Most potato varieties seem to have a shallower and often less effective root system than other commercially cultivated plants. The potato root is not strong and has difficulty penetrating caked soils or other obstructive layers in the soil profile. During dry periods the potato is not as well equipped to access water as deeply as some other row crops. This is opposed to overhead irrigation systems, for example pivot systems, where water is applied from above. Water and fertilizer are used most effectively.
Water is distributed precisely.
Whereas wind speed should always be taken into account when irrigating with an overhead system, wind is not a factor with drip irrigation. It is possible to design any drip system as a pulse irrigation system, which seems to have promising benefits for a water sensitive crop such as potatoes, especially when grown in sandy soils. Although drip irrigation systems can provide precise irrigations and sophisticated fertilizer input under many circumstances where other systems might not be able to produce the same results, it is important to note that drip irrigation systems must be carefully designed and that effective management might pose unexpected challenges. Proper design and layout, careful maintenance, and intensive management are typical requirements for a successful drip irrigation system. In 1997, world population is knocking on six billion and less than two percent of the U.S. population is farming.