Given the difficulties even small droughts can cause farmers, irrigation technology that might make farmer’s lives easier is always worth noting. To that end, Elton Robinson has a story in the Delta Farm Press on underground drip irrigation systems.Robinson notes in his story that the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) makes funding available for new irrigation systems that will increase water-use efficiency. West Tennessee farmer Jeff Hill took advantage of this program to install a underground drip irrigation system on his land. Hill states in Robinson’s article that ‘“EQIP paid almost $400 per acre of the installation costs for the drip system, which made trying it a viable option.’ Hill said the costs of installation on the 40-acre field were around $800 to $900 per acre, with Hill supplying the labor.”
While Hill said installing the technology took considerable man power, when the irrigation system was in the ground, ‘“It still made a difference in the cotton crop that year. We had some 2.5 bale cotton . . . It’s very labor intensive. But once you forget how much trouble it was to put in, it’s a good system.”’ Apparently, fertilizer can be applied through the drip. Much like a sprinkler system for a neighborhood lawn, the drip system can be programmed for seven days. However, Hill does have concern that iron could build up in the system and cause problems down the road.
Hill has had to repair “quite a few leaks,” but he attributes this to putting the system in the ground in the spring and summer instead of the fall. ‘“If we would have installed it in the fall, the ground would have had time to settle around it.”’ Still, according to Robinson’s article, Hill expects the hard work and dealing with occasional leaks to pay off in the value of his crop production. ‘“With irrigation, the crop yield potential is more consistent. With the drip system, you can consistently make 200-plus bushel corn and 1,200-pound cotton.”’
Given Hill’s results in West Tennessee, more farmers may be ready to give this technology a try.
To read Robinson’s article on underground drip irrigation and Jeff Hill’s experience with the technology click here.
Posted: 08/20/09
