Nozzles Above And Below The Canopy- Advantages And Disadvantages

The best sprinkler device height in relation to crop height has long been debated and has recently resurfaced. Because of the tall corn varieties grown today, some have decided to reposition devices at the truss rod height back to atop the pivot pipeline. Others have chosen to place sprinklers in the canopy to "save" water.

Benefits and Drawbacks of Nozzle Positions 

In this article we’ve mentioned some advantages and disadvantages of Nozzle positions. Continue reading to know more about it.

Benefits

• The canopy may remain dryer during irrigation with in-canopy sprinklers, reducing evaporation losses. However, sprinklers can drag back into the canopy, causing the sprinkler to spray water vertically rather than horizontally as intended.
• Because of higher humidity and lower annual water requirements, the benefits of in-canopy sprinklers will be reduced for locations in the eastern High Plains.
• The benefits will be greater for low-capacity systems because they must run for more hours per year, increasing the possibility of net canopy evaporation and drift.
• In-canopy packages are most practical on level fields where runoff occurs due to increased application rate caused by canopy obstruction of water jets.
• Some dealers and farmers object to up-top sprinkler placement with high-iron water because it can stain the pivot and cause alignment linkage issues.
• In-canopy sprinklers are typically more expensive due to the need for more closely spaced devices, longer drops, and smaller orifices, which may necessitate additional filtration to prevent plugging.
• Electric systems that use load control are frequently shut down during the windiest and most evaporative times of the day. This is not a disadvantage for in-canopy sprinklers, but it does reduce losses for above-canopy sprinklers.

Read more: Automated Irrigation System for Sustainable Farming 

Drawbacks 

• Cost is higher for more closely spaced devices and longer drops.
• Electric systems that use load control are frequently shut down during the day's highest wind and evaporative conditions.
• Significantly increased runoff potential, particularly in larger capacity systems.
• On sloping fields, the smaller wetted radius will greatly increase runoff potential.
• Plant material can jam some sprinklers with moving parts.
• Because the devices are hidden, it is difficult to monitor problems during the season.
• For fungicide applications, the sprinklers must wet the entire canopy.
• If cattle graze the field, the entire pivot should be fenced off. Fencing becomes even more important when there are long drops.
• To achieve the desired results, in-canopy sprinklers may necessitate more management.

Sprinkler packages installed in the canopy may improve the application efficiency of center pivot and lateral move irrigation systems. The challenges of achieving acceptable water application uniformities and preventing local runoff that causes water to move to low areas or wheel tracks in the field, on the other hand, have significantly increased.

Read more: Irrigation System: Different Types & Benefits