Not prioritising product quality and product suitability when investing in an irrigation system can cost a lot in the long run. Netafim Southern & East Africa’s Willem Smit advises prioritising product durability, operational quality and relevance, and technical supplier support to secure lasting productivity and profitability.
Selecting the right dripline is one of the most important decisions vineyard and orchard growers can make.
According to Willem Smit, national sales manager for Netafim in South Africa, successful irrigation starts with understanding the unique conditions of each farm and selecting a dripline designed to deliver consistent performance over many years.
“Drip irrigation is not a one-size-fits-all solution,” says Smit. “Every orchard and vineyard has different soil conditions, crop requirements and field characteristics, so these factors should guide the irrigation design.”
Before selecting a dripline, growers should evaluate several key factors, including soil type, crop type, field topography, irrigation water quality, system hydraulics, installation method, expected system lifespan, and long-term return on investment.
Surface and subsurface installations each have advantages depending on the production system, while water quality influences filtration requirements and the risk of emitter blockages.
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Why dripper design matters
The design of the dripper plays a significant role in achieving uniform irrigation.
Pressure-compensating (PC) drippers maintain a consistent flow rate across long rows and uneven terrain, ensuring every vine or tree receives the intended amount of water.
“Uniform irrigation is essential in permanent crops because differences in water and nutrient application can directly affect plant growth, fruit quality and ultimately yield,” explains Smit.
Drippers with wide flow paths, large internal filtration areas and self-flushing mechanisms also offer greater resistance to clogging, which is particularly important where water quality is poor.
Since vineyards and orchards are long-term investments, growers should also consider dripline durability, including dripper design and dripline wall thickness.
Key technical specifications include dripper flow rate, emitter spacing, wall thickness, operating pressure range, filtration requirements and the internal flow path of the dripper.
These factors determine how efficiently water reaches the crop’s root zone and can influence irrigation performance, maintenance requirements and crop productivity.
Matching irrigation to the soil
Choosing the correct dripper flow rate and spacing along the dripline should always be based on agronomic requirements.
“Soil type determines how water spreads underground,” he says. “The irrigation system should create a continuous wetting pattern that matches the crop’s root zone.”
In sandy soils, where water drains quickly, closer emitter spacing with lower dripper flow rates generally provides better water distribution in the soil. Clay soils allow water to spread further sideways, making wider spacing and higher flow rates more suitable.
Crop spacing, root development and peak seasonal water demand should also be considered during system design.
Looking beyond the product
Choosing the right dripline also means choosing the right supplier.
Smit advises growers to look for proven product performance, published product specifications, supplier reputation and strong technical support. Services such as hydraulic design, agronomic advice, water quality interpretation, soil profile pit inspections, product training and after-sales support can significantly improve long-term irrigation success.
He further advises to consider the benefit of local dripline manufacturing as the capability of a supplier to manufacture a range of driplines locally creates better control over supply timelines and greater flexibility to supply the required dripper flow rates and spacing combinations.
Investing for the long term
Water scarcity, poor water quality, uneven terrain and changing weather patterns remain significant challenges for vineyard and orchard growers.
Modern drip irrigation technology helps address these pressures through precise water and nutrient delivery made possible by advanced dripper and dripline characteristics. Smit reminds growers to have a long-term mindset when making decisions.
“Long-term performance, reliability and uniformity have a direct impact on yield, maintenance costs and resource efficiency.”
For permanent crops, growers should prioritise driplines and drip irrigation systems that deliver a long service life, consistent irrigation performance and savings in water, fertiliser and energy.
A well-designed drip irrigation system is ultimately an investment in long-term productivity, sustainability and profitability.
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