# Drip tape: how to choose thickness, spacing and flow rate for vegetables Source page: [https://perinirrigacao.com.br/en/blog/fita-gotejadora-como-escolher/](https://perinirrigacao.com.br/en/blog/fita-gotejadora-como-escolher/) Automatically translated from Portuguese. Our projects, service information and technical references relate to Brazil. Contact us to discuss your location and requirements. [Read the Portuguese original](https://perinirrigacao.com.br/blog/fita-gotejadora-como-escolher/) Drip irrigation Before choosing the price per meter, compare walls, spacing and flow. See how soil, bed, pressure and filtration factor into the choice of drip tape. By Team Perin Irrigação Published in November 1, 2026 (2026-11-01) 9 min read ![Drip system in the Perin Irrigação collection](https://perinirrigacao.com.br/assets/perin/responsive/service-drip-640-055633cbf116.webp) Photograph from the Perin Irrigação collection. ## Before you start How to choose drip tape for vegetables: wall thickness, spacing between emitters, flow, pressure, line length and filtration. **Summary:** The choice of tape starts at the construction site. Thickness, spacing, flow and pressure need to match the soil, crop and available water. See what to check to compare models and avoid a purchase decided solely on the price per meter. ## What differentiates drip tape from drip tube Embrapa Hortaliças differentiates between ribbons and tubes between the lateral drip lines. The tape usually has a thin wall and flattens when there is no pressure; Thicker-walled tubes maintain different mechanical strength and handling. This difference does not alone define the type of emitter. There are thin lines with molded emitters inserted and soldered to the wall, as shown in Netafim's Streamline Plus plug. Nor should it be concluded that a thicker line is pressure-compensating or will last a guaranteed number of harvests. To compare products, check construction, thickness, permitted pressure and installation conditions. The article about [pressure-compensating dripper](https://perinirrigacao.com.br/en/blog/gotejador-autocompensante/) explains what pressure compensation does and what its limits are. ## Wall Thickness: How Long the Tape Needs to Last The thickness is reported in **thousand**, or one-thousandth of an inch: 1 mil equals 0.0254 mm. Thus, 8 mils equal 0.2032 mm and 15 mils equal 0.381 mm. Compare the thickness with the conditions of use: - **Time in the field and reuse:** Check whether the manufacturer foresees use for a cycle or reuse, along with the collection and storage conditions. - **Risk of damage:** stones, installation traction, traffic, animals and site operations need to be included in the choice. A larger wall does not eliminate these risks. - **Surface or buried installation:** confirm the intended application of the model. The New Mexico State University presentation links burial to thicker walls; This does not authorize burying any tape nor does it guarantee its useful life. The official T-Tape page also advises considering thicker walls for reuse and subsurface applications. Transforming a thickness into a fixed number of harvests, without observing actual usage, can lead to an inappropriate purchase. ## Spacing between emitters: the goal is a continuous wet band The spacing needs to take into account the soil explored by the roots and the arrangement of the plants. For row crops, the formation of a continuous wet strip may be a design criterion; The result depends on the soil, flow rate and application time. The references show why a single measure does not fit the entire area: - For **melon tree**, the 2001 Embrapa publication presents 20 to 30 cm in coarse-textured soils and 40 to 60 cm in medium and fine textures. These are references for that crop, not a universal purchasing table. - For **tomato plant intended for processing**, Technical Circular 102, of 2012, relates the spacing to 50%–70% of the wet bulb diameter. The same material records that some Cerrado soils with more than 50% clay required 10 to 20 cm between emitters to form the band; in other conditions, it allows up to 40 cm. The example of the Cerrado shows that classifying the soil simply as “sandy” or “clayey” does not end the choice. Carry out a wetness assessment in the field, observing the width and depth reached during the planned irrigation. This data helps to compare the tape with the bed and with the crop rows. ## Emitter flow: it defines the size of the sector The flow per meter combines two data: nominal flow of each emitter and distance between them. This demand, multiplied by the total length of the lines in operation, helps to calculate the sector's flow. Two checks need to go together: 1. **Hydraulic capacity:** the source, pump and pipes must meet the flow at the required pressure, considering filters, differences in level and pressure losses. 2. **Water passage and maintenance:** the UF/IFAS material warns of greater susceptibility to clogging in low-flow ribbons. The risk also depends on the construction of the emitter and the quality of the water; It's not just about liters per hour. **Hypothetical example:** with emitters of 1.0 L/h every 20 cm, the nominal demand is 5 L/h per meter. Two 50 m lines add up to 500 L/h per site. Dividing 10,000 L/h by 500 L/h results in 20 beds. This is just an arithmetic flow limit, not a dimensioned sector: the pump curve, pressure losses, terrain, uniformity and real supply capacity are still missing. Increasing the spacing reduces the number of emitters per meter, but also changes the wettability. Don't change this data just to make more beds fit the bill. ## Operating pressure and maximum line length Check the minimum, nominal and maximum pressure of the chosen configuration. A tape cannot receive, without evaluation, the pressure that the pump or network delivers. Excessive pressure can damage the line; insufficient or uneven pressure changes the application. The regulator must be evaluated in the design to maintain operating pressure within the product specification. It is also necessary to measure: an installed regulator does not prove that the correct pressure has reached the beginning and end of the sides. The allowable length depends on