With all the potential benefits of drip irrigation, conversion to drip irrigation can increase production costs, especially where another pre-existing irrigation system is already in place. Ultimately, there must be an economic advantage to the growers for them to consider drip irrigation. Advantages of drip irrigation 1. Drip is adaptable to fields with odd shapes or uneven topography. Drip irrigation can work well where other irrigation systems are inefficient because parts of the field have excessive infiltration, water puddling, or runoff.
Drip irrigation can be helpful if water is scarce or expensive.
Drip irrigation has become common where water is very scarce or where water is very expensive to pump. Precise water application is possible with drip irrigation. Precise application of nutrients is possible using drip irrigation. Fertilizer costs and nitrate losses can be reduced. Nutrient applications can be better timed to plants' needs.