Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 4.27
AsubsurfacedriplineinaloamysoilinavineyardintheSwanHillregion,
Victoria, Australia.
Microjets and Minisprinklers
Microjets, minisprinklers, and under-canopy impactsprinklers deliver water at
much higher rates than inline drippers and wet a larger proportion of the ground
area. Thus they do not save as much water as drip systems, but they do give better
water distribution on sandy soils, thereby allowing a cover crop to be grown in dry
regions.AswithSSDI,valvesinthedeliverylinesmaybenecessarytomonitorfor
blockages when filtered water or water with a low concentration of suspended sol-
idsisnotavailable.Nicholas(2004)andPrichardetal.(2004)givefurtherdetails.
Macroirrigation Systems
OverheadSprinklers
Because overhead sprinklers wet all the ground area, water in excess of plant needs
may be applied to parts of the vineyard, leading to drainage losses. Evaporative loss
during water application can also be high, especially on windy days, and dissolved
saltscancausescorchaswaterinterceptedbyleafsurfacesevaporates(igure4.28).
