You can do drip irrigation with your hands. Do-it-yourself drip irrigation: principle of operation, types, advantages, step-by-step instructions. Automated drip irrigation system
Moisture is necessary for plants in the garden. It will be better if it comes to the roots constantly and in metered quantities. To do this, there is a device for drip irrigation. Difficulties with the installation of the system further relieve heavy and inefficient physical labor. This can be judged by the numerous reviews of gardeners. Many are satisfied with such a release from heavy manual labor. In addition to watering, there are many other things to do in the country. It is tempting to replace hard and painstaking work with rest.
There are many types of devices and irrigation systems. They can be made or assembled with your own hands, as well as attract specialists.
Pros and cons of drip irrigation
Drip water supply has many advantages.
- The flow of water directly under the stem, which allows fertilizer to be applied simultaneously with moisture.
- Saving working time and physical strength of the summer resident. Having mounted the system once, you can not engage in manual watering throughout the season.
- Elimination of the possibility of drying out of the soil. Its humidity is always sufficient for the necessary growth of plants.
- The system is applicable to any plants, as it is universal.
- Possibility of choosing the optimal option for irrigation of beds.
Among the shortcomings, one can note the cost of component parts of the drip irrigation device: fittings, hoses, tapes, a metering water pump, a filter, etc. The system must be constantly monitored, periodically remove contamination, check the water supply, the operation of valves, etc. The installation is energy-dependent and requires a constant supply of electricity.
Drip irrigation: device and principle of operation
The drip irrigation system delivers moisture directly to the roots, which saves water and prevents damage to the above-ground parts of the plants. Water flows slowly at certain periods or continuously, which allows you to maintain a given level of soil moisture, which has a beneficial effect on garden crops.
We do drip irrigation with our own hands: where to start?
First, a drip irrigation scheme is drawn on paper, where all irrigation points, the location of the water source and the tank are indicated. The step between the rows of plantings is measured. According to the finished dimensions, you can easily calculate the number of communications.
If a pump is installed, its location can be any, but when watering by gravity, the container is installed closer to the plants.
Drip hoses or tapes are laid on the beds. They have built-in special droppers for supplying water to plants.
Before you assemble a drip irrigation system, you must have all the accessories for irrigation. If you have experience, it is advisable to choose them yourself, since watering kits are more expensive.
- Container with water - barrel or tank.
- The main distribution manifold of the water supply, from which it is supplied to the branches.
- Drip hose or tape.
- Valves connecting drip tapes to the manifold.
Drip Hoses
Hoses are sold in coils. Their feature is the supply of the same amount of water throughout the beds, even if the terrain is uneven. The maximum irrigation length is selected so that the unevenness at the beginning and end of the hose does not exceed 10-15%. For one season for drip irrigation of the garden, it is enough to use tapes with a wall thickness of 0.1 to 0.3 mm. They are laid only on top.
Thick-walled (up to 0.8 mm) will last 3-4 seasons. They can also be used for underground laying. The diameter of the tapes is 12-22 mm (common size is 16 mm). Rigid tubes last up to 10 seasons. Their diameter is 14-25 mm.
Through one dropper, the water consumption is:
- hose - 0.6-8 l / h;
- thin-walled tape - 0.25-2.9 l / h;
- thick-walled tape - 2-8 l/h.
To regulate the flow rate, a drip irrigation tap is connected to the hose or drip tape.
On average, for 1 plant it is necessary to take 1 liter of water per day, for bushes - 5 liters, for a tree - 10 liters. The data are indicative, but suitable for determining the total consumption. To be more precise, when drip irrigation is performed, 1.5 liters are required for 1 tomato bush, 2 liters for cucumbers, and 2.5 liters for potatoes and cabbage. 20-25% of the reserve is added to the result obtained and the required volume of the tank is determined.
The distance between droppers depends on the frequency of planting and can be from 10 to 100 cm. Each of them has one or two outlets. In this case, the flow rate may remain the same, but in the latter case, the depth decreases and the irrigation area increases. Spider droppers are installed on a bed in 4 rows with distribution of up to 4 plants.
Droppers
Droppers can be installed on plastic pipes. They are produced in several types:
- with a fixed water flow;
- adjustable - with manual adjustment of irrigation intensity;
- uncompensated - the intensity of the water supply decreases towards the end of the bed;
- compensated - with a membrane and a special valve, creating a constant pressure during pressure fluctuations in the water supply system;
- type "spider" - with distribution to several plants.
External droppers are inserted into plastic pipe in which holes are pierced with an awl.
