What are the advantages of sprinkler irrigation technology?
Sprinkler irrigation is of great importance when applied across large agricultural fields. As a relatively advanced water-saving irrigation method, sprinkler irrigation is widely adopted in countries with well-developed agriculture, accounting for 50% of all agricultural irrigation practices. The following section will explore the key advantages of sprinkler irrigation.
What are the advantages of sprinkler irrigation technology?
1. Water Conservation: Traditional furrow irrigation typically uses about 100 cubic meters of water per mu per irrigation, with rates in mountainous areas reaching as high as 150 cubic meters; in contrast, sprinkler irrigation requires only about 25 cubic meters per mu per irrigation, achieving a water-saving rate of up to 75%. The water-saving benefits are even more pronounced in uneven, water-scarce mountainous regions.
2. Increased yields per unit area: Under furrow irrigation, the multiple-cropping index on small 1.5-meter-wide beds is less than 60%; however, with sprinkler irrigation and leveling of fields to eliminate ridges and dikes, the multiple-cropping index can exceed 90%, resulting in an annual increase of approximately 300 kilograms per mu from two crops per year.
3. Wide applicability: It places minimal demands on land leveling and can be used for sprinkler irrigation even on complex, hilly or gently sloping terrain. In addition to irrigating crops, it is also suitable for watering landscaped lawns and flower beds, as well as for applying fertilizers and pesticides.
4. Time-saving: Traditional flood irrigation of a field takes about 15 days, whereas once the sprinkler-irrigated fields are completed, a single full irrigation can be accomplished in just 4 days, saving two-thirds of the time.
5. Labor and cost savings: In demonstration villages implementing sprinkler irrigation, a dedicated service team of 3–4 professionals is established, allowing farmers to simply pay their water fees without having to expend labor on manual watering.
6. Improving soil structure: Excessive and overuse of canal irrigation can easily lead to soil compaction, whereas sprinkler irrigation allows for artificial control of soil moisture, effectively enhancing soil physical properties, loosening the soil, and creating favorable conditions for seed germination and emergence. It also helps to improve the microclimate in the field, reducing damage caused by low humidity, high temperatures, and dry, hot winds.
7. Facilitates the implementation of mechanized operations: by shortening the tillage period during the “Three Summers” and “Three Autumns,” it creates favorable timing for the timely sowing of wheat and summer maize, thereby establishing a virtuous cycle of complete crop maturity. For example, after mechanical harvesting of wheat in sprinkler-irrigated fields, promptly planting maize while appropriately replenishing soil moisture can advance emergence by more than ten days.
8. Foliar fertilization to enhance nutrient use efficiency: Conventional fertilization and pesticide application methods often result in uneven distribution, with an effective utilization rate of about 30%. In contrast, fertigation via sprinkler irrigation ensures uniform application, boosting the effective utilization rate to over 70%.