Tips in Choosing the Best Irrigators

Certain factors determine the agricultural value of land use in Tasmania such as climate, soil, topography and the ample supply of irrigation water. Despite the constraints that threaten its progressive agriculture industry, specifically the need for effective irrigation systems, farming practices have markedly progressed in the region. Thanks to the continued support and cooperation of government, farm equipments manufacturers and the crop growers themselves who collectively have the common goal for a sustainable irrigation agriculture and crop production. Depending on the type of soil and farm location, a diverse variety of ways to an effective irrigation is available to farmers and plant growers in Tasmania. The cheapest and oldest kind is the surface irrigation. This is also called the furrow or flood irrigation method whereby water is made to flow by force of gravity on canals or channels dug between plant rows. A good example is the ones used in terraced plant fields where water is irrigated from the upstream to down below the lowest level of the farm field. Irrigation can also be channeled by means of a pump set if the land level does not permit the flow of gravity to irrigate the soil. Another type of irrigator in areas where the flow of natural water is scarce is the localized irrigation through the use of pipes and tubes that help distribute water directly to the plants. Sprinkler and drip devices both belong to this type of irrigation systems. There is more control with the quantity of water to be used depending on the location and the dryness of the farm soil in this type of irrigation equipment. Drip irrigation is said to be the most efficient and water saving irrigation equipment. It is also cheaper than the sprinkler device in terms of acquisition cost because of its simple design and easy installation process. Since irrigation is on slower rate of speed, water is distributed in trickles and absorbed by the soil efficiently thereby minimizing runoffs. Through the use of a hard hose as drip line, water is applied directly to the roots consequently avoiding unnecessary water misuse. In centre pivot irrigation, the device involves the use of an elevated sprinkler mechanism that revolves around a pivot. These irrigator devices are strategically installed in places where water is needed the most. Farmers consider this pivot irrigation as the most efficient since it has the capacity to irrigate large scale farm lots. It is also the most expensive type since it involves the use of more complicated mechanisms than the others. In a travelling irrigator, the sprinkler apparatus is mounted on a wheeled device that can move from across the field where irrigation is necessary. Its most valuable advantage over the others is its mobility to irrigate even the farthest corner of the farm area. Since not all soils in Tasmania possess the natural characteristics conducive to a healthy and sustainable crop production, significant intervention to aid in soil management is important. Irregular rainfall is a major setback that brings about drought and low water security. For this reason, an efficient irrigation agriculture system is a very vital aspect for agriculture to prosper. Therefore it is imperative that a better understanding on which type of irrigation equipment is best suited to achieve a successful agricultural production.