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When choosing an irrigation system, there are advantages and disadvantages of different types and the specific situation should be a prime consideration.Ìý If suitable for your application, drip irrigation can be a great choice compared to overhead or sprinkler systems for a number of reasons.

Drip systems:

• Use less water
• Reduce pest/disease problems because it doesn’t wet the entire plant or cause soil splash
• Can be integrated with fertilizer applications (i.e., fertigation) for improved timing and placement, as well as cost savings
• Can help avoid requirement of potential new produce safety rules that may require testing of overhead irrigation water

• . This additional water in the soil profile aids resilience by enabling plants to avoid water stress during some dry periods.
• Also, consider trying more drought-tolerant vegetable and forage varieties.Ìý These can significantly improve yields in a dry year.ÌýÌý ¶¶Òõ̽̽ Extension’s Sid Bosworth has this

Want to make use of your pondÌýwater for irrigation?ÌýÌýIn order to utilize ponds and other surface water sourcesÌýfor micro-irrigation, use of a sand filter is recommended.ÌýCommercial models require a substantial, and sometimesÌýcost-prohibitive, investment for small or beginning farmers.ÌýÌýA need exists for an effective low-cost alternative, which Farming & Climate Change Coordinator Joshua Faulkner has developed and can be downloaded here.

Download detailed plans for the construction and operation of the filter (PDF file).

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