Filtration
Special attention is paid to the purification of irrigation water. Coarse filtration is performed first, and then fine filtration. Droppers quickly clog with dirty water.
Purpose of fittings
The system can be easily assembled using special fittings for drip irrigation.
- Start connectors for attaching a drip tape to a plastic water pipe. They are made with a sealing rubber band or clamping nut. Holes are drilled in the HDPE pipe with a wood drill with a centering spike and start connectors with or without taps are tightly inserted. Regulation of water flow is required if individual zones consume it less than others or for alternate irrigation of different areas.
- Angle or tee drip irrigation fittings are used to connect the tape to a flexible garden hose. They are also used for its branching or for turns. Fitting seats are made in the form of ruffs, which ensures tight fixing of the tubes.
- A repair fitting is used in the event of a break or to extend the drip tape. With its help, its ends are connected.
- The plug is installed at the ends of the drip tape.
Installation with thin-walled tapes
Dividing polyethylene pipes with a diameter of 4 cm are connected to the garden water supply. This diameter is best suited for installing a start connector - a special tap for drip irrigation, which is used to attach a perforated drip tape to the pipe.
It is made with a small thickness and assembled with the help of reinforcement. Holes are made at regular intervals. The drip tape is put on the faucet with an interference fit, and then additionally fixed with a plastic nut. At the ends, the sleeves are closed with plugs, soldered or tucked up.
The disadvantage is the low strength of the tape material, which is easily damaged by rodents and insects. For other indicators, the system shows itself only on the positive side.
Installation of a system with tubes and built-in droppers
The system is characterized by high strength and significantly longer durability. It consists of a hose in which cylindrical droppers are embedded at regular intervals. The tube can be placed on the surface of the soil, mounted on stands, hung on a wire or buried in the ground.
Water under pressure diverges from the tank through the system and is smoothly distributed, coming from small holes. It is important that the tank is at a height of 1-1.5 m from the ground. The gardener only needs to fill it in a timely manner, after which the liquid flows to the plants under the influence of gravity.
How to water cucumbers?
AT industrial systems drip irrigation of cucumbers is carried out with water supply to each plant. The depth of the roots is 15-20 cm and tensiometers are installed there to control the humidity. For gardeners, improvised tools made from plastic bottles are suitable. They are installed on the bottom or with a closed cork in the ground. The top must be open to fill with water.
- First way. The dropper is made from a used ballpoint pen refill. It is washed with a solvent from the remnants of the paste and drowned out from the end with a match. At the end, a puncture is made in half the thickness of the rod. A home-made dropper is inserted into a puncture made from the bottom of the bottle at a height of 15-20 cm. Then the containers are filled with water and placed near the bushes so that moisture gets to the root.
- The second way. Holes are made in the bottle along the entire height, stepping back from the bottom by 3-5 cm. Then it is buried upside down to a depth of 20 cm. The cork is unscrewed and the container is filled with water through the top. The bottle can be buried with the neck down, after cutting off the bottom, through which it is convenient to fill it with water in the future. So that the holes are not clogged with earth, the bottles are wrapped on the outside with a needle-punched cloth used as a covering material for greenhouses.
- The third way. Bottles filled with water can be hung above the ground by piercing a hole in the lid.
Bottled drip irrigation of cucumbers is convenient due to cost-effectiveness, since there is no need to spend money on materials. The disadvantage is the complexity of installation over large areas. The process of filling with water is troublesome, and the holes are often clogged with soil. Despite this, one can be convinced of the advantages of the drip method. Reviews say that in small greenhouses it is quite effective.
It is more convenient to carry out full-fledged watering of cucumbers in large greenhouses through a centralized system with branded droppers.
Drip irrigation devices: automation
Automatic irrigation requires funds for equipment, but as a result, a lot of time will be saved and the crop will compensate for the costs. The most important component of the system is a controller or timer that does not require human intervention. The last to set is only the frequency and the duration can be electromechanical or electrical. The controller can set the watering program, which takes into account the pressure in the system, sets the watering cycles by day and takes into account humidity and temperature.
For simple systems, the drip irrigation scheme provides for a single-channel device, and in a complex scheme, the number of channels may be required. Judging by the reviews, experienced gardeners prefer to use a few simple timers that work on separate programs.
In order not to depend on the source of energy, it is advisable to purchase devices that operate on several AA batteries.
Automatic drip irrigation from the water supply often requires a pump. Its power must correspond to consumption. The mechanism should be simple, not very noisy and resistant to chemical compounds, which are often used in the system as fertilizers.
Conclusion
Despite the fact that surface irrigation is the most common, the lack of sometimes favorable conditions for it, water scarcity and energy savings lead to the need to use one or another drip irrigation device. The choice depends on the climate, landscape, types of cultivated crops and other factors.
