Drip irrigation for 200 hectares of Hass avocados

Novagric has developed an ambitious irrigation project for the cultivation of Hass avocados. The installation has been carried out on a total area of 200 hectares in one of the most strategic areas for avocado cultivation in Europe, Portugal.

This system has been designed to meet the water needs of crops and ensure efficient, sustainable, high-quality production.

Client objectives and vision for tropical cultivation

The agro-industrial company that commissioned the project had a clear mission: to transform the way tropical fruits are grown in Europe. Its vision focuses on offering locally sourced fruit that meets the highest quality standards on the market.

Currently, this company manages more than 400 hectares of avocado and 20 hectares of mango, strategically distributed between Huelva, Malaga, and the Portuguese Alentejo.

The cultivation of Hass avocados represents their main line of production, which is why they decided to implement a technified irrigation system that would allow them to maximize yield and ensure consistent, high-quality production.

Its agricultural approach includes the use of advanced technologies such as optimized fertigation, biological control, and expert management of both the tree and the fruit.

Technical design of the irrigation system

One of the key elements of the project was the precise design of the irrigation system, tailored to the specific characteristics of the crop and the terrain.

A planting framework of 6 m x 3 m was established, a configuration that ensures an optimal balance between planting density, water resource availability, and ease of maintenance.

For water application, Premier Azud pressure-compensating drippers with a flow rate of 1.6 L/h were selected, with a spacing of 0.5 m between emitters. Two lines were installed per row, allowing for uniform water distribution throughout the tree’s root system. This configuration ensures high efficiency in water delivery and absorption by the crop.

The system was designed to supply a total flow rate of 254,400 liters per hour during irrigation shifts, a figure that directly responds to the water needs of the crop in its different phenological phases.

System components and control technologies

The heart of the irrigation system consists of a robust hydraulic network that includes:

• Self-compensating emitters for precise water delivery regardless of pressure variations.
• Radio and cable-controlled sector valves, allowing efficient irrigation segmentation based on the specific needs of each area of the farm. Each field valve can be activated or deactivated from the central system.
• High-efficiency filters that ensure water cleanliness and protect the entire system from clogging.
• Centralized fertigation system capable of precisely dosing the nutrients required by the crop according to its stage of development.
• Anti-frost solution: pulse micro-sprinkler system, as avocados are sensitive to low temperatures. This technology consists of a network of strategically distributed micro-sprinklers that are automatically activated when temperatures drop below a critical level.

Water management: efficiency and planning

One of the fundamental premises of the project was to optimize water use.
The entire system has been configured to operate with high standards of precision and reliability, ensuring the durability of the installation and reducing losses due to hydraulic inefficiency.

The remote control and monitoring system allow real-time consumption to be viewed and dynamic adjustments to be made. The combination of high-efficiency emitters with good hydraulic planning reduces losses due to runoff or deep percolation, ensuring that every liter of water applied is used to its full potential by the plant.

Competitive advantages of the avocado cultivation model

The drip irrigation system developed by Novagric, together with automation, fertigation, and climate protection technologies, offers a comprehensive solution that maximizes production and minimizes resource use.

• Automation: reduces operating costs and improves control.
• Scalability: the model can be adapted to different farm sizes.
• Climate resilience: with integrated frost protection.
• Complete traceability: with history of irrigation, fertilization, and weather events.
• Better fruit quality: by controlling key agronomic variables.

In a context where demand for tropical fruits continues to grow and pressure on natural resources increases, this project demonstrates that it is possible to implement a professionalized, technified, and sustainable model of large-scale avocado cultivation in Europe.