Irrigation how does it work

Drip irrigation systems, on the whole, perform best at lower water pressures than typical water supply systems. These devices also enable a constant system pressure even if the supply pressure fluctuates periodically, which is nice. Designers need to be conscious of areas with low water pressure as these devices will clearly further reduce the system pressure. Usually, two types of pressure regulators are employed in drip irrigation systems.

Non-adjustable ones with pre-set outlet pressures and user adjustable types. In general, small homeowner system will use non-adjustable valves if they have less than 3 control valves. You can, of course, install adjustable valves if you want full control of your system. Non-adjustable regulators must be installed after the control valve and in cases where multiple control valves are present, pressure regulators are needed for each one. Accidental installation before the control valves can cause pressure surges that will damage the system.

Adjustable pressure regulators, on the other hand, can be installed before or after the control valves. In large systems, you can install a single or fewer adjustable pressure regulators in the main supply line before control valves to save on costs. The filter is obviously used to, well, filter the water. Drip emitters have very small openings which are easily clogged up so employing filters earlier in the system is essential for increasing the life span of the irrigation system.

Recommendations for filters are that they are between and mesh. High-quality filters are often installed before the valves or pressure regulator but lower quality ones can be installed after the pressure regulator.

High-quality filters usually have a maximum pressure rating of Now we come to the "guts" of the drip irrigation system. The emitters are responsible for directly controlling the rate of water supply to the soil. Emitters are usually small plastic devices that either screw or snap onto the drip tube or pipe.

In trickle pipe systems they are pre-assembled and part of the pipe assembly. Common emitters, emit, water at around 4 liters per hour. As a general rule of thumb 1 or 2 emitters are usually required per plant. This does, of course, depend entirely on the size of the plant in question. Trees or shrubs will clearly need more than a small plant. Use of multiple emitters also provides the system with backups in case of a blockage in one or more of the emitters.

The more emitters present the wider the area of irrigation and hence the increased growth of roots for healthier crops and plants. Of course, if plants tend to be planted close together the system may only need 1 per plant depending on the system design and "coverage" of the emitters.

Emitters are usually installed at least mm apart. For highly permeable soils emitters should be placed to mm apart. Emitters should never be buried unless they are specifically designed for this purpose. This pipe is the main connection between the water supply to the control valves of the drip irrigation system. It can be made of galvanized steel, copper, PVC or heavy wall Polyethylene.

Each type has the inherent limitations and strengths. PVC, for example, is easily damaged by sunlight and is usually buried or protected. Polyethylene has a low burst pressure and is usually only used where water pressures are lower than 50 PSI. As these are generally placed downstream of the pressure regulator high-pressure ratings are not essential.

This is a special type of tube common in most drip systems. They tend to be laid on the ground surface between plants. Emitters are generally installed to these tubes. Drip tubes tend to be made of thin-walled polyethylene and consequently have a much lower pressure rating than other parts of the system. It is generally recommended that these stay above ground as they can commonly be nibbled on by pesky local rodents!

In large commercial setups, these tubes are usually "hard-piped" in these systems and the emitters are installed directly onto the laterals. Drip tube tends to not exceed 60 meters in length from the point where water enters the tube.

Tubes can be extended so long as the point of entry of the water supply never exceeds 60 meters from entry to pipe termination point. Air vents are installed in systems that are turned off at any time.

They prevent air from being sucked up into the emitters. As the water pressure falls away, air can be sucked back through the emitters and entrain dirt or soil into them. Clearly not desirable. The presence of an air vent mitigates this problem by drawing in air through it rather than the more delicate emitter openings.

Unless you want water to run out of the end of the drip tube you'll need to install an end cap! All well and good but this do introduce another issue for the drip irrigation system.

The water flow within the drip system is very slow which can allow sediment to build up, even allow algae to grow within the pipes. Normally drip tubes are flushed about once a year, more if an algae problem is persistent.

Given the technology's setup, the greatest benefit this method provides to the producer is control. Given the amount of control it provides, the technique offers great economic benefits as well as reduced waste.

A typical lawn sprinkler will use between 4 and 20 liters of water per minute. A standard drip irrigation system, on the other hand, measures water use in liters per hour.

This slower supply of water to the crops improves root take up and reduces water loss through ground percolation. This allows the water to be used more efficiently and reduce waste through evaporation for example. The direct application of water to the soil also prevents drift.

Drift is the phenomena of water being blown or dispersed to other parts of the site where water is not required, e. While the basic concept of irrigation is a simple one, there are many fascinating and remarkable systems in use today. Plants grow in many different places - from plain old dirt to richly fertilized soil. A branch of horticulture known as hydroponics even uses specially prepared solutions of mineral salts as a plant's growing space.

Either way, as long as there's somewhere to put down roots and a plentiful amount of the right nutrients, a plant will do its best to grow. After planting a seed, just the right temperature is needed for it to germinate and begin to grow.

Some seeds need warmer temperatures than others to germinate. By relying on our knowledge of seasonal temperatures , it's easy to know when to plant what. And, if mother nature isn't agreeable, you can always make use of greenhouses and other artificial systems to get the temperature just right. Plants make their own food using a process called photosynthesis.

During photosynthesis, the chlorophyll-containing green parts of the plant trap light energy and use it to perform a series of chemical reactions. The process involves carbon dioxide, and so plants also need plenty of air. We usually rely on the sun to provide light for our plants.

Water is essential to plants. It carries important nutrients from the soil and is an important trigger for germination and the process of photosynthesis. Without water, plants simply won't grow. Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Automat Irrigation Blog.

August 6, Sprinkler Irrigation System Components A sprinkler system or set-up arrangement typically consists of the following: a A pump unit that extracts water from the source and produces pressure for discharge into the pipe system. What are the Advantages of Sprinkler irrigation systems? Excludes water conveyance channels, thereby reducing conveyance or in-transit loss.

Suitable for all types of soil except for heavy clay. Suitable for irrigation where the plant population per unit stretch is remarkably high. It helps to boost production. Overcomes soil compaction. The system is easy to use because of its mobility Suitable for different land types and areas. Soluble fertilizers and chemicals can be used. Provides frost protection Helps in the modification of microclimate.

Decreases labor cost. What about the Sprinkler System Disadvantages? How do I choose the best sprinkler system? When choosing the right Sprinkler System always consider the following factors: 1. The type of Sprinklers suitable for your farm Getting a Sprinkler System is now pretty easy considering that you can easily place your order online. Hand-Held Sprinklers As the name states, this is a hand-held aluminum pipe which you will connect to the water source and move it around to irrigate your farm.

SolidSet Sprinklers The system is easy to operate, and once installed, you will not need to move the pipes since they cover the entire area to be watered. Hand-Held Rain Guns This system is similar to the hand—moved sprinkler irrigation system but the difference is that this system has replaced the usual low-volume sprinklers with a single or two high-volume large gun sprinklers. Centre Pivots This is a moving irrigation system, where the water is sprinkled along the length of the system pipes.

Travelling Big Gun Sprinklers This System is part of a big gun sprinkler that is fixed on a wheeled truck and linked with a plastic hose pipe on a reel. The Sprinkler Brand Just like any other product on the market, do your research to know the best Sprinkler System manufacturer around. Drip Irrigation System. Greenhouse Irrigation System. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published.

Quick Links.