It is important to properly design and install a drip irrigation system to reduce the chance of failure and avoid wasting time on repairs and maintenance.
The fact that the plants need to be watered is understandable. Consider various options for irrigation systems.
Irrigation methods. There are three most basic methods of irrigation - sprinkling, drip irrigation and subsurface irrigation (not taking into account the manual watering of plants on the soil from a watering can). Watering plants in a flower garden or lawn occurs from above (sprinkling). The whole mechanism of operation of the well-known professional automatic irrigation system is based on this principle. For watering trees or individual bushes, containers and pendants, a micro-irrigation system and drip irrigation are used. Such irrigation systems are absolutely indispensable both in the garden and in the greenhouse. For irrigation of hedges and large garden capricious perennials, subsurface irrigation is suitable using special porous hoses or pipes.
conventional irrigation system consists of a pump, hoses and sprinklers, and one of the most common methods of watering is the so-called sprinkling. The principle of this method is as follows: the hose is connected to the sprayer, the water is turned on and, as soon as sufficient water pressure is provided, the sprayer (or otherwise the sprinkler) starts to spray water.
The simplest are sprinklers that continuously spray a water jet in one sector and at a certain angle. Rotary sprinklers have a more complex design, and more expensive. At the same time, water is distributed evenly over the irrigated area, watering is carried out in the form of a circle.
DIY irrigation system impossible without a pump. The pump provides the high water pressure needed to keep the sprinklers working properly. It is clear that the higher the pressure and performance of the pump, the stronger the water supply will be. Pumps are surface (installed next to the well) and submersible (required when groundwater occurs at great depths). If your pump does not pump well or breaks down, we considered ways of self-repair and setting up pumps earlier.
This method of watering is quite common and understandable, so we will not dwell on it too much. If you want to water with such a scheme, you only need to lay a line, and in the simplest case, just unwind the hose for the time of watering and connect the sprayers through the tees.
The ideal irrigation method is drip irrigation.
The essence of the drip irrigation system is that the water coming through the drip irrigation system is supplied directly to the roots of plants. And this, of course, is the advantage of drip irrigation over all other types of irrigation. Water is supplied to the root zone of plants, it is instantly absorbed, and the plant uses it 100%. So water is given directly to the roots of plants. This is its main advantage. In addition, drip irrigation can be carried out even in the sun itself, without fear of water getting on the leaves of the plant, which often leads to sunburn.
Drip irrigation– convenient, economical and efficient automatic irrigation system suburban area, greenhouses or vegetable gardens. You can buy ready-made, but very simple build a drip irrigation system on their own, saving at the same time, a certain amount, which is always nice. To creation drip irrigation systems in the summer cottage, it is best to start even before the start of spring field work. Late winter is the time. But, in principle, you can do it at any time.
Drip irrigation is ideal for do-it-yourself greenhouse watering and many other applications.
When creating your own system drip irrigation purchases are indispensable. It is impossible to make your own water filters, water supply taps, pipes main pipeline, drip hose, individual drippers and start connectors. But you can use any available tools, an old hose, a faucet, etc. Creation do-it-yourself drip irrigation systems start with planning.
- Draw a plan of the site, indicate on it the beds and individual plants that need drip irrigation.
- Think over and indicate on the plan the placement of pipelines, drip hoses and individual droppers, stop valves. If the site is located on a terrain with a pronounced slope, then place the main pipes horizontally, drip hoses - under the slope.
- Mark all pipe connections, this will be needed when counting splitters and connectors, taps and plugs. Tees are used for connections; start-connectors installed directly in the pipe will help to do without them.
- Decide on the type of equipment required and the brand, this affects the cost of the entire drip irrigation system.
- Choose plastic pipes for the main water supply. They are less expensive, lighter and do not rust. Through them, fertilizers dissolved in water can be applied without restrictions to the place of irrigation.
- Think over the water supply of the drip irrigation system. In the absence of running water, the most economical solution is to install a refillable water tank at a height of 1.5-2 meters. Cover water in an open container from direct sunlight.
- Pipes and hoses may be laid directly on the ground, hung on supports or buried in the ground. Laying on the ground is the easiest and most economical way. However, in this case, as in the case of suspension, buy opaque pipes and hoses, which will prevent water blooms. For buried pipelines, use thick-walled products.
- Be sure to use fine water filters in the drip irrigation system, which will reduce the chance of clogging drippers and drip hoses.
- To achieve full automation of the drip irrigation system, use electric controllers powered by self-contained batteries.
