance and replacement
• Frequent maintenance
  easily cut or damaged by tools, repair leaks regularly
• Can get in the way
  must work around or move drip tape when using tools
• Need filtered water
  must use 200-mesh screen or risk clogging emitters
• Set emitter spacing—match to plant spacing
• Disposal—labor and cost
• End of season clean up
  must be removed from field and stored