Problems and Constraints of Small Scale Irrigation

13 September 2018

A lack of water is one of the biggest issues facing many plants. As you probably know water is essential for every form of life; without it, you’ll struggle to grow weeds; never mind decent flowers or crops.

That’s why you need an irrigation system to get your water to the plants; it simply isn’t possible to water them regularly and effectively enough manually.

Contents

1 Create A Small Scale Irrigation System:
2 Cost Of Pumps:
3 Water Wastage:
4 Water Rights:
5 Local Rules:

Create A Small Scale Irrigation System:

Of course, you’ll need access to a good supply of water. You’ll also need quality dewatering pumps; one may be enough if you are very small scale but two is often better to give you a backup option.

You’ll also need a network of pipes with tiny holes in; allowing the water to soak into the soil below ground level. This will help to prevent evaporation and allow the plants to pick the water up with their roots.

Valves and other small pieces of equipment will make it easier for you to control the amount of water each group of plants gets.

However, there are several issues when dealing with small-scale irrigation:

Cost Of Pumps:

To get the water from the source to the crops requires a pump or two. However, this will run on electricity and can cost a considerable amount if you need it running most of the time.

A good alternative is to fit a solar panel; or more than one if necessary and use the electricity generated to power your pump. The cost of your irrigation system will be dramatically reduced!

Water Wastage:

It is also possible that you’ll be wasting large amounts of water when you irrigate. You can’t be sure that every part of your land needs water without checking and this is very time to consume as well as impractical.

You can buy sensors to check the moisture content of the soil; these will help you to decide if you need to water or not.

You can also buy a timer for your pump system that only switches it on and off at set times of the day. You can choose these for when it is most beneficial for your plants.

Water Rights:

You may not need to take water from the mains supply if you have a body of water or a steam near you. However, you’ll then have to consider the rights associated with that water.

It may have already been claimed by someone else or it may be important for a group of people further downstream.

It may even be that you inadvertently pollute the water or someone else has. To save yourself a lot of agro you need to establish the facts regarding any water source before you start using it.

This is especially true if you’re thinking of adding a dam or similar to the water.

Local Rules:

If water is a relatively scarce commodity then there are likely to be constraints on how much you can use and when. This can make it extremely difficult to irrigate your plants; especially if you have no other source of water.

It’s important you’re aware of the local rules before you start your farming activities.

Read Also:

Some Facts You Need To Know About Rainwater Harvesting

Ariana Smith

I enjoy writing and I write quality guest posts on topics of my interest and passion. I have been doing this since my college days. My special interests are in health, fitness, food and following the latest trends in these areas. I am an editor at Content Rally.

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While efforts have been made to rebuild our forests, plant more trees and go electric, the damage being done is far faster than the rebuilding process. In late 2019 and early 2020, Australia saw one of history’s worst forest fires. It is estimated that the fires killed more than one billion animals and caused billions of dollars’ worth of destruction to the local economy. The historical city of Venice was in the news for being completely submerged in water following an increase in seawater levels in 2019. Likewise, 2020 also saw steep cold weather conditions in the Middle East, with snowing and heavy hailstorms being reported from UAE and Oman. What should we do to stop Climate Change and turn back Global Warming? While pessimists think that we have already lost the world, many optimists like Greta Thunberg who still believe we have a fighting chance. We must reduce our carbon footprint on a war footing. To do this government leaders and countries must take pro-active actions to reduce the dependence on fossil fuels and promote renewable sources of energy and alternative sources of energy. Douglas Healy, one of the most famous legal experts on energy issues states that it is important to find a not destabilize the existing infrastructure in a major way. He states that renewable sources of energy should be ushered in a manner that does not create a crisis in society. Millions of people are employed in traditional power plants and closing them, down might create problems of a different nature. This is why it is important to use the existing infrastructure and weave away consumers as well as employers away from the traditional fossil fuel industry. Conclusion Everyone needs to do his or her bit to save our planet. From doing small things like carpooling to avoiding the use of single-use plastic, we can all come together to rebuild our surroundings. 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If it's daytime, take advantage of natural light. Unplug electronics that don't need to stay on when you leave the house, like the TV, coffee maker, and computer. These devices use energy even when turned off, so it's important to unplug them completely. Using a power strip makes it easy to do this because you can turn off the power strip when you leave instead of unplugging each device individually. Related Resource: Follow These Simple Steps to Compare Electricity Rates Online 2. Take Advantage Of Public Transportation Take advantage of good public transportation if you live in an area with good public transportation. It's not only good for the environment, but it can also be a nice break from driving. Public transportation can decrease your carbon footprint because buses and trains emit less pollution per passenger mile than cars. Some areas, like more prominent cities, even offer discounts on public transportation for seniors. 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Read Also: Rainwater; A wonder of natureBest Paying Jobs In Electric Utilities CentralSix Main Reasons Why You Need to Care for Environment

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