Show I 1 d Drip irrigation used to conserve water eater and control erosion In Israel they call It drip irrigation in Australia it is daily flow now irrigation in the United States it is both drip and trickle irrigation No matter what it is called says James D. D Harvey executive secretary Utah State Soil Conservation Commission the principle is the same IN 1972 six demonstration plots of fruit trees and grapes were planted in Grand and San SanJuan SanJuan SanJuan Juan Counties This project was conducted to demonstrate that these crops could be grown in desert areas Small amounts of water were applied daily to the plots using plots using the drip irrigation method According to Mr Harvey this system was very successful It enabled these crops to be grown in an extremely extremely extremely ex ex- arid condition where water was almost non Mr Harvey explains There are advantages and disadvantages disadvantages disadvantages vantages to drip irrigation Some of these advantages are 1 I. It uses uses' less water than farrow or sprinkler irrigation 2 Land does not have to be tilled or otherwise prepared for planting 3 3 Pumping costs are less because of low working pressure 15 to 20 pounds 4 Irrigation lines can either be or laid on top of the soil 5 In some cases fertilizer and insecticides can be applied through the system THE NEGATIVE factors according to Mr Harvey are 1 1 Lends itself to salt buildup around the root zone and soil surface 2 Installation costs are comparable to sprinkler systems and in some cases might be l higher gher 3 Requires more water management ability than either farrow or or sprinkler system 4 Requires constant inspection inspection inspection in in- to insure that all drippers are working MR HARVEY recommends the use of bf f- f drip irrigation tion only when water is at a premium and where erosion from water and macl machinery nery is at a real factor in growing crops Says Mr Harvey Drip irrigation tion is useful in those areas where l high gh cash value crops can be grown and where the farmer operator is technically able to deal with complex systems |