Button Drippers Irrigation in Kenya | Best Prices

Button drippers have a wide range of flow rate from 0 – 70 L/H to suit the water needs of your plant varieties. Button drippers are utilized in irrigation of fruit trees, flower gardens, coffee and arrowroots.  The cost of button drippers is KES 13 for a single dripper and KES 85,000 to KES 130,000 per acre for a complete system. The complete button drippers irrigation system cost often varies with the crop spacing and farm size.

Button Drippers supply water to plant root zone with a slow running flow from button dripper cap.

Irrigation of trees using button drippers

Cost of Button Drippers in Kenya

Button Drippers are as low as KES 13 each at Aqua Hub LTD. The cost of complete button dripper with installation accessories varies with farm size as shown in the table below.

Where to Get Button Drippers

At Aqua Hub LTD, high quality button drippers are sold at low rates compared to other suppliers.  Order your button drippers and enjoy faster delivery at low charges. We deliver countrywide and provide reliable installation.

Our products are inclusive of VAT.

Call 0790719020

Types and Specifications of Button Drippers

Button drippers are available in two types: adjustable and non-adjustable drippers.

Adjustable button drippers

Button drippers with adjustable caps that allow for increase or reduction of flow rate. Technical data:

• UV treated plastic body
• Flow rate 0 – 70 L/H
• ¼ inlet size
• 5 to 2 bars

Non-adjustable button drippers

Button drippers that deliver constant flow rate because the cap has non-adjustable design.

Below are the Technical Specifications:

• Polythene body material
• Flow rate of 20 L/H, 40 L/H or 70 L/H
• Pressure rating: 0.5 to 3 bars

Requirements for Setup of Button Dripper Irrigation System

1. Tank – you would need a tank to keep your irrigation water. 3,000, 5000 or 10,000L tank as per your farm size or crop needs.
2. HDPE mainline Pipe – you need an HDPE pipe to deliver water from the source tank.
3. 20mm PE delivery pipe – for delivering water on the plant lines. button drippers
4. Connectors – HDPE connectors, start connectors and End Caps.
5. Filter – it is required to remove sediments that could be available in the irrigation water.
6. Pressure regulator – if you are using a pump in your irrigation system, a pressure regulator is necessary.

How to Use Button Drippers Irrigation

Button drippers are used to provide reliable irrigation for crops that take wide spacing. We recommend button drippers on plants such as coffee trees, apple, papaya, citrus and flowers to reduce water loss. To deliver controlled irrigation rates to your crops, we design a button drip irrigation that matches your plants.

Button drippers are installed at the target crop root zones on top of a delivery pipe to give every plant the right amount.

Why You Need Button Drippers Irrigation 

Kenya has lots of areas where rainfall is unreliable, or the soil dries up too fast, or water is a scarce resource. With climate change making rainfall patterns even more unpredictable, farmers are increasingly turning to smart irrigation tools. Button drippers are useful here for several reasons.

First, button drippers help with water conservation. Since water is delivery is slow and only to the root zone, less is lost to evaporation, runoff, or watering unneeded areas.

Secondly, they help achieve even and precise watering. Especially for tree crops, orchards, fruit plants, where spacing is wide and each plant needs a careful amount of water.

Thirdly, less water used means lower cost in the long run and less labour because you don’t have to manually irrigate each plant.

Button drip irrigation is also impactful in landscapes that are uneven or where flooding would waste water or cause erosion. Because you can run pipes along the row and slot drippers at each plant, you limit soil erosion and concentrate the water.

