Microirrigation
Get to the root of more efficient irrigation
Crops and landscaped plants absolutely need water and nutrients. Microirrigation delivers water and nutrients where they’re needed most – plant root systems.
In fact, compared to conventional methods like flood and sprinkler irrigation, a properly installed microirrigation system means that:
- Water use can be reduced by up to 50 percent*
- Less pressure is required
- Crop quality and yields can be significantly increased
- Less labor and maintenance are typically needed
Add all that up, and it’s clear that microirrigation is a highly efficient choice. But, you may ask, how can water and nutrients be delivered even more efficiently?
FINGERPRINT™ Polyethylene Resins offer the robust characteristics and proven performance needed for high-quality microirrigation tubing and tape.
FINGERPRINT™ DFDA-7510 Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) Resin is used to produce microirrigation tubing for orchards, vineyards and landscaping.
It combines excellent:
- Environmental stress crack resistance (ESCR)
- Weather resistance
- Burst strength
- Consistency and extrusion characteristics
- Flexibility for easy roll-out
FINGERPRINT™ DFDC-7525 Medium Density Polyethylene (MDPE) Resin is used to produce thin-wall microirrigation tape for a broad range of row crops.
It features exceptional:
- Drawdown characteristics
- High tensile strength
- Stress crack resistance
- Burst strength and puncture resistance
- Balance of extrudability and toughness
FINGERPRINT™ DFDA-7555 NT Bimodal Polyethylene Resin is the first and only bimodal PE resin for microirrigation. Through the ability to downgauge and incorporate post-consumer resins (PCR), this product offers the opportunity to make a significant sustainability impact.
It provides remarkable:
- Water productivity, crop yields, and conservation benefits
- Physical properties enabling the incorporation of materials with reduced properties such as PCR
- Draw down characteristics and ease of extrusion
- High burst strength and crack resistance
- Reliability year-over-year
Why choose our polyethylene resins?
Growing demand for safer, more durable solutions made with fewer resources drives our microirrigation experts to create resins for longer-lasting, more cost-effective systems that withstand extreme conditions and extend the life of infrastructure.
Excellent processability
FINGERPRINT™ Resins enable efficient processing with opportunities for increased throughput in a wide range of extrusion equipment.
Highly durable
Drip tape and tubing made with these highly durable materials offer excellent leak, crack, burst, tear, and puncture resistance. The result is long service life with low maintenance, helping to drive down overall system costs.
We’re fully committed to helping develop a more circular economy and conserve natural resources. Here are a few ways FINGERPRINT™ Resins are doing their part.
Water conservation
Along with the reduced water use that’s inherent to microirrigation, our extremely durable PE resins help prevent leakage and waste due to cracking and bursts.
Energy reduction
Using PE-based microirrigation tubing and tape can help lower energy, labor and maintenance costs. And, since less pressure is required, less energy is consumed than in higher-pressure irrigation systems.
Automated precision
Fertigation and chemigation capabilities allow precise levels of nutrients to be delivered, further reducing waste and helping preserve soil and ground water.
Extended service life
When properly installed, microirrigation systems made with FINGERPRINT™ Resins can be much easier to operate and maintain. And when these systems leverage fertigation, operational efficiency can increase even further.
We work alongside customers and other industry members in a number of ways to help develop better, more sustainable microirrigation systems.
Dedicated experts
Manufacturers get consistent, high-quality technical expertise when working with us. Our partners benefit from our decades of experience developing resins for top-quality PE-based microirrigation tubing and tape.
Customer collaboration
We work closely with our partners from the lab to the field – rigorously testing, evaluating and analyzing microirrigation technology.
Ongoing innovation
Our scientists are constantly working to develop even more advanced material solutions.
User focused
We understand that farmers are concerned about increased crop quality and yield, fertigation and chemigation, reductions in water loss and energy usage, and lowering the maintenance and labor required to operate efficiently – and we strive to help them achieve their goals.
Shared insight
Strong relationships with our partners gave us the insight to formulate innovative solutions in microirrigation applications for both agricultural and landscaping systems.
Industry partnerships
With the value chain, we are creating microirrigation solutions that help set the standards for tubing and tape as members of key industry associations.
Keep your finger on the pulse
Our microirrigation resins are called FINGERPRINT™ Polyethylene Resin for a reason. Each tube or drip tape produced with FINGERPRINT™ Resins has a special tracer element, making it possible to verify the presence of Dow’s polyethylene resins for years after installation. All you need to do is send a sample to Dow laboratories. We’ll do the rest: improving upon resin quality, consistency and sustainability.
Creating stronger solutions together
We’re committed to offering products that improve irrigation technology while contributing to responsible water management and conservation. FINGERPRINT™ Resins are one way we’re seeking answers for the most serious issues faced by our larger human family, such as sustainable water supplies.
Let’s work together to develop better, more sustainable agriculture and landscape microirrigation systems.
*Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
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