Surge irrigation system is a type of irrigation system that applies water to irrigation furrows. It is similar to the conventional flood irrigation system. As a matter of fact, it is the adaptation of the traditional furrow or flood irrigation system.
A surge irrigation system usually uses gated pipes or hoses to pass water to furrows in a farmland. A surge irrigation system is also called a gated pipe irrigation system or slide gate pipe irrigation system. It can also be called a gated hose irrigation system.
The surge valve irrigation system usually comprises of a hose or pipe (8-18 inches diameter), gated valves or gates or vales put on the pipes or hoses, main lines that brings water from the source of water and sometimes a water pump that pumps water into the pipes or hoses.
Surge irrigation system is suitable for some types of crops. To choose a surge valve irrigation system, some factors need to be considered.
Factors to Consider Before Choosing a Surge Irrigation System
The following are some of the factors to consider before choosing a surge irrigation system:
Type of Crops
The surge irrigation system can be used for almost all types of crops except crops that do not like too much water.
A surge valve irrigation system can be used for crops like rice, carrot, onions, tomato, pepper, maize, sorghum, millet and soybeans etc. In Nigeria, the surge irrigation system is usually used for crops like rice, millet, sorghum and maize etc.
Availability of Water
Surge irrigation systems use a lot of water unlike water conserving irrigation systems like the drip irrigation system. If you want to use surge irrigation, you should be sure that you have access to enough water.
The surge irrigation system can use 4-6 times more water than the drip irrigation system.
Price
The price of the irrigation system is also one of the factors to consider before choosing the surge irrigation system. For large farms, it may be cheaper to use the surge irrigation system instead of other irrigation systems.
Labour Cost
The surge irrigation system can save labour cost for the farmer or the owner of the farm. It may need about 10 abled bodied men to irrigate 10 hectares of farmland if the traditional flood irrigation system is deployed. If the surge valve irrigation system is deployed, only one man can irrigate same size of farmland.
Size of Farmland
The size of the farmland is also one of the factors to consider before choosing the surge irrigation system.
If your farmland is large, it’s better and more affordable to use the surge valve irrigation system instead of the traditional furrow or flood irrigation system.
Do you wish to buy or use a surge irrigation system? If yes, kindly contact us on 08066437109 or sales@veggieconcept.ng
