Should You Swap Your Rain Gun for an Irrigation Boom System?

Most farmers will understand the importance of irrigation techniques for their farmland – but not everyone will know the best particular method of irrigation suited to them. Rain gun sprinklers and irrigation boom systems are just two ways of providing surface irrigation to your agricultural fields and land. Surface irrigation is just one of many types of irrigation that is used around the world, with other methods including sub-surface and drip irrigation.

Surface irrigation, the process of watering onto the top of crops, grassland, or other areas, is a popular irrigation solution for many farmers. This article will break down the pros and cons of the two most popular surface irrigation solutions – rain gun sprinklers and irrigation boom systems, to help you identify the best for your situation.

Rain Gun Sprinkler Irrigation

Rain gun sprinklers are a popular way of irrigating crops and grassland. Once set up, a rain gun can autonomously water around an acre of land at a time, working independently to irrigate surrounding land. Often set up on tripods to throw water and set to rotate slowly for full coverage, a rain gun sprinkler is a great way to save time when considering your irrigation system.

How Does a Rain Gun work?

A rain gun is a form of agricultural sprinkler and provides a steady stream of water flow to help irrigate crops or grassland. Once connected to a water source, the pressure of the rain gun can be adjusted to change the radius of the watering zone, whilst rotation speeds can also be changed to alter the saturation levels. Once set up and calibrated, a rain gun can operate autonomously.

Pros of Rain Guns

Rain guns are relatively easy to install, with an intuitive set up process and adjustments leading to finely tuned irrigation with minimal effort. Once set up on a tripod, with the angle of water throw set, the water pressure, and rotation speed, the desired irrigation area can be set. The use of attachments can also help to alter the water delivery easily.

Rain guns, once set up, will run on their own and don’t require further input. This way, they can help to save you labour and time, reducing your costs. Leave a rain gun to water your land, whilst you go and work on other things.

Rain guns are versatile and can be set up on any sort of land. For fields on steep angles that are difficult for tractors to traverse, rain guns can be a good alternative. Once set up, the angle of water throw, and pressure setting can ensure that even on a sloped field irrigation won’t be an issue.

Cons of Rain Guns

Due to the height of the water throw, rain guns can actually cause damage in some crops, especially in young plants. With the precipitation caused by the sprinkler, the height the water droplets fall from can cause damage to crops and also unnecessary erosion to soil. This can especially be an issue when trying to water very large areas with rain guns.

Due to the nature of the rain gun system, they can sometimes be inaccurate and are affected a lot by the conditions they are used in. Hot or windy weather can lead to increased evaporation, meaning the guns are not as efficient. Additionally, when used on sandy soils they can lead to increased soil damage, washing the nutrients of your fields away.

Irrigation Boom Systems

Irrigation boom systems are growing in popularity, with more and more farmers adopting a boom system for their irrigation requirements every year. Making short work of fields in just a few passes, an irrigation boom can help provide accurate and efficient watering to your crops. These are a great option for farms that want control over their irrigation.

How do Irrigation Booms Work?

Consisting of lightweight frames and sprinkler heads, an irrigation boom works to cover a large area of land. Once connected to a pump, the boom can spread its frame out to around 75m in larger models, providing ample length for watering. Along the frame, sprinklers apply the water at the rate set by the pump pressure to provide irrigation to your fields. Usually trailed, these boom systems will be towed by tractors to make passes on your land providing accurate watering.

Pros of Irrigation Boom Systems

With an irrigation boom system, you can provide irrigation to your land using less pump pressure. This means you can help to save energy, water, and protect your crops better. Because the water is supplied from above to fall onto crops, the pumping required for an irrigation boom is much less than for a rain gun, and so there is less chance of the precipitation causing harm to tender young plants.

The lower pressure required for this watering solution also means that a finer precipitation can be achieved, meaning more efficient watering and less soil erosion. With a more mist like irrigation solution, there is a broader coverage of your land, and also less of an effect to your soil. Less energy in the precipitation results in the soil being less impacted by the water. This means irrigation boom systems are better for your soil health, which is becoming an important issue for many farmers looking to reduce costs and do their bit to help the environment.

Because of the application used in an irrigation boom, evaporation is decreased. With the water having a reduced distance to travel from the irrigation equipment to the crop, less water is lost. This, combined with the lower pressures required, means that irrigation boom systems can be up to 20% more efficient with water when compared to rain gun systems.

A further benefit of irrigation booms is that they allow for very controlled, manageable uniform application of water. By trailing the boom and controlling the watering process, you can achieve uniform irrigation of your fields. With such wide booms available as well, you can completely water a field in just a few passes.

Which is Best: Rain Guns or Irrigation Booms?

In conclusion, there are benefits to both systems, and both will appeal differently to farmers depending on their situations. Rain guns are still a popular choice for their convenience but may not be the best for your soil. Irrigation boom systems require a bit more work but can be a great option for reducing input costs and protecting your soil health as well.

If you’re looking to swap your rain gun for an irrigation boom, check our irrigation stock today at Amtec, or contact our helpful team to discuss your irrigation needs.