BALANCING FOOD SAFETY AND SUSTAINABILITY

Opportunities for Co-management – Sprinkler and Microirrigation Systems

This is one of a series of resource sheets for food safety auditors that describe conservation practices
commonly used in agriculture’s production environment.

Images of Sprinkler 1 and Microirrigation 2 systems in production fields

Sprinkler irrigation

Microirrigation

This information can help you to

Recognize Sprinkler and Microirrigation systems in the agricultural environment.
Understand the purposes these irrigation systems serve in the agricultural environment.
Recognize the language growers may use to explain why these practices are important in their production
environment.
Understand when audit standards may consider these practices as addressing farming impacts on the
environment and biodiversity and/or as potential contributors to food safety risk.

1 This practice is currently listed as Sprinkler Irrigation #442 by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. The NRCS National Practice
Standards are updated regularly. Some states may include additional guidance; consult your local NRCS field office.
2 This practice is currently listed as Irrigation System, Microirrigation #441 by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. The NRCS

National Practice Standards are updated regularly. Some states may include additional guidance; consult your local NRCS field office.
These practices are generally used to deliver irrigation water directly to a production field.

Sprinkler irrigation systems that are properly designed, operated, and maintained can efficiently and uniformly
apply water by means of perforated pipes or nozzles operated under pressure. Nozzle size and condition should be
calibrated to meet plant water needs and to reduce excess irrigation that can cause erosion and transport
agricultural chemicals (e.g. fertilizers, pesticides) offsite. The system should be designed to maintain adequate soil
moisture for optimum plant growth without causing excessive surface runoff or erosion.

Microirrigation is sometimes referred to as ‘trickle’ or ‘drip’ irrigation. Microirrigation is a planned irrigation system
in which all necessary facilities are installed for efficiently applying water directly to the root zone of plants by
means of applicators (orifices, emitters, porous tubing, perforated pipe) operated under low pressure. The
applicators can be placed on or below the surface of the ground. The purpose is to efficiently apply water directly to
the soil in plant root zone to maintain soil moisture within the range for good plant growth and without excessive
water loss, erosion, or salt accumulation in the crop root zone.

Advantages1 Disadvantages
Characteristics shared by practices
• Can minimize surface runoff and reduce soil • Requires high maintenance
erosion when the system is well-managed
• May increase efficiency of water
distribution with proper management
• May reduce the size of or eliminate the
need for additional practices such as a
sediment basin or tailwater recovery
system as compared to furrow or other
surface irrigation systems

Sprinkler Irrigation
• Requires less labor during irrigation sets as • Requires more management
compared to furrow or other surface • May require a water filtration system
irrigation systems • Hand moved system may Increase
labor between sets
• May require improved pipelines to
adequately pressurize the irrigation
system
Microirrigation
• Reduces soil crusting and compaction • Requires high maintenance
• May reduce need for cultivation of weeds, • Requires a water filtration system
which can improve soil health • May increase salt accumulation in
• Allows chemigation and fertigation root zone
1From Farm Water Quality Management Practice Sheets Irrigation System, Mircroirrigation #441, Irrigation System Sprinkler #442

In some audit standards these practices may help producers to demonstrate knowledge of the impacts of
farming on the environment, including water quality impairments caused by sediments, nutrients, and pesticides.
Irrigation practices in general may trigger concerns about water of unknown quality coming in contact with edible
portions of the crop or with fecal contamination.
Scenarios
Buffer areas are established around fecal deposits in the field that might be splashed by sprinkler irrigation
onto edible portions of the crop. Irrigations are held until fecal deposits are either flagged or contained, or
removed.
Microirrigation is used during the crop production cycle to reduce the potential for irrigation water to
contact the edible portions of the crop.
Where standing water occurs from flowing or overflowing water, buffers are established around the
temporarily puddled area and in traffic areas. Where practical, drainage pathways are established to reduce
the persistence of puddle water to reduce potential habitat or drinking areas for wildlife. These areas are
monitored and signs of wildlife presence are noted.
Additional Resources
Balancing Food Safety and Sustainability: Opportunities for Co-management , 2012
Reducing Runoff from Irrigated Lands: Managing Existing Sprinkler Irrigation Systems, 2007
Irrigation Water Salinity and Crop Production, 2002
Drip Irrigation Salinity Management for Row Crops, 2011

The following are for-sale publications from the University of California

Fertigation with Microirrigation, 2006
Maintaining Microirrigation Systems, 2012
Micro-irrigation of Trees and Vines, 1996
Irrigation Pumping Plants, 2000
Sprinkle Irrigation of Row and Field Crops, 2011

Additional resources on co-management of food safety and sustainability may be found at on the UC Food Safety
Website under the Pre- and Post-Harvest Produce link. You can also contact Mary Bianchi, UC Cooperative Extension
Emeritus Farm Advisor in San Luis Obispo County at [email protected].

It is the policy of the University of California (UC) and the UC Division of Agriculture & Natural Resources not to engage in discrimination against or harassment
of any person in any of its programs or activities (Complete nondiscrimination policy statement can be found at
http://ucanr.edu/sites/anrstaff/files/215244.pdf ) .Inquiries regarding ANR’s nondiscrimination policies may be directed to John I. Sims, Affirmative Action
Compliance Officer/Title IX Officer, University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources, 2801 Second Street, Davis, CA 95618, (530) 750-1397.