Agronomist notebook: Dos, don’ts of using furrow irrigation
Mike Kigen makes furrows for irrigating his farm at the Perkerra Irrigation Scheme in Marigat, Baringo County in this past photo. Due to high initial cost of investments, most small-scale farmers often prefer to use furrow irrigation systems, which come with numerous challenges that include overflow to neighbouring farms. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Drip irrigation systems are the most efficient as they help in water conservation and prevent the spread of fungal diseases such as black rot in cabbages and blight in tomatoes.
Once one furrow is filled, the water is directed to the next, until the entire farm is irrigated. The water flows by gravity. However, one may need to pump the water from the source.
Design your irrigation system depending on the crops you intend to grow and ensure you have an adequate source of clean water that can be used for production.
Watering is best done late in the evening since, during the day, this results in a high evaporation rate.
As the weather becomes extremely unpredictable, with dry spells becoming frequent, the use of irrigation is inevitable for increased food production.
There are factors one must consider before investing in an irrigation system. These include the topography, type of crop to be grown and the cost of installation.
