The rain gun is a special type of sprinkler used for the spraying of droplets of water to plants. The rain gun irrigation system consists of the rain gun sprinklers, tripod, rain gun connectors, mainlines and other components of the rain gun irrigation system.
The advantages of the rain gun irrigation system include the assurance of all year round farming, optimization of plants’ use of atmospheric nitrogen, disruption of insects breeding and activities and reduction of labour cost etc.
Advantages of rain gun
The following are the advantages of using a rain gun:
- The rain gun is largely maintenance free. It is a rugged irrigation equipment that can last for several years.
- The rain guns can be used to irrigate large acreages. It is not unusual to see a single rain gun used for irrigating farmland as large as 5 hectares.
- The use of rain guns can reduce the need for labourers for the application of fertilizers and insecticides. This can significantly reduce the cost of labour.
- The rain gun applies uniform volume of water to plants. This ensures uniform growth of the plants.
- The use of a rain gun irrigation system can be energy efficient.
- The rain gun can be quickly set up and used to irrigate crops if the rains suddenly cease.
- The rain gun is easy to install. Farmers can usually install rain guns without the need for an expert.
- The rain guns optimize the plants’ ability to make use of atmospheric nitrogen.
- The rain gun can spray water in a circular form unlike other irrigation systems.
- The rain gun irrigation system is water efficient. It can save up to 60% water as compared to flood irrigation.
- Rain guns can easily be transferred around farms.
- The rain gun can disrupt the breeding activities of insects and pests.
- The rain gun can be used to irrigate almost all types of crops.
- It is relatively cheap to acquire and install a rain gun irrigation system.
- The rain gun can be easily removed from the field at the end of the season.
- The rain gun can be used to apply soluble fertilizers and pesticides to crops.
Do you use rain guns? If yes, kindly share the advantages you derive by using the rain gun in the comments’ section.
You can order a rain gun here.
Read our article on components of a rain gun irrigation system.