ABSTRACT
Drip irrigation also known as trickle irrigation or micro irrigation is an irrigation method that applies water slowly to the roots of plants, by depositing the water either on the soil surface or directly to the root zone, through a network of valves, pipes, tubing, and emitters. The goal is to minimize water usage. Drip irrigation may also use devices called microspray heads, which spray water in a small area, instead of emitters. These are generally used on tree and vine crops. Subsurface drip irrigation or SDI uses permanently or temporarily buried dripper-line or drip tape. It is becoming more widely used for row crop irrigation especially in areas where water supplies are limited. The drip irrigation is a slow and frequent application of water to the soil by means of emitters or drippers located at specific locations/interval throughout the lateral lines. The emitted water moves through soil mainly by unsaturated flow. This allows favorable conditions for soil moisture in the root zone and optimal development of plant. With this system, the plant can efficiently use available natural resources such as: soil, water and air. The drip irrigation is also known as “daily irrigation,” “trickle irrigation,” “daily flow irrigation” or “micro irrigation.” The term “trickle” was originated in England, “drip” in Israel, “daily flow” in Australia and “micro irrigation” in USA. The difference is only in the name, and all these terms have the same meaning. The water in a drip irrigation system flows in three forms: It flows continuously throughout the lateral line; It flows from an emitter or dripper connected to the lateral line; It flows through orifices perforated in the lateral line.
