Prospects of Drip Irrigation in Georgia

Abstract

The scarcity of water resources, caused by global climate change, necessitates their efficient and economical use. In agriculture, particularly in irrigation, one of the key approaches to saving irrigation water is the implementation of resource-saving irrigation methods, among which drip irrigation is considered the most effective. A study was conducted by the Department of Agroengineering of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Bioengineering at the Georgian Technical University and the Tsotne Mirtskhulava Institute of Water Management to investigate the conditions and prospects for the use of drip irrigation in Georgia, taking into account the soil characteristics of irrigated areas. The research was carried out in farms located in both Eastern and Western Georgia. The results confirmed the widely recognized advantages of drip irrigation; however, several challenges were also identified, some of which are of a temporary nature. It was established that drip irrigation is particularly effective under conditions of irrigation water scarcity. Under the current conditions in Georgia, where water deficit is relatively insignificant, in some cases preference may be given to traditional surface (gravity) irrigation, while drip irrigation is recommended for localized use, such as in greenhouses. With regard to soil conditions, drip irrigation becomes more effective as the soil texture becomes lighter. It is especially efficient in saline soils compared to surface (gravity) irrigation.