In-field irrigation
Trickle tipped water of choice
TRICKLE irrigation will become potato growers preferred method of water delivery, cutting applications and allowing growers to demonstrate good environmental practice, predicts an industry expert.
"Trickle irrigation applies small amounts of water, slowly and frequently through the crop," says Jerry Knox, senior researcher in irrigation and water resources at Cranfield University.
That will let growers show customers and legislators that they are using what will become an increasingly expensive resource responsibly.
While rain guns are flexible and have relatively low capital costs, water application is random and can be wasteful, he says.
As a result, trickle irrigation is set to take 10% of irrigation in the UK potato sector by 2020, compared with a figure of just 2% at the moment.
Although capital outlay is high, and good management essential, water use can be cut by 40%, he says.
Two types are suitable for potatoes: Pipes or tapes, either on the surface, or buried.
A thin walled tape can be used for a year and then disposed of, or a thicker walled version allows reuse for 2-3 years. Alternatively, hard-walled tubing with a lifespan of about 10 years can be used.
"If you go down the reusable route then you must make it work. The high capital costs mean it would be financial suicide to invest in a 10-year system and ditch it within just one or two years." *
In-field irrigation
Method Cost (£/cubic m)
Disposable tape 0.50
Plastic tubing 0.41
Reusable tape 0.33
Raingun 0.20