KindHarvest summary: New Mexico State University is testing a low-pressure drip system designed to deliver water without the energy demand of conventional pressurised drip irrigation. The work responds to a persistent challenge in southern New Mexico: producing high-value crops with less water.
How microgravity irrigation works
The N-Drip system operates from a water head of about 20 inches, allowing gravity to move water through drip lines without high-pressure pumps. In the 2.5-acre trial led by NMSU professor Manoj Shukla, researchers combined the system with trays placed around pecan trees to shade the root zone and reduce evaporation.
Early field observations
The trial included 108 pecan trees and 16 rows of chile. Researchers reported losing only two pecan trees after the first year, including exposure to frost. Chile water use was about 800 millimetres, compared with an estimated 900–1,200 millimetres under furrow irrigation.
Potential and limits
The system could reduce both water use and pumping costs, and the project reported an installation-cost advantage of more than US$1,000 per acre compared with pressurised drip. These are early results from a vendor-supported field trial; performance, maintenance and economics still need to be tested across more soils, crops and seasons.
Source and credit
This KindHarvest Team research brief is based on a New Mexico State University News Center report about research by Manoj Shukla and collaborators, published 13 June 2022. Read the full NMSU article.