ADVANTAGES OF DRIP IRRIGATION

• Can be used at any time of the day.
• Reduced water use: Drip irrigation brings the water to the plant root zone and does not wet the entire area. Drip irrigation typically requires half to a quarter of the volume of water required by comparable overhead-irrigation systems.
• Reduced pest problems: Weed and disease problems may be reduced because drip irrigation does not wet the row middles or the foliage of the crops as does overhead irrigation.
• Automation: Drip-irrigation can be simply managed and programmed with an AC- or battery-powered controller.
• Adaptation: Drip systems are adaptable to oddly shaped garden beds or those with uneven topography or soil texture, thereby maximizing the use of available land.
• Production advantages: Combined with raised beds, polyethylene mulch, and transplants, drip irrigation enhances earliness and crop uniformity. Using polyethylene mulch also increases the cleanliness of harvested products and reduces the risk of contamination with soil-born pathogens. Reflective mulches further help reduce the incidence of viral diseases by affecting insect vectors, such as thrips, whiteflies or aphids.