Salt Management Nevada's desert soils have a high concentration of soil salts. SDI systems normally concentrate salt at the outer edges of the wetted soil volume. Producers will need to keep this in mind and devise strategies to deal with excess concentrations of soil salts. Tapes and tubes are the two products available for use as laterals. Tape products are thinner than tubing and range from 4 to 20 mil in thickness.
Tapes generally cost less than tubes and are commonly used in annual installations.
Tubes range from 20 to 45 mil thickness and consequently are more expensive. Tubes are commonly used in permanent installations due to their longer expected life. Water is conveyed through the lateral and into the soil profile through emitters which are located within the lateral. Among other factors, emitter flow should be selected based on soil characteristics, water availability and quality, and plant needs. SDI design is complicated, growers considering SDI should discuss these properties with qualified designers.