Deep Root Irrigation Research

Deep Root Irrigation (DRI) began field testing its devices with grapevines in 2011 in Napa Valley, California. The following year, the company expanded testing to olive trees. Since that time, results consistently have demonstrated healthy grapevines and fruit and nut trees that thrive on dramatically less irrigation water.

The Sentek™ Test

Deep Root Irrigation can use 61.5% less water than does surface drip, according to an independent test. And DRI can achieve 50% soil saturation in half the time that surface drip requires (see video below).

Time-lapse video compares DRI and surface drip soil saturation levels and the time required to exceed 50%. The soil moisture data were collected by Sentek™ Drill and Drop soil moisture probes; images of the soil water content were captured by Sentek’s IrriMAX Live web-based software. For an excellent description of how to interpret the IrriMAX images, see Sentek’s YouTube video.

Click here to download a copy of Professional Grower Services’ report on results of DRI versus surface drip test conducted in October 2015.

The Cutaway Demo: 3-Hour Test

DRI shows greater ground penetration using 66.7% less water,

Click here to download a copy of our DRI vs Drip 3 Hour Test immediately after irrigation of 18 gallons delivered by surface drip.

Above is a cutaway profile immediately after irrigation of 18 gallons delivered by surface drip.

Above is a cutaway profile Immediately after 6 gallons delivered by DRI.

The Cutaway Demo: The 72-Hour Test

DRI shows greater subsurface longevity using 66.7% less water.

Above is a cutaway profile 72 hours after irrigation of 18 gallons delivered by surface drip.

Above is a cutaway profile 72 hours after 6 gallons delivered by DRI.

The 6-Hour Test

An independent study conducted November 5, 2014, by Coastal Viticultural Consultants found that—even after six hours—increases in soil saturation at levels of up to 48 inches below the surface were significantly greater with the DRI-12 than with a drip irrigation system.

12 inches:
2 times the drip system’s saturation increase

24 inches:
5.75 times the drip system’s saturation increase

36 inches:
20 times the drip system’s saturation increase

48 inches:
4.5 times the drip system’s saturation increase

Click here to download a copy of Coastal Viticultural Consultants’ profile charts for the 6-hour soil saturation test.

The 30-Minute Test

Deep Root Irrigation’s inventor Jeff Ciudaj tested a DRI-12 and a drip irrigation unit installed near each other and simultaneously operated for 30 minutes, then photographed a cross-section of the soil where each was placed. The soil around the DRI-12 (see image below left) was significantly more saturated than was the soil around the drip device (see image below right).