Are you a farmer or a home owner with a landscape in front? Then you must have faced the issues of watering the crops that are irrigation. Irrigation is a mechanical or sometimes manual process of applying controlled amounts of water to the land in assisting in the production of crops and plantation and in growing landscape plants and lawns, where it may be simply known as watering. Irrigation also helps to revegetate the disturbed soils in the dry areas and during periods of less than average rainfall during the year. Irrigation is a vast concept that has so many types. Sprinkler irrigation is also a part of it about which this whole article is about. Read till the end of this article if you are interested in gaining detailed knowledge about inground irrigation systems.

 

What is a Sprinkler Irrigation System?

Sprinkler or spray irrigation is a convenient method of applying water to the crops in a controlled manner similar to rainfall through a small diameter nozzle placed in the pipes. This system allows the application of water under high pressure with the help of a pump. The water is distributed through a long and wide channel that may consist of some pumps, valves, pipes, and sprinklers sprayed into the air, and it rinses in most of the soil types due to its wide range of discharge capacity. It can be used for residential, industrial, and agricultural usage.

 

Components

Let’s discuss some essential components of sprinkling irrigation system and their uses.

 

Pump unit:

Sprinkler irrigation system distributes the water by spraying it over the fields and landscapes. The water is pumped under considerable pressure over the areas. The pressure forces the water through the sprinklers or the nozzles in pipelines, and then they form a spray. A high-speed and efficient centrifugal pump or turbine pump operates individual fields’ sprinkler irrigation. The driving unit in the pumps may be either an electric motor or an internal combustion engine motor.

 

Tubings: 

The tubings consist of three components: mainline, submanins, and laterals. The mainline transfers the water from the source and distributes it to the other sub mains. The submains then convey that water to the laterals, which supply the water to the sprinklers.

 

Couplers:

The couplers are used for connecting two pipes and their uncoupling. It should provide reuse and flexible connection and not leak at the joint. It should be simple and easy to couple and uncouple and be durable.

There are some primary benefits of sprinkler irrigation systems listed below.

Advantages:

  • It eliminates the water conveyance channels, which leads to the reduction of conveyance loss.
  • It is suitable for all types of soil and field conditions except heavy clay soil.
  • It is also ideal for irrigation, where the population per unit area is very high.
  • As the water is minimum, water is saved up to 30% – 50 %.
  •  Water is distributed in a uniform manner with high efficiency sprinkling system
  • Measurement of distributed water is accurate and consistent.
  • It is beneficial to increase the yield.
  • It reduces soil compaction.
  • The mobility of the irrigation system helps the operator to work efficiently.
  • It is also suitable for undulating the land.
  • It saves the ground as no bunds are required for sprinkling irrigation.
  • Soluble fertilizers and chemicals are possible when we opt for this irrigation method.
  • It provides frost protection & helps in the alteration of the microclimate.
  • Sprinkling irrigation system reduces the labour cost.