Trickle or Drip Irrigation

While surface irrigation methods rely on watering the whole surface of the field and
overhead irrigation leaves the plants wet and produces runoff, drip irrigation is far more
controlled. Water is slowly provided to a very specific area, close to the roots of the
plant, by a network of drip emitters.
Despite their name, these tiny nozzles - about the size of a quarter - don't hang above
the plants and drip but are actually laid along the ground. Linked to an appropriate water
source by a main feeder hose, they provide a slow and steady flow of water. An
alternative to drip irrigation is trickle tape - essentially a length of hose with built in drip
emitters.
The advantage to using trickle or drip irrigation is, simply, control. This
method of irrigation is precise and economical. A standard lawn sprinkler, for
example, might measure the water flow in gallons per minute -- somewhere
between one and five is normal. A drip emitter, on the other hand, is rated in
gallons per hour. The flow of water is so slow that it is easily absorbed into
the ground. In a well-tuned system there is little opportunity for excess water
running off and being wasted.
And this approach can be even more fine-tuned by going underground.
Drip irrigation, which is also sometimes referred to as micro-irrigation or
trickle irrigation, consists of a network of pipes, tubing valves, and emitters.
Drip irrigation is defined as any watering system that delivers a slow moving
supply of water at a gradual rate directly to the soil. It is becoming
increasingly popular, and is considered one of the most water and energyefficient methods of irrigating. Drip irrigation offers several great benefits,
including conserving water and energy, saving money on energy and water
bills, increased plant health, and design flexibility the tubing can be laid out
to conform with any oddly-shaped landscape layouts, extend to hanging
planters, or extend down rows in a vegetable garden. Other applications
include flowerbeds, ground cover, and street medians.