- Installation of purchased equipment begin after the formation of the beds.
- Be sure to flush the entire system before the first watering. To do this, remove the end caps and let the water flow until clean water flows from everywhere.
- When operating a drip irrigation system, do not forget to periodically clean the filters.
For those who have the opportunity to come to the dacha only for the weekend, and during the working week in hot weather, it is difficult for plants without watering, and sometimes they may simply not wait for you.
Proposed irrigation device diagram- simple and affordable, does not require large expenditures.
I used 5 liter plastic jerry cans for storage and funnel (the top needs to be cut off at an appropriate angle). Now we assemble our device: set the storage capacity at an angle and attach it to a wooden plank with a counterweight (P) at the opposite end with adhesive tape. The drive can be rotated on the axis (O) from stop A to stop B, fixed on the base. A funnel is also fixed on the base, to the hole of which a pipe for watering is attached.
In the figure: 1 - a barrel with a valve for water, 2 - an accumulator, 3 - a funnel, 4 - a base, 5 - a filling pipe, A, B - stops, 0-axis, P - counterweight
Water from the barrel enters the storage tank and, filling it, shifts the center of gravity of the storage tank until the weight of the water exceeds the weight of the counterweight. After that, the drive overturns, water enters the pipe through the funnel and pours through the holes onto the beds. Having emptied, the drive under the action of a counterweight returns to its place to be filled with the next portion of water. You can regulate the volume of incoming water with a valve on the barrel.
It is not always possible to immediately coordinate the work of the counterweight and the water tank. Try changing the counterweight weight, axle position, and drive angle. It is important that, as a result of adjustment, the counterweight could overcome the weight of the empty storage tank, and the weight of the storage tank filled with water could overcome the weight of the counterweight.
The second method is more automated, but just as easy to implement.
As an automation, you can make it yourself or buy a simple simple circuit that will turn on the pump at a certain time every day. However, now it was necessary to make sure that water fell on all the plants. To do this, I took a piece of some old hose and pierced several holes in it with a hot awl, it's just easier, because the hose is rubber. I made holes approximately every thirty, maybe a little more, centimeters. And the holes were through. First I pierced the hole from right to left, then from top to bottom. This will help the water flow evenly out of the hose, even if it gets clogged somewhere. Then I connected this leaky hose to the pump. Then, so that it still does not clog, I simply put a few boards at a distance of about a meter from each other, and I already laid a hose on top of them. And I stretched the hose through the entire garden.
Now every day at nineteen o'clock sharp my do-it-yourself irrigation system turns on and starts watering the garden. Knowing the power of your pump, you can determine the required time, which will be enough for high-quality watering. The goal has been achieved - you can come to the dacha once a week, or less often - the plants will not suffer.
Automatic watering (auto-watering)
Automatic irrigation systems- These are irrigation systems for home gardens and landscape gardening plots that can automatically provide optimal and regular watering of your green spaces. Thanks to a wide range of accessories and materials for the device automatic and semi-automatic irrigation systems, high-quality irrigation of both small (3-4 acres) plots and large areas is achieved: park areas, stadiums, golf courses. The system is controlled by a device - a controller, a mini-computer that takes into account many factors to select the optimal irrigation mode. Programming the operation of the entire irrigation system allows taking into account not only the shape of the irrigated area, but also the individual daily dynamics of moisture demand different groups plants. As a rule, automatic irrigation systems provide the ability to connect very useful sensors: soil and air moisture sensors, a rain sensor, and even mini-weather stations. This equipment allows you to reduce water consumption by 20-50% compared to simpler irrigation systems. All of the above advantages, of course, require appropriate investments. If you have free money - then this is your choice.
Watering rates
Proper watering any plants can take away from you a huge part of the time that will be spent on landscaping the site, for this reason, take such an important event with great seriousness. For each type of plant there are certain watering norms, and if they are fully observed, then you can achieve the best results in the improvement of your green area.
It is necessary to remember a few plant irrigation rules: it is better to water less often (about 2 times a day), but plentifully. It is believed that ten liters of water poured by the irrigation system per square meter can completely moisten the soil layer to a depth of about 10 cm. the entire root system does not reach at all, a hard crust appears on the surface, it increases the evaporation of water and interferes with the full respiration of the soil. In addition, all superficial roots also develop well in plants, they will suffer during the next drought. You also need to know that the bulk of the roots is in the soil layer at a depth of about 20-25 cm, and in order to completely wet it, the irrigation system needs to pour about 25 liters of water per 1 m2. Automatic lawn watering is slightly different, any lawn grass needs to be watered a little less - the entire root system of the lawn falls to a depth of about 15 cm, but during a period of intense heat, refreshing watering can be carried out. All irrigation rates are completely dependent on the very mechanical composition of the soil - light soils are often watered and not very plentiful.
