18 July 2023, UK: Make your drip irrigation more efficient by only irrigating where your plants are, and ‘skipping’ where they are not
How does it work?
Most drip line has evenly spaced emitters. Skip spacing places emitters around the plant, delivering the right amount of water to the plant’s roots, and avoiding watering areas in between. The spacing of emitters is based on each plant’s needs and improves the system’s efficiency. This customization is beneficial for orchards where the spacing between trees can vary greatly and for crops with irregular shapes or sizes.
Benefits of skip spacing
The most significant benefit of skip spacing is the ability to save water. Skip spacing does this by delivering water directly to the roots and skipping areas that need no water. This allows growers to conserve water and reduce their water bills.
Another advantage of skip spacing is reduced labor, energy, and fertilizer consumption. By delivering water only to the plant’s roots, growers can save resources in areas that don’t require irrigation.
Skip spacing benefits orchards, including almonds, olive trees, vineyards, avocados, pistachio, and walnut, where customized irrigation is critical for maximum crop yield. These crops require varying amounts of water at different stages of growth, making it challenging to achieve uniform watering with a traditional irrigation system.
Skip spacing allows growers to customize the spacing between emitters based on the specific needs of each tree, resulting in healthier, more productive crops. Skip spacing also eliminates the need for dripper plugs. This means growers can enjoy the flexibility of variable spacing without the added cost and hassle of plugs, saving time and money while achieving optimal results.
