However, the couple has still been able to prove the system's water and power-saving benefits on their two-hectare test block.
The couple is participating in a six-month farming project, which examines how the next generation of farmers use innovative approaches to improve their practices.
Waimakariri Landcare Trust (WLT) and Waimakariri Irrigation Limited (WIL) have partnered with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) for the project, with support from MPI's Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund along with Environment Canterbury, Ballance, and DairyNZ.
A subsurface drip irrigation system consists of a network of valves, driplines, pipes, and emitters that are installed in tape below the surface of the soil.
Gary and Penny Robinson with their children Harry, Charlie, and Olivia in front of their subsurface drip irrigation test paddock in Cust. Photo / Supplied
The evenly-spaced emitters slowly release water directly to the root zone of plants, which differs from traditional irrigation systems that apply water to the surface of the soil.
Gary Robinson said that while the unseasonably wet season meant farmers didn't require much water for irrigation, the rainy weather stymied efforts to collect and compare data from their subsurface drip irrigation trial block.
"This was meant to be our data collection season but with the significant rainfall events we have had all season, it hasn't quite worked out the way we thought it would."
Despite the uncooperative weather, the Robinsons were able to gather information on water and power savings during a drier period in the middle of the season.
"What we found was that over the drier period in December we only had to irrigate every fourth day and with the emitters putting on two millilitres per hour we only ran it for two hours per day to get our four millilitres.
"This equates to water savings of up to 25 per cent and you can take that water and spread it out further over the rest of your land, so it is a much more efficient use of water.
With the subsurface drip irrigation system, the couple weren't wetting from the top but from under the soil, Robinson said.
"So it stays wetter for longer which means you don't need to irrigate as often, and you also don't lose any water due to evaporation."
The couple also researched power savings and found that it was possible to save up to 50 per cent on power usage due to the shorter operating time for the subsurface drip irrigation system.
"With a sprinkler system you need to keep it running 24 hours per day but because the subsurface system doesn't need to be running continuously you can make quite significant savings on power."
Penny and Gary Robinson review data from their subsurface drip irrigation trial. Photo / Supplied
The Robinsons have secured another site for a subsurface drip irrigation trial at Angus Aiken's 550-hectare mixed cropping and finishing farm in Waiau.
The plan is to have the irrigation system installed in early spring.
A firm believer in technological innovation, Aiken said he was keen to see if the system could add value to his farm.
"We have a limited water resource on this farm and if we can use it more efficiently and spread it further that would be great.
"I am keen to make changes that preserve our soil structure, help to manage nutrients, and improve our water use efficiency, while also improving our crop yield."
