A method for drip irrigation includes providing water from a first main line to at least one feeder line. The at least one feeder line extends along a plurality of segments in a field, including a first end segment nearest the first main line and an adjacent segment which is adjacent to the first end segment further away from the main line. At least one dripper is disposed on the at least one feeder line for each of the segments. Water is delivered by a first pressure from the first main line to the first end segment, the first pressure being insufficient to deliver water from the first main line to the adjacent segment. Water is delivered by a second pressure from the first main line to the first end segment and to the adjacent segment, the second pressure being greater than the first pressure.

An in-line button drip emitter may include a core fitting into a cover. For example, the core may include a cylindrical section with an elliptical cross section. For example the cover may close over a pressure reducing labyrinth formed in the outer cylindrical sides of the core. Optionally the cover has a long axis which is parallel to the long axis of the cross section of the core. In some embodiments, the bonding surface has an arched profile. Optionally, the arched profile fits an inner wall of an irrigation tube. For example, an axis of the arched profile may be parallel to the long axis of the elliptical cross section of the core and/or the arched profile may be parallel to the axis of the cover.

This emitter has an emitter body, a film, and a cover. A sealed space is formed between the cover and a portion of the film. A flow channel in the emitter include: a first through-hole that is opened in a first surface and a second surface of the emitter body; and a second through-hole that is disposed downstream of the first through-hole. The film is disposed so as to block first surface-side openings of the first through-hole and the second through-hole. The film becomes distorted toward the side of the sealed space due to deformation caused in the film when the temperature of the film exceeds a preset value and when the pressure of irrigation liquid circulating within the flow channel exceeds a preset value, thereby creating a gap between the emitter body and the film, through which the first through-hole and the second through-hole are enabled to be connected.

An emitter comprising a pressure responsive section and at least one feature defined by a floor, a first rail, and a second rail. The at least one feature being tuned by at least one of rail to rail distance, rail height, rail width, rail corner, vertical rail gap, transverse rail gap, external rail, floor thickness, floor profile, tip height, tip clearance, feature density, feature contour, feature angle, and feature thickness.

An emitter includes at least one of: an inlet section including inlet members forming first and second openings having different sizes; a pressure reducing section including a first pressure reducing portion having a first pressure reducing configuration and a second pressure reducing portion having a second pressure reducing configuration being different; the pressure reducing section including at least one nonlinear rail portion; a pressure responsive section including at least one nonlinear rail portion; or a base including a first base portion having a first base configuration and a second base portion having a second base configuration being different, wherein at least one of the first base portion or the second base portion is positioned in one or more of the inlet section, the pressure reducing section, or an outlet section.

An irrigation connector for tapping into a water supply hose includes a retaining portion for holding a supply hose in a hose receiving region of the retaining portion and a hollow needle mounted for movement relative to the retaining portion. The needle can move between a retracted position and an extended position in which the needle extends into the hose receiving region for penetrating a supply hose held in the retaining portion to create a fluid communication path between an interior of the needle and an interior of a supply hose held in the retaining portion. The connector includes a needle drive arrangement for driving the needle towards the extended position.

An irrigation system is provided for irrigating a field divided into irrigation zones. The irrigation zones are arranged in columns extending alongside each other. The system has irrigation strips and a control head at an upstream end of each irrigation strip. Each irrigation strip provides irrigation substances to a column of zones. All control heads are located alongside a boundary of the field outside of the irrigation zones.

This emitter (120) comprises: a first flow rate adjustment unit which adjusts the flow rate of an irrigation liquid according to the deformation of a first diaphragm (160); and a second flow rate adjustment unit which adjusts the amount of irrigation liquid ejected (discharged) from the emitter (120) according to the deformation of a second diaphragm (170). The first diaphragm (160) has a projection spaced apart by a space from a hole which is a flow path for the irrigation liquid. The projection has an inverted truncated cone shape and is formed so that the space widens as the projection goes into the hole.

A drip emitter is provided for delivering irrigation water from a supply tube to an emitter outlet at a reduced and relatively constant flow rate. Water enters the emitter through a first inlet and proceeds into a first chamber. When the water pressure is above a predetermined level, a one-directional valve opens to allow fluid flow past the first chamber, through a tortuous path flow channel, and through an emitter outlet. A second inlet is used to compensate for water pressure fluctuations in the supply tube to maintain output flow at a relatively constant rate. Water enters the second inlet and presses a flexible diaphragm toward a water metering surface to provide pressure-dependent control of the output flow. A copper member is mounted to the emitter over the emitter outlet to prevent plant root intrusion into the emitter outlet.

A method of irrigation comprises supplying water to an inclined irrigation pipe provided with a plurality of drippers such that a pressure at a highest level of the inclined irrigation pipe is at most 200 cm H.sub.2O.