Irrigation: Choosing The Correct System Ensures Success

Agriculture is a sector in which the judicious application of water is crucial, but South African producers have learned from the best over the years – think Israel, which is a desert area for the most part.

- Koos du Pisanie

Most of the irrigation systems they use are available here, but with the flood of systems available on the market, it is often difficult to choose the one most suited to your farming environment. Stockfarm spoke to a few experts in the field to find out what the options are.

Different irrigation systems

Francois Griesel of Valley Irrigation says there are many factors to consider before deciding on the right irrigation system. He divides the different irrigation systems into centre pivot, drip irrigation, micro-sprinklers, permanent sprayers on fields, quick coupling systems, cannon sprinklers, and flood and channel systems.

The factors that will influence the choice of system include the crops planted and the type of soil. “The help of an expert is needed to decide on the correct crop and cultivar for the specific soil/water combination. This will include information on planting direction, spacing, seed density, cultivation practices, water demand and climate control,” says Francois.

He also believes it is useful to conduct a thorough soil analysis that will highlight the texture, infiltration rate, water-holding capacity, depth and permeability.

Factors to consider

Gerhard Grobler of Water Pleasure agrees. However, he adds that several other factors must also be considered.