Types of Pipes Used In Irrigation

The types of pipes used in irrigation by a farmer is a factor of various considerations. Grekkon Limited stocks many types of irrigation pipes, and we advice growers on the most suitable ones.

Types Of Pipes Used In Irrigation

1. HDPE pipes

• Made from UV treated High density polyethylene material
• Diameter. 16mm in diameter to 630mm
• Thickness. PN6 to PN25
• Positioning. Surface or sub-surface
• Operation. HDPE irrigation pipes are main, sub main lines, or laterals
• Origin. From a reservoir, a water pump, borehole, main line, or sub main line

2. PVC pipes

• Made from. Poly-vinyl material
• Diameter.  20mm to 225mm
• Thickness is PN6 to PN25
• Positioning.  Sub-surface pipes.
• Operation. PVC irrigation pipes are main or sub-main lines.
• Origin. From a reservoir, a water pump borehole, main line, or sub main line

3. Delivery pipes

• Made from. UV treated poly-vinyl chloride (PVC) material
• Diameter.  1-1/2″ to 3″
• Thickness is PN10
• Positioning.  Surface pipes
• Operation. lay-flat pipes are mains or laterals
• Origin. From a water pump or a main line

4. Drip pipes

• Made from UV treated high density polyethylene material
• Diameter.  16mm
• Thickness is 0.3mm, 0.4mm (for vegetables), 0.8mm for fruit trees
• Positioning.  Surface pipes
• Operation. Laterals
• Origin. From a PVC or HDPE main, or sub main line
• Emitter types. Single or double
• Emitter spacing. 15cm, 20cm, and 30cm

5. Rain hose pipes

• Made from. UV treated high density polyethylene material
• Diameter.  32mm, 40mm, and 50mm
• Thickness is 0.5mm
• Positioning.  Surface pipes
• Operation. Laterals
• Origin. From a PVC or HDPE main, or sub main line

6. Suction pipes

• Made from. UV treated poly-vinyl material
• Diameter.  1-1/2″,to 6″
• Thickness is 0.8mm
• Positioning.  Surface pipes
• Operation.Suction
• Origin. From a water pump only

Types of Pipes Used in Irrigation; how to select irrigation pipes

1. Irrigation method

Is it drip, overhead or rain hose irrigation?

2. Crop type

A vegetable crop will have pre-perforated drip pipes as laterals. A fruit tree crop will have a 16mm HDPE pipe as the lateral

3. Crop stage of growth

A crop in the nursery will have an overhead or rain hose kit irrigation system. The one in the field will have any

4. Crop production method

A greenhouse crop will be HDPE or PVC and drip pipes based only

5. Land ownership type

A grower who is the farm owner or on a long term land lease will invest in sub-surface pipes. A short lease grower will prefer surface pipes

6. Water pressure

A grower with low gravity flow will have the PN6 pipes. One with high pressure flow will have thicker pipes

7. Irrigation area

Small farms will have low diameter pipes, large farms have large diameter pipes

8. Budget

A proper budget provides the right pipes