The essence of having an irrigation scheme is to guarantee a reliable supply of water to crops. This increases the chances of a good harvest by eliminating the uncertainty resulting from the ever-changing rain patterns. For you to do this effectively, you must select the right pump based on the activities that go on in your scheme and the configuration of the water source or supply lines distributing water to the crops. Here is discussion that will help you make an informed consumer choice when buying a pump for your irrigation scheme:

End-Suction Centrifugal Pumps

End-suction centrifugal pumps are close-coupled water pumps. This means that the pump itself is installed on the end of the drive shaft of the electric motor. The pump's case is attached to the motor to make the whole thing appear as a single unit. Water gets into the pump through a suction pipe located on one side and leaves the pump through the top. Therefore, end-suction centrifugal pumps are designed to move water by pushing it through the supply lines rather than pulling it. They are thus suited for use on water sources whose level is higher than the pump. In this way, the water can flow down into the inlet pipe under gravity and optimise the pump's power to push it through the supply lines. Any time that end-suction centrifugal pumps need power to suck the water through the inlet, you will notice a decline in efficiency.

Displacement Pumps

Displacement pumps rely on the movement of air to create a vacuum or space that allows water to move from one point to another. The pumps have an increasing cavity on the suction side (allows water to flow in continuously) and a decreasing cavity on the discharge side (for a continuous outflow). Displacement pumps often generate a lot of force that makes them ideal for pumping thick liquids like oil. Therefore, you should only use them for high-pressure applications like fertiliser injection (mixing irrigation water and fertilisers) to avoid wasting power.

Submersible Pumps

Submersible pumps are immersed completely into the water source. The motor and other components are designed to withstand the highly corrosive underwater environment. Most of them have a cylindrical shape that enables them to fit into a well casing. They are ideal for drawing water from a source whose water volume can diminish significantly. A good example is a well, which doesn't have a constant water table. Besides a well, you can also go for a submersible pump if you draw your irrigation water from a lake or river. The pump is installed at the bottom of either source.