Should I use surface or subsurface drip irrigation?

Subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) systems are most suitable for large-scale cornfield operations. Compared with on-surface systems, SDIs deliver additional benefits such as lower labor requirements, and operational simplicity. SDI systems favor modern tillage practices such as no-till or minimum tillage.On-surface systems are best for small to medium-scale growers, and for use on extremely sandy soil plots. They’re also a great option for plots that are deep-tilled or for plots that are rented where growers would prefer to avoid investments in non-mobile equipment. But bear in mind that while they require a lower initial investment, they do carry a higher operational cost.

If I have a lot of rainfall, will drip still be a good investment?

Definitely. While having ample rainfall is obviously a huge advantage, rain is never timely enough to allow the crop to reach its full yield potential. This is even more evident with sandy soils that have a lower water holding capacity. On top of that, drip is also a nutrient delivery system that allows you to fertigate and control the nutrient levels in your soil in a precise and economical way. Applying all of your fertilizer in a single application can be wasteful, especially under rainy conditions that provoke leaching. Splitting your nutrient application along the season guarantees that your crop gets what it needs when it needs it. This is what makes drip systems the perfect tool for increasing productivity in previously rain-fed plots.

What if I have an uneven topography or irregularly shaped cornfield?

Drip irrigation fits all plot shapes and sizes, all soil types and all topographies. You can use pressure compensating dripperlines that maintain the same flowrate across different pressure levels so every plant in the field gets exactly the same amount of water and nutrients no matter the elevation changes or distance from the water source.

Soybean Irrigation Systems

Soybeans need plenty of water during their reproductive stages (once the plants begin to flower), yet across the globe, many farmers and growers aren't giving their soybeans enough to thrive on with traditional soybean irrigation systems alone. Therefore, the best solution and system for the job is Precision Drip Irrigation, which allows for precise measurement of both water and essential nutrients year-round.

The challenge for soybean farmers

Due to the thirsty nature of soybeans in their mid-stages of development, a soybean irrigation system needs to be able to keep up with the demand. Drip systems accomplish this with ease, delivering exactly the right amount of water directly to the root systems of each plant. Not only does this eliminate common problems such as evaporation, overwatering, and overconsumption, but drip systems are optimized to improve the overall quality of the soybeans, which has a significant impact on both yield and profit.

Soybean irrigation is most important from the first flower through to seed fill, during which time the plants need approximately 0.35 inches per day of water at peak. Netafim's Surface Drip Irrigation System (SDI) uses innovative technology to guarantee performance and prevent clogging so that each soybean plant can access the water it needs to grow healthy toward maturity. With full control over your soybean irrigation system and the proper knowledge of how to irrigate soybeans, you can both increase your yield and save on water consumption.

Recommended Solutions for Soybean

The goal of a drip soybean irrigation system is to maximize yield without compromising on cost or using (and wasting) too much water.

Drip irrigation enables growers to harness advanced control over the root environments of each soybean plant during their critical developmental stages. More control equates to more soybeans, as soybean yields are heavily affected by the amount of water they receive during stages R1 to R5.

When each soybean plant receives exactly the amount of water and nutrients it needs throughout all stages of development, yields will not only be of higher quality, but of higher quantity, thus allowing farmers and growers to increase their production abilities (and physical acres of soybeans).

Although irrigation is the very important first step, it’s not the only factor that should be considered when trying to ensure the optimal conditions for soybeans. The proper nutrients, soil condition, and even the type of fertilizer and insecticides all matter when trying to yield the highest quality crop possible. The good news is that fertilizers, Biologicals, Bio-stimulants, and even insecticides and fungicides can be delivered through Netafim's Surface Drip Irrigation System (SDI), making it simple to get consistent, high quality yields every single time.

DripNet PC™

The industry's first pressure compensating, multi-season dripline. The DripNet PC combines the best of both worlds - a pressure compensating dripper in a thinwall tubing. Together these advanced technologies allow irrigation of row crops over hilly terrain with quarter-mile or longer runs at an affordable price.

Aries™

Aries™ thinwall drip line uses TurbuNext™ technology to ensure optimal performance and clog resistance even under harsh water conditions. The ultra-low flow rate of 0.11 GPH allows the use of longer laterals resulting in cost savings on materials and labor.

Sandstorm™ Single Chamber

SandStorm™ media filters protect your irrigation system from heavily contaminated water and sand. High-quality metal media and non-corrosive filters, with modular for easy scalability.

Grower Stories

Meet the tomato growers using precision irrigation.

Things we often get asked:

Subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) systems are most suitable for large-scale cornfield operations. Compared with on-surface systems, SDIs deliver additional benefits such as lower labor requirements, and operational simplicity. SDI systems favor modern tillage practices such as no-till or minimum tillage.

On-surface systems are best for small to medium-scale growers, and for use on extremely sandy soil plots. They’re also a great option for plots that are deep-tilled or for plots that are rented where growers would prefer to avoid investments in non-mobile equipment. But bear in mind that while they require a lower initial investment, they do carry a higher operational cost.
Definitely. While having ample rainfall is obviously a huge advantage, rain is never timely enough to allow the crop to reach its full yield potential. This is even more evident with sandy soils that have a lower water holding capacity. On top of that, drip is also a nutrient delivery system that allows you to fertigate and control the nutrient levels in your soil in a precise and economical way. Applying all of your fertilizer in a single application can be wasteful, especially under rainy conditions that provoke leaching. Splitting your nutrient application along the season guarantees that your crop gets what it needs when it needs it. This is what makes drip systems the perfect tool for increasing productivity in previously rain-fed plots.
Drip irrigation fits all plot shapes and sizes, all soil types and all topographies. You can use pressure compensating dripperlines that maintain the same flowrate across different pressure levels so every plant in the field gets exactly the same amount of water and nutrients no matter the elevation changes or distance from the water source.

Need help finding the best solution for your farm?

Get in touch, and we can talk about what your crop needs.