The Ultimate Guide to Choosing and Using Drip Tape for Efficient Irrigation

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The Ultimate Guide to Choosing and Using Drip Tape for Efficient Irrigation

What is Drip Tape?

Drip tape is a type of low-pressure, thin-walled tubing used in drip irrigation systems. It delivers water directly to the root zone of plants, ensuring efficient water usage and reducing wastage.

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How Do You Choose Drip Tape?

When selecting drip tape, consider the following factors:

• Emitter Spacing: Choose emitter spacing based on crop type. Common spacings are 10 cm, 20 cm, and 30 cm.
• Wall Thickness: Thicker walls (8-15 mil) last longer but cost more.
• Flow Rate: Measured in liters per hour (LPH). Low flow rates work best for sandy soils, while higher rates suit clay soils.
• Operating Pressure: Most drip tapes function between 6-15 PSI.
• Row Spacing: Determines how many lines you need per bed.

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How Do You Measure Drip Tape?

To measure drip tape for your farm:

1. Calculate row length: Measure the total length of planting rows.
2. Determine row spacing: Helps in estimating the total required meters.
3. Factor in emitter spacing: This determines the precise water delivery.
4. Consider acreage: Use standard calculations to estimate tape needs per acre.

What Are the Different Types of Drip Tapes?

There are various types of drip tapes categorized by:

• Wall Thickness: 6 mil (short-term), 8-10 mil (medium-term), 15 mil (long-term use).
• Emitter Spacing: 10 cm, 20 cm, 30 cm, 60 cm.
• Flow Rate: 0.2 – 1.0 gallons per minute (GPM) per 100 ft.

How Many Meters of Drip Tape per Acre?

The number of meters of drip tape per acre depends on crop row spacing. Generally:

• 1-acre vegetable crops (single row spacing 1m) require - meters.
• Densely planted crops with 0.5m spacing may need -10,000 meters.

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How Many Years Does Drip Tape Last?

Drip tape longevity depends on its thickness:

• 6 mil: 1 season (short-term crops like vegetables)
• 8-10 mil: 2-4 years (longer-season crops)
• 15 mil: 5+ years (perennials)

What is the Most Common Application of Drip Tape?

Drip tape is widely used in:

• Vegetable farming (tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, etc.)
• Row crops (corn, cotton, strawberries)
• Greenhouses
• Raised beds and container gardens

What is the Best Drip Tape Thickness?

The ideal thickness depends on the application:

• 6-8 mil: Short-season crops
• 10 mil: General vegetable farming
• 15 mil: Perennial crops or reusing tape for multiple seasons

How Do I Choose a Dripper?

Consider:

• Flow rate: 1-4 LPH depending on soil type
• Emitter type: Pressure-compensating (PC) for uniformity or non-PC for flat land
• Emitter spacing: Match plant spacing

How Many Drip Tapes Per Row?

The number of drip tapes per row depends on:

• Single-row crops: 1 tape per row
• Wide-spaced crops: 2 or more tapes per row
• Raised beds: 1-2 tapes per bed

What Size Filter for Drip Tape?

Using the right filter prevents clogging:

• 150-mesh filter for standard drip tape
• 120-mesh filter for high-flow systems

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Drip Irrigation Spacing for Raised Beds

• 1-2 drip tapes per bed
• 10-20 cm emitter spacing for close plantings

Best Drip Irrigation System for Large Gardens

For large gardens:

• Use drip tape with pressure regulators
• Installed mainline tubing with connectors
• Use a timed irrigation controller

Best Drip Irrigation System for Potted Plants

• Drip emitters or microtubing for each pot
• Adjustable drippers for different plant needs

Drip Tape Emitter Spacing

• 10-15 cm: Small vegetables (lettuce, onions)
• 20-30 cm: Tomatoes, peppers
• 30-60 cm: Trees, vines

Drip Line Spacing for Vegetable Gardens

• 30-60 cm apart for closely planted crops
• 1m apart for row crops

Best Drip Irrigation System for Raised Beds

• Use drip tape or soaker hoses
• 1-2 drip lines per bed
• Pressure-compensated emitters for even watering

Drip Tape vs. Drip Line

• Drip Tape: Thin-walled, best for seasonal crops
• Drip Line: Thicker, durable for long-term irrigation

Best Drip Irrigation System for Trees

• Use pressure-compensated drippers
• Multi-outlet drippers for large trees
• Bury tubing slightly to reduce evaporation

Conclusion

Drip tape is a cost-effective, efficient irrigation solution. Choosing the right thickness, spacing, and system ensures optimal water distribution and longer lifespan. Shop for the best drip irrigation systems on Farmpays today!

FAQ

Q: Can I reuse drip tape?
A: Yes, if properly maintained and stored after use.

Q: How do I prevent clogging in drip tape?
A: Use a 150-mesh filter and flush the system regularly.

Q: Is drip tape suitable for sloped land?
A: Use pressure-compensated emitters to maintain even water distribution.

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Q: How often should I replace drip tape?
A: Depending on thickness, every 1-5 years.

Q: Where can I buy high-quality drip tape?
A: Visit Farmpays for premium drip irrigation products!

Choosing the right drip tape for your project can feel a bit overwhelming. This guide was designed to simplify the process by walking you through each of the four selections that must be made when choosing a roll of drip tape to purchase. These four selection choices are the diameter of the tape, the wall thickness of the tape, the emitter spacing, and the emitter flow rate. After detailing each selection, you will find a frequently asked question section at the end of this guide. 

