Drip irrigation is used all over the world, including in regions such as Germany, Mexico, and Japan. Drip irrigation is a kind of micro-irrigation method which has the potential to conserve nutrients and water by enabling water to drip gradually from above the ground surface to the undersides of the plants, both buried under the earth or above the ground. Drip irrigation enables the water to reach the roots of the plants without running over rocks and other rubble in the garden. In this way, users can avoid compacting the soil as well as reduce erosion. Micro-irrigation systems are very simple to install and work with. Drip irrigation does not require any external power source and can run on simple tap water.
Users can use several types of drip irrigation such as surface drip irrigation, top-hole drip irrigation, and sub-irrigation. Users should hire the services of an expert who will help to select the right kind of sprinkler for the garden and which units will give the required results as well. Several companies supply different kinds of sprinklers, but users must check their credentials and make sure they have been certified by government agencies.
In a region such as Germany, the increasing prevalence of agricultural land has increased the requirements for drip irrigation. For instance, according to Trading Economics, in 2018, the total number of agricultural land in Germany was around 47.64%. Top-hole drip irrigation and sub-irrigation units are most suitable for small gardens. The cost of these units is much lower than that of surface-based units and users do not need to maintain them at all times. The water seeps into the soil below and users just need to refill the reservoir as necessary. The downside of this form of irrigation system is that users may need to dig deep to locate the plant roots. Surface-mounted sprinklers are very common and users can easily install them.