KISSS (Capillary Irrigation Sub-Surface Systems.) is a landscape irrigation technology devised by an Australia-based firm, Irrigation and Water Technologies. This and many other such innovative technologies are fast reshaping the techniques of landscape irrigation. Landscape irrigation is irrigating a piece of land for a utility other than agricultural products. It is generally used for growing good-quality grass on lawns, parks or golf courses. With the rising number of such golf courses, corporate greens and hotel chains dotting the country, the market for such irrigation systems and their equipment is on an upswing as well.

Landscape irrigation works on this basic concept of water management using techniques that provide irrigation, which is not only better but smarter. Wherever there is greenery, there has to be water, and hence, means of dispensing the water. In a country that witnesses utter droughts and overwhelming deluges, all possibly within a few hundred miles of one another, conserving the water and using it efficiently for irrigation assumes great importance.

Landscape irrigation is different from the traditional irrigation systems, in that aesthetics is as important an aspect of the irrigation process as the utility. You cannot leave your sprinklers running on a golf course. Hence, sub-surface irrigation is the way to go. Sub-surface irrigation is just that irrigation that is done below the surface of the soil. Drip pipes are installed below the surface of the soil at a specific depth. Drip emitters, stationed at regular intervals on the pipes, let out the water to irrigate the soil. The equipment required to set up the systems comprise pipes, valves, pumps, sensors, nozzles and several other pipe fittings. The irrigation network is timed according to the requirement of the soil, and can be manually switched on or automated using sensors. It offers several benefits ranging from 30%-40% water conservation, precise application of water to plant roots and flexibility of design to accommodate uneven terrain and differing plant lifecycles.

Many architects also install sensors to track the real-time requirements and performance of the soil and the plants (grass). Known as smart controllers, these sensors are mostly climate-based, that is, controlled by the climatic conditions of the area, or soil-moisture-based, which, depending on the amount of the moisture content present in the soil, trigger the drip-emitters.

Those who have already calculated the value of the greenbacks are now calling themselves irrigation architects or consultants, who are usually of two kinds. The first kind offers consultancy regarding design of the systems or innovative irrigation solutions. The second one offers not only design solutions, but also irrigation products and equipment.

There is also another entity which is the infrastructure providers. Not much consulting is involved here. These are small to medium enterprises offering irrigation products directly or through an architect to the end-customers. These have tie-ups with several manufacturers and distributors for valves, pipe-fittings, pumps and other such accessories necessary for setting up an efficient landscape irrigation system.  There is more - green in the literal, figurative and monetary sense. All that is required is perhaps an efficient KISSS.