The backbone of India's economy is agriculture, and water pumps are vital to its sustainability. As agriculture fields are located in places where weather conditions can change drastically, it is essential to have a reliable water pump to improve the yield.
Agriculture pumps used in farming are high-pressure pumps that help transfer water from one source ( underground or surface) to the fields. These pumps are designed to draw water from about any depth.
Agricultural pumps are used to irrigate land with the help of sprinklers, by flooding, or through micro-irrigation. Water is drawn with the help of borewell pumps or open wells or monoblock pumps. Agricultural pumps make the distribution of water more convenient.
Water pumps are a necessity for the following agricultural application:
The suitability of surface, sprinkler or drip irrigation method, depends mainly on the following factors:
A surface irrigation system applies water to the surface of a field by gravity flow. Surface irrigation can be applied to all types of crops, either by flooding the whole field (basin irrigation) or by channeling the water through narrow channels (furrows).
A sprinkler irrigation system is similar to natural rainfall. Sprinkler irrigation involves pumping water through pipes and spraying it onto crops through rotating sprinkler heads. Because sprinklers and drip irrigation are expensive per hectare, they are generally used for high-value crops like vegetables and fruits.
Water is conveyed under pressure through a pipe system to the fields, where emitters or drippers close to the plants drip the water slowly onto the soil.
Centrifugal water pump is most commonly used for agriculture to pump water from lakes, reservoirs, and shallow wells. In irrigation pipelines, water can move through the entire system at the desired speed and pressure. Some of the benefits of centrifugal pumps include
Affordability: Due to their relatively low costs, centrifugal pumps are affordable for small and marginal farmers
Flexibility: Centrifugal pumps offer wide voltage band. They are useful in places wherein the freshwater and fluids are not chemically aggressive to pump components.
Versatility: Wide working range in size and capacity
Robust: Centrifugal pumps have simple construction, however, they are powerful devices.
Easy to Use: Easy in operation, maintenance, and repair
Installing borewell submersible pumps in agricultural lands is recommended to maintain a continuous water supply. Submersible pumps remain completely buried in groundwater and are airtightly insulated. Using a hermetically-sealed motor, a submersible water pump pumps out liquid from which it is fully submerged. A submersible water pump is known for its ability to prevent cavitation issues. The hydraulic and electrical design of the submersible pump makes it extremely efficient. Submersible pumps are designed to operate well through a large voltage range.
Open-well submersible pumps are used for irrigation, transferring water from canals, and wells to farms, or to storage tanks on farms. The pump can also be submerged in water and has an air-tight seal around it. These pumps function effectively in a high-voltage range and are a safer and more durable option. Both horizontal and vertical options are available. Reservoir, storage tank size, pipe diameter, and material used in pumps are a few factors that are required to be considered before investing in an open well submersible pump
A solar water pump uses photovoltaic technology that converts solar energy into electricity to run the pumping system. It is an eco-friendly choice for agriculture and replaces erratic grid supply and pollution-causing diesel-powered versions. Powered by solar modules, the solar water pump helps draw water out of the ground or surface
Guide to Choose Agriculture Pump
CRI pumps are one of the largest suppliers of agriculture pumps in India. A range of water pumps for Indian Agriculture and irrigation needs are available. CRI pumps understand the sustainable water management needs of farming. We have built and customized pumps for all your agriculture needs, whether it's irrigation, drainage, manure slurry, or crop harvesting. For assistance in selecting the right water pump for your agricultural irrigation system, you can contact our pump specialist for more information.
The suitability of the irrigation method depends upon natural rainfall conditions, crop type, availability of labor, and other costs.
Common pumps used in agriculture are centrifugal pumps and borewell submersible pumps. However, in recent times, solar pumps have also gained traction.
A right-size pump will provide adequate motor protection. If there are unwanted stages, the pump might not be energy efficient. A good pump should provide variable options for speed control.
Efficiency % = Q x H / 3.67 X P1 Where Q = flow in m3/h H = head (pressure from the pump) P1 = the kW required.