Installation, repair, retrieval, and economic returns of S3DI systems in corn and cotton rotations

The use of shallow subsurface drip irrigation (S3DI) systems in row crops can be economically favorable, provided the system remains in the field without major repairs for a substantial period. This research documents installation, repairs, retrieval, and partial economic returns of S3DI systems in service for 4, 5, 6, and 8 years. Irrigation systems were installed on five different fields for specific agronomic research projects. Either corn or cotton was grown in each field over the life of the systems. Crop yields were documented across years and systems. At the end of the project, drip laterals were retrieved, and the number of repairs in each field was documented. Installation costs across all irrigation systems ranged from $70 to $86 ac −1 per year, averaged over the life of the system. Repair costs ranged from $1 to $18 ac −1 per year, depending on the length of service and amount of biological and mechanical damage to the drip tubing. Overall, it would take between 10 and 20 years for the repair costs to exceed the replacement cost, depending on labor costs and/or the level of damage to the drip tubing.