What to Consider when buying button drippers

• Flow rate: You want the dripper’s flow rate (litres per hour) to match your crop’s water needs. A fruit tree, for example, might need more than a small vegetable crop. Some drippers in Kenya offer 0-70 L/hr.
• Pressure and landscape: If your land is sloped or your water source has low pressure, you may need drippers that work well at lower pressures. Quality button drippers work under pressures of 0.5-2 bar.
• Adjustability: Some drippers are adjustable (you can turn a knob to increase or reduce flow) and some are fixed. If you have different plant sizes, adjustable ones may be better.
• Build quality, anti-UV, anti-clog: Kenya’s sun is strong, and the water may carry sediments. So, you want drippers made from UV-treated plastic, strong against corrosion, with filters or removable caps for cleaning.
• Compatibility: Check that the drippers match your pipe size (often 20 mm HDPE is used) and your spacing of plants
• Cost: Know the unit price but also the full system cost (pipes, filtration, installation).

How to Set Up Button Drippers Irrigation System

First, set up your water supply, this is often a tank raised on a 3m high tower. Connect the mainline pipe to the tank and lay it on a trench along the edge of the farm.

HDPE pipes laid on a trench and connected to PE delivery pipes in a button dripper irrigation system

Install a 120-mesh filter on the mainline pipe near the tank to filter and remove sediments. Also use a drip valve to control the flow rate to every farm section. Punch holes on the mainline PE pipe and insert rubber rings for secure connection to PE delivery pipe.

Lay your delivery 20 mm HDPE pipe plant rows and connect it to the mainline HDPE using a PE start connector. Punch holes on pipe as per plant spacing and insert barbed end of button drippers.

Then, adjust the flow: If you’re using adjustable drippers, turn the knob to set how much water you want to release per hour, depending on the size and water need of the plant.

Finally, turn on the system, watch for even water flow, check if any drippers are clogged and make sure water is being delivered properly.

When everything is set correctly, each plant will get just the right amount of water, and your crop has a better chance to thrive.

How to Maintain Button Drippers

Clean filters regularly, inspect the drippers for clogging, replace or repair any part showing damage or wearing out. Maintenance is important for long-term good performance.

Recommended Button Dripper Spacing

The spacing between drippers depends on the plant spacing. For example, in an orchard you might have one dripper per plant. In a nursery you may have closer spacing.

For most orchard crops, button drippers spacing is approximately 30 – 50 cm apart.

Plants Irrigated With Button Drippers in Kenya

Button drippers are especially well-suited to certain crops and farming styles. They aren’t always the right choice for every crop, so it’s helpful to know when they make sense.

They work very well for fruit trees, vines, orchards, perennials and plants that are spaced out. For example: avocado, mango, citrus, macadamia, passion fruit, bananas, pawpaw, coffee, tea seedlings.

If you have a vegetable garden with closely spaced beds, you might rather use drip tape or inline drip emitters rather than button drippers. But if your plants are bigger and spaced further apart, button drippers bring big benefits.

The key is to match the system to your plant type, spacing, water source and budget.

Advantages of Using Button Drippers

Better water use

Only the plant zone alone is watered and less is wasted. This leads to lower water costs or lower stress if rainfall is low.

Uniform plant growth

Your plants receive water more evenly, which means fewer plants under-watered or over-watered.

Labor reduction

Work becomes easier since you spend less time carrying watering cans, and you can automate watering more.

Weeds reduction

The areas between plants remain dry, and weeds tend to grow less.

Uniform and fast crop growth

All plants receive equal amounts of water and thus equal growth and production rates. Because of consistent irrigation, the crops have no water stress

Low Soil erosion

Water is delivered slowly on controlled rates to the root zones; there’s less runoff or soil getting washed away.

Drawbacks and Solutions of Button Drippers 

Button drippers also have drawbacks but with the right handling they provide efficient irrigation. Below are the common challenges with button drippers and their solutions.

Clogging: button drippers face the risk of clogging because of their tiny emitter holes. If your water source is from rivers or dams, then a filter is essential in the system.

Pressure loss: If you have uneven terrain, you need to use a pump and pressure regulators to ensure balanced distribution of water.

Maintenance is demanding ensure use of proper filtration to avoid need for frequent cleaning of button drippers.

Underwatering or overwatering – ensure the button drippers you choose are best for your crops. When using the button drippers, adjust carefully to prevent low or excessive watering.

