Drip Irrigation Lateral and Submain Configurations

for Field and Row Crops

Inge Bisconer, Technical Marketing and Sales Manager, MBA, CID, CLIA
Toro Micro-Irrigation, El Cajon, California [email protected]

Jim Klauzer, Agronomist

Clearwater Supply, Ontario, Oregon [email protected]

For presentation at The Irrigation Association Convention, November 2014, Phoenix, AZ

Abstract. Drip irrigation systems consist of lateral pipes that emit water directly to the root zones of
crops, and submain pipeline networks that supply water to the laterals. Lateral and submain
pipelines are available in a number of configurations that may be classified as season or
permanent. Field crop (cotton, corn, alfalfa, soybeans, etc.) and row crop (fruits, vegetables, etc.)
growers routinely use one or more of the following lateral and submain combinations: 1) Seasonal
laterals with seasonal submains, 2) Seasonal laterals with permanent submains, 3) Permanent
laterals with seasonal submains, and 4) Permanent laterals with permanent submains. Typical
applications of each of these four combinations, and the relative pros and cons of each, will be
reviewed. Discussion topics will include crop germination and/or transplant setting, labor, system
maintenance, operational flexibility and the effect upon initial cost and yearly operating
cost. Examples will show how each of these combinations are successfully deployed.

Keywords. Subsurface Drip Irrigation (SDI), Drip Irrigation Economics, Drip Irrigation Design

Introduction
The use of drip irrigation is growing rapidly in the United States. Drip not only increases resource-use
efficiency, including water, fertilizer, labor and energy, but enhances yield and quality.

Drip irrigation has traditionally been implemented in higher value fruit, nut and vegetable crops. More
recently, it has become very popular in field crop applications, including corn/soybean rotations and
alfalfa, cotton and processing tomato fields. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s most recent Farm
and Ranch Irrigation Survey reported 3.76 million acres of drip in the United States. Drip acreage is
expected to be significantly higher in the 2013 report due in October of 2014.

One reason drip is gaining in popularity is because the systems are flexible and can accommodate
diverse cropping and application demands. Drip irrigation systems consist of lateral pipes that emit
water directly to the root zones of crops, and submain pipes that supply water to the laterals. For field
and row crop applications, lateral and submain pipelines can be classified as seasonal or permanent
and are available in a number of configurations.

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Pros and Cons of Drip System Combinations
Drip irrigation systems rely on five major components:
 Drip tape is a “line source” drip irrigation lateral product that incorporates a continuously
produced flowpath emission device into a thin- to medium-walled seamed or extruded tube.
Toro’s Aqua-Traxx premium drip tape with the PBX advantage is an example of an extruded
drip tape with rotary molded emitters using a polyethylene flowpath, while Toro’s Aqua-Traxx
FC uses an elastomeric material.
 Flat emitter dripline is a “point-source” lateral product that incorporates injection molded
emitters into a thin- to medium-walled extruded tube. Toro’s Neptune flat emitter dripline is an
example of this type of lateral.
 Oval hose is a submain pipe made from polyethylene (PE) that is flattened to an oval shape
during production to simplify transportation.
 Layflat is a submain pipe made from flexible PVC that is coiled flat.
 PVC pipe is rigid and available in various thicknesses and cut lengths.

Figure 1 illustrates three different types of drip tape and flat emitter dripline components:

Figure 1: Examples of drip tape and flat emitter dripline options from The Toro Company.

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Figure 2 shows the seasonal and permanent options of the lateral and submain components
combined with one another in four quadrants, and then lists the pros and cons of each combination.
In addition, application examples are provided. Factors to consider when deciding upon permanent
or seasonal submains and laterals include crop germination and/or transplant setting, labor, system
maintenance requirements, operational flexibility, initial cost and annual operating cost. A summary
of each quadrant of the matrix follows below.

