METHODS AND TECHNIQUES OF

IRRIGATION

As water becomes less accessible,

Australians will need to look at
more efficient ways to irrigate.
The
current worldwide trend
towards
the use of recycled
water in major
urban applications
shows great promise
and is increasing as the cost of potable water
climbs and treated water becomes more
accessible. Large open spaces, like sports fields
and ovals, lend themselves to using recycled
water. Farmers use a variety of irrigation
techniques to apply water to their crops and
pastures.

Drip or Trickle Irrigation Method

Drip irrigation was the most common
method of irrigation in Australia.
Drip irrigation was used on 80% of farms
where their main irrigation activity was
fruit growing and 73% of farms whose
main irrigation activity was grape
growing.

Environmental Sustainability
* Water saving (i.e. greater efficiency and
reduced losses)
* Reduced drainage hazards
* Ability to utilize lower quality water
* Reduced farm inputs
* Increased land utilization (i.e. irregular
topography)
* Less off-site impact of nutrients

Crop & Farm Benefits

Cost savings (i.e. energy, water, fertilizer)
Increased distribution uniformity
Precision water application
Increased production per ML
Improved plant health (i.e. salinity, fungal, nutrient management)
Increased access/traffic ability
Greater weed control
SDI Distribution Uniformity (DU) can be
93% or higher, compared with sprinklers at 60% to 80% and
surface irrigation at 50% to 60%

There are two types of drip irrigation:

1. Surface drip irrigation: Water is applied directly
to the soil surface.
2. Sub-surface drip irrigation: Water is below the
soil surface.

Sub-surface Irrigation
Surface Irrigation

Some advantages of a sub-surface

drip system are:

* Reduced water consumption (perhaps as high

as 50% depending on prior watering practices).
There is no evaporation, wind-deflection,
runoff or overspray.
* No vandalism or system damage as there are
no surface components;
* Hazard-free for grounds-users;
* Ideal for treated effluent/wastewater. It is totally
accepted by EPA/Health Commission;
* Irrigation scheduling can occur even when the
grounds are in use.

SURFACE IRRIGATION

Furrow systems
This system comprises a
series of small, shallow
channels used to guide
water down a slope across a
paddock. Furrows are
generally straight but may
also be curved to follow the
contour of the land,
especially on steeply sloping
land. Row crops are typically
grown on the ridge or bed
between the furrows, spaced
from 1 m apart.

Flood or border check systems

These systems divide the
paddock into bays separated
by parallel ridges/border
checks. Water flows down
the paddock's slope as a
sheet guided by ridges. On
steeply sloping lands, ridges
are more closely spaced and
may be curved to follow the
contour of the land. Border
systems are suited to
orchards and vineyards, and
for pastures and grain crops.

Level basin systems

These systems differ
from traditional Border
check or flood systems
in that the slope of the
land is level and the
area's ends are closed.
Water is applied at high
volumes to achieve an
even, rapid ponding of
the desired application
depth within basins.

SPRINKLER METHODS

 Centre-pivot sprinkler systems

Centre-pivot sprinkler is a selfpropelled system in which a
single
pipeline supported
by a
row of mobile
towers is
suspended
24 m above
ground.

SPRINKLER METHODS

Hand move sprinkler

systems
Hand move sprinkler systems are
a series of lightweight pipeline
sections that are moved manually
for successive irrigations. Lateral
pipelines are connected to a
mainline, which may be portable or
buried. Hand move systems are
often used for small, irregular
areas. Hand move systems are not
suited to tall-growing field crops
due to difficulty in repositioning
laterals. Labor requirements are
higher than for all other sprinklers.

Solid set/fixed sprinkler

systems
Solid set/fixed refer to a stationary sprinkler
system. Water-supply pipelines are generally
fixed (usually below the soil surface) and
sprinkler nozzles are elevated above the
surface. Solid-set systems are commonly used
in orchards and vineyards for frost protection
and crop cooling. Solid-set systems are also
widely used on turf and in landscaping.

Travelling gun sprinkler

systems
Travelling gun systems use a large
sprinkler mounted on a wheel or trailer,
fed by a flexible rubber hose. The
sprinkler is self-propelled while applying
water, travelling in a lane guided by a
cable. The system requires high
operating pressures, with 100 psi not
uncommon.

Side-roll wheel-move
systems
Side-roll wheel-move systems have
large-diameter wheels mounted on a
pipeline, enabling the line to be rolled as
a unit to successive positions across the
field. Crop type is an important
consideration for this system because
the pipeline is roughly 1 m above ground.

Linear or lateral-move
systems
Linear or lateral-move systems are
similar to Centre-pivot systems, except
that the lateral line and towers move in a
continuous straight path across a
rectangular field. Water may be supplied
by a flexible hose or pressurized from a
concrete-lined ditch along the field's
edge.