This situation can cost growers a considerable amount of money in operating costs. If cavitation has occurred, the cause should be determined. Unless there is an operating problem such as air ingress or suction blockage, the cause is likely to be a poor design - which should be corrected. Install a pressure gauge at the pump outlet to enable regular checking of the pumps performance. For accurate reading, the distance from a pressure gauge to a valve should be at least three to five times the diameter of the pipe.
Flow meters are also useful but are less common owing to their relatively high cost.
An ammeter installed on the motor will also show any dramatic change in energy use and indicate a potential problem. Automation of a system allows night time operation on heavy soils when wind velocities and evaporation losses are lower and when off-peak power may be available. Automation reduces Iabour costs. Fertigation in trickle systems can also be automated. Where possible, all stations should carry similar flows and operate against similar heads.