Irrigation water temperature. The water temperature, which will be below 10-12 degrees, causes shock in plants and weakens them, for this reason, watering the lawn and plants directly from a well or well is undesirable. It will be optimal if, when watering the plants, the water temperature is approximately equal to or slightly higher than the soil temperature. To do this, use storage tanks, the volume of which is from 200 to 5000 liters, everything will depend on the irrigation area. There, all the water warms up and settles to the ambient temperature. In order to create the necessary pressure in the automatic irrigation system, they are placed a little higher than the surface by about 2-3 meters or more. The difference in all levels somewhere in one meter completely creates about 0.1 bar of pressure. A huge number of sprinklers of the automatic irrigation system can operate at a minimum pressure of 2-3 bar, for this reason, special additional pumps are often simply installed in these tanks.
If your yard has automatic watering, then there is no need to worry that the water for garden irrigation, which enters the irrigation system directly from deep artesian wells, will be very cold to irrigate. The resulting pressure in the irrigation system is 2.5 - 3.5 atm. ejects water dust from sprinklers with great speed, for this reason the water of plants reaches already heated, comparable to the usual temperature of any rainwater. The main thing that will need to be paid attention to when watering plants is the exclusion of a sharp, destructive, mainly contrast between the temperature of the upper layer of the territory and the temperature of the water.
The amount of water available to plants depends on many factors. Including the type and depth of the soil, the depth of the root system, the rate of water loss during evaporation, the temperature and the rate of moisture entering the soil.
The rate of water extraction from the soil is a function of root concentration. The deeper the root system, the lower the speed. More than 40% of water is extracted from the upper root layer.
The water entering the soil moves at the rate at which the field capacity is created. The movement of water in the soil from the bottom up is carried out by capillary forces. The loss of water to evaporation affects only the upper layers of the soil. During a period of prolonged drought, it is easy to recognize plants with a shallow root system.
Correct watering time especially important for the development of vegetable crops and obtaining the maximum yield. In addition, it is necessary to observe the rules of watering. For example, for water to penetrate to the root system, it is not enough just to moisten the soil surface. According to the observations of experts, a 3-cm layer of water penetrates the soil to a depth of 25 cm. To soak a plot of 0.5 hectares to such a depth, 130,000 liters of water should be spent. During a prolonged drought, frequent minor waterings do not benefit the plants, since the water does not reach the main volume of the root system, and a hard crust appears on the ground. At the same time, superficial lateral roots are formed in plants, which also suffer during prolonged dry weather.
Sandy soils dry out much faster than clay soils and require more frequent watering. To find out how things are with the soil moisture in the area, you need to dig a hole 20-30 cm deep with a scoop. If the soil at this depth is slightly wet or dry, watering should be done immediately.
Most moisture required vegetable crops during intensive growth, that is, from late spring to mid-summer, when the development of plants is determined precisely by the availability of water. In late summer, excess moisture can harm some crops. For example, melons and watermelons are not watered during the ripening period. Tomatoes can also crack from excessive moisture before they turn red. But still, most plants require watering at the rate of 10-15 l / m2 per week. Irrigation rates for ornamental crops are close to those for vegetables.
The main amount of water is absorbed by plants in spring and summer. Particular attention should be paid to watering when planting trees and shrubs, so that the soil tightly fits their roots. Plants in open field in summer they are subject to natural drying under the influence of sunlight, although they receive enough moisture from winter precipitation. Interestingly, a layer of rainwater of 1 mm gives 10 m3 per 1 ha, that is, 10 tons. A snow cover 40 cm thick - 1000 tons of water per 1 ha, or 100 liters per 1 m2. It is necessary to ensure that the soil near walls, fences and under trees fully receives moisture, as there are certain difficulties in watering in these places. Plants in pots and tubs are prone to drying out quickly and need regular watering in summer.
And further. Sometimes garden ants interfere not only with you, but also with your plants. Therefore, you need to know how to deal with ants in the garden or in the garden, and then nothing will interfere with your harvest.
Today you can hear a lot positive feedback about drip irrigation. But what is it like and how does it differ from the usual irrigation of earthen areas? In this article, you will learn how to organize drip irrigation in the country with their own hands. Now lawn grass you will always have green, and the plants will not give a good harvest.
Drip irrigation in the garden
With this method of watering, he no longer needs to constantly walk around the garden to water the plants. With normal watering, some plants are oversaturated with water, and some, on the contrary, dry up. Finally, don't wait. good harvest from those in literally tortured, seedlings.
