Drip Irrigation – greenhouse farming in Nigeria. Drip Irrigation – greenhouse farming in NigeriaDrip, or trickle irrigation, is the system in which water is frequently and slowly applied directly on the crop root zone. The concept of this irrigation system is to irrigate only the root zone instead of the entire field surface, thus making water content of the crop root zone at the optimum level.
In a drip irrigation , water is applied under the pressure, dripping one drop at a time through the small emitters. Water can also be sprayed as a fine mist over a portion of field’s surface or bubbled onto the soil in small streamlets.
BENEFITS OF DRIP IRRIGATION
Drip system is adaptable to any farmable slope. Normally the crop would be planted along contour lines and the water supply pipes (laterals) would be laid along the contour also. This is done to minimize changes in emitter discharge as a result of land elevation changes in drip .
Drip is most suitable for row crops (vegetables, soft fruit), tree and vine crops where one or more emitters can be provided for each plant. Generally only high value crops are considered because of the high capital costs of installing a irrigation system.
Drip irrigation is suitable for most soils. On clay soils water must be applied slowly to avoid surface water ponding and runoff. On sandy soils higher emitter discharge rates will be needed to ensure adequate lateral wetting of the soil in drip .
Fertigating with drip can also increase the optimum yield of 50-200% while reducing the cost of labour to be used on the farm
Our goal at Deejoft is to make farming easier and farmers less dependent on rain whereby they can farm throughout the year using drip irrigation system in Nigeria. Farmers will have the opportunity to use our consultancy service, buy irrigation kits from us and install the drip for them at an affordable price.
WATER SUITABILITY FOR DRIP IRRIGATION
One of the main problems with drip system in Nigeria is blockage of the emitters. All emitters have very small waterways ranging from 0.2-2.0 mm in diameter and these can become blocked if the water is not clean. Thus it is essential for irrigation water to be free of sediments. If this is not so then filtration of the irrigation water will be needed.
Blockage may also occur if the water contains algae, fertilizer deposits and dissolved chemicals which precipitate such as calcium and iron in drip irrigation. Filtration may remove some of the materials but the problem may be complex to solve and requires an experienced engineer or consultation with the equipment dealer to solve the drip system in Nigeria problem.
Drip irrigation In Nigeria is particularly suitable for water of poor quality (saline water). Dripping water to individual plants also means that the method can be very efficient in water use. For this reason drip is most suitable when water is scarce. Drip Irrigation – greenhouse farming in Nigeria
TYPE OF DRIP IRRIGATION
According to emitters which control the quantity and rate of water discharge, trickle or drip irrigation systems can be divided into four types:
- Point-source emitters (drip bubbler)
- In-line drip emitter
- Basin bubblers
- Micro spray sprinkler
Although emitters have many common characteristics, they all differ in size and shape, as well as in internal design.
Drip is one of the most efficient types of irrigation systems. The efficiency of applied and lost water as well as meeting the crop water need ranges from 80 to 90%. What does this mean? Well, its efficiency is the result of only two factors;
- Applying of water drop by drop, the soil soaks it before it evaporates
- Water is applied on the crop root zone (localized) where it is needed most
Sub-surface Drip Irrigation
The drip hose can be placed above ground or buried in the ground, which is called sub-surface drip system. Sub-surface irrigation has the advantage of nearly zero evaporation. However, it can be harder to tell if an emitter becomes plugged or damaged.
Why Use Drip or Trickle Irrigation System?
In providing water to plants according to plant water requirements, drip irrigation systems create no pollution and no runoff and very little evapotranspiration. By using this system, a farmer can certainly ensure good water management. Utilization of a drip system type provides other benefits to both the farmer and crop production:
- Simple implementation of existing soil sensors
- Management of soil moisture level; crops are irrigated immediately when soil moisture drops below threshold
- Application of fertilizers and pesticides combined with irrigation
- Reduced weed growth and facilitated management of farm activities in the field due to localized soil wetting
- Irrigation can be stopped at any moment (if rain occurs) which prevents overirrigation
- Easy to install, design, and it can be very inexpensive
- Possible to implement on almost any terrain, soil, and crop type; especially suitable for high-value row crops
Drip irrigation system is a great solution on crop productions with dry, saline, low drainage soils and on soils where moisture maintenance may result in high insect pests and disease incidence.
