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T-Tape drip irrigation for sugar cane Drip irrigation has come a long way in the past 30 years and T-Tape has been part of the journey from the start. T-Tape was the first drip tape installed in sugar cane in Australia. Back in the early 1980s, it was a revolutionary product first installed in a Bundaberg block of cane. T-Tape put water right where the crop needed it, and profits right where the farmer wanted them. Over the past 30 years, drip irrigation technology has advanced significantly, delivering highly profitable yields, reducing inputs, saving labour and allowing farmers to grow in areas they never would have thought possible. With increased pressure on cane growers, now more than ever it s vital for growers to look at how they can maximise production and profitability. But don t take it from us, we invite you to hear from two north Queensland growers who have used T-Tape to deliver outstanding results. Brilliant sugar and brilliant tonnage Name: Joe Farm location: Mareeba System overview: 40 ha sub-surface T-Tape installed in 1998 (and still going strong) I couldn t farm that land down there without it Name: Paul Farm location: Ayr System overview: 16 ha sub-surface T-Tape installed in 2011. Full automation with expansion capabilities to 52 ha
High profit yields Drip irrigation delivers water and nutrients direct to cane s active root zone. With minimal evaporation and leaching, the crop gets the maximum benefit, which in turn means maximum growth. Unlike some crops that can rely on intermittent water applications, cane yield responds positively to high frequency water applications. When a crop is flood-irrigated, a large volume of water is applied, followed by a prolonged dry period before the crop receives water again. This causes stress on the crop which can lead to underdevelopment, especially in sandy soils. Drip irrigation enables pulse irrigation, applying a small volume of water for brief but regular intervals. This provides a better wetting pattern, reduces deep drainage and prevents undue crop stress that reduces yields. In other words, drip irrigation gives your crop the best opportunity to reach its potential yield through high frequency irrigation that leads to increased sugar production. Pick up more tonnage As a crop becomes dense, the risk of cane lodging increases. If the cane s root structure is not adequate, the cane can subsequently fall over. Fortunately, drip irrigation provides a solution to cane lodging. By not applying overhead irrigation, drip irrigation minimises the weight on the crop s canopy. Additionally, drip irrigation aids in development of a strong root structure. Since the tape is buried, the roots grow deep into the soil, adding stability to the cane. Furthermore, because the hills between the furrows are not saturated by flood irrigation, the soil around the root zone remains firm, providing added stability. According to, because drip irrigation reduces cane lodging, he estimates he is picking up another unit of sugar. Saturation of soil around root zone caused by flood irrigation, leading to reduced root development and weaker soil structure Achieved yields up to 70 tonne per acre on a crop planted in early August and harvested mid-july in sandy soil using drip irrigation 165 tonnes per hectare and an extra crop every five years. At $37 a tonne, that s an extra $6,105 per hectare, meaning about $305,000 additional revenue for my farm. Drip irrigation has enabled to achieve outstanding crops. He has consistently won awards for achieving highest revenue with the least water use per hectare. Because his drip tape is buried 300 mm deep, the roots need to chase the water. Not only does this stimulate growth leading to a healthier crop, it makes the crop more stable and less likely to fall due to cane lodging. Additionally, sub-surface drip irrigation allows to irrigate right up until harvest, further boosting yields. Being able to irrigate up to harvest and then immediately after is a major advantage of drip irrigation. The additional irrigation prevents the root zone drying out, reduces crop stress and therefore extends the period that the crop can produce sugar.
Save on labour I can run the farm myself. If I used flood, I would need another person just for labour. With drip it s just a matter of pushing a button. Labour cost and availability is an increasing challenge for Australian growers. Drip irrigation provides a solution to this problem by reducing your labour input requirements. Turning on your drip irrigation system is as simple as turning on your pump, or if you use automation, you can start the system remotely. Even applying fertiliser is easier with drip. Instead of applying manually and consuming fuel, tractor hours and substantial labour, applying fertiliser with drip irrigation is as simple as filling a tank in the pump shed with fertiliser and pushing a button. I put fertiliser in a tank and my wife turns on the irrigation system from the home office. We work off soil-moisture probes with pulse irrigation due to how sandy it is. Automation coupled with soil moisture probes and drip irrigation is the key to dramatically reducing labour requirements. With just an internet connection you can measure the soil moisture level to determine when to irrigate, turn on your drip irrigation system, apply a prescribed quantity of fertiliser and monitor that the system is working correctly. Reduce water & pumping costs The water company asked me to check my water metre because they didn t think it was working properly. I only used 11 megs of water! Everyone knows that drip irrigation saves water. However, when it comes to saving water, every megalitre you don t use is also a mega litre you do not need to pump. This can lead to significant savings in energy costs. We use 5.5 megalitres per hectare. The local average for flood is 12.5 per hectare. The price of water Access, allocation and one season usage charges for a 50 ha development in Mareeba* Flood irrigation: $29,480.56 Drip irrigation: $14,019.56 *Based on 12.5 ML/ha flood, 5.5 ML/ha drip irrigation and Mareeba Dimbulah Water Supply Schedule 2013 2014
Cutback your fertiliser expenses A flood irrigation block requires 220 units, but with drip I am only putting on 160 units. You can also apply all your trace elements directly... Last year I used half the amount of urea and still cut up to 70 tonnes to the acre with a crop planted early August and harvested mid-july. There is only one way fertiliser prices seem to be going, and that s up! Therefore, reducing fertiliser costs are critical for farm profitability in the future. 600 500 400 300 200 Historic urea prices (USD/ton) Drip fertigation allows for injection of fertiliser through the irrigation system, directly to the plant s active root zone. Not only does this method of fertigation significantly reduce leaching, the ability to apply small doses of fertiliser in regular intervals promotes growth. If you flood, you have to pile it all on in one hit. With drip you constantly feed the crop, which is good as soils leach so much... In addition to NPK, drip allows you to add copper, zinc and boron through the tape, which is great for the crop. Irrigation main line Fertiliser injector Fertiliser tank Fertiliser filter 100 0 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Source: Agricultural Prices, National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. Spray less & save fuel Our tractor fuel bill went down two-thirds due to less land prep... I also haven t needed to spray the paddock for grass. As the furrows are not getting wet, grass doesn t germinate. Weeds in a cane field can require multiple spray passes to manage. Not only does this cost in terms of labour, fuel and spray, every tractor pass compacts the ground, damaging the plant s root zone. Because subsurface drip irrigation applies water below the surface, the furrows do not get wet from irrigation. Without water, weeds cannot germinate and grow, often eliminating the need to spray for weeds altogether. Drip irrigation allows you to control water and keep it out of the furrows. Using drip irrigation we reduced weed growth in the drill by 70-80% just by keeping it dry. Drip irrigation also reduces the risk and subsequent potential loss caused by smut infection when compared to furrow and overhead irrigation.
