Farmers Ask: should i go for Pump fed (pressurised) or Gravity fed DRIP IRRIGATION SYSTEM?

Please note: Drip Irrigation operates within a pressure range of 0.3-1 bars (aprox). A pump can easily meet that pressure, but a raised tank needs to be at least at 3m height.

A pressurised system works under a Pump Unit, on the other hand Gravity fed system takes advantage of height eg raised tank stands/ uphills.

Field Size:
A pump fed system is best in terms of water distribution across the fields & ideally can irrigate large fields efficiently : this is because a Pump can give you good pressure which can also be regulated if it’s on the high side.

Field Gradient/Slope:
When you intend to irrigate on sloppy fields, a Pump fed Drip system will work better than Gravity fed.

Power availability:
If you are not on Grid, you will need a solar system/ fuels to power your pumps, with Gravity you only need tank stands.

Cost:
Gravity fed can be more affordable. For a start, doing some small scale horticulture (eg 1-2 Hectare), you can safely go for a gravity fed system (stand should be at least 3m raised, the higher the better). If funds permit, go for Pump fed.

Water source yields:
If yields are good, and the water source pump is of the correct size, you can irrigate DIRECT from Borehole/Dam straight to the Drip system without any Reservoir. This setup needs to be rightly designed and sized for you to get efficient water distribution in the fields. Wrong sizing can lead to pipe bursts.

Get a professional engineer to do a Site Visit and recommend the best solution for your project.