News


Agricultural irrigation systems: types and characteristics

At present we can find different types of irrigation that help the farmer to counteract the lack of rainfall and have the necessary supply for the development of plants

At present we can find different types of irrigation that help the farmer to counteract the lack of rainfall and have the necessary supply for the development of plants:

 

Gravity Irrigation

 

This type of irrigation, also known as surface irrigation, consists of distributing the water through channels within the growing area. For efficient gravity irrigation, the reservoir must be large enough so that all the water can be accumulated in the ditches and later distributed among the different irrigation points.

 

Once the water is flowing through the channels, the gravitational force itself is responsible for the distribution across the surface of the field. It is very important to bear in mind that once the saturation point is reached, the flow of water must be stopped to prevent the flooding of the plantation.

 

Mikalor ASFA clamps are an excellent choice for gravity irrigation, as they can be used in any application involving water distribution with hoses.

 

Sprinkler irrigation

 

Sprinkler irrigation consists of applying irrigation water to the field with sprinklers in a way which is similar to natural rainfall.

Today a wide variety of sprinkler irrigation systems (mobile, stationary, and self-propelled) are available on the market. This type of irrigation can be used on any type of land, the only factor to be taken into account is the wind, which can be a limiting factor.

 

Fixed sprinklers:

 

This type of sprinkler is composed of different pipes placed under the field, and are connected to rotating nozzles, which distribute the water in a circle.

 

Fixed sprinklers are usually arranged in a square, rectangular, or triangular configuration so that the irrigation covers the field correctly and does not leave any gaps without sprinkling.

 

The type of nozzle on the sprinkler determines the size of the water droplets. This is a very important detail since if the droplets are too small it is very possible that the air can deflect them or that they evaporate before reaching the ground. Conversely, if the droplets are too large, they can damage the land and crops.

 

For irrigation to be carried out efficiently, it is very important to take into account the characteristics of the sprinkler (nominal working pressure, nozzle flow, reach, precipitation etc. The majority of fixed sprinklers work under medium pressure.

 

Mobile sprinklers:

 

Mobile sprinklers are made up of a network of underground pipes connected to different sprinklers which can be moved manually whenever the farmer deems it necessary. These are suitable for smaller growing areas.

 

 

Self-propelled sprinkling:

 

This type of irrigation is much more elaborate and complex since the water is distributed using a pivot system. The self-propelled sprinkler can reach great distances, but it only irrigates in a circular pattern, for this reason it is recommended for large plots of regular shape.

 

Mikalor SUPRA and SUPER clamps are perfect for any type of sprinkler irrigation. They are very widely used in irrigation systems where the water outlet pressure is very high and requires ease of assembly and a very large diameter of clamp.

 

Drip irrigation

 

This type of irrigation is the most common in arid areas. In this case the water is distributed pre-filtered and containing fertilizers, either underground or on top of the soil. The distribution is carried out between 2 or 3 times a day through a network of pipes.

 

Drip irrigation is recommended in row crops or hydroponic crops as it avoids the oscillation of humidity that can occur with other types of irrigation.

 

For this type of irrigation, Mikalor ear clamps or ASFA clamp are a great option since they offer quick and easy application and avoid any type of leakage.