The Ultimate Guide to Sprinkler Irrigation System

Are you using an automated agricultural irrigation system or thinking of using one?

Here is everything about the sprinkler irrigation system. Your search ends here!

This article provides information about sprinkler systems, their types, benefits, selection, installation, and troubleshooting.

Lets start

What is Sprinkler Irrigation?

This is a method of applying water to farms and crops. It uses an automated system of pumps, pipes, and sprinkler heads. It is also called center-pivot irrigation or lateral-move irrigation.

Water is distributed through the air via rotating or moving sprinklers. It does not flow through surface channels or ditches like gravitational irrigation methods.

This irrigation is water– and labor–efficient for farms. It can apply water and fertilizer with minimal runoff.

It also provides uniform crop coverage. This system conserves water resources. Less water is lost to evaporation compared to flooding fields.

Broader adoption of this irrigation has increased in recent decades. A change in farming scales has been one factor driving this trend.

After World War II, larger mechanized operations evolved.

Their continuous operation also distributed more water for the best and most reliable yields.

Types of Sprinkler Irrigation System

There are three irrigation systems. They are as follows:

Center Pivot Irrigation Systems

There are a few main types of sprinkler systems used in agriculture. The most common is a center-pivot irrigation system. It become many farmer used irrigation system.

Given their ability to efficiently irrigate large circular areas with minimal labor, center pivot systems dominate sprinkler usage across midwestern and plains states.

Over 800,000 pivots operate in North America alone.

Pivot installation starts by laying out the circle using pipes and stakes. Tower frames are assembled in 30–50-foot sections joined together with drop pipes.

Each drive unit section supports sprinklers hanging 5–15 feet above ground.

Popular pivot customizations include drop tubes to irrigate tall trees or vines, side roll sprinklers to catch runoff, and corner watering systems.

GPS auto-steering devices steer pivots with sub-inch accuracy. Soil moisture sensors halt watering during rainfall.

Top crops fed by pivots span the Americas: row crops like corn and soybeans in the Midwest, peanuts and cotton in the South, potatoes and wheat further north, and alfalfa and forage across Western ranges.

Lateral Move (Side Roll) Irrigation Systems

Lateral move systems, also known as side roll or linear systems, involve pipe networks mounted on wheels or towers. They move parallel to one another in either direction.

The basic components include a supply line, wheels or towers equipped with sprinklers, and a drive unit that propels the lateral movement.

Sections usually range from 80 to 1300 feet long, depending on field dimensions.

Programmable controls run laterals back and forth or halfway and back in a variety of watering patterns.

Sequential overlap wets the soil gradually rather than drenching. Speed varies based on soil type and slope to apply water evenly.

Benefits over pivots include suitability for irregularly shaped fields and tighter spacing of sprinklers for high water efficiency.

Lower installation costs also make laterals practical for specialty crops in smaller plantings.

Key applications involve vegetables, trees, and vines where modular, adjustable irrigation performs well.

Row spacing flexibility aids in the successful establishment of new orchards and vineyards too.

Solid Set Sprinkler Systems

A solid-set irrigation sprinkler system has fixed riser pipes arranged to cover a set area. 

For small and easily accessed plots, solid sets provide a low-cost conventional irrigation solution.

Solid sets come as either portable or permanent setups. Portable systems consist of risers, pipes, sprinklers, and a water supply assembled as needed.

Counterweights or buried pipe anchor the risers firmly in place. Risers rise 1-4 feet high on tubing fed by underground supply lines.

Pipe diameters commonly range from 1-2 inches, depending on flow volumes and operating pressures

Setup lays out straight or zigzag runs of pipe one section at a time, later joined through connectors.

Advantages include low startup expenses suitable for small-scale usage.

Drawbacks involve higher labor costs versus automated systems.

Common solid-set locales include orchards, vineyards, berry patches, gardens, and specialty row crops where portability aids intercropping and annual installations fit budgets.

Sprinkler Irrigation Equipment

All irrigation setups need several core components. These components deliver water from their source to crop roots. Farmers can understand each part to maintain systems for the greatest performance and yield benefits. They can use this system throughout the growing season.

Water source

This provides the source pressure and volume for the irrigation water. Common agricultural sources are wells drawn from groundwater aquifers. They also use surface water reservoirs to hold diverted streams and runoff.

Pipes and water distribution lines

A network of underground PVC or polyethylene piping carries pressurized water from the source throughout the field. Mainlines branch into smaller ladders fitted with riser assemblies feeding individual sprinklers.

Pump station

Fields that rely on surface water use an electric or diesel pump. It boosts pressure to 10–100 psi. The pump delivers water through the pipes based on the sprinkler type. It also considers the field size and topography.

Sprinkler heads

We select various rotating, impact, and spray styles to fit crop, soil, and field factors. This provides the most uniform coverage up to a diameter of 300–400 feet. We match nozzle sizes to flow rates and pressures.

