How efficient irrigation can reduce your energy bill

In modern agriculture, water is a valuable resource and efficient irrigation not only benefits the environment, but also farmers’ wallets. One of the most effective methods of conserving water is through innovative irrigation systems such as DeepDrop®. However, what is often overlooked is the direct impact this water savings has on reducing energy consumption. We will explore how efficient irrigation with systems like DeepDrop® not only saves a lot of water, but also energy.

Less Pumping, Less Energy Consumption

Traditional irrigation often involves pumping large amounts of water from distant sources to fields. Each time a pump is started, energy is consumed, and when irrigating inefficiently, more pumping is needed to distribute enough water throughout the field. With DeepDrop®, irrigation allows for controlled distribution, delivering water directly to the rootsthus reducing the need for multiple pumping. Fewer pumps in operation means less energy consumed.

Irrigation Time Optimization

Another key aspect of energy savings is the optimization of watering time. Conventional irrigation systems may irrigate for extended periods of time, even when it is not necessary. This not only wastes water, but also energy. With DeepDrop®, growers can schedule irrigation to suit specific crop needs and weather conditions, avoiding wasting water and energy by irrigating only when necessary.

Soil Erosion Reduction

Soil erosion is a common problem in agriculture that not only affects soil quality, but also increases the need for irrigation. When soil erodes, it loses its ability to hold water, requiring more irrigation to keep crops healthy. With the DeepDrop® drip irrigation system, soil erosion is significantly reduced by delivering water directly to plant roots, which means less water wasted and less need for additional irrigation, thus reducing the energy consumption associated with pumping additional water.

Crops on steep slopes

On steep slopes, the DeepDrop® Irrigation System offers an additional advantage in terms of energy savings. By avoiding the need for intensive pumping systems to irrigate these hard-to-reach areas, the energy consumption required for irrigation is drastically reduced, making farming in hilly terrain more energy sustainable.

Specific Crops, Higher Efficiencies

Each type of crop as well as each soil type has its own specific water needs, and the DeepDrop® irrigation system easily adapts to these varying demands. For example, in deep-rooted crops such as mangoes, deep, spaced irrigation is most effective, while in leafy crops such as lettuces, more frequent but light irrigation is preferable. By providing the precise amount of water at the right time, waste is avoided and the efficiency of water and, therefore, energy use is maximized.

Conclusion

Saving water in agriculture can also generate energy efficiency with certain irrigation systems. With DeepDrop®, farmers can significantly reduce their water consumption and, therefore, their energy consumption associated with pumping and distributing water. By implementing more efficient irrigation practices, not only the environment benefits, but also the farmers’ accounts, a sector that suffers greatly due to droughts, for example, but also to the costs they are forced to pay at different stages of their activity.

Here is a video where Aitor, a farmer in the Axarquia region, explains the link between the use of DeepDrop® and the savings in both water and energy consumption.