Basin vs. Drip: Choosing the Right Irrigation for Your Farm’s Budget and Soil.

Irrigation system for onion farming in Kenya by Onion Doctor.

Basin irrigation

Basin irrigation is mostly used by small scale farmers with sufficient water but with limited capital, it has low cost in constructing the berms.

Steps in construction of basin.

1.Level the ground; Choose a flat area, use a hoe to completely flatten the soil surface.

2.Basin dimension; Mark the basin dimension at a proposed size.

3. Build berms; Dig and pile up the soil around the dimension marked to raise walls, it should be strong to prevent water from flowing.

4.Create paths; Ensure there is pathway created between the basins to allow weeding. The basins should be watered for soil to soak before transplanting.

Advantages of using basin irrigation

1.Reduce labor for water application compared to other methods.

2.It is cost effective in labor and berm construction.

3.Sufficient water that penetrates directly to the roots.

4.Minimizes nutrients loss when applying fertilizer directly with water.

5.Basin can help suppress weed growth by keeping inter basin areas drier.

Disadvantages of using basin irrigation.

1. High risk of fungal diseases due to high soil moisture in the soil.
2. High evaporation rates and poor drainage can cause salts to accumulate on the soil surface making land unproductive.

Drip irrigation system.

Drip irrigation system is best for commercial production, water scarce region and fertigation. It has drip lines, connectors, filtration unit and pipes. This method is water saving compared to other method of irrigation in Kenya. In order to place the drip kit in farming onion in Kenya , beds are made in the farm the the drip is installed.

At Onion Doctor we have onion value pack that has a package of drip irrigation kit and installation and also filtration unit that prevents emitters from clogging, it also uses 3 to 4 drip lines per bed. Lets grow together!

Advantages of using drip irrigation system.

1. It is used by commercial onion farmers and water saving.
2. It reduces the risk of fungal diseases, it gives the soil moderate moisture.
3. It good for fertigation.
4. In onion farming it produces large bulb size.
5. Water reaches to the roots uniformly and one can control the amount of water applied on the farm.
6. It has doubled yield compared to other irrigation method.

Disadvantage of using drip irrigation.

1. High initial capital for buying and installation of drip.

Onion Doctor  provides onion & garlic seedlings, farm planning, soil testing, irrigation, agronomic support, and farm management, offering free consultations via WhatsApp/Call 0703982228/0706252490 or Email (Info@oniondoctor.co.ke), and shares daily updates on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and X, helping farmers with comprehensive solutions.