Water-efficient farming is a global priority. Precision irrigation helps us make better use of the world’s most precious resource, achieving higher and better yields using far less water. Let’s make farming sustainable and change the way we use water.
Precision irrigation delivers the perfect amount of water and nutrients directly to the roots of each plant. So each plant gets exactly what it needs, when it needs it, to grow optimally, and farmers enjoy higher and better yields using fewer resources
Placing water only within the active root zone means we do not waste water in between crop rows, and we also avoid percolation of water below the active root zone. In other words, water is applied only where it can be efficiently consumed by the plant to produce more yield.
The application of water and nutrients straight to the plant’s root zone in small and measured doses means there is no excessive application of water, and no surface run-off. It also means that there is no leaching of beneficial plant nutrients which would be both a waste of resources and a groundwater contamination risk.
Applying water by pivot or sprinklers means 10-30% of your water evaporates before it reaches the ground. Using precision irrigation means far less water is lost to evaporation. With drip irrigation evaporation is actually close to zero.
When using precision irrigation, contaminated water is delivered straight to the plant's roots and never comes in contact with the crop itself. This allows you to turn previously useless water into a valuable resource even when growing edible crops without creating any health risk to consumers.
Find out how to power water-use efficiency with drip irrigation
Today, the best way to deliver bigger, better, more profitable yields is also the most sustainable way to farm. Find out how precision irrigation helps solve critical world challenges like food security and the need for arable land.
Read moreWhat’s the benefit of using drip irrigation vs. pivot or flood in terms of soil conditions?
Irrigation systems such as pivot or flood, apply large quantities of water in a short time and in lower irrigation frequencies. This can create low water availability between irrigation events, and extreme saturation conditions in the soil that results in bad aeration and creates stressful conditions for the plant's roots that need a balance between water and air.
How does drip irrigation eliminate fertilizer leaching?
Designing precision irrigation systems is done according to the soil's ability to absorb water and to the plant's consumption needs, guaranteeing that water stays in the active root zone and is used by the crop. Since fertilizers are applied with the water, having water only in the active root zone guarantees that nutrients are also there and not washed and leached away.
How effective is drip irrigation?
Drip irrigation achieves 95-100% water use efficiency. As a comparison, sprinkler systems have 80-85% water use efficiency and flood and furrow are 60-70% efficient. Efficiency is defined as the effectiveness of the system on crop performance and eventually on yield.
We work with growers around the world to analyze their water and help them determine what they can grow with it. Get in touch so we can do something about your water challenges.