Starting right - installation When you re making an investment in your livelihood, you want to work with the company that has a proven track record of successful drip irrigation in cane. Installation of T-Tape using GPS technology for future control traffic management From the first installation over 30 years ago to numerous successful cane projects throughout Queensland, T-Tape has been there from the beginning. Therefore, when you use T-Tape, you are supported by in-region representatives, industry leading irrigation designers and a team that knows and understands cane. Installation is nowhere near as hard as you think. With the right advice, sub-surface drip irrigation is easy to install. You can contract a dealer, install yourself or a combination of both. With the added assistance of GPS guidance in tractors, laying tape is easy and allows you to plant directly over tape. Major components of a drip irrigation system Pump shed Pump Pressurises the system. A variable speed electric pump will provide maximum efficiency Primary filtration Prevents particles entering the irrigation system. A Rivulis Irrigation F2000 media filter will provide optimum protection Fertigation system Injects specified fertiliser doses directly into the irrigation system Automation system Controls and monitors the irrigation system including valves, fertigation and pump operation In-field Main and sub-lines Buried PVC pipe that transports water throughout the farm Secondary filtration Back-up smaller filters. Rivulis Irrigation F6000/F7000 plastic filter range is ideal for this application Valves Controls water flow and regulates pressure. Use Rivulis Irrigation V2000 plastic and V3000 metal valves T-Tape Drip tape laterals that run the length of the sugar cane rows and emit specified flow per dripper based on the tape and irrigation design Automation Remotely controls and monitors your valves and pumps Moisture probes Measure the moisture levels in the soil profile to aid in irrigation scheduling decisions
Typical installation A typical dual-row drip irrigation system will have dual cane rows 400 500 mm apart with 1500 1800 mm centres. The tape is placed approximately 300 mm below the surface between the two rows of cane. Although this is a typical installation, each irrigation system should be customised, with the goal to achieve your crop s agronomic needs with the least inputs possible. For example, in planning s farm, Rivulis Irrigation s team determined that, due to the sandy soil profile, the T-Tape should only be buried 180 mm. A further consideration and added benefit of drip irrigation is the ability to design a system that can irrigate other crops if market conditions change. Drip irrigation improves the price of the land, and you can diversify into any other crop... it gives you options. Maintenance Maintenance is the easiest. With good farm hygiene and baiting we have a maximum of one hole per ten acres... It only takes 5 minutes to fix a hole, which is a lot cheaper and easier than repairing a gearbox in a pivot! All irrigation systems require maintenance, and drip irrigation is one of the easiest. The key, like most things, is prevention is better than cure. If you maintain good farm hygiene and clean your drip irrigation system lines through periodic flushing, maintenance will be minimal. On the occasion where a repair is needed, it s generally inexpensive. Repairing a damaged piece of drip line costs very little and only takes a few minutes of time.
My drip irrigation system paid for itself in five years as I am cutting an extra crop every five years. Love T-Tape, it s always been the premium tape compared to all the others. With increased pressures for profitability, more and more growers are choosing drip irrigation as an effective method to reduce their costs and boost their yields. Once you have decided to explore how drip irrigation can work for you, it is important to choose a drip irrigation company that can provide the knowledge and service you require. Rivulis Irrigation has tried and tested experience with drip irrigation in sugar cane irrigation, enabling you to achieve the maximum potential of your operation. In addition to manufacturing T-Tape, Rivulis Irrigation is a supplier of world-class filtration, valves and fittings. Find out more by getting in touch with a Rivulis Irrigation representative: Phone 1800 558 009 www.rivulis.com Rivulis Irrigation Phone: 1800 558 009 www.rivulis.com Case study outcomes are for information purposes only and actual results may vary. This literature has been compiled for worldwide circulation and the descriptions, photos, and information are for general purpose use only. Please consult with an irrigation specialist and technical specifications for proper use of Rivulis Irrigation products. Because some products are not available in all regions, please contact your local dealer for details. Rivulis Irrigation reserves the right to change specifications and the design of all products without notice. Rivulis Irrigation s green and grey colour scheme and Rivulis Irrigation s logo are trademarks of Rivulis Irrigation. Every effort has been used to ensure that product information, including data sheets, schematics, manuals and brochures are correct. However information should be verified before making any decisions based on this information.