You can organize drip irrigation in.
Watch the video: Do-it-yourself drip irrigation for a small area
Let's look at some more advantages of drip irrigation in the country house or backyard.
First, the water itself is saved. Today, almost everywhere, water prices have jumped, and in some areas there is a lack of fresh water. Savings from drip irrigation are approximately 3-5 times less liters of water than the amount of water used in conventional irrigation.
Drip Irrigation ToolsSecondly, fertilizers for beds are significantly saved. How? With the standard spreading of fertilizers in each individual hole, not only the overspending of fertilizers, but also water occurs. There is also a possibility that the plant may burn due to an exaggerated dose of mineral fertilizers. Well, again, dry numbers. You will save twice as much with drip irrigation than with the standard approach to watering and plant care.
Do-it-yourself drip irrigation scheme in the country
Thirdly, as mentioned earlier, the time of summer residents is saved. Thanks to drip irrigation, you can free yourself for a more important activity.
Fourthly, environmental friendliness. This method of watering imitates rain, which has a very beneficial effect on the growth and development of seedlings. Indeed, with standard watering, water simply floods the plant for several minutes, and after that it literally dries up and survives on reserves. And with drip irrigation, a natural ecosystem is created, which later leads to a large and healthy crop.
Drip irrigation in the country everyone can do. Don't be afraid to bring something new into your work life. Sometimes this can lead to truly amazing results!
Watering is one of the hardest gardening jobs. How many ten-liter watering cans were dragged to the beds - it's scary to remember. We are in the 21st century, but still many people are wary of irrigation systems - it seems that it is terribly complicated and expensive.
Liss1970 Member FORUMHOUSE
A lot of people come to our site, and the reaction of people is incomprehensible to me: “Oh! How interesting! But we’d rather carry watering cans and then complain about back pain and drought!”
At FORUMHOUSE we told. Today we’ll talk about how to make a drip irrigation system on the site - from the simplest, from what is at hand, to serious, from normal components.
- How does a drip irrigation system work?
- Benefits of drip irrigation.
- Types of drip irrigation.
- How to make a non-pressure drip irrigation system.
- How to make a drip irrigation system cheaply from improvised means.
Drip irrigation: drippers, sprinklers, micro-sprinklers
The drip irrigation system is arranged as follows: under a slight pressure, water is supplied through hoses to the required place on the site and gets under each plant through droppers.
Drip irrigation will not only free you from running around with watering cans, this method has many big and fat pluses. The main thing is that with drip irrigation, water is slowly, drop by drop, supplied directly to the roots of plants. Thus, the soil remains evenly moist throughout the growing season, the plants are relieved of the stress that occurs during the drying of the beds, and water is significantly (on average, up to 50%) saved. This system was developed for places with a shortage of water resources, for their most efficient use.
It is important that with this method only cultivated plants are watered, weeds do not get moisture. Simultaneously with drip irrigation, top dressing can be carried out: fertilizers dissolved in water are better absorbed by plants.
Drip irrigation systems typically use microtubing drippers that are placed in hoses at regular intervals. The choice of hose depends on the moisture-loving plants, soil type, water consumption. As a rule, 3-5 droppers or a hose with built-in droppers located every 40 centimeters are enough for one fruit tree.
Pictured below is the irrigation system. FORUMHOUSE member Vladimir:
Completing theoretical part, recall that there are several ways of drip irrigation:
- The drip irrigation system (described above and most popular with our summer residents) is good for watering greenhouse vegetables and small plants.
- An irrigation system with micro-sprinklers is good because it is covered with water big square. Used for watering hedges, shrubs and trees.
- Irrigation system with sprinklers that creates a dense fog. Such nozzles are used for watering large lawns, fields sown with grass, etc.
Gravity irrigation system for a garden in the steppe
Let's take a look at several drip irrigation systems that have been used on FORUMHOUSE user sites.
Portal member Zyoma was annoyed by the results of one of the first summer seasons on his site (the former steppe with a complete lack of shade). There was no rain for two months, and one day it was not possible to go to the dacha for two weeks. During this time, half garden trees just shed the leaves.
Zyoma FORUMHOUSE user
In general, I thought about the drip irrigation system.
Since there were no beds in the dacha, only trees needed water, and they did not want to waste it on wild steppe plants. Hence the first requirement - watering should be point. The second requirement stemmed from high pressure(with significant jumps) in the water supply system at the site, which could be fraught with a breakdown of the hoses. So, watering should be non-pressure.
