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The purpose of this article is to inform you about the basics of micro-sprinkler irrigation so as to determine whether it is the right fit for your project.

This article focuses on irrigation with midi and macro/impact sprinklers and where these sprinklers fit into the irrigation puzzle. (We will refer to midi and macro/impact sprinkler irrigation as ‘sprinkler irrigation’ for the purpose of this article)

Thin wall driplines are defined as driplines with a wall thickness of 0.4 mm or less. The selection of suitable wall thickness for the driplines to be installed, will be influenced by a variety of factors. The farmer and irrigation designer must, based on the operative and economic considerations, decide on the best dripper and associated wall thickness for the job.

In a 2018 study by the CSIR, focussing on the water use and requirements of apples trees, research team leader, Dr Sebinasi Dzikiti, says that apple trees in a high production orchard drink between 80 and 136 glasses of water a day. This equates to 30 000 to 45 000 litres per hectare per day, depending on leaf area. He does however emphasise that this is very complex, and that the calculation depends on a variety of factors.

“Ek is nie ’n produsent nie, ek is ’n risikobestuurder. My werk is om maniere te vind om risiko in my boerdery te verminder. Ondergrondse drupbesproeiing is een so ’n manier.” Danie Minnaar staan aan die stuur van ’n gemengde boerdery op die plaas Springboklaagte in die Kroonstad-distrik. In 2017 het hy saam met die span van Netafim Suid-Afrika begin werk om vas te stel watter impak die gebruik van ondergrondse drupbesproeiing op mielieproduksie in sy boerdery kan hê.

The growth of a plant is highly dependent on the conditions it is in. There are many aspects to be examined. Has the plant received the right amount of water and nutrients at the right time; has it suffered from any diseases and was it exposed to the perfect climatic conditions? For sustainability and better profitability, the producer, without any doubt, wants each plant to achieve optimal growth, reach its full genetic potential and deliver a high yield in both quantity and quality. To achieve this, conditions must be optimal. To ensure optimal conditions year-round, the producer must be able to control these conditions. “In a greenhouse, the purpose is to modify the environment to create optimal conditions for plant growth,” explains Jerry Austen, product manager at Netafim South Africa.

Season after season, grain producers are confronted by various risks. Be it climate-related or caused by a price-cost squeeze threatening the industry. When asked why he decided to install subsurface drip irrigation on his farm, Danie Minnaar of the farm, Springboklaagte in the Kroonstad regions says the following: “I am not a farmer, I am a risk manager. My job is to find ways to reduce risk in my farming activities. Subsurface drip irrigation is one of my risk management tools.”

Graanprodusente word elke seisoen met ’n verskeidenheid risiko’s gekonfronteer – hetsy dit klimaatverwante risiko’s is of veroorsaak word deur ’n kosteknyptang wat die bedryf laat noustrop trek.

“Ons gebruik sedert 2018 ondergrondse drupbesproeiing op ʼn persentasie van ons suikeraanplantings en sien baie goeie resultate tot dusver.” Nick Botha, hoof van landboubedrywighede by Greenfuel in Zimbabwe, verduidelik hoekom hy ondergrondse drupbesproeiing verkies.

With the country’s sugar cane industry under immense pressure, farmers have no choice but to become more efficient. Drip irrigation is a crucial tool that can make all the difference.

One of the pillars of Netafim’s success is its people. Through the expertise of our employees in combination with years of accumulated knowledge as the leader in precision irrigation solutions, our quality products can be implemented with optimal success.

Blueberries are a very special crop. In Africa, it is successfully produced outside its original growing area, in areas that it may not be fully adapted to. Almost all blueberries are produced in controlled environments, such as greenhouses. If it is produced outside, the irrigation and fertilizer application must be controlled precisely. This is made necessary by the physical and physiological characteristics of the plant.