Fruits are long season crops that in most cases require a lot of water during the various growth phases. Learn the best irrigation systems for fruit farming with Aqua Hub Kenya.
Reasons Why You Must Irrigate your Fruits
- Although some fruit trees are persistent to drought, they often develop quality and large fruits when enough water is available.
- Irrigation unlike rainfall provides continuous precipitation on your soil and thus fruits thrive faster.
- With irrigation, it is possible to control water fed to your fruits without causing less or excess supply which can harm growth.
- Irrigation is a scheduled process happening either during early morning or late evening hours reducing evaporation risks.
- You can grow your crops within any region, arid and low-rainfall areas are turned into productive lands.
Irrigation Systems for Fruit Farming
Depending on the suitability, region, fruit type and cost of production, various irrigation methods have proven effective. They include;
Sprinkler Irrigation
Sprinkler irrigation provides higher flow rates from an overhead position to your fruit trees. There are variety of sprinklers you can use including plastic butterfly types, impact sprinklers, rain guns, and flange types.
Ideal for oranges, lemons, guava, banana, pineapple, citrus| passion, papaya, and pomegranate.
Button Drippers
Provides steady high flow rates of water to each fruit tree. Button drippers are adjustable with the ability to increase or lower the irrigation rate by closing or opening the caps.
Button drippers are best for avocado, passion, grapes, berries and mango fruits.
Drip Irrigation
Suitable for direct root zone irrigation in fruits such as water melons, strawberries, citrus and pineapple.
Drip Kits saves a lot of water as it only irrigates near plant areas through emitter pipes.
Preparation and Setup of Irrigation Systems for Fruit Farming
Fruit farming, just like any other crop, requires planning, research and study of ecological conditions suitable then you start.
The first step is the assessment of soil PH to consider which irrigation system and fruits to grow. Find the best agronomist who will assist in soil tests and advise you on the gold fruit crop you should try.
You can proceed with water requirement assessment based on your available water source options. Options for reliable water sources include water pans, dams, rivers or boreholes.
In areas where dams and rivers are not available, you can drill boreholes to meet surplus water reserve for your fruit farms.
Once water sources is resolved, proceed to clear and prepare your land for fruit propagation.
Till the land and prepare holes for planting where you can space them on 50 cm interval and 1-2 m line spacing.
Acquire fruit seedlings and plant them while ensuring you water them during the process.
Set up the irrigation system, which could be sprinklers, drip irrigation system or button drippers. Once installation is done, test and ensure it delivers proper water flow rates to your fruits.
Things to Consider When Choosing Irrigation Systems
Various factors directly affect the choice of irrigation method to use on providing water for the growth of your garden fruits.
- Soil factors influence which watering method you will use, as most are not applicable in just any soil type. For instance, light soils such as sand are not applicable with sprinkler methods since they erode easily.
- Water Sources, quality, pump head and quality of the water determine which irrigation system you settle with.
- Crop type you want to grow is another important factor to look at when deciding on which irrigation system to use. The concern is the water requirement of the crop and whether the system flow rate meets it.
- System considerations such as the type of power supply, labor and availability, initial capital and annual operating costs
Buy Irrigation Systems for Fruit Farming In Kenya
Wondering where to find the irrigation systems for fruit farming and other crop propagation accessories? Aqua Hub Kenya is here to make your irrigation farming a journey of fortune.
Call 0790719020