How to choose the right irrigation equipment

 

It has been said that farming is one of the avenues that rich people have been known to make their fortune. Farming indeed is a lucrative venture and can yield much more when done correctly. This is where irrigation comes in. There are places that do not get adequate rainfall, but it does not mean farming cannot take place in such areas. Farmers use irrigation equipment to ensure that the crops they grow get enough water and minerals for growth.

There is, however an underlying problem when it comes to choosing the right irrigation equipment to use on the farm. There are a few pointers that might act as guidelines to selecting the best equipment for irrigation. Those pointers include:

Method of irrigation

There are different types of irrigation available today. Before buying an irrigation equipment, you need to be sure of the kind of irrigation you are thinking of using. Knowing the type of irrigation method you want to use will help you buy the right machine since there are equipment made specifically for a particular method of irrigation. There is no one equipment that is best for every method of irrigation but there is one for every method.

Cost of the equipment

When browsing through the different types of irrigation equipment, another important thing that you must keep in mind is the cost of the machine. In as much as you might be in need of the equipment to irrigate your farm, it is important to buy what you can afford. There are usually different models for the different types of irrigation equipment; get to know the different types and their costs then get what you can afford.

Labour requirements

The different types of irrigation equipment come with different qualities. There is certain equipment that needs to be set once while others need to be used manually. This is another factor to look into; you need to know what you want your equipment to do for you before you purchase it. If you do not have a problem working manually in the field all day long irrigating your farm, then the manual equipment will suit you. However, for those with large acres of land that need irrigation, the automatic equipment might come in handy.

Size of the field

The size of the field also matters when choosing irrigation equipment. The size of the field will help you in selecting the right equipment that will efficiently irrigate the whole land. You do not want to buy an equipment that is used to irrigate a lawn, to use for irrigating huge acres of land. That will not be effective. The land will not be well irrigated and the machine might break down, when it is subjected to work beyond its specified field.

Water source

When choosing the right irrigation equipment from your method of irrigation, the water source also matters. You need to pick the type of equipment that is suitable and will work well with the place it will be getting irrigation water from. This is especially with the automatic irrigation equipment since you will not be there all the time to turn on and off the water supply. The water source must be adequate for the type of equipment you choose to use.

The most water efficient way of irrigation is manual, but the setback with this is that people are not always available to water the crops. This is why most farmers today prefer the automatic irrigation equipment that still works without supervision. The automatic ones are great because they have rain sensors installed in them. They automatically stop irrigating when it starts to rain. All in all, the type of irrigation equipment to use depend solely on the preferences of the farmer.