Farm engineering topics: Trials with trickle irrigation

Abstract

The trickle system of irrigation, used successfully for a number of years in glasshouse cropping, has been simplified for use on a field scale. The work was started by Symcha Blass in Israel in 1962 and its application has already reached Australia. The system has been used under New Zealand conditions by the N. Z. Agricultural Engineering Institute, at Lincoln College, during the past season and it is showing considerable promise. Pressures and flow rates are much below those used in conventional irrigation systems so that capital investment in pumps and supply mains is appreciably less. Overall water use is considerably reduced by eliminating evaporative losses during application and supplying only the plants' exact requirements. In this way, water sources normally considered too small for irrigation may be used. The complete reticulation system for trickle consists of commercial grade, low density polythene pipe and the simple methods of jointing eliminate the need for any proprietary fittings.