For the installation of a gravity drip irrigation system, it took:
- Insert into the tank - 2 pcs.
- Filter 1/2 - 2 pcs.
- Fitting 1/2 for hose 5 mm.
- Micro hose 5 mm - 100 m.
- Tees for microhose - 50 pcs.
- Adjustable drippers 0-6 l/h - 60 pcs.
- Water tanks - two two-hundred-liter oil barrels - were already there.
The barrels were placed on four pallets. For convenience, the hoses were pinned to the ground with wire brackets. Droppers and tees were simply inserted into the tube. The entire irrigation system (80 meters of micro-hose) is assembled and disassembled in 10 minutes, and placed in a plastic bag for winter storage.
You can see in detail how this system is arranged in the photographs.
These two barrels provided full watering for magpies. fruit trees and shrubs. For each of the plants, the optimal irrigation intensity was selected.
Depending on the adjustment of the droppers, the water in two barrels with a total volume of 400 liters was enough, on average, for 80 hours - that is, in the middle of the week I had to go to the garden and fill the containers. After installing this system, all watering work began to take 10 minutes - on weekends, which were carried out at the dacha, the droppers were “slightly opened”, before leaving on Sunday evening they were “covered”. It's all.
Error Zyoma was that he chose transparent microtubes.
The hose for the drip irrigation system should be black.
Therefore, the tubes turned green, some droppers had to be opened to failure, so that the pressure of water washed off the sludge from the walls of the tubes.
Pressure irrigation is more convenient than non-pressure irrigation, it practically eliminates silting. At Zyoma there was an idea to fully automate the irrigation system by connecting it to the water supply through a Chinese timer. The experiment ended sadly.
Zyoma
The pressure in the system is quite high and unstable (it happens to be more than 4 atm), and it all ended with a pipe break in my absence (minus 30 cubic meters of water on the meter, it’s good that everything is under the apple tree).
But in general, this irrigation system, although it has the status of a temporary one, has shown itself well - despite the constant +40 in the sun, sometimes turning into +50, all plants are alive. In the next season, the irrigation system was improved - since one microtube with a diameter of 5 mm was still not enough for 40 fruit trees and shrubs, a larger diameter main hose was laid, from which branches with a diameter of 5 mm were already made.
Pseudo-drip irrigation system for beds
Lukaed for cucumbers, he created an irrigation system, which he called “pseudo-drip” due to the fact that non-core products were used in it. For the manufacture of the system, the following were purchased: a metal-plastic pipe and a meter of silicone hose that fits tightly on this pipe, and six pharmacy systems, which were assigned the role of droppers.
With a 3.5 mm drill, I drilled holes for the dropper tubes, cut the tubes under the cucumber stem with a margin of 2-3 mm. The tubes were inserted into the holes.
Lukaed FORUMHOUSE user
The tubes must be cut at an angle, so it is more convenient to insert them into the holes.
I connected the irrigation system to the water tank using a connector and a piece of silicone hose. The pipes were secured with wire hooks.
Each took six meters of pipe. This system does not respect the basic principle of drip irrigation - moisture does not flow continuously to the roots of plants, Lukaed opens the water for 30 minutes a day. But the plants felt good, and everything was in order with the harvest. And most importantly, the cost of arranging an irrigation system for two beds amounted to 700 rubles.
Lukaed
The metal-plastic pipe can be reused - unnecessary holes can be wrapped with tape or plugged with an M4 screw.
Automated drip irrigation system
Liss1970 made an automated drip irrigation system that works without any human intervention. Now this system has the only drawback - it is not equipped with a specialized sensor and does not turn off when it rains.
Equipment from Israel was used for this system (drip hose, external drippers, sprinklers, timers and quick couplings, timers; filter and pump were domestic, but the hose was Chinese).
The irrigation system was done as follows: for each bed 60 cm wide, two lines of a drip hose were laid out with a distance between droppers of 30 cm. The hose was bent at an angle of 90 degrees and fixed with U-shaped brackets made of aluminum wire. Thus, continuous watering of the beds was ensured. A Chinese hose acted as a supply line, the drip hose was connected to it with conventional quick-couplings.
Through a valve with a timer, the system was connected to a downhole pump controlled by KIV-1.
Liss1970 FORUMHOUSE user
The valve opened - the pump turned on. The valve closed - the pump turned off.
There are several reasons why gardeners are unwilling or unable to purchase a ready-made irrigation system for vegetable gardens and greenhouses. In such cases, drip irrigation is made by hand from the funds that every summer resident has.
After all, on your site you can find enough items and details for this. The advantage will be minimal financial costs. In addition, a well-made drip irrigation system for the garden can be safely used for its intended purpose.
