Drip irrigation has the potential to save water and nutrients by allowing water to
drip slowly to the roots of plants. The goal is to place water directly into the root
zone and minimize evaporation. Drip irrigation systems distribute water through a
network of valves, pipes, tubing, and emitters. Depending on how well designed, installed, maintained, and operated it is, a drip irrigation system can be more
efficient than other types of irrigation systems.
Since water is applied slowly, it requires an elevated water reservoir so that the
reservoir is filled with water using a pumping system, and then it flows under
gravity to the irrigation system. Its suitable for crops planted in rows and it is not
applicable with inter cropping like other irrigation types, it is designed and installed
for a given crop, unless the crops have the same water requirement and with same
spacing.