The low-volume requirement of drip irrigation is a good match with supply lines that are old, corroded, and therefore restricted.Can be easily expanded or adjusted to accommodate additional plants: emitters can be exchanged or removed, emitter lines can be repositioned, and drip lines can be plugged.Can be managed automatically, with an AC or battery powered controller.Prevents disease by minimizing water contact with the leaves, stems, and fruit of plants.Limits water loss caused by runoff, wind, and evaporation, due to its slow and direct watering method.Drip irrigation is also a good watering method for sloped plantings because the slow rate of applied water is more likely to soak into the soil before gravity causes runoff.Īlthough drip irrigation has been traditionally used for growing fruit and vegetables commercially, it is a system that is also well-adapted on a smaller scale, in home and school gardens.Īdditional benefits of drip irrigation include: Therefore, while sprinkler systems are 50-70% efficient, drip irrigation exceeds 90% efficiency. Also, plant roots fare better with even soil moisture than the wet/dry fluctuation that results from sprinkler irrigation. Some systems may also contain soaker hoses, which release water along their entire lengths.Because of the low flow and low pressure, water is applied much more slowly than with a sprinkler system. Drip irrigation (also known as micro-irrigation or trickle irrigation), transports low-pressure water to plants through a network of plastic tubes and emitters, delivering it to precise locations in your garden.

Drip irrigation system