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How do automated sprinklers deliver irrigation water to crops?
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Agricultural technology
Cotton combine harvesting a cotton field.
Automated sprinkler systems deliver water to crops by utilizing a pump to draw water from a large well or supply canal, which is then directed into the system's main line and out to the sprinkler units. These systems are highly efficient, allowing for controlled application rates with minimal labor.12
Common automated or semiautomatic moving systems include:
- Centre-pivot units: These are anchored at the center of a field, featuring a long lateral arm equipped with sprinklers that sweeps across the field in a circular pattern.1
- Traveling sprinklers: These units are mounted on trailers and propelled across the field in unplanted lanes. They drag a flexible hose connected to the main supply line and automatically shut off upon reaching the end of a lane, allowing them to be moved to the next section.1
Beyond basic irrigation, these systems can be utilized for frost protection and the precise application of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers.2