Micro-sprinkler irrigation technology is an advanced method for effectively regulating crop moisture worldwide. Having proper irrigation facilities is an essential measure in modern orchard management to maintain high and stable yields. Bananas are sensitive to both waterlogging and drought, requiring a moist environment.
To promote banana growth, enhance mechanized cultivation, increase yield, and improve quality, our company has experimented with and extensively applied low-pressure micro-sprinkler irrigation technology in banana plantations in Zhongshan, Panyu, Dongguan, Sihui, and other areas. After five years of experimentation and application, this technology has been proven to be cost-effective, easy to operate, and quickly effective, making it a practical choice favored by banana growers.
System Composition
The entire system consists of four components: power control, water source engineering, low-pressure conveyance pipelines, and micro-sprinklers. (1) Power control includes electric motors (or diesel engines), pumps, filters, etc. (2) Water source engineering involves building infrastructure to access clean, bacteria-free river or well water with neutral acidity, low impurities, and low salt content, such as constructing reservoirs, filtration pools, or digging wells. (3) Low-pressure conveyance pipelines mainly include main pipelines, branch pipelines, control switches, etc., commonly using 6-inch and 4-inch pipes. (4) Micro-sprinkler hoses, composed of black rubber hoses, are available in two types: three-hole and five-hole.
Design Scale and Production Cost
Installing, using, and operating micro-sprinkler irrigation equipment in banana plantations is straightforward. Apart from some technical requirements for installation, most banana growers can handle the usage and operation. The larger the scale of the design, the lower the cost. The optimal size for banana plantations is around 50 acres. For a plantation covering 50 acres, with a usage period of three years, the total equipment production cost is approximately ￥10,000 to ￥15,000, with a cost per acre ranging from ￥200 to ￥300 and an annualized cost per acre of ￥70 to ￥100. Hence, this technology requires minimal equipment investment.
Impact of Micro-Sprinkler Irrigation on Banana Growth
Using low-pressure micro-sprinkler irrigation can effectively regulate banana water supply and soil moisture, reducing the temperature in banana plantations by 1-1.5°C during the summer and increasing relative humidity by 5%-15%. This method significantly enhances the drought resistance during dry seasons and cold resistance during winter. Experiment results demonstrate that micro-sprinkler irrigation creates a favorable growth environment, accelerates banana growth, shortens the banana growth period by 10-25 days compared to the control group, and promotes early flowering and fruiting.
Additionally, according to field observations and feedback from some banana growers, using clean water for micro-sprinkler irrigation and implementing practices such as avoiding deep ditches and high ridges, as well as reducing field walking, has significantly reduced the occurrence of yellow leaf disease and effectively controlled its spread.
- Impact of Micro-Sprinkler Irrigation on Yield and Quality
Applying low-pressure micro-sprinkler irrigation significantly increases both the yield and quality of bananas. Based on surveys of a banana plantation owned by farmer Yang Jingtian, micro-sprinkler irrigation allows each banana plant to retain an additional comb of fruit, resulting in an increase of 315 kilograms per acre, with a significant improvement in quality and a 14% increase in the proportion of top-grade bananas.
- Analysis of Application Benefits
According to a survey of a 300-acre banana plantation in Dongchong Town, Panyu, each acre incurs a facility cost and pumping expenditure of ￥92 in the first year. However, this method reduces labor costs by ￥48 per acre due to decreased watering labor. Micro-sprinkler irrigation increases the yield by 315 kilograms per acre, resulting in an increase in revenue of ￥468 per acre and a net income increase of ￥376 per acre. The input-output ratio is approximately 1:4, and it improves the utilization of fertilizers, reduces fertilizer loss, and maintains stable and high yields.
- Conclusion and Discussion
Applying this technology shortens the banana growth period by 10-25 days, maintaining stable yields while increasing yield and quality, with an increase in yield of 300-350 kilograms per acre and an increase in revenue of approximately ￥400 per acre. The economic benefits are significant, especially considering the rising costs of labor and the increasing market demand for high-quality bananas.