Compiled from: Agro Irrigation http://agroirrigation.com
Types of Irrigation Equipment available in Kenya Irrigation is the process of applying water artificially to land or soil by use of irrigation equipment. This process is mainly done in areas with little or no rain at all. It can also be done when someone decides to set up a greenhouse. This process has been in use for thousands of years and people still use it. Irrigation is done to help in the growth of crops and maintenance of the landscapes in dry areas. It suppresses dust ad also helps in clearing the drainage systems. There are several types of irrigation equipment available in Kenya but the various types exist only because there are various forms of irrigation as well. The different types of irrigation are distinct because of the different irrigation equipment that comes into play. Although they still aim at doing the same thing, that is dispersing water over a specific piece of land, their variations come in the way this water is dispersed and how they get the water they disperse from the source. The different types of irrigation include: drip irrigation also known as trickle irrigation, ditch irrigation, terraced irrigation, sprinkler irrigation, surface irrigation and centre pivot irrigation.
Irrigation Equipment used in Kenya There are various types of irrigation equipment used in Kenya and they include:
 Agricultural Irrigation Equipment
This is the manual irrigation equipment that was used years ago and is still being used though not so common with the advent of other better irrigation equipment. This is where farmers or farm labourers would have cans on their backs, worn like backpacks then they would saturate the crops by pressing a pipe by hand. The pipe is connected to the can on his back.
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Farm Irrigation Equipment
This is automatic irrigation equipment that has timers as well as computer applications that can be used to control irrigation from a remote area. It also has sensors that can detect water and also automated settings that stop irrigation while it is raining or when the soil is damp enough. This is best used in very large farms where manual labour would be rather exhaustive and expensive.
Garden Irrigation Equipment
Garden irrigation equipment is mainly limited to two types; sprinklers and drip irrigation systems. They are mostly used in small gardens, mostly domestic ones that can be managed by farmers themselves or few farm labourers.
Lawn Irrigation Equipment
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Just as it name suggests, this is ideal for domestic use. It is used by many people for lawns and residential landscape. It is ideal for flower and vegetable irrigation as well as lawn irrigation. It is manually controlled by switching a button on and off. The good thing with law irrigation equipment is that it does not affect the landscaping which means trenches do not have to be created.
Different types of Irrigation Systems There are many types of irrigation systems and they include:
 Drip Irrigation
Also known as trickle irrigation, drip irrigation has a reputation for been the most water saving form of irrigation. This is because it is made in such a way that water drips right in the root of the crop in a dripping motion hence the name drip irrigation. It is done by the use of tiny tubes that take water directly to the root of the plant.
 Surface Irrigation
Always referred to as flood irrigation because there is no control of the distribution of water in the area and thereby termed as inefficient. In surface irrigation, water is distributed across the land by force of gravity no wonder critics says it wastes a lot of water. It is the least complex form of irrigation in the land and in its simplicity it depends on an efficient source of water since it uses a lot of it.
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 Ditch Irrigation
This is a rather traditional way of irrigation where ditches are dug and then seedlings are planted in a row. The crops are then watered at the root by tiny tubes that get water from the main source. The good thing with ditch irrigation is that excess water is drained away as the ditch looks somewhat like a drainage system.
 Sprinkler System
Sprinkler irrigation system is mostly used in park and golf courses. Sprinklers, sprays or guns are fitted on permanent risers which when turned on sprinkle water all over the surface. The system can be buried underground and the sprinklers rise when pressure rises.
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