[[Image:drum systems icon.png|right]]
[[Image:IDE drum.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Layout of IDE drum system. Drawing: [http://www.samsamwater.com/library.php?serie=RELMA%20Technical%20Handbook%20Series RELMA.]]]
__NOTOC__
International Development Enterprises of Colorado, USA, designed and tested a drum kit system which can irrigate 520 vegetable plants. The drum kit consists of 130 pipes (1-mm diameter) called micro-tubes, fitted to 5 rows of 12-mm diameter PE laterals. Water from the drum flows out in a small stream from all 130 micro-tubes. The water then spreads out in a circular pattern to about 0.5-m radius. Four plants are planted in each of the circles.
'''Uses of a drum system'''<br>
A drum system covering 5 beds each 1 m wide and 15 m long can be used to grow 250 plants (tomato, egg plant and similar plants requiring a spacing of 60 cm along the plant rows); 500 plants (spinach, cabbage, kale, pepper and similar plants requiring a spacing of 30 cm along the plant rows); or 1,500 plants (onion, carrot and similar plants requiring a spacing of 10 cm). The drum system also offers water storage and control through a control valve, making it possible to fill the drum for irrigating at another time.
International Development Enterprises of ColoradoSix examples are presented: the KARI drum system from Kenya, USAthe Waggon Wheel system from South Africa, the Family, designed Plastro and tested a drum kit system which can irrigate 520 vegetable plants. The drum kit consists of 130 pipes (1Micro-mm diameter) called micro-tubesTal systems from Israel, fitted to 5 rows of 12-mm diameter PE laterals. Water from and the IDE drum flows out in a small stream from all 130 micro-tubes. The water then spreads out in a circular pattern to about 0.5-m radius. Four plants are planted used in each of the circlesIndia.
==Suitable conditions==
==Construction, operations and maintenance==
The standard drum kit system comprises a drum, control valve, a manifold and drip lines. The drum should be filled with the valve in the closed position. To irrigate it is important to open the valve fully. This allows the water to be distributed quickly through the drip lines and allows for good water distribution.
'''System components'''<br>
==Reference manuals, videos, and links==
* [http://uk.ideorg.org/OurTechnologies/DripIrrigation.aspx International Development Enterprises.]Drip irrigation provides farmers the most efficient way to grow crops in water scarce areas, but historically has been too expensive for small-plot farmers. After first approaching manufacturers of commercial drip irrigation systems, IDE developed its own design for small farmers.
==Acknowledgements==
* Sijali, Isaya V. [http://www.samsamwater.com/library.php?serie=RELMA%20Technical%20Handbook%20Series DRIP IRRIGATION: Options for smallholder farmers in eastern and southern Africa.] RELMA, 2001.