For an example of automated drip irrigation, see our onion trial results . Disadvantages of drip irrigation 1. Part of the system cost is a capital investment useful for several years and part of the cost is annual. Systems can easily be over designed. Growers without experience may want to start with a relatively simple system on a modest acreage and gain experience.
Drip tape has to be managed to avoid leaking or plugging.
Drip emitters can easily be plugged by silt or other particles not filtered out of the irrigation water. Emitter plugging also occurs by algae growing in the tape and chemical deposits at the emitter. Tape depth will have to be carefully chosen for compatibility with other operations such as cultivation and weeding. The weed control program may need to be redesigned. Compatibility with weed control programs can be a problem if herbicides need rainfall or sprinkler irrigation for activation.