A hand planting a seedling in a field crossed with driplines.
18 min read

Drip irrigation for agriculture: Answers to the most important questions

 

Water scarcity and climate change are urgent global challenges. Drip irrigation provides a sustainable solution for conserving resources and boosting agricultural productivity. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this method and how can farmers use it successfully? Francisco Javier Enrile is a KSB specialist salesman for the Andalusia and Extremadura regions in Spain and an expert in drip irrigation. In this article, he provides answers to the most important questions.

What is drip irrigation?

Drip irrigation is an irrigation method where water is fed directly to the roots of the plants via PVC or PE pipes. These “driplines” can be laid underground or above ground and release a steady flow of water drop by drop. As a result, less water is lost through evaporation and runoff compared to traditional methods such as surface or sprinkler irrigation. Drip irrigation thus ensures maximum water efficiency and increases productivity, making it particularly ideal for dry regions where it is widely used. For example, Spain supplies water to over half of its agricultural land by drip irrigation. As a constant level of water pressure is required, efficient and reliable pumps play a crucial role in this irrigation method.

The KSB expert: Francisco Javier Enrile

Francisco Javier Enrile has been working for KSB as a specialist salesman for the Andalusia and Extremadura regions in Spain since 2015. He specialises in drinking water supply and irrigation. The two regions are characterised by their warm, dry climate, limited water resources and high level of agriculture, which means that drip irrigation is the most widely used irrigation technique.  The majority of the irrigation projects that Javier Enrile helps to implement involve installing drip irrigation systems for growing almond trees, olive trees, walnuts, berries, avocados and mangoes.

Portrait photo of Francisco Javier Enrile

Why does the world need drip irrigation?

With the world’s population rising and the standard of living increasing globally, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimates that agriculture will have to produce almost 60 percent more food by 2050. If we cannot produce this amount of food with less water, it will put an enormous strain on our rivers, dams and groundwater reservoirs. As it stands, we already use 70 percent of the fresh water produced worldwide for irrigating fields and greenhouses.

Drip irrigation is the only way to increase production without increasing water consumption. Spain, for example, has been able to double its agricultural productivity in the last 30 years thanks to drip irrigation – without using more water.

Drip irrigation also increases the quality of agricultural produce. A high proportion of the produce grown in Spain consists of high-priced goods such as avocados and almonds. Cultivating them requires high standards, which can only be achieved if the plants are optimally supplied with water and nutrients. Drip irrigation combined with monitoring using drones and moisture sensors is an effective way to achieve this.

What are the advantages of drip irrigation compared to traditional irrigation methods?

Drip irrigation has numerous advantages. Farmers and agribusinesses are switching to this irrigation method to save water and energy costs and to increase the quality and productivity of their fields and greenhouses. Let’s take a look at the advantages in detail:

What are the disadvantages of drip irrigation?

Despite its many advantages, drip irrigation also has some disadvantages that should be taken into account:

Which plants are suitable for drip irrigation?

Drip irrigation can be used for all types of crops, terrains and topographical conditions. Due to the high initial investment, it is mainly used for high-priced agricultural products that require a high level of water. The plants must be able to be arranged in rows so that they can be fed by the driplines. Typical examples of such crops are olive groves, almonds, walnuts, vegetables such as tomatoes, berry-bearing shrubs such as strawberries and raspberries, and tropical fruit trees such as avocados and mangoes.

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What do farmers need to consider when planning a drip irrigation system?

Drip irrigation systems are complex systems that must be optimally tailored to the particular conditions of the land. They should therefore be designed by certified irrigation designers. If you need to find a certified irrigation designer, helpful information is available from professional associations, organisations such as the International Commission on Irrigation & Drainage (ICID) or providers such as AZUD, Netafim or Toro. When planning a drip irrigation system, it is important to focus on two aspects in particular: 

Soil survey

An analysis of the land to be cultivated sheds light on aspects such as the climate and soil composition. This is helpful when deciding which plants to grow and how the irrigation system needs to be designed. Here are a number of key aspects of such a survey with a direct impact on the design of a drip irrigation system:

Business plan

Based on the findings of the soil analysis, a solid business plan can then be drawn up. The objectives should be clearly defined, such as increasing yields, improving quality or reducing risks such as increasing energy prices or limited water supply during droughts. The payback period for the initial investment should be calculated for five, seven or ten years, for example. Here are some other points that should also be taken into account in the business plan: 

Handy guide:  A good introduction to drip irrigation can be found in the free Drip Irrigation Handbook provided by the manufacturer Netafim. 

How can I calculate the return on investment of a drip irrigation system?

Switching to a drip irrigation system means a high initial investment. However, this pays off in the long term thanks to the following factors:

  1. Water savings: Water is a valuable and limited resource – especially in dry regions such as southern Spain.
  2. Energy savings: As drip irrigation systems need to pump less water and also operate at a lower pressure than many traditional irrigation methods, this often reduces electricity costs. Frequency inverters that control the pump motors can further reduce energy consumption.
  3. Increased production: A precise and continuous supply of water and fertilisers results in higher yields and better quality.

The amount of savings that can be achieved with drip irrigation depends on the type of irrigation from which you are switching, water and energy prices, and numerous other factors such as the type of plants that are being irrigated. You can calculate the payback period for the investment by multiplying the monthly savings per hectare by the cultivated area and progressively subtracting this from the initial investment.

Many suppliers of drip irrigation systems also offer online calculators to help you estimate the return on investment or the payback period of a drip irrigation system. This online calculator provided by Utah State University will give you a good idea of what aspects need to be taken into account in your financial plan when switching irrigation systems.

“Drip irrigation and solar energy are by far the best alternative for a more considerate and efficient use of water and energy in the primary sector.”

Francisco Javier Enrile

What are the main components of a drip irrigation system?

A drip irrigation system consists of numerous components that need to be optimally matched and configured.

What role do pumps and valves play in the profitability of a drip irrigation system?

Pump efficiency plays a crucial in the profitability of a drip irrigation system. This is because it reduces energy consumption, which accounts for a significant proportion of the running costs. For this reason, the pumps should be tested to ISO 9906 standard before use to check whether their theoretical characteristic curve (H/Q curve) corresponds with the characteristic curve actually achieved. The pump motor should furthermore be controlled by a frequency inverter to reduce energy costs.

Valves likewise play an important role in a system’s energy efficiency. By minimising pressure and water losses, they reduce the energy consumption of the entire system.

The reliability of pumps is just as important as their energy efficiency. Unfortunately, little consideration is often given to this issue during planning. An unreliable system can have a significant impact on operations. The only measure that should need to be taken is to replace wear parts and consumables. The aim is to avoid any unforeseen repairs and additional costs – such as replacing the impeller.

How can KSB help me to install a drip irrigation system?

KSB’s pumps and valves fulfil three key objectives that are beneficial for farmers, agricultural companies and irrigation system specialists:

Reliability: This is our main strength. We sell products that are developed by highly qualified teams of engineers. Every effort is made to ensure they operate efficiently even under the toughest conditions. We exclusively use high-quality suppliers.

Efficiency: Low electricity consumption is vital when companies are faced with increased energy costs. Efficiency is a key objective of our pumps and one of the reasons why we have been able to rapidly expand our market share in the irrigation industry over the last 10 years. We attach great importance to ensuring that our pumps exactly meet the performance data of the H/Q curve. To guarantee this, they can be tested at our test facilities to ISO 9906 under a wide range of conditions.

Low maintenance costs: KSB pumps have a long service life and low maintenance costs. This means that cast parts do not need to be replaced and wear parts are easy to replace. We also have a large KSB SupremeServ workshop network to support our customers.