#302Bottle irrigation
302⸱AConcept
- Improves water infiltration
- Balances soil humidity
- Improves plant nutrition
- Reduces coffee mortality
- Increases the coffee yield
- Saves water resources
Bottle irrigation allows water to slowly drip from a bottle to the roots of the plant. It can be understood as a basic and easily applicable form of drip irrigation. Bottle irrigation is usually applied for individual plants, like seedlings, smaller coffee or companion plants, or vegetables. It is suitable for all soil types and slopes.
Dry periods have always been a challenge, especially for freshly planted seedlings, which should ideally be watered abundantly before and right after planting. Climate change adds further strain to this challenge as it brings higher temperatures and prolongs dry spells.
Bottle irrigation works by planting a pierced plastic bottle full of water upside down into the soil near the plant. The dense soil prevents the water from leaving the bottle immediately. Instead, it slowly seeps into the soil near the plant roots. While air constantly and slowly bubbles from the soil into the bottle, it releases further water.
This concept dispenses water over a time of a few hours up to several days, depending on the soil texture. As long as there is water inside the bottle, the plant has a water supply.
A significant advantage of this method is its efficiency: None of the scarce resource water is wasted as it is brought out only where the plant needs and uses it. Evaporation and percolation losses are low.
In a Ugandan study on Robusta seedlings, farmers reported almost 100% survival rates on the coffee plots where they applied bottle irrigation compared to only 30% survival on plots where it was not applied (see Further Readings below).
302⸱BTo be considered
This method is suited for young individual plants or small areas. They are not suited for large areas or big trees as the bottles will not meet their high water requirements.
Plastic bottles are a cheap resource and the method enables additional use of waste before it is disposed of. However, lots of plastic bottles will be needed as each seedling requires one bottle. This can be a challenge in rural areas.
All plastic bottles must be collected after use and disposed of appropriately to avoid environmental pollution.
Timing: In times of droughts and unfrequent rainfall, especially when planting seedlings, as they need to be irrigated more frequently than adult plants.
302⸱CImplementation
Materials
302⸱1Application
If required, soluble fertilizer can be mixed into the irrigation water.
302⸱2
Bottle irrigation to improve coffee seedling survival and growth rate during dry season
The plant and bottle can be surrounded by freshly cut banana stems. Firstly, this serves as mulch, reducing water loss around the plant. Secondly, fresh banana stems contain a lot of water which can help add more water to the soil. Thirdly, when they rot and decompose, they add nutrients to the soil.
302⸱3
Other mulch materials can be used as well but should be placed about 15 cm / 0.5 ft from the coffee stem.
302⸱DEconomic benefits
Lower renovation costs
This tool increases the lifespan of the coffee trees. They need to be renovated less frequently which reduces the long-term production costs.
302⸱EGreen benefits
Water saving
This tool saves water as a scarce resource.
302⸱FFurther readings
Documents