ABSTRACT
Historically, there are four basic irrigation systems of on-farm water application: (1) surface/gravity, (2) subsurface, (3) sprinkler, and (4) micro irrigation. The sprinkler and micro irrigation methods together are generally categorized as ‘Pressurized systems.’ Sprinkler method includes hand move, hose pull, side roll/wheel move, stationary big guns, and solid state/permanent types, continuous move types such as center pivots, linear move, and travelers. Water application through drip (also called trickle), micro sprinklers (spinners and rotators), microjets (static and vibrating), microsprayers, bubblers, drip tapes (both surface and subsurface) referred to as micro irrigation. There is no definite distinction between conventional sprinklers and emitters used in micro irrigation, emitters having flow rates up to 200 L per hour (L/h) can be regarded as micro emitters [15]. Generally, drippers have flow rates from 2 to 8 L/h. Micro-sprayers and static micro jets are nonrotating type with flow rates ranging from 20 to 150 L/h. Whereas, microsprinklers are rotating type with flow rates ranging from 100 to 300 L/h.