Diameter 

There are 4 diameters of drip tape on the market. The smallest and most common size is ⅝”. The other sizes are ⅞”, 1 ⅛” & 1 ⅜”.  The majority of drip tape sold is ⅝”.  If you are purchasing drip tape for a garden or small farm where row lengths are 600 feet or less then we highly recommend the ⅝” tape.  The larger sizes are only used in large farming operations.

Wall Thickness

Wall thickness of drip irrigation tape is measured in mil.  Available thicknesses range from 5 - 15 mil.  With 5mil being the thinnest and 15 mil being the thickest. If you are new to using drip tape we strongly recommend starting with 15 mil.  The thinner walled tape is less forgiving and can be damaged easily by someone that is unfamiliar with drip tape installation.  

For home garden use we always recommend 15 mil tape.  As it will last several seasons whereas the thinner walled tape will only provide one maybe two seasons of use. 15 mil tape is more expensive, however, being able to use it for multiple seasons will make it less expensive in the long run.  Below is a chart of available wall thicknesses and expected longevity.

Wall ThicknessLife Expectancy5 mil1 year6 mil1 year8 mil2-3 years10 mil2-4 years12 mil2-4 years15 mil5-10 years

Emitter Spacing

Drip tape has pre-set drip points built into the tape.  So there is no need to buy additional drippers/emitters.  It is important to note that no additional emitters can be added to drip tape.  Unlike poly tubing, no holes can be punched into dip tape to allow for the insertion of barbed drippers.  Emitters are spaced at one set distance for the entire roll of tape.  For home gardens the most popular spacing is 12”.  That means every 12” there will be a drip point for the entire run of tape.  Emitter spacing is normally matched to the type of crop being watered.  Below is a chart with popular emitter spacings and what crops or application use that emitter spacing.

Emitter Spacing (in inches)Crops or ApplicationOther Considerations4"Flowers, Peppers, GreenhousesGood for Sandy Soil, Short Runs6"Germination, Onions, GarlicTight Plant Spacings8"Germination, Strawberries, VegetablesHigh Flow for Sandy Soil12"Good all-around choiceIf Low Flow Emitter Used - Great for Long Runs60"Blueberries, HopsLong Runs of Plants Spaced Far Apart

Flow Rate Selection

When selecting the flow rate for your drip tape there are 3 considerations to keep in mind.

Run Length –The longer the run length you need per row of tape then the lower the flow rate per emitter is needed. The reason is that longer run lengths have more emitters and the more emitters there are the more water is being used per line.  Thus, in order not to exceed the capacity of a system lower emitter flow rates are used to accommodate for longer runs of tape.  For anyone that needs run lengths of 500 feet plus, we recommend using a “low flow” emitter (see chart below). 

When planning a home garden tape system run length is not going to be a limiting factor because the rows are generally short and any of the emitter flow rates can be used. 

Soil Type –No matter the scale of your drip tape system soil type is a consideration that everyone should think about. The three main types of soil are Clay, Loam, and Sand.  Below is the flow rate selection for each soil type.  

Soil TypeSoil CharacteristicsEmitter SuggestionClayDoes not drain wellLow Flow: .11-.16 Gallons Per Hour (GPH)LoamDrains wellMedium or High Flow: .18 -.46 GPHSandDrains the fastestHigh Flow: .33-.46 GPH

Filtration – It is important to keep in mind that when choosing an emitter flow rate that the lower the flow an emitter has, the smaller the opening for water to drip out is.  This means that lower flow emitters can be more susceptible to clogging.  So it is very important that if using a low flow emitter to have a good filter with at least 200 mesh.  If you know you have water that is hard or has mineral build up it would be best to go with a high-flow emitter to prolong the life of the drip tape.

Frequently Asked Questions about Drip Tape

• What is a good application for drip tape? - Drip tape is best used in applications with long, straight runs. Drip tape is not designed to be used in applications with bends, curves, or substantial elevation changes.
• Why does drip tape need to operate at low pressure? – Drip tape is thinner-walled than drip irrigation tubing and is designed to work at low pressure.  Too much pressure can cause the tape to burst.  It is important that a pressure regulator is installed in your tape system to ensure that the system is operating at or below the specified maximum operating pressure listed.  Below is a guide on maximum operating pressure for different sizes of drip tape.

Wall Thickness (mil)5/8" Tape7/8" Tape1 1/8" Tape1 3/8" Tape58 PSI610 PSI8 PSI815 PSI10 PSI8 PSI PSI15 PSI10 PSI PSI15 PSI12 PSI PSI15 PSI15 PSI15 PSI

• How Do You Install Drip Tape? – Drip Tape is very easy to install.  Here is a video showing the basics of installing a drip tape system.

• Can Drip Tape be buried? – Yes, a lot of the drip tape used in large agricultural fields is buried.  Drip Tape can be installed above ground, underground (also called subsurface), or under mulch.
• Does the emitter need to face up? – Yes, proper installation of drip tape will have the emitter facing up.  Brands like Aqua-Traxx and T-Tape have stripes on their tape and they recommend, “The colored stripe on the drip tape should be facing upward”.
• Can the tape be flushed with chemical agents to break up build-up? –Yes. However, such flushing may prolong the life of the tape but also void any warranty on the tape. We recommend checking with the tape manufacturer before performing a flush and asking what is best to use and how it affects their warranty.

Drip Tape Mistakes to Avoid:

Drip Tape Mistakes to Avoid in Large Agricultural Systems:

Drip Tape vs Dripline (Commercial/Farm):

Drip Tape vs Dripline (Residential/Garden):

How to Install Drip Tape Takeoff Adapters: