This document discusses drip irrigation, which is a micro irrigation method that applies water at a very low rate directly to plant roots. It describes the key components of a drip irrigation system, including pumps, filters, pipes, emitters, and how water flows through the system. The benefits of drip irrigation for fruit crops are highlighted, such as increased yields and water savings compared to flood irrigation. It also notes some disadvantages, such as higher initial costs. Tables provide examples of yield increases and water savings achieved with drip irrigation for various crops compared to flood irrigation.

1. COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
ASSAM AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY,JORHAT
DEPARTMENT OF HORTICULTURE
Presented By:
Utpal Das
14-AMJ-93

2. DRIP IRRIGATION
 Drip irrigation is a micro irrigation method in which
the rate of water application is very low and without
any pressure. i.e., drop by drop
 Drip irrigation is based on the basic concept of
irrigation only the roots zone of crop , rather than the
entire land surface on which the crop is grown.

3.  Water flows from the emission
points through the soil by
capillarity and gravity.
 The soil moisture content of the
crop root zone is maintain at near
optimum level to facilate optimum
crop growth and production.

4. ARRANGEMENT FOR DRIP SYSTEM

5. DRIP IRRIGATION IS USEFUL FOR FRUIT
CROPS
Banana, Grapes, Citrus, Pomegranate,
Papaya, Pineapple, Watermelon, Sweet lime,
Mango, Kinnow, Mosambi.

6. ADVANTAGES OF DRIP IRRIGATION IN
FRUITS
 Increased yield
 Early maturity
 Water saving
 Fertilizer saving
 Increased fertilizer use efficiency by crop
 Energy saving
 Labour saving
 Marginal land & undulated land can be irrigated
 Use of saline water is possible for irrigation
 Reduced weed growth
 Less problem of disease and pest
 Easy intercultural operations

7. DISADVANTAGES OF DRIP IRRIGATION
 High cost :
 drip irrigation systems are expensive because of there requirements of
large quantity of piping & filtration equipment to clean the water.
 Expense:
 Initial cost can be more than overhead systems.
 Waste:
 The sun can affect the tubes used for drip irrigation, shortening their
usable life. Longevity is variable.
 Clogging:
 If the water is not properly filtered and the equipment not properly
maintained, it can result in clogging.
 Drip tape causes extra cleanup costs after harvest. You'll need to plan for drip
tape winding, disposal, recycling or reuse.
 This method is not suitable for closely planted crops such as wheat

8. COMPARISON
Drip method Flood method
Water saving
High,
between 40 and 100 %
Less. High rates of
evaporation, surface run off
and percolation
Irrigation efficiency 80 – 90 % 30 - 50 %
Weed problem Almost nil High
Suitable water
Even saline water can be
used
Only normal water can be
used
Diseases and pests Relatively less High
Efficiency of fertilizer use
Very high since supply is
regulated
Heavy losses due to
leaching

9. Drip method Flood method
Water logging Nil High
Water control
Can be regulated easily Not much control
Cost benefit ratio (additional
amount in rupees for every
rupee invested)
Excluding water savings: 1.3 -
13.3, Including water
savings: 2.8 - 30.0
Between 1.8 and 3.9
Capital cost/ha Rs 15,000 to 40, 000
depending ––
on crop spacing
Yield increase
20 - 100 % higher than flood
method
Less compared to drip

10. COMPONENTS OF DRIP IRRIGATION
SYSTEM
 Pumping set
 Filters
 Mainlines
 Sub-main
 Laterals
 Drippers/emitters

11.  Pumping set:
To create a pressure about 2.5
Kg/sq cm to regulate the
amount of water to be
supplied.
• Filter :
To filter the water in
Order to remove the
suspended impurities
from water.

12.  Main lines:
 It is a Distribution system in drip
irrigation. Rigid PVC and high density
polyethylene pipes are used as main
pipes to minimized corrosion and
clogging.
 Pipes of 65 mm diameter and with
pressure rating of 4 to 10 kg/sq. cm
 Sub Main:
 It is usually connected to the main lines
through a control valve assembly.
 The function of its to distributes water
uniformly to a number laterals.

13.  Drippers/emitters:
 It is fitted to a drip irrigation
lateral and intended to emit water
in the form of drops or continuous
flow at emitter rates not exceeding
15 liters/hr.
 Drippers function as energy
dissipated, reducing the inlet
pressure head in the lateral, which
generally range from 0.3 to 1.5
atmosphere .

14. CROP
YIELD (kg/acre)
Surface Drip % more
WATER USE (m3/acre)
Surface Drip % saving
Banana
Grapes
Pomegranate
Sweetlime
Mango
Papaya
Watermelon
Ber/tree
Kinnow
Guava/tree
23000
8000
6050
4000
3000
5200
9610
13.7
2720
160
35000
12000
11700
6000
5400
9200
15500
18.0
3920
220
52.1
50.0
94.5
50.0
80.0
76.9
61.3
31.3
44.1
37.5
7040 3880 44.8
3520
3920
34.02320
2196
6640
5100
2560
3324 34.8
61.4
43.9
68.0
40.5
18.8
29209120
1680
15.4
884
1000
12.5
692 21.7
6.4 5.2 18.7
Mosambi* 40000 50.060000 6640 2560 61.4

15.  More than 70% of Indian
farmers are small scale
operators cultivating plots
less than one hectare. Irratic
rainfall pattern play havoc
into the livelihoods of the
small farmers who do not
have any alternate supply of
water.
BENEFITS TO FARMERS :

16. CONCLUSION
• Drip irrigation system is an economical and very
efficient system of irrigating for fruit crops,
vegetables, row crops etc.
• Drip irrigated crops use less water compared to
overhead irrigated crops.
• Drip irrigation increase yield.

17. Thank you