Why is Irrigated Farming Important in Dry Regions?

Irrigated farming is one of the most intensive types of farming. Desert, semi-desert, and arid areas that have insufficient water for growing crops have been applying irrigated farming methods for decades.

This guide will answer the following questions:

• How Farmers in These Regions Benefit from Irrigated Farming
• Irrigation Farming Dates Back to the Neolithic Period
• What are Drip Irrigation Systems & How Do They Work?
• What are the Different Pumps Used in Agricultural Irrigation?
• About Positive Displacement Pumps
• About Dynamic Pumps
• DL Vertical Multistage Pumps Explained
• What are DZA Centrifugal Pumps?
• Borehole Pumps Explained
• What are Solar Borehole Pumps? How Do They Work?

Irrigated farming produces higher yields than dry farming methods. Farmers apply irrigated methods of farming for repeated sowing and inter-planting. This makes it possible for the best use of land and provision of fodder. Worldwide, irrigation farming accounts for 16% of cultivated areas. These cultivated lands produce the same, if not more, than unirrigated areas.

Irrigated farming methods include using pipes, canals, and sprinklers. Farmers irrigate crops through all man-made means instead of relying on rainfall. Places that have sparse or seasonal rainfall could not sustain agricultural land without irrigation. In erratic rainfall areas, irrigation improves crop growth for food production and quality. Irrigation is a reliable way to create and maintain a constant demand for food.

Irrigation farming dates back to the Neolithic period. Middle Asia, Egypt, and Mesopotamia were all lands susceptible to spring flooding. Farmers sowed seeds in the silt once the waters receded. This made it possible for the plants to thrive without tilling the land. We refer to this as furrow irrigation.They developed hoe farming out of this method of farming. Some ancient farming methods included the building of ridges to protect fields. They also created canals for the watering of fields.

As farming techniques developed, the Egyptians & Chinese built irrigation canals, dams, and dykes to store water. Ancient Rome built aqueducts to carry water from snowmelt in the Alps to the cities below. They used this water for drinking, washing, and irrigation.

Today, farmers in Afghanistan, Vietnam and Iran irrigate half or more of their cropland. In Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Oman, farmers use irrigated farming in agricultural practices. Excessively moist countries like Great Britain, Germany, and Belgium make use of irrigation farming. The USSR uses irrigated farming extensively.

To conduct a peripheral pump service you will need to go through the following steps:

We irrigate crops using several irrigation methods for the best crops. These include flood irrigation, channelling water between rows of plants, and sprays.

Letting water drip onto plants through holes in pipes is another successful method. Farmers consider drip irrigation an effective method of irrigation. Drip irrigation focuses on dripping water onto the actual plant. Other methods cause water loss by letting it absorb into the ground where there are no plants. Water can also evaporate when sprayed through sprinkler systems.

We classify pumps into two key categories. These are positive displacement and dynamic pumps.

Positive displacement pumps push water from point A to point B using mechanical energy. They comprise 2 sides. These include a suction side and a discharge side. They draw fluids into a suction valve, and discharge it through an outlet valve. Fluids fill the chamber with fluids, which are then dispensed. We use positive displacement pumps for irrigating a wide range of crops.

Dynamic pumps are high-velocity pumps. They increase kinetic energy through mechanical motions. Liquids flow into a discharge pipe using centrifugal force. Centrifugal pumps are a key sub category of dynamic pumps.

Dynamic pumps can work with sandy or saline fluids. They have filters for the removal of solid materials within the fluids. We use them for irrigating a wide range of crops. We mostly use centrifugal pumps for irrigation.

The term DL refers to the manufacturer, DAB Pumps. They manufacture a wide range of pumps, including vertical multistage pumps. We use them in areas where we need high pressure and high flow rates.

DZA is a pump brand producing centrifugal pumps. They are best known for their durability and excellent quality. The range of pumps handles a wide range of fluids. They come in a variety of sizes and configurations to suit varying requirements.

DZA centrifugal pumps use rotating impellers for the creation of fluid flow. We use DZA centrifugal pumps in a wide range of industries. Common applications include transference of water, chemical processing, and oil and gas production

We commonly refer to borehole pumps as well pumps or deep well pumps. Manufacturers have designed borehole pumps to use in deep wells or boreholes. We use them to extract water from underground sources. We can install borehole pumps horizontally or vertically. This depends on location and water availability (water sources or water tables).

Borehole pumps have a body, electric motor, and a series of impellers. Manufacturers have designed these pumps to move water from the well to the surface. The motor is at the top of the well and connected to the pump body with electrical cables. You will find the impellers inside the pump body. The impellers move the water vertically up to the surface. Borehole pumps are efficient systems used for a wide range of applications.

We use the energy from the sun for solar borehole pumps. They comprise a solar panel, controller, and a submersible pump placed in the borehole or well.

The solar panels convert sunlight into power for the pump. Users place the submersible pump at the bottom of a well or borehole to pump water to the surface.

Solar borehole pumps are often the preferred choice of pump for remote locations. They are especially useful where access to electricity is limited or not available. Many farmers take full advantage of solar borehole pumps where sunlight is abundant and the power from the grid is expensive.

Solar borehole pumps are environmentally friendly as they produce no pollutants. They enjoy longevity and are low maintenance. This makes them cost-effective solutions in the long term.

They have some limitations as they have lower pumping rates. We compare this to traditional pumps. They might be suitable for larger water applications.
Low sunlight days might not offer sufficient power for solar pumps to operate efficiently.

Find out everything you need to know about pumping efficiency in the agricultural and farming sector. Get the right application for all your needs.

Contact our AxFlow AQS Liquid Transfer team of specialists. Find out which pump is best suited to your needs. Contact us on +27 12 548 7204, or fill out our enquiry to find out how to get the most out of agricultural irrigation with the right pump.

Enjoy enhanced efficiency while reducing your carbon footprint. We guide you and show you how to save money in the long term with the right pump selection. Contact us on +27 12 548 7204 or fill out our enquiry form. We are here to offer you the best and most updated information.

Sources:
https://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Irrigation+Farming#:~:text=Irrigation%20Farming%20the%20raising%20of%20agricultural%20crops%20under,moisture%20at%20certain%20times%20of%20the%20grow
Pumps in Agriculture | 6 Basic Types Used for Irrigation (farmpractices.com)
conserve-energy-future.com
irrigation (nationalgeographic.org)
Irrigated Farming – an overview | ScienceDirect Topics,
sciencedirect.com

Do you still have questions? Give our AQS Liquid Transfer team a call on +27 12 548 7204 or fill out our enquiry form, our friendly team will get back to you with first-hand expertise on how to select a borehole pump for your needs.