What types of irrigation are there and which one is best for me?

The methods used have been continuously developed. However, the basis is still knowledge and laws that go back to the knowledge of past cultures and traditional roots.

All of the types of irrigation listed below have their origins in an ambitious examination of the problems of everyday life on farms. Some of them have had a lasting effect on plant care in your own four walls thanks to their user-friendly handling and flexible design.

The requirements for an irrigation system can differ greatly in many respects. The individual conditions of terrain and soil require a wide range of ideas and innovation. Agricultural pioneering work has always been considered a source of progress and sustainability. Experience gained over generations and new achievements form a perfect symbiosis to make daily work with plant cultures more efficient.

The most common types of irrigation

Mobile irrigation

Mobile sprinkling is an irrigation system that consists of a mobile sprinkling machine and a sprinkler trolley connected to it. Even if one or the other possible application can be found in the leisure and hobby area, mobile irrigation is primarily one of the types of irrigation used in agriculture. 

Whether in seasonal cycles or shorter periods: a mobile sprinkler system is a flexible system that can be used in a wide variety of areas. The freedom of movement provided by mobility is one of the great advantages. The high pressure required at the nozzle for ideal throwing behavior is seen as a disadvantage.

Some of the established manufacturers in the field of irrigation machines:

• Farmer

• Nettuno

• Idrofoglia

The pumping of the water from the source to the nozzle always follows the same processes. The water is taken from a connection and conveyed through a turbine in the machine via a hose to the sprinkler. A drum movement is implemented via the gearbox driven by the turbine, and the reel catches up with the sprinkler trolley while the pull hose is rolled up. Which sprinkler system meets the existing requirements can be determined based on the local conditions. Two examples would be:

jet car

large area sprinkler

The advantage of a large area sprinkler lies in the lower acquisition costs. The added value of a jet trolley can be found in the lower working pressure and excellent water distribution.

The following conditions must be taken into account when making the choice: 

• plot structure

• water pressure

• terrain

Based on these criteria, the possibilities on-site can be assessed and investments carefully weighed. Expertise and specialist knowledge can be a reliable support for such decisions.

Make use of advisory help and benefit from many years of experience in dealing with this form of irrigation. Therein lies an invaluable added value. We are happy to assist you with our service.

Drip irrigation

The drip irrigation system is based on a simple principle: water is pumped from a source into a flat hose or LayFlat hose and distributed to secondary lines, the so-called drip hoses. Equally spaced drippers sit in these secondary lines, delivering water directly to the plant at a constant intensity.

Drip irrigation is a widespread method that scores with low operating pressure and targeted water release.

Due to the low work pressure and the selective distribution near the plants, there is an excellent ratio of energy consumption and efficiency. Over the past few years, more and more innovative products have been brought onto the market in the drip irrigation category. Two product lines stand out from the multitude of great offers:

Netafim

NETAFIM supplies the world's best-selling drip system with their FlexNet flat hose and Streamline drip hose. The hoses impress with their user-friendliness, flexible and robust material, solid workmanship, and reliability. Due to the low working pressure, ideal conditions must prevail in the hose to be able to guarantee a constant flow of water. To prevent contamination from outside, specially fitted membranes protect the outlets from the ingress of sandy soil or plant residue.

Irritec

With its P1 drip hose, the Italian company IRRITEC produces a product for agricultural use. In combination with the appropriate LayFlat hose, the result is an irrigation system that has been tried and tested over the years for more demanding tasks. At the same time, one of their products, the Multibar drip hose, can be found in many domestic gardens. The flexible PE pipe system is a popular model in the horticultural market. 

Drip irrigation is an ideal method for many different tasks. Whether in your garden or on a farm, the advantages of this irrigation method speak in favor of this system in many cases.

Large area irrigation technology

Large area irrigation is suitable for irrigation areas of at least 25 hectares. Particularly large systems are set up here to irrigate particularly precisely and cost-effectively. This is often done with isolated sprinklers, which are attached to large swivel arms. With this technology, up to 60% of the energy costs can be permanently saved. However, the integration of such a system requires area size and structure.

Circle, part circle, and sector irrigation

Circle, part-circle, or sector sprinklers are generally understood to mean sprinklers that can irrigate defined zones or sectors over an area.

Circular sprinklers do their work in a wide range of applications. Its basic principle is used in large circular irrigation machines in agricultural operations as well as in related systems for watering leisure facilities and parks or lawns and vegetable patches in the home garden.

Depending on the manufacturer and model, different concepts for construction and handling are offered. Different beam angles and beam widths can be determined by changing or modifying nozzles. The sprinklers can be equipped with multiple nozzles and are often suitable both as circular sprinklers and for sprinkling-defined sectors. Important values ​​when looking for suitable models are:

• nozzle width

• operating pressure

• flow rate

• Processed Materials

Some available circle and sector sprinklers are also suitable for frost sprinkling and can therefore be found in both categories. Frost irrigation is a special field in agricultural fruit, vegetable, and wine growing. Here, the effect of the so-called heat of solidification is used. In combination with a sprinkler system, fresh blossoms and young leaves can be protected from frost damage.

Conclusion

The three most common types of irrigation cover a wide range of applications. Suitable products can be found on the market for small gardens as well as for sprinkling large areas. Good knowledge of local conditions helps in finding adaptable and reliable systems.

With the help of competent planning and expert advice, the desired goals can be achieved without time-consuming detours. Ground and terrain conditions, paired with the existing connection options and their throughput, are the decisive factors in the choice of a system in addition to the available pressure.