Pros and Cons of Drip Irrigation Lateral and Submain Configurations for Field and Row Crop Applications*

Seasonal Submain (Layflat, Oval Hose) Permanent Submain (PVC)

Pros Cons Pros Cons
Portable with ability
High flushing labor Automate flushing Winterization needed
to follow crop
No submain moving
Germinate crop High moving labor Trenching required
labor
Seasonal Lateral Average maintenance Disposal costs Germinate crop Repairs more difficult Seasonal Lateral
(Drip Tape, (Drip Tape,
Seasonal lateral Lateral replacement
Flat Emitter Low initial cost Average maintenance Flat Emitter
replacement cost more difficult
Dripline) Periodic submain Dripline)
Multii-year PVC use Moderate lateral costs
replacement cost
Manifolds for various
crops difficult
Example: Onions, celery, vegies Example: Some vegetable growing regions

Seasonal Submain (Layflat, Oval Hose) Permanent Submain (PVC)

Pros Cons Pros Cons
Often need Often need
Multi-year lateral use supplemental moisture Automate flushing supplemental moisture
for germination for germination
Permanent Lateral Permanent Lateral
Lateral repairs more No submain moving Lateral and submain
(Drip Tape, Portable submain (Drip Tape,
difficult labor repairs more difficult
Flat Emitter Need excellent Multi-year lateral and Need excellent Flat Emitter
Dripline) Medium initial cost Dripline)
maintenance submain use maintenance
High flushing labor or
Winterization needed
need flushing manifolds
Higher initial cost
Example: Processing tomatoes Example: Corn/soybeans, alfalfa, cotton
* Based on information developed by Jim Klauzer, Clearwater Supply and Inge Bisconer, Toro Micro-Irrigation

Figure 2 - Pros and cons of drip irrigation lateral and submain configurations for field and row crops.

Seasonal Laterals and Seasonal Submains (upper left quadrant)

Systems with seasonal laterals and seasonal submains are popular in vegetable crops like celery or
onions and fruit crops such as strawberries. They may be used to germinate the crop, are portable
and have a low initial cost. Because they are expected to last only one season, they require only
moderate maintenance. Drawbacks to this type of system include the labor needed to move
submains and flush laterals, as well as lateral disposal and lateral replacement costs.

Permanent Laterals and Seasonal Submains (lower left quadrant)

Permanent laterals used with seasonal submains are popular in processing tomato production
because the laterals can be used for multiple years, and yet the submains are portable. Drawbacks
to this type of system include more difficult lateral repairs, the possible need for supplemental
germination moisture, and heavier maintenance requirements since laterals are expected to last
multiple seasons. Maintenance for these systems typically includes flushing manifolds and/or
flushing labor, and chemical treatment. Initial system cost is higher compared to seasonal, portable
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laterals used on vegetable and strawberry crops since the permanent laterals need to be more
robust. However, the submain costs are about the same since both are seasonal.

Permanent Laterals and Permanent Submains (lower right quadrant)

Permanent laterals with permanent submains are used for field crops, such as corn, soybeans,
alfalfa and cotton. System advantages include multi-year use and amortization of both the laterals
and submains. Using permanent laterals with permanent submains also allows automated flushing
and eliminates submain moving costs.

The drawbacks to this type of system include more difficult lateral and submain repairs, high
maintenance requirements, the possible need for supplemental moisture for germination, and the
need for winterization in cold climates. The initial cost is higher because the components must be
durable enough for multiple year use and the system must be trenched in.

Seasonal Laterals and Permanent Submains (upper right quadrant)

Finally, seasonal laterals are sometimes combined with permanent submains in vegetable growing
regions to avoid submain moving costs. Submain repairs for these systems are more difficult, as is
lateral replacement.

Conclusion
Drip irrigation offers growers a number of benefits, but choosing the right system can be complex.
Growers are encouraged to consult with reputable manufacturers, qualified dealers, consultants,
farm advisors, government personnel, associations and irrigation service providers for help
determining the best combination of components for their specific conditions. Drip irrigation
education material is available at http://driptips.toro.com.

References

Toro.com and http://driptips.toro.com

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), 2008. Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey
(FRIS), Volume 3, Special Studies, Part 1. Available at
http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2007/Online_Highlights/Farm_and_Ranch_Irriga
tion_Survey/index.php

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