Abstract: A fluid drip tape splicing coupling is provided with two sequential sections, the first of which possesses a plurality of circumferential frustoconical barbs of essentially equal diameter. In the second section, which likewise contains a plurality of frustoconical barbs, at least one of the frustoconical barbs, a step barb, possesses a dimension, transverse to the axis of the coupling, which is greater than the diameter of the frustoconical barbs in the first section of the coupling. The step barb may be circular or elliptic in cross section. The fluid drip tape may be joined over this coupling by sliding and stretching a first piece of drip tape over the first section, which has been azimuthally aligned to line up the seam of the drip tape with the radial high point of step barb, until the tape abuts the step barb. A second piece of tape is slid over the coupling from the opposite direction over the second section and over the step barb until it overlaps the first drip tape.