Filters and strainers

We install screens and micro-mesh filters before the pump and on distribution laterals. They protect sprinklers from sediment, which causes clogging and malfunctions.

Controls

Programmable electronic timers, soil moisture sensors, and control valves automate watering. They do this based on presets or feedback data. This data includes rainfall, crop stage, and soil moisture levels. Users use it for scheduling precision irrigation.

The installed system incorporates all working components. It delivers water according to the unique conditions of each field. It also meets crop water demands throughout every growing season.

Benefits of this Irrigation in Agriculture

There are several key benefits to utilizing these irrigation systems in agricultural operations.

• The potential for increased crop yields through more consistent water availability.

• Optimum soil moisture levels throughout the growing season help maximize plant development and productivity.

• Carefully scheduled irrigation helps crops withstand periodic dry spells and mitigates weather-related yield fluctuations.

• This gives a better result compared to the drip irrigation system.

• Improves water use efficiency compared to flood or furrow irrigation methods.

• The flexibility and mobility of certain irrigation setups also provide operational benefits.

• Sprinklers preserve topsoil structure and fertility by keeping fields continuously covered with growing plants.

• Maintains drier, aggregate soil conditions ideal for maximizing root development and long-term productivity.

Best Suited Crops

Certain agricultural crops tend to be particularly well-adapted to this irrigation due to their agronomic traits and water requirements. Some of them are:

• Corn: It is a highly productive but water-intensive crop. It responds to the regulated source of water provided by sprinklers. 

Carefully timed irrigation boosts both yield and key quality metrics. Center pivots are excellent for corn fields due to their ability to precisely distribute water across irregular boundaries.

• Soybeans: Like corn, soybeans have a high seasonal water demand that often exceeds rainfall amounts in many growing regions.

This helps maximize bushel yields of soybeans. Proper timing is also important to avoid disease issues from excessive late-season moisture.

• Wheat: Timely irrigation supports wheat through drought-prone spring germination and grain filling stages for increased harvest weights.

Deep water wheels provide uniform coverage for winter and spring wheat fields, while pivots suit irregularly shaped parcels.

• Hay and forages: Perennial crops like alfalfa benefit from reliable moisture during intermittent dry spells, prolonging cutting cycles throughout the summer. 

Pasture grasses produce more grazing days with optimized growth using sprinklers.

Many permanent crops thrive under this irrigation, including orchards, vineyards, and berries.

For fruit and grape growers, consistent soil moisture translates directly to higher yields and quality.

Agricultural Irrigation Sprinkler Head

Among the most vital choices for any sprinkler setup involves picking the proper sprinkler heads to match field and soil conditions. Heads disperse water through the air, so selection impacts both efficiency and coverage uniformity.

Types of Sprinkler Head 

Impact sprinklers spray larger water droplets in a spherical pattern up to 40 feet in diameter using spinning nozzles. Best for low-pressure systems, these minimize drift but achieve only 65% uniformity.

Spray heads dissolve water into a mist-like fog via deflection plates or spray plates. This “watering can” distribution wets a fine circular mist up to 120 feet wide and reaches 80% uniformity.

Rotating heads spin smoothly to distribute water in full or partial circles up to 260 feet. Higher pressures attain uniformity over 90% for extremely accurate application.

Stationary heads discharge steady sprays or spray patterns without rotation. Used only within center pivots or lateral circles to fill in edges.

Note: Nozzle size must match system flows and pressures. Larger nozzles reduce the pressure needed but cut precision. Arrangement depends on head spacing to achieve intended coverage without overlaps or dry spots between patterns.

New precision nozzle technologies produce very small droplet sizes below 0.5 mm for ultra-low drift and penetration.

Selecting the optimal sprinkler package for a given field means combining the right heads, nozzles, discharge rates, and spacing to achieve the most effective irrigation with minimum waste.

Is Sprinkler Irrigation Right for Your Farm?

While sprinkler systems provide flexible crop watering, they require substantial investment and ongoing costs. Before installing, carefully consider:

Land and crop suitability: Evaluate field size, shape, and slopes for compatibility with system layouts. Ensure crops are well-adapted to sprinkler methods.

Water source capacity: Verify that the well, pump, and water rights can reliably meet irrigation demands, especially during drought periods. Surface sources require reservoirs.

Upfront equipment and installation costs: Piping, pumps, sprinklers, controls, and installation labor can range from $1,000–$3,000+ per irrigated acre, depending on site conditions and system complexity.

Operating expenses: Electricity to run pumps and controls. Budget for yearly maintenance, repair parts, and personnel time spent managing the system.

Payback potential: Compare additional yields and reduced risk from reliable irrigation to the cost of installation or operation over several seasons. Grants may help.

Expert assessment: Consult local Extension experts, certified planners, and irrigation designers to evaluate alternatives tailored to your land and operation goals.

