Standard drip irrigation, which has been used successfully for sugar cane production in Hawaii and Mauritius is often too expensive for the smallholder with a cultivated area of perhaps one hectare or less. The low head (by which is meant 2 m water head or less) drip irrigation (LHD) system described can, within the criteria specified, provide all the advantages of a standard drip irrigation system while being substantially less costly. By using an in-field water storage tank the water use control of the system can be facilitated with a very low level of operational and maintainance management. The uniformity of application of the irrigation attainable by the LHD System is analysed. For irrigated areas of approximately one hectare or less the uniformity of application can be within acceptable limits if the irrigated area is sensibly level. © 1990.
