Centre Pivot Irrigation uses a self-propelled line of spans and towers that rotates around a fixed point, watering a circle through a sprinkler package hung along its length. Send one request and independent pivot suppliers and installers who may cover your area reply with availability and prices.
Send your field size, crop, water source and power supply to get pivot quotes.
Get the Best QuoteWhat Centre Pivot Irrigation Includes
- Pivot point. Concrete pad, riser, collector ring and main control panel.
- Spans and towers. Steel pipe spans carried by drive towers with gearboxes, motors and wheels.
- Sprinkler package. Drops with sprayers or rotators sized for the flow and the soil's intake rate.
- End gun and corner arm. Optional extras that reach further towards the field corners.
- Supply line and power. Mainline from the pump to the pivot and power to the machine.
- Commissioning. Alignment, safety stops, pressure checks and speed set for the required application.
Who It Suits
Large, open, fairly flat fields of maize, wheat, lucerne, soya, potatoes, pasture and similar crops. Pivots need little labour once running. They suit small or oddly shaped fields, steep slopes, or circles crossed by trees, buildings or power lines less well.
Pivot Options
- New pivot. Specified to your field, with full manufacturer support.
- Second-hand pivot. Lower cost; check spans, gearboxes, tyres, wiring and the sprinkler package.
- Towable pivot. Moved between two or more fields with a tow kit, so one machine covers more ground.
- Relocation. Dismantling and re-erecting a pivot on a new site.
- Control panel. Basic panels, or smart panels with remote start, stop and status.
Match the sprinkler package to your soil: heavy soils with low intake rates need gentler packages to avoid runoff.
How the Job Runs
- Field survey. Circle size, slope, obstacles, soil and water supply.
- Specification. Span lengths, tower count, sprinkler package, end gun and panel.
- Site works. Pivot pad cast, supply line and power cable laid.
- Erection. Spans assembled, towers fitted and the machine aligned.
- Commissioning. Test runs, pressure checks and application depth set per revolution.
Centre Pivot Irrigation Prices
Ballpark prices so you can sanity-check a quotation.
| Item | Ballpark price |
|---|---|
| Centre pivot, infield equipment, per ha | R22,000 - R45,000 |
| Complete pivot, ~30 ha circle, excl water source and power | R750,000 - R1,500,000 |
| Second-hand pivot | Often 40% - 60% of new |
| Pivot relocation or tow kit | R25,000 - R80,000 |
| Pivot service, per machine | R4,000 - R15,000 |
| Annual maintenance, per ha (older estimate) | ~R1,100 |
| Annual electricity, per ha (older tariffs) | ~R6,300 |
Prices JUST UPDATED. Ballpark figures, rounded, excluding VAT unless stated. They are compiled from published South African cost estimates and typical supplier and contractor rates. They are not our prices or quotations, and no contractor is bound by them. Unless a row says otherwise they exclude the water source, power supply and earthworks, so confirm exactly what each quotation includes.
Sources:
- SASRI - irrigation cost estimates
- Typical South African supplier and contractor rates
Get prices for your farm rather than a range. Send one request and compare replies.
Get the Best QuoteWhat Affects the Price
- Circle size. Bigger circles cost more in total but less per ha.
- New or second-hand. Used machines save capital but may need refurbishment.
- Extras. End guns, corner arms, smart panels and special sprinkler packages.
- Supply line and power. Distance from the pump and the cost of getting power to the pivot point.
- Ground. Heavy or sloping soils may need larger tyres or different drive gearing.
Maintenance
Check tyre pressures, gearbox oil and alignment regularly, and replace worn nozzles, pressure regulators and drops. A full service before the season helps avoid mid-season breakdowns. Keep wheel tracks in good shape, because deep ruts strain the drive train.
Centre Pivot Irrigation FAQs
Is a second-hand pivot worth buying?
It can be, if the spans, gearboxes, tyres and electrics are sound. Have a pivot technician inspect it and price any refurbishment before you buy.
Can one pivot irrigate more than one field?
Yes, a towable pivot can move between fields. It needs a tow kit and a pivot point at each site, and each field is irrigated less often.
What about the dry corners?
Corner arms and end guns reach part of the corners. Many farmers rather plant the corners to dryland crops or use them for other purposes.
What pressure does a pivot need?
It depends on the sprinkler package, elevation and machine length. Ask installers to state the design pressure at the pivot point.
Related Services
Request centre pivot quotes through Agricultural Irrigation South Africa and compare the span layout, sprinkler package and control panel each contractor offers.
Agricultural Irrigation South Africa is a quote-comparison service. We do not design, supply, install or repair irrigation systems, and we do not employ contractors. Work is quoted and carried out by independent irrigation businesses, and your contract is with the business you choose. Ask each one for a written quotation that names the equipment, design flows and pressures, preparation, timing and any warranty terms before you pay a deposit.
Centre Pivot Irrigation. Describe your irrigation job once and compare replies from independent contractors.
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