What is wick irrigation?
Wick irrigation is the use of ropes to supply water below the soil. This is a traditional method that gardeners consider efficient in reaching plant roots.
It has been identified as efficient because it reduces the evaporation of water. This method is also simple to execute because it only requires a wick, a jar of water or a container.
How does wick irrigation work?
The wick method has been compared to a kerosene lantern that uses a wick to provide lighting. The wick draws the fuel up when it continues to burn.
The same concept applies to the wick in irrigation. Water is drawn to the soil at the same rate as absorbed. The entire process is referred to as the capillary action.
Advantages of wick irrigation
Any method of irrigation comes with some disadvantages and advantages. Here is a discussion of some major benefits of relying on wick irrigation.
- Reduces wastage of water
It is considered a major advantage to use wick irrigation because it reduces the wastage of water. The water moves through the wick without any loss. It is also good to note that this method reduces evaporation.
Through wick irrigation, water is only absorbed in the soil when in need. It works differently than the common irrigation that adds moisture even to the area that may not need moistening.
- Easy-to-use method
It is also good to note that the wick irrigation method is easy to use. It is also cheap to install compared to other irrigation systems. This is because it only uses a wick and a container full of water. You need to dip the wick in water and soil and allow the natural process to occur.
The wick system is also observed as easy to maintain. You only need to check on the water levels in the container. The rope used is long-lasting. This means that they can be replaced infrequently.
The rope can be recycled when necessary. This is especially when moving the plant or harvesting it. It is also considered a more friendly irrigation system for first-time gardeners.
- Prevents over or under watering
One of the biggest risks of watering plants is processing inadequate or excess water. This is very common in gardens.
The main concern is that many irrigation methods need more control. The gardener still determines how much water to apply to the plants at a given time.
The wick irrigation system works magic in preventing these problems. It is evident that the wick only draws water absorbed in the soil when necessary. The wick does not draw more water when moist and saturated soil.
This means it is a good method that can work in all seasons. Water during the summer season may be drawn more, while the drawing rate reduces during the wet season.
The entire process happens without human control. This means it reduces the errors that could lead to over or under-watering.
Disadvantages of wick irrigation
However, there are also some notable disadvantages of the wick irrigation system.
- Causes salt build-up
The biggest risk of using the wick system is the salt build-up that may affect the plants. It is argued that water does not evaporate when using the wick system. It is through evaporation that most of the salts are removed from the soil.
Without evaporation, the surface in the wick irrigation system will suffer salt build-up. The result is increased acidity in the soil, which is not good for the health of the plants.
- Limited to specific plants
There is also the view that wick irrigation can only irrigate specific plants. This is because some plants, such as shrubs, may require more water than the wick system can provide. The system may fail when it comes to water needs for such plants.
It is also clear that the method can only work in specific soils. This is because of the slow rate of water delivery through this system.
Some plants, such as fruits, require more water for better growth. The frequency and rate of water delivery may not work well for such plants if the wick irrigation system is used.
- Uneven moisture distribution
There are concerns that only a few areas are moistened when using the wick system. This is especially true in the areas around the wick. It is considered that most of the grounds using the wick system are only wet in the lowest soils.
The disadvantage is that the upper levels of the soil can remain dry for a long period. This means the irrigation system may not be very good for plants with shallow roots. It also means that some soil areas may be compared because of dryness.
There is also the risk of rotting roots in areas around the wick. This is because the area remains excessively wet for a longer period. Therefore, the uneven water distribution in the soil does not serve the main purpose of irritating plants.
- Inefficient delivery of water and nutrients
It is also viewed that the wick system may also be affected by clogging. This means that the water will not be drawn successfully past the clogged areas of the wick. This then means that the system will fail and lead to poor plant growth due to lack of nutrients.
- Prone to pests and diseases
The concern among gardeners is that they have seen wick attacked by pests. This includes termites that can easily feed on the wicks. The system can fail once the wick is cut.
There are also concerns that the wick can be a habitat for some diseases that will ultimately affect the plant. This means that while the system may deliver water, it may also transfer diseases to the plants.
Overall, the wick irrigation system is efficient when managed efficiently. What you need to do is to ensure that you have the right skill when installing the system.
You also need to ensure that you monitor the wick regularly. Remember that the goal is to ensure efficiency in water delivery to the plant.