Types |
Uses |
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
OUTDOOR
SYSTEMS
|
1)Surface
Irrigation |
a) flood |
rice, orchards,
cranberry |
1) good wetting
2) frost protection |
1) need level land
2) uses lots of water
3) some plants sensitive |
b) basin |
rice, orchards,
cranberry |
1 & 2) same as flood
3) irrigate sections |
1 & 2) same as flood
3) upkeep of levees
4) slightly unleveled land |
c) furrow |
row crops |
1) less water used
2) ideal for rows |
1) uneven distribution
2) supervise for erosion |
2)Sprinkler
Irrigation |
container plants,
turf,
high value fruits
and vegetables |
1) irrigate section
2) can be automated
3) evaporative cooling
4) frost protection |
1) high cost
2) wind disrupts
3) nozzles clog |
3)Drip
or Trickle
Irrigation |
fruit (2.5 gal/hr/tree)
row crops (300-400
gal/acre/day) |
1) most water efficient
2) less plant stress
3) low pressure equip |
1) high cost
2) emitters clog |
GREENHOUSE
SYSTEMS
|
1) Manual |
anything |
1) personal monitoring |
1) high labor costs |
2) Chapin
Tube or
Spaghetti Tube |
container plants |
1) keeps foliage dry
2) can be automated |
1) must use fine medium
2) gets tangled
3) high costs |
3) Capillary
Mat |
container plants |
1) constant moisture,
maximum growth
2) keeps foliage dry
3) can be automated |
1) need fine medium
2) 6" or less pots
3) too wet for some
4) algae growth on mat |
4) Subirrigation
or Ebb & Flow |
container plants |
1) keeps foliage dry
2) can be automated |
1) high cost
2) disease may spread |
5) Spray
Nozzles |
bench crops |
1) can be automated |
1) moderate cost |
6) Sprinkler |
container plants,
bench crops |
1) can be automated
2) evaporative cooling |
1) high cost
2) nozzles clog |