Modern Agricultural Irrigation System Design: Comparison and Application of Drip Irrigation, Sprinkler Irrigation, and Micro-irrigation Technologies

Modern Agricultural Irrigation System Design: Comparison and Application of Drip Irrigation, Sprinkler Irrigation, and Micro-irrigation Technologies

Modern agricultural irrigation system design requires selecting appropriate precision irrigation technologies based on different crops, soil conditions, climates, and economic circumstances. Currently, the three most widely used technologies are drip irrigation, sprinkler irrigation, and micro-irrigation, each with its own characteristics and suitable for different scenarios.

Drip irrigation systems primarily deliver water and nutrients directly to the plant roots in the form of droplets through a network of pipes laid near the crop roots. Its greatest advantage is its excellent water-saving effect, reducing soil surface evaporation and deep seepage, and allowing for precise control of water supply to each plant. It is very suitable for row-planted crops such as cotton, corn, fruit trees, and vegetables and flowers in greenhouses. However, the initial investment is relatively high, and it has strict requirements for water quality and is prone to dripper clogging.

Sprinkler irrigation systems simulate natural rainfall, spraying water into the air through nozzles, dispersing it into fine droplets that fall onto the field. Its advantages include large coverage area, strong adaptability, suitability for various terrains and most field crops (such as wheat and forage grass), and the ability to regulate the field microclimate (e.g., frost protection and temperature reduction). Disadvantages include uneven spraying in strong winds and greater water loss through evaporation, resulting in lower water-saving efficiency compared to drip irrigation.

Micro-irrigation systems sometimes specifically refer to micro-sprinkler irrigation, a compromise between sprinkler and drip irrigation. Water is sprayed in the form of fine rain or mist onto a small area near the crop roots through pressurized pipes and small micro-sprinklers. It covers a larger area than drip irrigation, improves air humidity around the roots, saves more water than sprinkler irrigation, and is less affected by wind. It is ideal for orchards, nurseries, landscaping, and some open-field vegetable irrigation.

Selection Recommendations:

For maximizing water conservation and economic returns, and when crops are planted in rows or per stalk, drip irrigation is the preferred choice.

For applications requiring uniform irrigation of the entire field or for regulating the field environment through irrigation, sprinkler irrigation is more suitable.

In the cultivation of fruit trees, flowers, and other cash crops, micro-sprinkler irrigation is an ideal choice for striking a balance between water conservation and localized humidification.

Modern intelligent irrigation systems can now combine these technologies with soil moisture sensors, weather stations, and automatic controllers to achieve on-demand, automatic, and efficient precision irrigation. This represents the core direction of agricultural water conservation and modern management.