Comparison of Furrow, Sprinkler and drip irrigation systems

S.NO Characteristic
1 2 Water requirement Evaporation loss

Furrow Irrigation
Higher water losses = 55% Less All soils except very light soils with high permeability 20-50% - Soil temperature reduced - delayed maturity of crops. - crop period is extended Comparatively low. All row and trunk crops All row and trunk crops Not for shallow rooted crops Almost impossible Absent- high labor cost Non-uniform distribution up to 25% due to soil texture and structure

Sprinkler Irrigation
Low = 65 % 0f surface irrigation Total losses = 18% All soils specially for Shallow coarse textured and highly permeable soils Entire surface - Entire surface temperature reduced, - delayed maturity, - Longer crop period Quicker than surface irrigation. Wide spread application Especially for tea and coffee, gardens, young seedling and plants Possible due to sprinkler pressure Complete automation is rare Up to 50%, wind velocity is controlling factor

Drip Irrigation
Least = 10-30 % of conventional methods Negligible All soils including saline soils especially for Coarse textured soils and water scarce areas Least

Suitability for soils

Soil surface welting

Surface temprature and its effect on crop period

- Surface temperature is kept high, - quick maturity

Rate of growth

Highest For all types of crops especially for close growing crops, vegetables and orchards Easy due to different sizes Possible due to automatic valves and water meters >90% - Localized application - Economical - Insoluble fertilizer such as superphosphate not possible - Stationary pipe system

Suitability for crops

8 9

Adjustment of water application Automating of water supply Uniformity of irrigation

10

11

Fertilizer application

Localized application is absent

- Fertilizer application is used - localized application is absent -May be stationary/portable

12

System and components parts

Change with type of crops involve skill and

labor and no piping system

13 14 15

Effect of wind velocity Soil erosion Weed growth/control

Interference if v=10 to 12 m/hr Near upper ends in long furrows Wild weed and pest growth Very high percolation losses and leaching specially in sandy soils Salts nutrients and fertilizers are not available for plant growth Very essential

-Consists of pipes and nozzles - Obstruction due to rivers - Lateral and nozzles spacing variable - Oppositely directed strong wind interferes - High evapotranspiration controlled Less weed and pest growth and diseases

- Cheaper plastic types - Lateral and emitter spacing is variable

Least affected

No erosion - Least weed, pest and insect trouble - Easy preservation of soil nutrients

16

Percolation of water and leaching of salts and nutrients Land leveling requirement

Less percolation and leaching

Minimum percolation and leaching

17

Not required

Not required Two dimensional for soils -of low permeability -with impervious sublayer One dimensional (vertical) -for highly permeable (sandy) soils Maximum land available for cultivation - Higher for crops like tomato, beet root, lady finger - Almost equal for other crops Low initial and operational as compared to sprinkler Replacement of pipes

18

Moisture distribution

Normal to furrow shape

Two dimensional

19

Land utilization

7.5 % lost to field channels

More land available for cultivation

20

Crop yield

Less

Higher but less than drip irrigation

21

cost

Lowest initial High operational and labor

High initial and operational