Improve your coffee production with precision irrigation

It is not about cost. It is about making the best investment. It’s been proven that drip irrigation increases coffee yields, while also improving crop quality. In addition, drip technology leads to significant savings in water, fertilizer and labor. Economic calculations show that in the long run, drip is the most sustainable system for coffee production, delivering higher economic returns than any other method.

The cost of drip irrigation varies greatly, and depends on the following two factors:

1. Water conveyance from source to field:

Normally, this is the most expensive component of the irrigation system, which depends on the distance and elevation that the water must be conveyed by the pipelines.

2. Peak crop water demand:

This is the amount of applied water needed to meet peak crop evapotranspiration (ETo) requirements during peak crop demand. The amount is a function of prevailing climate conditions, crop canopy cover, and irrigation system efficiency, phenological stages (flowering, stress, and fruit development).

Yes! With drip irrigation, you have the advantage of precise and even distribution of water and nutrients across your field. This prevents inconsistent flow rates of water to your coffee, promising healthier and more uniform yields regardless of slope.

Drip irrigation promises optimal and uniform soil moisture with outstanding aeration, delivering water and nutrients directly to your crops. This significantly reduces risk of fruit drop and guarantees next year’s yield by continuously flashing. Increasing yields while lowering water and nutrient usage, drip is the most cost-efficient irrigation solution for coffee production. It is also lowest consumer of energy among pressurized systems – consuming approximately 40% less energy than alternative methods.

Compared to rainfed irrigation, drip lowers your dependence on the weather, giving you greater control over your crops.

You can expect up to 100% increase in achievable yields as compared to rainfed crops.

For Arabica: up to 3 tons/ha compared to 1.5 in drylands.

For Robusta: up to 6 tons/ha compared to 2.4-3 t/h in drylands.

Not at all. Drip doesn’t interfere with farm machinery or infield workers. It allows you to work even when the water is on, unlike other irrigation methods such as sprinklers, pivots or flood irrigation.

For optimal results, you should irrigate your coffee every 1 to 3 days. Of course this depends on the weather, the soils water holding capacity and the development stage of the crop.

Precision irrigation and automation can be very easily combined and can make your irrigation more efficient. It is possible to add digital tools, such as ground sensors and a remote control to optimize your yields and resources. Learn more about our digital farming solutions.