Benefits of Drip Irrigation

Drip Irrigation has many benefits that can increase crop yields of many farmers. We have listed 4 reasons below why drip irrigation is good for your farm.

1. Water Conservation
   Drip Irrigation systems apply water on a high-frequency basis and create a near optimal soil moisture environment for the crop. Under proper management, micro irrigation saves water since only the plant’s root zone is supplied with water and little, if any, is lost to deep percolation, consumption by non-beneficial plants, or soil surface evaporation. Some movement of moisture below the crop roots is necessary to prevent excessive salt buildup in the root zone. If you have a water problem get a drip irrigation kit/system and start conserving your well. Farmers in Kenya should choose drip irrigation for maximum water usage.
2. Direct Water Application
   Drip irrigation applies water directly to the soil surface (crop roots) or subsurface and allows the water to dissipate under low pressure in a predetermined pattern. A wet profile develops in the plant’s root zone beneath each dripper. Ideally, the area between rows or individual plants remains dry and receives moisture only from incidental rainfall. The advantages of drip systems for farmers in Kenya are that the water is applied directly to the soil in a smaller wetted area reducing evaporation and water consumption by weeds while operating at a lower pressure. This ensures that your crop gets water directly to its roots and saving you from weeding expenses which would arise from sprinkler or flood irrigation.
3. Low pressure system equals lower energy consumption
   Drip irrigation systems operate at relatively low pressure compared to sprinkler irrigation. For this reason, pumping costs are substantially less than sprinkler systems. A pressure regulator is used to control the lateral line pressure. Multiple pressure regulators may be desirable for locations with large elevation changes. However, if pressure-compensated drippers/emitters are used, less pressure regulation at the laterals is needed.
4. Irrigation of any piece of land
   Drip irrigation systems are useful and suitable for sloping or irregularly-shaped pieces of land that are impossible to flood or sprinkler irrigate. A relatively small elevation drop is enough to operate a micro irrigation system on gravity pressure

Drip Irrigation Kits For Beginners in Kenya
A low-risk way to get started with drip irrigation in Kenya is to buy a starter kit. Most companies that sell drip irrigation systems also offer kits for both small and large farms, which come with the essential components necessary to set up the system. Keep in mind that kits often don’t include parts such as gate valves and water filters. Be sure to buy a kit that can be added onto, so you can expand your system over time. Graduate Farmer provides a complete kit for young/beginner farmers in Kenya to get them started. This kit contains all the components needed to installation and space for expansion if needed. To learn more, buy or make an inquiry you can visit this page.