Growing Plants One Drop at a Time

Traditional irrigation systems drench entire fields of vegetation in water to sustain growth. Most people encounter irrigation in front lawns and golf courses, which are often drenched by sprinkler systems at preset intervals. However, water is a precious resource that is rapidly becoming a rare commodity.

Irrigation systems are deemed inefficient if they fail to water vegetation at the right times of the day, or waste large amounts of water without nourishing plants and crops. Drip irrigation is the answer to some water woes, if not all. Using drip spouts instead of rotating spray heads, drip irrigation is a more controlled watering system that is being adopted by growers all over the world.

In areas where water is available in limited supplies, drip irrigation systems conserve water by controlling the amount of water that goes into vegetation. Drip irrigation provides water closer to the base of the plants, enabling plant roots to absorb the moisture along with the soil's nutrients.

The drip pipes are installed close to the base of the plants, since the drops of water need to reach the roots as quickly as possible. If the drops will be coming from a certain height, the heat of the sun may evaporate the drops before it can permeate underground. Drip irrigation is a hit with growers in arid places.