An economic obstacle to greater use of drip irrigation in the USA?

Drip irrigation for young fruit trees spaced 18" apart in same hole.?

• I planted bare root fruit trees a few weeks ago and I am preparing to add drip irrigation. I've read that 1 gph emitters on either side of a young fruit tree ran for 2 hours is a good watering. But I have 2 trees planted in the same hole 18" apart. My cherries are 3 trees spaced 18" apart. So my question is, should I still place 2 emitters per tree even though they're so close to eachother? I can't find too much info on drip irrigation for densely planted fruit trees

• Answer:

  I have found that the rainbird micro bubbler http://www.rainbird.com/homeowner/products/drip/MicroBubblers.htm to be the best one. You'll only need one per plant, not two. You can adjust how far it sprays out by turning the head up or down and is easy to clean if it gets clogged. As the trees mature you'll want to change those heads with a flood bubbler head. http://www.toro.com/en-us/homeowner/do-it-yourself-irrigation/fixed-spray-sprinklers/Pages/Series.aspx?sid=Bubblers To give the trees more water.