Trickle vs. Overhead Irrigation Requirements
Container
Spacing
Container
area
sq ft
Ratio
of
Areas
Trickle
water
gal/A1

Overhead
water
gal/A2

in row ft.
between
row ft.
15 gal
3
4
1.58
0.13
4020
36,200
15 gal
3
3
1.58
0.18
5380
36,200
3/4 bu
or
Marshal T16
2
*
1.31
0.33
9920
36,200
7 gal
2
2
1.15
0.29
8659
36,200
2.5 gal
1.5
2
0.39
0.13
4020
36,200
1 Application effiency of 95 percent used for trickle irrigation.
2 Application efficiency of 75 percent used for overhead sprinkler irrigation.
* four across 8 ft. bed

Water requirements for applying 1 inch of water into given containers by trickle and overhead sprinkler irrigation. Ratio of areas is ratio of container top surface area to ground area occupied by each container. Trickle applies water into container only while overhead broadcasts over all the ground.