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Subsurface Drip Irrigation Jordan Gatlin SOIL 4213 April 15, 2013

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Subsurface Drip Irrigation. Jordan Gatlin SOIL 4213 April 15, 2013. What is SDI?. In subsurface drip irrigation, drip tape is buried below the soil surface Effective tool for water placement. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: Subsurface Drip Irrigation

Subsurface Drip Irrigation

Jordan GatlinSOIL 4213

April 15, 2013

Page 2: Subsurface Drip Irrigation

What is SDI? In subsurface drip irrigation, drip tape is

buried below the soil surface Effective tool for water placement

http://www.cottoninc.com/fiber/AgriculturalDisciplines/Engineering/Irrigation-Management/Irrigation-Systems-Overview/

http://home.howstuffworks.com/irrigation4.htm

Page 3: Subsurface Drip Irrigation

Components Pump Filtration system

Sand media or disk filter

Based on water quality, emitter requirements, and system flow rate

“Heart” of the system Pressure gauge Backflow preventer Pressure regulator valves

Page 4: Subsurface Drip Irrigation

Components Fertilizer injector Flowmeter Main line Sub-mains Flushing manifold Lateral drip tape Emitters

Page 5: Subsurface Drip Irrigation

Components Computer

Used to program different irrigation schedules

Allows system to be automated

Logs volume of water moved through system

Page 6: Subsurface Drip Irrigation
Page 7: Subsurface Drip Irrigation
Page 8: Subsurface Drip Irrigation

Installation Drip line is installed by tractor Depths vary from 6—24” Shallower in sandy soils, deeper in clayey soils Width is typically set on a 60” row spacing

Crops such as alfalfa 40” The wider the row spacing, the fewer the

rotation options

Page 9: Subsurface Drip Irrigation
Page 10: Subsurface Drip Irrigation

Pros Water is used more efficiently. It is placed

directly where it is needed, at the roots, and does not hit leaves on the way down from the sprinkler or evaporate

This also leads to less disease pressure, due to drier surface conditions and canopies that could inhibit spread of disease

Water can be managed at a variable rate if needed

Page 11: Subsurface Drip Irrigation

Pros Limited weed growth and decreased weed

germination because water is not on surface Field operations can occur during irrigation Can irrigate in conjunction with nutrient

management practices, i.e. nitrogen or swine effluent application

No runoff because the water is applied below ground

Page 12: Subsurface Drip Irrigation

Cons High initial installation cost System can get clogged (emitters,

pump, etc) Few visual indicators of system

operation If something goes wrong, the tape may

have to be excavated to diagnose and fix

Page 13: Subsurface Drip Irrigation

http://www.hpwd.com/media/photo-library

Page 14: Subsurface Drip Irrigation

Cons Rodent tunneling may damage the tape Equipment may damage the tape If there is not enough pressure to drive

the system, it will not operate correctly Pressure valves and sensors may fail

Page 15: Subsurface Drip Irrigation

Cost Anywhere between $1000 –2000 per acre

Can be installed by producer to minimize costs EQIP—2008 Farm Bill provided funds to install SDI,

and can also help with improvements Requires NRCS to give priority to applications that

demonstrate a reduction in water use by the agricultural operation

Maintenance Can be costly, especially when major repairs occur Sand filters have to be replaced each year

Page 16: Subsurface Drip Irrigation

Life Expectancy Normally 12—15 years System needs to be active for at least 10—15

years to reasonably approach economic competitiveness with full sized center pivot sprinklers that typically last 20+ years

Page 17: Subsurface Drip Irrigation

Future Applications? One future application that SDI is being

proposed for is to limit water use/increase water use efficiency in the Oklahoma Panhandle/Ogallala Aquifer area.

This area has been hit hard by drought and decline in groundwater levels.

SDI can be used to better control the use of water from this important resource.

Page 18: Subsurface Drip Irrigation

Questions?