the model, internal diameter, flow rate, spacing, inlet pressure, terrain and flow variation criterion adopted. Tables for one diameter or one pressure must not be transferred to another configuration. UF/IFAS recommends considering the manufacturer's recommendation and the actual slope. O [uniformity test](https://perinirrigacao.com.br/en/blog/teste-de-uniformidade-gotejamento/) helps to check the application on the installed system. ## Drip tape filtration and maintenance Filtration needs to address the flow of water from the emitter and contaminants from the source. There is no single degree of filtration that fits all tapes, even within a product family. In the Streamline Plus file consulted, for example, the requirements vary between versions. Therefore, confirm the flow rate and the exact model code before selecting the filter. When the plug has mesh and micrometers, use the manufacturer's nominal indication; a mesh equivalence should not be applied interchangeably to any screen. The guide to [irrigation filters](https://perinirrigacao.com.br/en/conteudos/filtros-de-irrigacao/) deepens the choice. Embrapa recommends filtering and washing the lines, and UF/IFAS highlights the importance of water analysis to plan maintenance. Washing removes accumulated materials, but does not replace the treatment needed for each type of problem. See also care for [clogging of drippers](https://perinirrigacao.com.br/en/blog/entupimento-de-gotejadores/). ## Installation: emitters up, depth and lines per bed Check the model instructions and the planned arrangement for the crop: - **Upward-facing emitters:** is the guidance presented by UF/IFAS to prevent sediments from depositing in emitters between irrigations. Also note the specific guidance from the tape manufacturer. - **Superficial or buried:** do not copy a depth from another system. For tomato plants intended for processing in Cerrado soils, Technical Circular 102 advises against depths greater than 20 cm and recommends precautions against particle suction, including anti-siphon emitters and suction cups. This context does not define a universal depth for vegetables. - **Mulching:** the use of plastic covering and the position of the tape must allow water to reach the rows and installation and maintenance be carried out as expected. - **One or two ribbons per bed:** In the gravity vegetable garden system described by Embrapa Semiarid in 2015, the orientation is two hoses for 1.20 m beds in sandy soil, admitting one in clay soil. The reference belongs to that arrangement; confirm the wetness and position of plants in your area. The system also modifies foliage wetness and phytosanitary conditions. Embrapa's publication on system selection discusses different effects on diseases and pests; drip irrigation does not eliminate this monitoring. See the criteria for [irrigation for vegetable garden](https://perinirrigacao.com.br/en/irrigacao-para-horta/). ## FAQ **Drip tape 20 cm or 30 cm: which one to choose?** Compare wet bulb, row position and crop needs. An assessment on the site itself is more useful than choosing the spacing just based on price or a general soil classification. **Does drip tape need a pressure regulator?** It is necessary to compare the available pressure with that required by the model. The project defines the need, position and adjustment of the devices. Check the manufacturer's limits and take measurements on the system. ## Conclusion Before purchasing, gather data on the site, crop, soil and supply. Compare thickness and construction with intended use; then check wetting, flow, pressure and filtration together. The price per meter is a part of the decision, not the project specification. If you are planning or reviewing vegetable irrigation, the Perin Irrigação team can assess the [drip design](https://perinirrigacao.com.br/en/gotejamento/) with you. Send municipality, crops, approximate area and water source via WhatsApp [(14) 99824-5219](https://wa.me/5514998245219) or by email contato@perinirrigacao.com.br. ## Sources consulted Research carried out on 11/01/2026. Historical recommendations and manufacturer examples have been retained in their context; The specification depends on the configuration and conditions of the area. - [MAROUELLI, W. A. et al. *Drip irrigation and fertigation of melon trees*. Brasília: Embrapa Hortaliças, 2001.](https://www.infoteca.cnptia.embrapa.br/infoteca/bitstream/doc/150920/1/FL08074.pdf) - [MAROUELLI, W. A.; SILVA, W. L. C. *Selection of irrigation systems for vegetables*. 2nd ed. Brasília: Embrapa Hortaliças, 2011 (Technical Circular 98).](https://www.infoteca.cnptia.embrapa.br/infoteca/bitstream/doc/916702/4/ct98.pdf) - [MAROUELLI, W. A.; SILVA, H. R.; SILVA, W. L. C. *Irrigation of tomato plants for processing*. Brasília: Embrapa Hortaliças, 2012 (Technical Circular 102).](https://www.infoteca.cnptia.embrapa.br/infoteca/bitstream/doc/925502/1/1113CT102Prova20120312.pdf) - [PINTO, J. M. et al. *Gravity drip system for irrigation of vegetable gardens*. Petrolina: Embrapa Semiárido, 2015 (Technical Instructions 122).](https://www.infoteca.cnptia.embrapa.br/infoteca/bitstream/doc/1025428/1/INT122.pdf) - [SIMONNE, E. et al. *Drip-Irrigation Systems for Small Conventional Vegetable Farms and Organic Vegetable Farms*. UF/IFAS Extension, HS1144, July 2018 revision.](https://ask.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/HS388/pdf) - [JOUKHADAR, I. *Drip Irrigation for Raised Beds* (technical presentation). New Mexico State University.](https://nsa.nmsu.edu/documents/Joukhadar_Drip-Irrigation29.pdf) - [RIVULIS. *T-Tape Drip Tape*, official product page.](https://www.rivulis.com/product/products/t-tape-drip-tape/) - [NETAFIM. Technical sheet *Streamline Plus*.](https://www.netafimindia.com/globalassets/products/drippers-and-dripperlines/streamline-plus/streamline-plus-t.pdf) ## From knowledge to your project. In agricultural production or green areas, the project starts with the conditions of your area and the water supply. Tell Perin what you need to irrigate. [Request quote](https://perinirrigacao.com.br/en/#contato)[Chat on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/5514998245219?text=Hello%21+I+want+to+talk+about+an+irrigation+project.)