Drip irrigation: a comparative study of irrigation technologies

During the last 20 years, drip irrigation has assumed an important position amongst the various methods of field irrigation. However, for this relatively highly sophisticated irrigation technique, we still have to establish which are the most appropriate fields of application. Until this has been achieved, in many cases traditional irrigation methods will be applied where drip irrigation could give better results and vice- versa. In this study, first the main characteristics of the different irrigation methods and their conditions required for their application are stated to provide the basic data for later analysis. The environmental, economic and human requirements as well as associated cultivation practices are then related to each irrigation method. Additional data, obtained by field research work and from other case study evidence are used to demonstrate the different interrelationships between the opportunity and constraint conditions present in any given situation, and the requirements of the different irrigation methods. More specified analysis is then extended to deal with further theoretical and practical data relevant to the application of drip irrigation. This demonstrates the complex way in which this irrigation method is influenced by diverse conditions. finally, these analytical results are presented in a classificatory system which allows us to introduce a relatively simple system of comparing the technical and economic appropriateness of the different irrigation methods in the context of a range of local conditions. This comparative overview also forms the basis for guidelines to the selection of the most appropriate method, with special references to drip irrigation.