Drip irrigation is one of the most water-efficient methods in agricultural water-saving irrigation. It is widely used in field irrigation, and the commonly employed drip irrigation tape (or pipe) products today mainly include three types: side-wall labyrinth drip tape, inline-insert patch-type drip tape, and inline-insert cylindrical drip pipe.
Different types of drip irrigation tapes (or pipes) vary in wall thickness and diameter. Commonly used drip irrigation tapes typically have emitter spacing of 0.3 meters, while internally embedded patch-type drip tapes can be custom-made to specific emitter spacings, which are in high demand. Therefore, users can select the most appropriate and cost-effective drip irrigation product based on their specific needs.
First, select the appropriate type of drip irrigation product to be used. During installation, lay the drip tape (or drip pipe) along the crop row direction, then connect it to lateral pipes that run perpendicular to the crop rows. Lateral pipes come in two types: rigid PE pipes and flexible PE tapes. When connecting drip tape to a lateral (rigid pipe), use a male–female spigot adapter with a bypass valve; when connecting to a flexible tape, use a tape bypass valve. For connections between drip tapes, use a straight male–female adapter or a looped straight connector. When connecting drip pipes to laterals (rigid PE pipes), use a PE spigot adapter with a bypass valve; for connections between drip pipes, use a PE spigot straight connector. At the end of the drip tape, typically cut a short section of the tape, fold the section to be sealed three times, and insert it into the cut end, or simply tie a knot to seal it. Drip pipes can be sealed using double-ring end caps or spigot-type end caps.
To ensure the proper operation of a drip irrigation system, a filtration unit is typically installed at the headworks. The system can be integrated with fertilization to achieve water–fertilizer integration; therefore, a fertilizer tank (or a Venturi injector) may be installed at the headworks for fertigation. The complete system consists of a water source, headworks, a water delivery and distribution network, and drip irrigation tape (or tubing). After the entire drip irrigation system has been installed, the pipelines and drip irrigation tape (or tubing) should be flushed first: open the end caps of each pipeline to allow water to flow through for 3–5 minutes, ensuring that all internal debris is thoroughly removed before resealing the caps and conducting a test irrigation. This step helps prevent clogging of the drip irrigation equipment.