Rivulis Introduces New Resources to Help Row-Crop Farmers Explore the Full Potential of Drip and Subsurface Drip Irrigation
Rivulis, a global leader in micro-irrigation solutions, is encouraging row-crop farmers to take a fresh look at irrigation strategies. With decades of experience in precision irrigation, the company is highlighting how Subsurface Drip Irrigation (SDI) and Drip irrigation solutions can provide a superior alternative to traditional Center Pivot irrigation, especially for farms under 200 hectares (500 acres) or those with irregularly shaped fields.
This offering is backed by newly developed guidance materials, designed to help farmers assess their fields and make informed decisions based on yield goals, field layout, soil conditions, and water availability.
Farmers are always looking for an edge – higher yields, better resource use, more predictable outcomes. SDI and Drip irrigation offer a way to achieve that, especially in conditions where pivots don’t quite fit. It’s not about replacing one system with another; it’s about choosing the best fit for each unique situation.
Why It Matters for Row Crops
Traditionally, many row-crop farms have leaned on center pivots for their scale and perceived simplicity. But this system irrigates in a circular pattern, often leaving up to 22% of land dry, particularly in square or irregular fields unless corner attachments are added, along with additional complexity and cost.
Drip and SDI irrigation solutions are flexible, covering 100% of the field regardless of shape. This means more irrigated area, more uniform emergence, and greater yield potential.
Rivulis has already seen the success of this method across global markets – most notably in Argentina, where over 12,000 hectares of SDI-supported row crops are in production today.
When Drip Makes More Sense Than Pivot
Rivulis highlights several scenarios where SDI or Drip irrigation solutions can provide measurable advantages over pivot systems:
- Fields under 200 hectares, especially within larger farms where land blocks vary in size.
- Irregularly shaped or sloped terrain where pivots cannot achieve full coverage.
- High heat or wind-prone regions, where surface evaporation from pivots can lead to water waste and lower irrigation uniformity.
- Semi-arid regions, where water efficiency is critical to both sustainability and profitability.
The goal for Rivulis is to help farmers unlock areas of their farms that have never been irrigated before. With SDI, you can reach those corners, the curves, the slopes—places where a pivot just can’t go.
Key Agronomic and Economic Benefits
Drip and SDI solutions are engineered for uniform water and nutrient delivery directly to the root zone. This leads to a range of agronomic advantages:
- Higher Yields and Quality: Consistent soil moisture and fertigation enable uniform crop growth, translating into higher yield potential.
- Water Efficiency: By minimizing evaporation and runoff, SDI and Drip can reduce water usage significantly compared to pivot irrigation. This is particularly important for areas where there are constraints of water availability.
- Reduced Weed Pressure: Especially in SDI solutions, where the soil surface remains dry, reducing weed germination, especially between the rows.
- Lower Fertilizer Use: Targeted fertigation through drip lines helps to reduce fertilizer use, improving environmental outcomes and reducing costs.
- Continuous Field Access: With SDI, the surface remains dry, allowing machinery to enter fields any time without risk of bogging.
Drip solutions also offer an advantage during hot or windy periods when pivots struggle to keep up with crop water demand. The ability to irrigate frequently and in small doses ensures that crops receive exactly what they need, exactly when they need it.
Better Fertigation and Resource Management
Fertilizer leaching and inconsistent nutrient application are common issues with overhead irrigation. SDI and Drip solutions counter this with precision fertigation, delivering nutrients directly into the active root zone.
- Efficient nutrient uptake through localized application.
- Less fertilizer waste, helping both the bottom line and the environment.
- Reduced risk of foliar diseases, as foliage stays dry during irrigation.
Precision is key. Rivulis solutions put water and nutrients exactly where they’re needed, when they’re needed. That’s what leads to stronger, healthier plants and higher yields.
Real-World Results: Argentina and Brazil
Countries like Argentina and Brazil are leading the way in adopting SDI for row crops. In Argentina, semi-arid conditions and the ability to rotate crops three times per year on irrigated land have proven especially compatible with SDI. In Brazil, SDI has proven highly effective in making use of odd-shaped or previously unirrigated plots.
With Rivulis solutions, farmers are now irrigating every inch of arable land – even plots previously left fallow due to pivot limitations. The result? Greater productivity per hectare, lower input costs, and increased profits.
Every farm is different, and choosing the right irrigation solution is a complex decision. That’s why Rivulis created easy-to-understand tools and resources to guide farmers through the process.
A Smarter Future for Row Crops
With increasing pressure to improve water use efficiency, reduce input costs, and boost productivity, now is the time for row-crop farmers to reconsider what’s possible.
Whether adopting SDI across an entire field or using Drip to complement an existing pivot system, Rivulis helps growers make the most of their land – every hectare, every corner.
For more information on SDI and Drip irrigation for row crops, and to access decision-making resources, visit:
https://www.rivulis.com/row-crops/
