Advantages and Disadvantages of Perimeter Watering Irrigation in Greenhouse

A. Advantages of Perimeter watering irrigation

a. Low-cost and simple setup

• Requires only basic channels or pipes laid around the bed edges.
• No need for advanced irrigation equipment.

b. Reduced risk of leaf wetting: Since water is applied at the periphery, plant foliage remains dry, reducing the incidence of foliar diseases like mildew or blight.

c. Less soil compaction: Workers do not need to walk across beds for watering, minimizing compaction around root zones.

d. Encourages deeper root growth: Water moves inward and downward from the edges, making roots grow outward and deeper, and improving plant anchorage and drought tolerance.

e. Ease of maintenance: Fewer moving parts and simple layout mean lower maintenance compared to drip systems.

f. Suitable for medium-sized beds: Provides a practical option for rectangular beds in greenhouses where drip irrigation installation is not possible.

B. Disadvantages of Perimeter Watering Irrigation

a. Non-uniform water distribution

• Plants near the edges often receive more water compared to those at the center.
• Leads to uneven crop growth and yield variability.

b. Higher water requirement: Requires more water than precise systems (like drip) due to lateral seepage and evaporation.

c. Labor-intensive (if manual)

• In small greenhouses, water often has to be manually applied to the perimeter channels.
• Not suitable for large-scale production.

d. Inefficient fertilizer use: Difficult to integrate fertigation, as nutrients applied at the edges may not uniformly reach all plants.

e. Waterlogging risk at edges: Excessive water accumulation along peripheries can cause localized waterlogging, root rot, or salt accumulation.

f. Limited suitability for soilless systems: This method is mainly soil-dependent and not effective in hydroponic or substrate-based greenhouse production.