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Adrilite. KB Drip. Baffle. (control). Chapin. Das. T-tape. On-farm drip lateral testing. Southeast Asian/Chinese wide bed system. “Turbulent flow” drip tubing—not easy to manufacture. Drip lateral testing. Drip lateral testing: 3 high flow, 3 low flow
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Adrilite KB Drip Baffle (control) Chapin Das T-tape On-farm drip lateral testing
Drip lateral testing Drip lateral testing: 3 high flow, 3 low flow very low pressure (1.5 psi)
Drip laterals under evaluation High flow rates: -Nepali “Baffle” system -India’s KB Drip (microtube) -Adrilite (like Netafim’s internal turbulent flow emitters Low flow rates (turbulent flow): -T-tape -Chapin Watermatics tape (now Jain) -Das Agro Plastics (India)
Observations: -Flow rate/100 ft -Emitter uniformity -Soil moisture -Clogging -Crop yield -Crop quality -Vigor ratings -Uniformity ratings -Income
big problem: water container$ • Must be inexpensive • Accommodate a valve • Close at top • Self-supporting, frame, etc.—3 psi (1.5-2 m height) min. pressure • Easy to clean and transport……..BUT…
Irrigation product customers often have other urgent problems
IDE crop advisory services? • Irrigation system design (drip, etc.) • Improved varieties and seeds • Seed production assistance • Disease/pest diagnostic service (i.d.) • Pest management advice and recommendations (FFS training programs) • Simplified soil testing
Drip lateral screening • “Quick and dirty” farmer participatory research (screening) • Eliminates the poorest performers rather than identifies “the best” • Better performers evaluated in wider farmers’ field testing
Questions—drip lateral lines • Which perform best at v. low pressure (1.5-3 psi)? • Which result in best veg. crop yields/quality (Asian bed system) • How long will they perform well (durability, resistance to clogging)? • Which easiest to use, maintain, store? • Which most cost effective?
Vegetable seed -market assessment, -production feasibility
Vegetable seed production • High value • Proximity to market less important (remote areas) • Few “postharvest” problems • Collaboration possible with private cos. • Contract production model • Indegenous/local varieties
Water Discharge among 6 Drip System Laterals (day 7*) Clogging?