What is subsurface Drip Irrigation?

Subsurface Drip Irrigation (SDI) is a system where water is supplied to the soil from the surface of a geotextile texture instead of through emitters in a drip line.

Deploying the water over a big area of geotextile lessens the rate of water discharge to the soil bringing it closer to the capillary absorption rate. The geotextile strip also transforms the drip line from a series of point sources to a single, wide line source.

The drip lines are designed to be used on the soil surface, and don't work well when buried. They create less uniform wetting patterns and are quite sensitive to the soil type.

Some Vital features of SDI

• Designed to be used on the surface
• Individual emitters spaced at intervals along the pipe
• Produces a series of circular wetting patterns that are not continuous and are tear drop shaped in cross section. The moisture of the soil is less uniform and more water is necessary to wet up the entire root zone.
• SDI system is more vulnerable to funneling which brings water to the surface.
• Water discharge is emphasized around each emitter. This saturates the soil and causes funneling and deep drainage. The capacity of the soil to absorb nutrients like phosphorus is also fast exceeded leading to the early failure of the dispersal region.
• Herbicide is utilized to protect emitters from root intrusion in most of the applications.

SDI deliver waters directly to the root zone and substantially lessens evaporation. A benefit of under lawn irrigation is that water is put where it is required. These water systems water root of the plants, enabling it to saturate the soil under every plant. There is no over watering risk and species that require a period of dryness will get it.