Comparing Pivot and Gravity Irrigation
Compare pivot and gravity irrigation to determine the best option for your fields
The concept behind irrigation efficiency is simple – deliver the required water to plants, when they need it. By that standard, surface irrigation is the most wasteful method, with only 40 percent to 50 percent efficiency. Drip sets the standard at just below 100 percent, but mechanized is only slightly less efficient at 98 percent when using LEPA.1The low operating pressure of modern irrigation systems, such as mechanized, makes them far more energy-efficient than older technology, such as surface irrigation, which requires far more water. Also, water logging associated with surface irrigation increases soil salinity, which can reduce both yields and land value.
In summary, mechanized is much more efficient to install, maintain and operate than surface or drip
irrigation, which means substantial savings on valuable water.
| Valley Mechanized | Drip | Flood | |
| Provides greater water efficiency | x | x | |
| Reduces labor costs | x | ||
| Reduces energy costs | x | x | |
| Easy to install & maintain | x | ||
| Easily movable from field to field | x | ||
| Does not limit crop rotation/tillage options | x | x | |
| Equipment can last up to 30 years | x | ||
| Can be monitored/operated remotely | x | x |
1 Water Scarcity and Modern Irrigation
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