Difference between revisions of "Irrigation - Spray head"
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| − | + | [[Image:Spray_head_icon.png|right|80px]] | |
| − | [[Image:Spray_head_icon.png|right]] | + | [[Image:Spray_head.PNG|thumb|right|200px|Spray irrigation for urban market gardening in Mali. Photo: Netherlands Water Partnership.]] |
| + | __NOTOC__ <small-title /> | ||
| + | Spray-head irrigation requires pressure from pedal or motor pumps. In West Africa, the spray-head is mounted on a lay-flat hose connected to a small petrol pump. Spray irrigation is an intermediate option between a watering can and more sophisticated sprinkler or drip irrigation. It has high water use efficiency and saves energy and labour. | ||
| − | + | Treadle pumps combined with spray-heads are promoted by Approtec in East Africa and Enterprise Works in West Africa. | |
Due to its simplicity, spray irrigation technology has spread spontaneously from farmer to farmer in West-African countries such as Mali, Niger and Togo. A recent survey in Bamako, Mali, among 80 market gardeners showed that more than 60% used this method. | Due to its simplicity, spray irrigation technology has spread spontaneously from farmer to farmer in West-African countries such as Mali, Niger and Togo. A recent survey in Bamako, Mali, among 80 market gardeners showed that more than 60% used this method. | ||
| − | |||
| − | + | ===Suitable conditions === | |
| − | + | {| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" align="center" | |
| − | + | |- | |
| + | ! width="50%" style="background:#efefef;" | Advantages | ||
| + | ! style="background:#f0f8ff;" | Disadvantages | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | valign="top" | - High water use efficiency. <br> | ||
| + | - Saves energy and labour. <br> | ||
| + | - relatively low investment cost per unit area<br> | ||
| + | - widespread availability of equipment<br> | ||
| + | - well adapted to situations with multiple low-yielding wells, requiring the equipment to be shifted every 15 to 30 minutes<br> | ||
| + | - possibly enhanced plant growth and yield<br> | ||
| + | - negligible problems of rodent damage or theft<br> | ||
| + | - no emitters, so no emitter clogging<br> | ||
| + | - African farmers quickly take up the technology | ||
| + | | valign="top" | - labour requirement could be high<br> | ||
| + | |} | ||
| − | + | ===Construction, operations and maintenance=== | |
| − | + | '''Options for optimization:''' | |
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | + | * reduce the price of equipment, including that of accessories, such as layflat hose; | |
| + | * improve spraying head efficiency; | ||
| + | * improve pump efficiency; | ||
| + | * improve engine efficiency; and | ||
| + | * replace the petrol pump with a treadle pump. | ||
| + | ===Costs=== | ||
US$ 2 - 5 for a spray-head. US$ 300 - 600 for a unit with petrol pumps. | US$ 2 - 5 for a spray-head. US$ 300 - 600 for a unit with petrol pumps. | ||
| − | == | + | ===Field experiences=== |
| − | |||
<b>Location:</b> West Africa. | <b>Location:</b> West Africa. | ||
| − | + | ===Manuals, videos, and links=== | |
| + | * [ftp://ftp.fao.org/agl/aglw/fwm/SmallScalePumpedIrrigation.pdf Small scale pumped irrigation.] FAO. | ||
| − | == | + | ===Acknowledgements=== |
| − | [http://www. | + | * [http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CFoQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.siminet.org%2Fimages%2Fpdfs%2Fsprayirrigation.pdf&ei=Dan8T5nFJ8mK2gXg9rnJCA&usg=AFQjCNETEhXHL1VdgxGT1YieeS-GPnH9Dw&sig2=9BeFd14tNvqJqf2abS7Nng Efficiency, cost, optimization and spread of spray irrigation in West Africa.] |
| + | * [http://www.washdoc.info/docsearch/title/124276 SmartWater Solutions: Examples of innovative, low-cost technologies for wells, pumps, storage, irrigation and water treatment] or ([http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CFEQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nwp.nl%2F_docs%2Fpublicaties%2FSmart_Water_Solutions_ENG_2006.pdf&ei=tKv8T_e6IYTiqgHOy4iLCQ&usg=AFQjCNE9tTXI9rJyLrJCYiS2z9bWSPnK5Q&sig2=ErJBEzlYeSUQV5erv2BWcw alternative link]). Netherlands Water Partnership. | ||
Latest revision as of 06:09, 1 October 2013
Spray-head irrigation requires pressure from pedal or motor pumps. In West Africa, the spray-head is mounted on a lay-flat hose connected to a small petrol pump. Spray irrigation is an intermediate option between a watering can and more sophisticated sprinkler or drip irrigation. It has high water use efficiency and saves energy and labour.
Treadle pumps combined with spray-heads are promoted by Approtec in East Africa and Enterprise Works in West Africa.
Due to its simplicity, spray irrigation technology has spread spontaneously from farmer to farmer in West-African countries such as Mali, Niger and Togo. A recent survey in Bamako, Mali, among 80 market gardeners showed that more than 60% used this method.
Suitable conditions
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| - High water use efficiency. - Saves energy and labour. |
- labour requirement could be high |
Construction, operations and maintenance
Options for optimization:
- reduce the price of equipment, including that of accessories, such as layflat hose;
- improve spraying head efficiency;
- improve pump efficiency;
- improve engine efficiency; and
- replace the petrol pump with a treadle pump.
Costs
US$ 2 - 5 for a spray-head. US$ 300 - 600 for a unit with petrol pumps.
Field experiences
Location: West Africa.