Installing Proper Irrigation System

Designing and setting up a new sprinkler system requires careful planning to ensure efficient operation for many years. The installation process generally involves these steps:

Site evaluation: Assess soil type, field topography, crop rotations, and water capacity and pressure to determine feasible layouts.

System design: Work with an irrigation specialist to draft detailed construction plans based on the above factors plus sprinkler coverage needs.

Permits: Obtain local permits for water rights and placing underground infrastructure.

Materials ordering: Purchase necessary PVC piping, risers, filters, sprinkler heads, control equipment, etc. per the designed specifications.

Layout installation: Using surveying equipment, uncover and bed mainlines onto grade in coordination with soil work like land leveling prior to backfilling ditches.

Sprinkler assembly: Attach risers and pipes to the mainlines and position sprinkler mounting bases at calculated intervals across the field.

Control wiring: Run low-voltage wires between automated controllers, valves, and sensors to networked components according to plan.

Pressure regulation: Install gauges and regulators as needed to adjust pressure flows to suit sprinkler specifications.

Start-up testing: Charge the system with water, inspect for leaks, adjust nozzle sizes and angles for uniform coverage, and set program schedules.

Recordkeeping: Maintain as-built diagrams and operating manuals for future reference and maintenance accessibility.

Scheduling Sprinkler System

Proper irrigation scheduling maximizes yields while conserving water, energy, and fertilizer inputs. Both the timing and duration of watering events require customization.

For the timing of irrigations, monitoring soil moisture levels guides decisions. Soil moisture meters probe moisture content at various root zone depths, signaling when to run systems.

Alternately, evapotranspiration (ET) data factoring temperature, sun, wind, and plant needs estimates daily water use.

Programming sprinkler controls manually or automatically according to measurements helps meet crop water demands. 

Pivot and lateral systems run in segments by soil moisture zone. Cycle times range from 8 to 24 hours.

Variable frequency drives slowly moving sprinklers in tandem with soils to minimize surface ponding and deep percolation losses.

Pausing irrigation during rainfall or impending storms via rain/moisture shut-off switches prevents wasted applications.

Drought can damage crops and quality, so responding quickly when signals indicate moisture deficits or surpluses optimizes yields and profitability from each irrigation event.

Troubleshooting Common Problems

No matter how well a system is installed and maintained, issues can still arise. Knowing how to diagnose and address common sprinkler troubles is important.

Low water pressure: check filters for clogging, inspect pumps and motors for proper operation, and examine gaskets and pipes for leaks that sap pressure over distance.

Leaks: Do a full system inspection with water running, retightening clamps, and checking for cracks in older lines. Leaks waste both water and money.

Clogged or broken nozzles: Mineral deposits over time or damage from rocks restrict flow. Replace nozzles and thoroughly flush lines semiannually.

Malfunctioning sprinklers: Disassemble and inspect worn seals, bent or blocked arms, corrosion, missing bolts, etc., and replace as required.

Controller or sensor issues: Test for faulty wiring, low batteries, or software glitches by bypassing components one at a time.

Uneven coverage: Adjust sprinkler angles, swap low-trajectory nozzles, and evaluate spacing and layout to correct any missing.

Excess runoff: Ensure soils can absorb water applied by reducing time settings and running adjacent zones in sequence rather than simultaneously.

FAQs

How much water does a sprinkler system use?

The amount of water applied will vary based on climate, soil type, crop water needs, and system efficiency. On average, an acre-inch of water (27,154 gallons) is enough to meet the needs during a given irrigation.

What is the operating pressure for sprinklers?

Most agricultural sprinklers operate between 20 and 60 psi, with pivots and lines in the 30–50 psi range. Low-pressure uses 10–30 psi.

What types of crops are best for the sprinkler system?

High-value row crops like corn, soybeans, and small grains need consistent soil moisture. They do very well with these. Perennials like alfalfa, orchards, and vineyards also enjoy flexible, precision watering.

When is the best time of day to irrigate?

Early morning hours before 9 a.m. or after 6 p.m. are best to cut water loss from evaporation.

How long does PVC pipe last underground?

High-quality PVC irrigation pipe usually lasts 20–30 years before needing replacement when buried at the proper depth.

Conclusion

When properly designed, installed and managed, sprinkler irrigation delivers reliable and flexible water management across diverse crop production systems

The major agricultural row crops and perennial plantings benefiting most from them are corn, soybeans, wheat, alfalfa, pastures, orchards, and vineyards.

Ensuring an irrigation system’s long-term productivity requires initial input from specialists along with ongoing operation, maintenance, and monitoring for optimization over decades of use.

With upfront planning and investment suited to your farm resources, implementing efficient irrigation practices can substantially boost harvest reliability and profitability season after season.

Proper stewardship of water also conserves this critical on-farm production input for future agricultural sustainability.