Limitations in Using Drip Irrigation System
Despite many benefits, drip system has also limitation factors for successful implementation on crop production:
- Clogging of emitters due to small outlets, caused by soil particles, chemicals, fertilizers or organic materials
- Damage on plastic pipe caused by rodents
- Uniformity of water distribution due to elevation differences on unleveled field
- Potential salt accumulation in crop root zone between two irrigation cycles
- Plants are more susceptible to stress if drip irrigation system fails
Drip Irrigation = Smart Irrigation
Drip irrigation is the most efficient and appropriate irrigation system. Instead of wetting the whole field surface, water is applied only to the plant root zone. The primary goal of drip is to apply water at the time when plants need it most and in rates needed for proper plant growth. Moreover, it provides a very favorable moisture level in the soil in which plants can flourish.
Although a drip system is the best solution for smart irrigation, its implementation is not that simple and can take time. To ensure good water management and maintenance, a farmer needs to first understand crop needs and field properties.
WHAT DRIP IRRIGATION SYSTEM CAN DO?
FERTIGATION: Apart from the fact that a drip irrigation can be used to supply water to your crops. Drip system can also be used to pass soluble fertilizers like NPK, Mono Potassium Phoshate, Calcium Nitrate, Potassium Nitrate, Humates like humic acid and fluvic acid and other fertilizers can be mixed in water and sent to your crops through drip system.
CHEMIGATION: Chemigation in is an inclusive term in drip irrigation referring to the application of a chemical into or through an irrigation system. It includes the application of fertilizers, acids, chlorine and pesticides.
UNIFORM APPLICATION
Chemigation in drip irrigation facilitates the uniform distribution and precision placement of fertilizers and other chemicals.
TIMELY APPLICATION
In most cases, materials can be applied regardless of weather or field conditions in drip irrigation system.
REDUCED APPLICATION COSTS
In general, cost of application by chemigation is about one-third the cost of conventional application methods in drip irrigation.
IMPROVED MANAGEMENT
Timely applications of small but precise amounts of fertilizer directly to the root zone allow growers to effectively manage fertilizer programs in drip irrigation. This conserves fertilizer, saves money and optimizes yield and quality for good drip irrigation system..
REDUCED SOIL COMPACTION
Chemigation reduces tractor and equipment traffic in fields. This reduces soil compaction in drip.
REDUCED EXPOSURE TO CHEMICALS
Chemigation in drip irrigation minimizes operator handling, mixing and dispensing of potentially hazardous materials. Also, people and non-target crops are not exposed to inadvertent chemical drifts in drip irrigation system.
REDUCED ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION
When used with the recommended safety devices, properly-designed and accurately-calibrated chemigation systems help preserve quality of the environment in drip
Chemigation in drip can save time, reduce labor requirements, and conserve energy and materials. However, chemigation in drip is beneficial only to the extent that the irrigation system is adequately designed, fully functional and properly managed.
In many situations, chemigation in drip is as good or better than conventional application methods. However, conventional application is still preferred or required for some materials. Never inject any material that is not labeled and recommended for the crop and for injection through the system in drip . Always follow label directives.
CROP DRIP CAN WORK FOR
Crops suitable for drip irrigation are given below;
Orchard plants:
Orchards plants suitable for irrigation are : Grapes, Banana, Pomegranate, Orange, Citrus, Mango, Lemon, Custard Apple, Sapota, Guava, Pineapple, Cashew nut, Papaya, Litchi, and Watermelon, etc.
Vegetable plants
Some vegetable vegetation appropriate for the irrigation device are Tomato, Chilly, Capsicum, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Onion, Okra, Brinjal, Bitter Gourd, Ridge Gourd, Cucumber, Peas, Spinach, and Pumpkin, and so forth. Drip Irrigation – greenhouse farming in Nigeria
Cash vegetation
Some of the money plants suitable for the irrigation machine are Sugarcane, Cotton. Areca nut and Strawberry and many others.