Waterlogging – match button drippers to the right soil type to prevent waterlogged conditions especially for clay soil.

Tips for Successful Irrigation with Button Drippers

1. Start small: If you’ve never used button drippers before, consider installing in a small section of your farm or a pilot area. That allows you to learn while also avoiding any strain on finances.
2. Match drippers to crop: Take time to identify how much water your crop needs, what flow rate the dripper should support, and make sure the dripper’s specs match your farm conditions.
3. Clean filters often: Especially if your water source has silt or fine sand — clean filtration keeps the system running.
4. Monitor performance: After installation, keep an eye on how the plants look, whether root zones are moist, whether any plants seem stressed. Adjust if needed.
5. Maintain spacing and uniformity: Make sure drippers spacing is correct and each plant gets a button dripper. If you change plant size or age, you may need to adjust flow.
6.  Plan for the long term: Buy drippers with durability (UV-treated plastic, anti-corrosion) so they last under Kenyan sun and conditions.

Case Study : Button Drippers Irrigation of Coffee in Kitale

A coffee farmer in Kitale, Trans-Nzoia County had been struggling with uneven watering on his one-acre coffee farm. He had grown his coffee and relied on rainfall, and the coffee trees shown signs of stress during dry months, and the cherries were developing at different rates. The farmer realized he needed a system that could give each coffee bush steady moisture without increasing his workload.

He reached out to us after hearing that we specialize in drip systems for tree crops. Our team visited his farm to assess the slope, soil type, and spacing of his coffee trees. They also checked his water source, which was a raised tank fed by a borehole. Based on these conditions, we recommend adjustable button drippers that could handle the low-pressure set-up and deliver precise water to each plant.

We used 20 mm HDPE delivery pipes along every coffee row and placed one button dripper at each bush. Our team spaced the button drippers carefully to ensure each root zone received consistent moisture. The adjustable feature allowed them to increase flow for older, larger bushes and reduce it for younger seedlings. After installation, we tested the system to confirm that the flow was even across the entire farm.

Feedback

Within a few weeks, the farmer noticed that the soil around each plant stayed moist for longer periods. New flushes of leaves appeared healthier, and flowering became more uniform across the rows. He also saw a reduction in weeds because water was no longer spreading to unwanted areas. Most importantly, the cherries began to ripen more evenly, improving the overall quality of their harvest.

By the end of the season, the farmer reported that he used less water and spent far less time managing irrigation. The button drippers brought stability to his coffee production and restored confidence in his farming routine. Aqua Hub LTD’s guidance and installation made the biggest difference, helping him shift from inconsistent watering to a reliable irrigation system that supported better yields.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which crops are irrigated using button drippers?

Button drippers work best with widely spaced crops such as fruit trees, coffee, bananas, pawpaw, avocados, and passion fruits.

How much water does a button dripper release per hour?

0 to 70 liters per hour depending on their design and adjustability.

Do button drippers work with low-pressure water systems like raised tanks?

Yes, button drippers are designed to work with low-pressure systems common on small farms

How do I install button drippers on my farm?

You start by laying 16 mm or similar HDPE pipe along the plant rows. After that, holes are punched where each plant sits, and the button drippers are inserted into those holes. Once connected, the system is linked to a water source and filter to prevent clogging. A quick test run helps you confirm that the drippers flow evenly across the field.

How long do button drippers last?

Up to 5 years if well maintained.

How do button drippers help save water?

They save water by delivering moisture directly to the plant root zone rather than soaking the entire field.

How much do button drippers cost in Kenya?

KES 13 each.

What is the difference between a button dripper and a pressure compensating dripper?

A button dripper is ideal for flat terrains while pressure compensating drippers are best for hilly lands.

What is the recommended spacing of button drippers?

It varies with the crop spacing. In fruit trees, it takes 30 – 50 cm apart.

Where can I buy Button Drippers in Nairobi?

Aqua Hub LTD.