A Nelson Rotator® full coverage irrigation system is a low application rate, high uniformity irrigation solution.
Take an approach as holistic as mother nature. Full Coverage Irrigation (FCI) is an irrigation design and management philosophy that enlists a comprehensive irrigation system to give the grower superior agronomic control over the farming system.
Properly managed full coverage irrigation systems deliver higher water efficiency than drip irrigation, with many environmental and economic benefits as a bonus. In many cases, drip systems installed without automation operate on 12- or 24-hour run times. These excessive run times can cause deep percolation of fertilizers beyond the reach of plant roots. And this nearly always results in as much water use—if not more—than if a Rotator full coverage irrigation system were used.
Rotator full coverage systems benefit and create a healthy environment.
- Reduce or control dust.
- Prevent or reduce wind erosion
- Reduce soil cracking
- Grow cover crops to prevent runoff and erosion
- Mitigate salinity buildup caused by drip irrigation
Outstanding economic benefits.
Rotator full coverage sprinkler systems are often used as companions to drip systems because they can pull double duty with a number of necessary and lucrative beneficial capabilities, including:
- Frost control
- Cooling
- Growing cash crops in tree rows
- Growing green manure crops
In crops like apples, cherries, and walnuts, Rotator full coverage systems have consistently produced higher yields and quality than drip systems. Full coverage systems often produce especially outstanding results in shallow or very sandy soils where drip systems may struggle.
