PhilRice develops cheaper irrigation for small-scale farms

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Rice Research Institute is developing a cheaper alternative to drip irrigation system to help small-scale farmers cope with the extreme impact of El Niño.

Drip irrigation system is a method that involves water delivery through a pipe distribution network consisting of a main pipe, sub main, manifold and lateral pipes.

The water is emitted through small outlets of drippers or emitters into the soil to be irrigated.

However, the system is costly for ordinary farmers and they also encounter problems when it is used in sub-surface irrigation.

Researchers from PhilRice recommend a capillary-based irrigation the farmers can easily fabricate and install.

Ricardo Orge, lead researcher, said the technology is a farmer-friendly system that has a simple do-it-yourself  design which will significantly reduce farmer expenses on irrigation.

“As a cheaper, cost-efficient alternative to drip irrigation system, our study uses a water distribution system similar to drip irrigation system. However, it is equipped with emitters that make use of the capillary principle to deliver water through a wick,” Orge said.

Under normal field conditions, the water flows from the water source towards the capillary pipes, and through gravity, the water is introduced directly to the crops through the wick.

Because it operates at near-atmospheric pressure, the system can be made from cheaper or even recycled materials other than the conventional plastic pipes.

As for the wick, the cotton yarn has the most ideal traits.

According to Orge, aside from the  uniform water discharge rate (WDR), it is also biodegradable, readily-available, and can last for at least two cropping seasons.

Initial results of the study showed that despite changes on ambient air temperature, the WDR of the system was not affected. 

Under 36- 37? C, the WDR is consistent at 32 ml/hr.

Orge added the distance between the water level and the tip of the wick also didn’t affect the WDR.

He said further testing would be conducted to harness the system’s full potential.