Flowers vegetation
Some of the flower crops suitable for the drip type irrigation gadget are Rose, Carnation, Gerbera, Anthurium, Orchids, Jasmine, Dahilia, and Marigold, and so forth.
Plantation crops
Some of the plantation vegetation appropriate for the irrigation system are Rubber, Coffee, Coconut, and so on
Spices
Some of the spices crops appropriate for irrigation gadget are Turmeric, Cloves, Mint, and so forth,
Oilseeds
Some of the oilseeds appropriate for irrigation systems are Sunflower, Oil palm, Groundnut, and so on.
Forest plants
Some of the wooded area vegetation appropriate for irrigation methods are Teakwood, Bamboo, and so on.
Greenhouse Farming in Nigeria
Greenhouse farming in Nigeria is a pattern of farming and growing crops in a greenhouse. A greenhouse may seem like a luxury because that’s exactly what it is. It’s an extraordinary structure that can, If greenhouse is use wisely may pay for itself . A greenhouse allows you to grow exactly the crops you wish to grow in a control environment. Enter a greenhouse and you’ve crossed the threshold of an extraordinary place. You’re greeted by a profusion of crops and the rich textures of foliage when you enter a greenhouse. Sweet fragrances mix with the earthy smell of soil in a greenhouse. Diffused light shines through the misty air in a greenhouse. In the silence, you can almost hear the plants growing in greenhouse. Traffic rumbles by unnoticed, and the distractions of the “real” world seem miles away in a greenhouse.
Although the experience is similar from greenhouse to greenhouse, the structures themselves are amazingly diverse when it comes to greenhouse. Greenhouse can be large and complex or small and simple. Greenhouse can be unheated or heated, built of glass or covered in plastic. You’ll find greenhouses on city rooftops and tucked into suburban gardens. No two greenhouse are identical, even if they’re constructed from the same kit; the contents of a greenhouse make it unique. Some greenhouse house vegetables (tomatoes and cucumbers), some greenhouse shelter tropicals (scheffleras and dieffenbachias), and some greenhouse are home to flats of germinating begonias.
GREENHOUSE FARMING IN NIGERIA EXPLAIN
Greenhouse farming in Nigeria, idea of growing crops out of season or out of locality was far too appealing to be confined to the farm or far place with large piece of land for cultivation. Farmers of more modest means soon adopted simpler greenhouses so that they could have fresh vegetables all year round, or tomato for their gardens, and that promise is still what draws farmers and home gardeners to greenhouses today.
Wonder if a greenhouse would be right for you? Ask yourself a few basic questions: Are you ready to start greenhouse farming in Nigeia and earn more producing all year round? ? Would you like the satisfaction and flavor of growing your own super-healthy greens, fruits, and vegetables using greenhouse? Would you like to experiment with crops that normally would not grow in your zone, including tropical plants like orchids, avocadoes, and pineapples using greenhouse? If the answer to any of these is yes, it’s time to consider which greenhouse is best for you. We have expert to help you at DEEJOFT to build the right greenhouse for you.
In addition to being thoughtfully situated to take advantage of the sun throughout the day and the seasons(greenhouse), any greenhouse must be carefully built to last while still providing an optimal environment for the plants you want to grow. That starts with choosing the right foundation and making sure the greenhouse has an appropriate floor. Not only is the base of a greenhouse important for its support, but the right floor can also serve as a heat sink, absorbing heat during the day and releasing it at night. Drip Irrigation – greenhouse farming in Nigeria
WHY GREENHOUSE NEED WATER?
Any plant needs water, and depending on how large your greenhouse is, you may decide to automate using drip irrigation in the watering of your plants or to use misters to create the proper humidity. You’ll also need to figure out how to moderate the heat inside, because the temperature in a greenhouse can swing by as much as 50 degrees Fahrenheit over the course of any given day. Ventilation goes hand in glove with heat, and, of course, you’ll probably want some form of lighting so that you can check on or work with your plants after dark. Drip Irrigation – greenhouse farming in Nigeria