Less is more
when you use drip irrigation technology by Jaco Cilliers
they use to tame their desert, and especially vegetable farmers should take note. What is drip irrigation? Drip irrigation is the most efficient water and nutrient delivery system for growing crops. It delivers water and nutrients directly to the plant’s root zone, in the right quantities, at the right time, so each plant gets exactly what it needs, when it needs it, to grow optimally. Thanks to drip irrigation, farmers can produce higher yields while saving on water as well as fertiliser, energy and even crop protection products. How does it work? Water and nutrients are delivered across the field in pipes called dripper lines equipped with drippers. Each dripper emits drops containing water and fertilisers, resulting in the uniform application of water and nutrients directly to each plant's root zone across an entire field. Why do farmers prefer drip irrigation? The reason is simple. Drip irrigation not only delivers a greater return on investment (ROI) compared to other irrigation methods, it also gives farmers an efficient and simple way to operate their farms to achieve the following results: • Higher yields of consistent quality • Huge water savings: no evaporation, no run-off, no waste • 100% land utilisation – drip irrigates uniformly on any topography and soil type • Energy savings: drip irrigation works on low pressure • Efficient use of fertiliser and crop protection, with no leaching • Less dependency on weather, greater stability and lower risks
S
outhern Africa is classified as an arid region with an annual average rainfall of 464 mm compared to the global average of 860 mm. There are some areas with significantly higher rainfall than others, but in general farmers in this region face challenges of a very dry climate. Still, people have to eat, and farmers have to find ways to use the available water as wisely as possible. At the recent Farmers Day at the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN), visitors
were surprised by the lush growth of the vegetables and maize on the demonstration plot during a severe drought. The secret lies in the black pipes running along the ground at the stems of all the plants, even the maize. In conjunction with an Israeli organisation, drip irrigation was installed to irrigate all the crops. Instead of using pivots and other methods of spraying water over crops, the Israelis specialise in making every drop count by using drip irrigation. This is the method
ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 05
The dripper lines are connected to a reservoir that maintains a stable water supply. Liquid fertiliser can be mixed to the correct ratio in the reservoir. The dripper lines run down the planted rows and a dripper is installed at every plant to feed the plant. 25
