Irrigation system

Irrigation is the operation of artificially supplying water to cultivated plants to increase production and allow their normal development, in case of water deficit caused by a rainfall deficit, excessive drainage, or a drop in the water table, especially in arid areas.

Irrigation can also have other applications :

the supply of fertilizing elements either to the soil or, by spraying, to the leaves (foliar fertilization); in hydroponic culture, irrigation is completely merged with fertilization
the fight against frost, by spraying water on the foliage (orchards, vineyards) can help gain a few precious degrees at the time of spring frosts, or in some cases by flooding.

Generally, the term "watering" is used for small areas (gardening), reserving the term "irrigation" for larger areas (open-field agriculture, horticulture), but there is no standard in this matter.

Obviously, irrigation must primarily be based on the water needs of the plants. But other factors come into play such as soil type, climate, and type of plot.

Choosing your irrigation system

The choice of irrigation system must be made by considering several criteria and should be planned for the long term. Indeed, the cheapest systems are those that require the highest labor costs or consumption of water and energy.

At the dawn of the climate changes expected for this half-century, investments must be made with full knowledge of the facts. The solutions presented have an average lifespan between 25 and 30 years.

Full coverage

Water application efficiency : from 70 to 95%
Energy consumption : ++
Sensitivity to wind : ++
Strengths : Adaptable to any type of plot
Weaknesses : Requires labor to install and dismantle each year

Reel gun

Water application efficiency : from 80 to 95%
Energy consumption : +++
Sensitivity to wind : ++
Strengths : Robust and versatile
Weaknesses : Requires labor for setup

Boom and center pivot

Water application efficiency : from 90 to 95%
Energy consumption : ++
Sensitivity to wind : +
Strengths : Water distribution, fertigation, remote management
Weaknesses : Difficult to move from one plot to another

Micro-irrigation

Water application efficiency : about 95%
Energy consumption : +
Sensitivity to wind : -
Strengths : Water efficiency, low flow rate, fertigation
Weaknesses : More maintenance, more frequent replacement

Sources

Wikipedia page on irrigation