Drip irrigation systems have a well-deserved reputation for water-efficiency. Although this gives them an obvious advantage in water-scarce South Africa, irrigation specialist, Mark Zartmann, explains that there are several factors that a farmer should consider before converting to such a system. Lloyd Phillips reports.
The country’s recent drought has put South African crop farmers under increasing pressure from government and the public to maximise their water-use efficiencies, while, at the same time, improving national food security. To achieve this, and remain profitable, some crop farmers have converted to drip irrigation. However, before such a conversion takes place – typically from flood irrigation or overhead sprinkler systems – a number of aspects must be considered.
“There is no one size-fits-all irrigation system,” says Mark Zartmann, managing director of MBB Consulting Engineers in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZuluNatal. “Many individual irrigation systems have been developed according to generic principles that are blanket applied to all farms. This is not ideal because each farm, and even each cropland, has specific characteristics that should influence the design of an individual irrigation system for a particular production environment.”
Mark has a passion for researching and designing agricultural irrigation systems, and has amassed a wealth of knowledge and experience on the subject.
“All irrigation systems have their place. All irrigation systems should be married to the soils and crops that they are intended for.”
He explains that upgrading an irrigation system need not necessarily require changing an existing system; it can simply mean improving an existing system. The primary drivers for any irrigation system upgrade should be to optimise the combination of energy consumption, water use efficiency (WUE) and crop yield, all in relation to each other, in order to achieve maximum enterprise profitability.
POWERED OR MANUAL SYSTEM?
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Syngenta Seedcare celebrates a decade of innovation
Syngenta's ambition is to enable their customers' investments to grow in healthy soil from treated seeds to young plants through innovation and collaboration, writes Magda du Toit.
Agri workers shine at Western Cape awards
Lindie-Alet van Staden, a garden and olive orchard manager at L’Ormarins Wine Estate in Franschhoek, was crowned as the Western Cape Prestige Agri-Worker of 2024 at a gala event recently held near Paarl.
Small and large farmers recognised at grain awards
The annual Grain SA/Syngenta awards ceremony bears testimony to the quality of farmers in the grain industry.
Growing partnerships: Fedgroup's flexible and innovative approach
Janine Ryan spoke to Warren Winchester, general manager of impact investing at Fedgroup, about why the company became involved in agriculture, and what it offers farmers and their immediate communities.
Why fish farms fail, and how to avoid becoming a statistic
The popularity of launching fish farms is not matched by their success. Leslie Ter Morshuizen, owner of Aquaculture Solutions, explores the factors that cause most of these businesses to go under.
Where history and modernity meet in a luxurious setting
Brian Berkman kept his eyes peeled for ghosts in the oldest continuously run hotel in South Africa, but all he found was a fabulous two-night stay.
THE HITCHING POST
I'm a stylish elderly lady with a radiant glow and a good sense of humour that keeps me young at heart.
Cutworms: check the weeds on your fields!
Zunel van Eeden explains why understanding the ecological interplay between cutworms and weeds is crucial for effective pest management. Producers should disrupt the life cycle of cutworms to minimise crop damage.
Does high-density grazing mimic grazing patterns of game?
In their paper on high-density grazing in Southern Africa, professors Angelinus Franke and Elmarie Kotzé from the Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences at the University of the Free State say high-density grazing systems may not accurately reflect natural ecosystems. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.
Global grain outlook: 2024/25 marketing season
In its latest summer crops report, the Crop Estimates Committee says South African farmers intend to plant 4,47 million hectares of summer grains and oilseeds in the 2024/25 season, up 1% from the previous season. As South Africa exports maize and soya bean, Annelie Coleman reports on the latest trends in the international grain and oilseed markets, amid fluctuations in weather conditions and ongoing armed conflicts.
