Globally, water resources are becoming increasingly scarce, and agriculture, as a major consumer of water, urgently needs to innovate its irrigation techniques. Drip irrigation tubes, as an efficient water-saving irrigation device, are being widely applied in agricultural production around the world and show great potential for future development.
Drip irrigation tubes deliver water in the form of droplets slowly and evenly to the soil near the roots of crops, achieving precise irrigation. Their water-saving effect is significant, with a reduction of 50% - 70% in water usage compared to traditional irrigation methods. In traditional furrow irrigation in greenhouses, large amounts of water are applied at once, keeping the soil surface wet for extended periods. This leads to rapid decreases in greenhouse and soil temperatures, slow recovery, increased evaporation, and high humidity inside the greenhouse, which can easily cause diseases and pests in vegetables or flowers. In contrast, drip irrigation, being a localized micro-irrigation method, keeps most of the soil surface dry. The drip emitters supply water uniformly and slowly to the root zone of the crops, effectively maintaining and recovering soil temperature, reducing water evaporation, and lowering humidity inside the greenhouse.
Drip irrigation tubes can also effectively reduce soil erosion and nutrient loss, increase fertilizer utilization rates, and lower the incidence of pests and diseases. The principle is that drip irrigation tubes precisely deliver water and fertilizers to the roots of crops, avoiding the significant loss of water and fertilizers that occurs with traditional irrigation methods. At the same time, drip irrigation systems are easy to operate and can be automated, greatly saving labor. For example, in Israel, drip irrigation systems equipped with sensors and automation devices can automatically adjust the irrigation amount based on crop needs and soil moisture, not only improving irrigation efficiency but also reducing human intervention.
In the future, drip irrigation tube technology will develop towards intelligence, environmental protection, and customization. In terms of material innovation, future drip irrigation tube materials will be lighter, more resistant to aging, and even have biodegradable properties. For example, some new types of biodegradable materials are under development. These materials can naturally decompose after use, reducing environmental pollution. In terms of intelligent integration upgrades, drip irrigation tubes may be embedded with various sensors and flow control chips and connected to the Internet of Things system to achieve precise and efficient remote management. For example, by installing sensors on drip irrigation tubes, farmers can monitor soil moisture, nutrient content, and other information in real-time and remotely control the irrigation system through mobile applications to achieve intelligent irrigation.
In terms of micro-structural optimization, technologies such as micro-laser drilling and biomimetic surface structures can effectively reduce the probability of blockages and ensure more uniform water discharge. For example, micro-laser drilling technology can more precisely control the hole size of drip irrigation tubes, thereby ensuring the uniformity of water droplets. In terms of modularization and customization, parameters such as tube diameter, water discharge spacing, and flow rate can be configured according to needs to achieve true “customized irrigation.” For example, for the irrigation needs of different crops, drip irrigation tubes with different flow rates and spacings can be customized to improve the precision of irrigation.
Drip irrigation tubes are suitable for a variety of agricultural production scenarios. In orchards, vegetable cultivation, and greenhouse agriculture, surface drip irrigation tubes are widely used because they are easy to install and maintain. For example, in Israel’s orchards, drip irrigation tubes are widely used for the irrigation of citrus, grapes, and other fruit trees. Through drip irrigation technology, the root systems of fruit trees can receive adequate water supply while reducing water evaporation and seepage losses, improving the utilization efficiency of irrigation water. In areas where it is necessary to reduce water evaporation and deep seepage, subsurface drip irrigation tubes are more suitable. For example, in arid regions such as Saudi Arabia, subsurface drip irrigation tubes are widely used for the irrigation of wheat, corn, and other crops. Through subsurface drip irrigation technology, water is directly delivered to the roots of crops, reducing water evaporation on the soil surface and improving the utilization efficiency of irrigation water.
In Han Zuo Town, Liangzhou District, Wuwei City, Gansu Province, the introduction of drip irrigation technology, especially the shallow buried drip irrigation system for wheat, has brought a turning point to local agricultural production. In the wheat fields of Han Zuo Town, thin drip irrigation tubes are laid along the roots of wheat, delivering water and fertilizer precisely to the crops. This shallow buried drip irrigation technology for wheat not only achieves integrated water and fertilizer management but also greatly reduces water evaporation and seepage losses, improving the utilization efficiency of irrigation water. In Lijiang City, Yunnan Province, individual grower Xia Zibo successfully managed a small citrus orchard by applying Netafim drip irrigation technology. Netafim, based on the growth characteristics of citrus, laid one drip irrigation tube per row for young trees and two tubes per row for mature trees. By applying fertilizer 2 - 4 times a month and distributing all the fertilizer into the planned irrigation operations, the healthy growth of citrus was ensured.
According to market research institutions, the global drip irrigation tube market size is projected to grow from 907 million yuan in 2024 to 1.357 billion yuan by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.95% during 2024 - 2030. China, Israel, and India are the top three regions in the world, accounting for 26.65%, 22.12%, and 20.36% of the market share, respectively. In the future, drip irrigation tubes will continue to develop towards intelligence, environmental protection, and customization. With the increasing global population and the growing demand for food supply, the efficiency and sustainability of agricultural production have become increasingly important. As an efficient water-saving irrigation device, the market demand for drip irrigation tubes is also growing continuously.
Drip irrigation tubes, with their significant water-saving effects, efficient irrigation capabilities, and wide range of application scenarios, are becoming an important choice for modern agricultural irrigation. Against the backdrop of global water scarcity, promoting drip irrigation technology not only helps improve agricultural production efficiency but also promotes the sustainable development of agriculture. As technology continues to advance and the market continues to expand, drip irrigation tubes will play an increasingly important role in global agriculture. In the future, we look forward to continuous innovation and improvement in drip irrigation tube technology to make a greater contribution to the sustainable development of global agriculture.
