drip irrigation

American  

noun

1. a system of crop irrigation involving the controlled delivery of water directly to individual plants through a network of tubes or pipes.

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Etymology

Origin of drip irrigation

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

Drip irrigation trickles water a drop at a time, directing it to the root of the plant, thereby reducing evaporation.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 9, 2023

Drip irrigation for vegetable crops, in which small amounts of water are emitted right at a plant's roots, is estimated to be as much as 95 percent efficient.

From Scientific American • Jun. 9, 2015

Drip irrigation, aided by satellite imagery measuring moisture loss, has reduced water wastage significantly over the years.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 22, 2014

Drip irrigation is more expensive than the conventional alternatives, but with water in California getting scarcer and pricier, farmers may have little choice but to switch.

From Time • Feb. 1, 2014

Drip irrigation is appropriate for higher-value crops, such as the fruit and vegetables grown in Israel, but is too expensive to use for the commodity cereals that dominate farming in the Midwest, says Lamm.

From Nature • Sep. 25, 2013