WELCOME

DRIP/TRICKLE
IRRIGATION
Submitted To :
Dr.K.Avil Kumar
Principal Scientist
(Agronomy)
Water Technology Centre

DRIP/TRICKLE IRRIGATION
INTRODUCTION:

In

drip

irrigation

water

frequently at lower

Is

applied

rates from a low

pressure delivery system.

It is an efficient irrigation method of recent
origin.
Which is becoming popular in Areas of
Water

Scarcity

and poor water

Development of Drip
Irrigation
Use of drip irrigation can be traced back to
ancient custom of irrigating Tulsi plant with
earthen pot hung above the plant.
During early 1940s Israeli engineer named
Symch Blass developed this concept.
Break through of Drip irrigation is achieved
with invention of Polyethylene in 1935.

 Earlier Low Density Poly Ethylene(LDPE)

Produced at relatively high pressures (up to

3500kg/cm2) were used.
Later High Density Poly Ethylene (HDPE)

Produced at low pressures (20kg/cm2) came

into usage.
Then Linear Low Density Poly

Ethylene(LLDPE) Materials were used because

of improved strength ,stress crack resistance.

Advantages of Drip
irrigation
Higher crop yields.
Improved quality of harvested

produce.
Savings in Irrigation Water.
Increased efficiency in fertilizer use
Reduced energy consumption

 Tolerance to windy atmospheric

conditions.
Reduced labour cost
Improved disease and pest control
Feasibility of irrigating undulating terrain.
Suitable for problem soils

 Improved tolerance to salinity

Promotes congenial soil physical conditions

In root zone
Easy in operation
Facilitates automation
Adapted to irrigate crops in green houses.

Application of Drip In India

In early 70s confined to Agricultural
universities and Research centers only.
There was significant development in
1980s
From mere 1500 ha (1985) to 4,62,300
ha in 2003.[ICAR,2003]
Drip irrigation mainly developed in
water scarcity areas.

Promotional efforts by
Government
In India ,state and central govt are
providing subsidy to farmers of
different social communities to adopt
drip irrigation.
Govt has allotted 250crores in viii plan.
And 375 corers in ix th plan.

Classification:
Drip irrigation can be broadly
classified based on Installation
and Location of drip laterals.
I. Surface drip irrigation system
II.Sub surface drip irrigation system

Sub surface drip irrigation

system

Depth ranges
from 20-60cm
Mains ,Sub mains
laid below 60cms
Spacing of
laterals ranges
from .25 to 5 m,
depending on
spacing of crops.

Components of Drip irrigation

system

Drippers:
It is emitter fitted to a drip irrigation
lateral
It controls flow from lateral.
It reduces inlet pressure head in
lateral pipe line
Drippers are classified based on
operating pressure, discharge rate.

 On operating pressure-low
0.8m]

[below
-medium[2-5m]
-High
[8-

15m]

Discharge rate

- low
[4lit/ha]
-medium[4-

10lit/ha]
-High
[15lit/ha]

Point source drippers :

The point on ground at which water is
discharged is called Emission point.
Most if point source drippers are either
Online emitters

[installed on lateral wall]

or inline emitters [installed within

laterals]

Online drippers

Distribution system
Main lines :
-PVC ,HDPE pipes were used.
-underground
-diameter 65mm and above
-pressure 4-10hg/sq

Sub mains
-PVC/HDPE/LDPE pipes
-diameter 32-75mm
-Pressure 6kg/sq.cm
-additional components like Pressure
gauge, air, vacuum relief can be
added.

Laterals:
-LDPE/LLDPE ,PVC materials
-10-20mm diameter
-Wall thickness 1-3mm
-Pressure 2.5kg/sq.cm
-it should be flexible, non corrosive,
and resistant to u.v rays.

Pipe line accessories &

fittings
Common fittings ,Elbows, TEES,
Crosses,unions,plugs,end caps
For joining PVC,HDPE sizes of
coupling tees, elbows, bends
Accessories include end plugs, joints

Filter systems:
It is key to success or failure of drip
irrigation systems.
Drippers are clogged.
While planning filtration must be
planned well in advance.

Grave /sand filters:

Frequently called as media filters
Layered beds of graded sand & gravel
in one or more cylindrical tanks.
Primary filtration of irrigation water is
necessary.
Diameter of filter tanks :20-200cm
Coated with 70-80micron thick
blue polyester powder.

Screen filter:
Fitted in series with media filter to
remove Solid impurities like Fine
sand, dust, from irrigation water.
It should be coated with 70-80micrn
thick deep colored polyester.

Screen filter:

Hydrocyclones :
Also called as Centrifugal sand
separators.
In this due centrifugal force suspended
substances are removed.
In this water inlet is tangential to top
come and creates circular motion ,all
heavy particles are thrown out.
Clean water rises up in spiral motion to
out let.

Hydrocyclones :

Pumping unit:
Volute centrifugal pump
Vertical turbine pumps
Submersible pumps

Disadvantages:
Emitter clogging :
-as outlets small clogged with sand ,silt
-reduced emission rates leads to poor
uniform application
-prolonged clogging damages crop
-interrupts irrigation water application.

Restricted root development o

crops
Wets only part of root zone
Root distribution to moist zone only
Concentrated roots ,,lacks stability to
with stand strong winds.
Cant withstand to drought.

Salt accumulation at root

zone:
Salts accumulate towards periphery
As root zone has constant moisture it
may impact crops in next season.
If plants planted in soil patches it
affects crop.
Salts must be leached out before
sowing of next crop.
Or artificial leaching is practiced.

Damage from rodents and

other animals
Rats and squirrels damage subsurface drip
irrigation system.
Some insects build cocoons in emitter outlets.
So repellents must be used to control rats.
Rats do not cross wet surface, so it is advised
to wet borders of fields.
Ants can be controlled with chlorinated
hydrocarbons.
Laterals with 0.38mm thickness to control
damage.

Highest cost of drip:

Large quantities of pipping,
filtration,kits are employed.
In steep terrain pressure regulators
must be employed.
Cost overweigh benefits at initial
times.
It costs about 60,000k to establish
drip irrigation system per acre.