Irrigation Equipment and Supplies Key Terms

Get familiar with irrigation equipment and supplies key terms

By Denise Brown

Knowledge of irrigation equipment and supplies key terms can help you find the right equipment for your farm. There are a number of irrigation systems available. You need to take into account the types of crops you plan to raise, the size and shape of the fields and the amount of water available for irrigation purposes. Each of these variables can factor into the type of irrigation equipment you should purchase.

Wheel line

A wheel line irrigation system waters the field in a straight line with a series of sprinklers on wheels. When one area of the field has enough water, a gasoline-powered mover unit relocates the wheel line to the next area of the field that needs irrigation. Wheel line irrigation covers all areas of a rectangular field.
Try: Wade Rain offers a detailed explanation of wheel line operation.

Center pivot

A center pivot irrigation system starts with a tower in the center of the field. From this tower, one long irrigation arm, or boom, extends. The boom, traveling with the support of wheels, covers the field in a 360-degree sweep. Center pivot irrigation does not reach the outer corners.
Try: See the pictures of center pivot irrigation systems from the Lindsay Corporation.

Traveling gun

A traveling gun, or traveling big gun, irrigation system is capable of spraying water on tall crops, such as corn. It's easily portable from one spot to another. One large nozzle shoots water over the crops in a specified pattern.
Try: Read the benefits of traveling big gun irrigation at Roberts Irrigation.

Drip irrigation

Drip irrigation puts the water at the base of the plant by supplying a regulated flow or drip. It's ideal for areas of extreme dryness where water is a valuable commodity. There is very little waste due to evaporation with a drip irrigation system.
Try: The Alliance for Water Efficiency provides information about drip irrigation.

Nozzle

The nozzle is the end of the irrigation system where the water comes out. Nozzles limit the amount of water sprayed on the field and can help define the spray pattern.
Try: See the nozzles from Atomizing System.

Spray patterns

The spray pattern refers to the amount of land covered by the irrigation equipment in one pass. You need to know which spray pattern works best for your field in order to get the right equipment. Knowledge of spray patterns can help you efficiently water your crops or pasture.
Try: The National Ag Safety Database explains spray patterns in detail.