Drip Tapes

A drip tape is a tube made of flexible perforated polythene or plastic material. It is used to pass water to plants in a drip irrigated field or garden. The drip tape is one of the main components of a typical drip irrigation system.

A drip tape is a tube made of polythene or flexible hose or pipe used for the passing of water to the root zones of plants. The drip tape is one of the main components of a typical drip irrigation system.

The drip irrigation system cannot work without the drip tapes as the drip tape is the main accessory for the irrigation of crops. The drip tape enables the trickle dropping of water to the roots of plants.

The drip tape has emitters pre-installed on it at equal distances called emitter spacing. The emitter spacing ranges from 10cm to 90 cm. The emitters allow the seeping of water to the root zone of plants.

Our drip tapes are sold in rolls of 500 metres, 1000 metres, 1500 metres and 2000 metres.

The drip tape works with low water pressure. It is usually laid beside the rows of crops. If the drip tape is laid on the surface of the soil, it is called surface drip tape laying. If underneath the soil, it is called sub-surface drip tape laying.

A drip tape can also be called a T-Tape.

Features of a drip tape

The following are the features of a drip tape:

Diameter

The drip tape has an inner and outer diameter. The diameter is the size of the circular opening of the drip tape. Our drip tapes come in 12mm and 16mm diameter sizes.

Thickness

The thickness of this product is measures in millimeters or mils. Our drip tapes come in thickness of 0.2 – 0.6mm.

Length

The length of the drip tape is measured in metres. The drip tape comes in lengths of 500 metres, 1000 metres, 1500 metres and 2000 metres.

Emitter Spacing

The emitter spacing of the drip tape is measured in centimetres. These drip tapes have emitter spacing of 10cm, 20cm, 30cm, 50cm and 60cm.

The emitters of the drip tapes are pre-manufactured on them.

Materials used for production

These drip tapes were manufactured with virgin polythene material. These virgin materials enable the drip tapes to last long.

Pressure Compensation

Our drip tapes have a pressure compensating capability. This means that the emitters on the drip tapes will discharge constant flow of water irrespective of the topography of the soil or land.

Benefits of using a drip tape for irrigation

The following are the benefits of using a drip tape for drip irrigation:

The use of drip tapes can lead to a significant increase in crop yield due to its ability to provide water from crops all year round.

Drip tapes enable plants to get soluble fertilizer through their roots in a process called Fertigation. Fertigation is 100 – 200% more efficient than other methods of fertilizer application. Fertigation also increases crop yield.

Drip tapes are more efficient than other irrigation systems.

With drip tapes, farmers can spend less on labour need for fertilizer and soil based pesticides application.

Weed pressure is usually reduced when drip tapes are used for irrigation.

Crops that drip tapes can be used for

Below are some of the crops drip tapes can be used for:

Vegetable Crops: Tomato, pepper, cucumber, watermelon, eggplants, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, spinach, lettuce, cabbage and strawberry etc.

Tree and Fruit Crops: Cocoa, oil palm, cashew, mango, orange, avocado, rubber, gmeilna and teak etc.

Broad Acre Crops: Maize, soybeans, millet, sorghum and sesame etc.

How drip tapes can be used in greenhouses

Drip tapes are one of the most important equipment used for greenhouse farming. The drip tapes in a greenhouse serve as the irrigation component that passes water to crops in the greenhouse.

The drip tapes are usually laid beside the rows of plants in the greenhouse.

Accessories that can be used with the drip tape

The following are some of the accessories that should be used alongside the drip tape:

Connectors

This is a small devices used to connect the drip tapes to the submain lines or pipes.

End Plugs

This device is used to block or close the end of the drip tape so that flowing water will not waste away. The end plugs ensure that the drip tapes are fully pressurized.

Venturi Injector

The fertilizer injector is used to inject and pass soluble fertilizer to the drip tapes.

Questions and Answers on Drip Tapes

Question: Are the drip tapes made of polythene?

Answer: Yes, drip tapes are made of a plastic material called polythene.

Question: What is the diameter of the drip tape?

Answer: The diameter of our drip tapes are 12 – 16mm

Question: How long can the drip tape last for?

Answer: Our drip tapes can last for 4-8 years

Question: What is the thickness of the drip tape?

Answer: The thickness of our drip tapes ranges from 0.2mm – 0.3mm.

Question: How long can I run the drip tape on the farm?

Answer: It is advisable that the length of the drip tape per row should not exceed 60 metres

Question: What is the emitter spacing of the drip tape?

Answer: The emitter spacing of our drip tapes is 30cm and 50cm

Question: What is the water discharge rate of the emitters of the drip tape?

Answer: The emitters on the drip tape have water discharge rate of 3 litres per hour

Question: Is the drip tape easy to install

Answer: For small farms, the drip tapes can be installed by the farmer or a local plumber. However, for a big far, the services of an irrigation technician may be required

Question: How can the drip tape be repaired if damaged or cut?

Answer: Joiners or lock ring connectors can be used to repair the leaks or damages on the drip tape lines

Question: What is the working pressure of the drip tape?

Answer: The working pressure of the drip tape is 1 bar

Question: What is the burst pressure of the drip tape?

Answer: The burst pressure of the drip tape is 4 bar