Benefits of using drip irrigation
Soil aeration. The soil is not waterlogged, which ensures good ventilation of the plant root system for the entire period of growth, which is not interrupted at the time of irrigation or after it. Soil oxygen helps the root system achieve the best possible functioning.
root system. Root development is much better than with other irrigation methods. The plant more intensively consumes liquid and absorbs nutrients. With this method of irrigation, the efficiency exceeds 95%, when surface irrigation gives only 5%, and sprinkler - about 65%.
Food. Liquid fertilizers are absorbed directly by the root system. Nutrients are absorbed with maximum intensity, which gives the best effect. This method of plant nutrition is most effective in dry climates.
Plant protection. The leaves remain dry, as a result of which the likelihood of diseases is significantly reduced, since medicines are not washed off the leaves.
Soil erosion prevention. This method of irrigation makes it possible to irrigate slopes or topographically difficult areas. There is no need to build complex structures or move the soil.
Significant water savings. Compared to other irrigation methods, drip irrigation saves water in the range of 20-80%. Only the root system is moistened. Reduced water evaporation losses. Liquid from peripheral drains is not spent.
early maturation. With this irrigation, the soil temperature is higher than with other options, and this stimulates crops to harvest earlier.
Energy and labor costs. The power costs for irrigation are reduced. Saves energy. The drip system is not affected by the pressure drop in the pipeline.
Agrotechnology. Drip irrigation allows you to treat the soil, spray plants and harvest at any convenient time, regardless of irrigation, because the areas between the beds are not moistened throughout the season.
Soils. Drip irrigation allows you to grow plants on soils with a moderate salt content, since salted water can be used.
Did you know? Auto-irrigation has grown in popularity among Australians due to its ability to conserve water. For the inhabitants of this mainland, there are strict restrictions on the use of this natural resource. Such irrigation systems are installed in 3/4 of the dachas and gardens of Australians.
How to make a simple irrigation system
Drip irrigation is not an innovative technology and was invented a long time ago in a country with an arid climate - in Israel. Since then, it has been actively used in the agricultural industry around the world.
But in a small area it does not make sense to use expensive irrigation systems. Therefore, drip irrigation can be done with your own hands from improvised materials.
Making drip irrigation from bottles
The easiest way to build homemade drip irrigation is to stock up on unnecessary plastic bottles. This system is perfect for small areas.
One container is designed for a maximum of two bushes, which makes it possible to develop an individual irrigation regime for each plant.
For watering crops that consume more liquid, bottles with an increased number of holes are attached. So the moisture will be sufficient. A two-liter container is enough for up to four days of irrigation.
If you have to leave for a longer period, then you can put bigger bottles, for example, 5-6 liters.
A design for bottle irrigation of garden plants can be built in three ways.
№1. Dig a container between rows or bushes, having previously made holes in it with a needle. Do not pierce large holes. Moisture should not flow out quickly.
Important! Make punctures as low as possible so that there is no liquid left in the bottle.
Leave the neck of the container above the soil by 5-7 centimeters, so it will be more convenient to fill it. To prevent the liquid from evaporating, screw the bottle with a lid with a hole previously made in it.
If you simply close the neck with a cap, a low pressure is formed inside the bottle, which crushes it. Depending on the type of soil, the number of holes made also varies.
Three will be enough for sandy. For clay it is better to do five.
№2. Water containers are suspended above the plants. Place pegs along the edges of the bed and stretch a wire or a strong rope between them. Hang bottles without a bottom on it.
Moisture in this case will evaporate faster, but heated water will not so injure the roots of plants that love heat.
Make a hole in the neck of such a diameter that the liquid does not pour out too quickly. To direct water directly to the root system, you need to insert a rod from the handle into the lid. So the water will be better absorbed.
Plug the free end of the rod with a toothpick and make a hole higher, then the water will not flow out too quickly. Lubricate the junction of the rod and the cover with sealant so that excess liquid does not get into the bed.
№3. In this method, bottles are also used as materials for drip irrigation, but with a small addition. The bottom of the bottle must be cut off and a special ceramic cone put on the neck.
They stick the container into the ground in the root circle of the plant. The internal structure of the cone serves as a kind of indicator that determines the level of soil moisture. As soon as it begins to dry out, moisture is again supplied to the root system.
How to create an irrigation system from medical droppers
Another simple way to feed plants is to collect drip irrigation with your own hands. from medical droppers. The main thing is to have all the necessary materials and tools at hand.
From droppers you can make an effective irrigation system, which is very accessible in terms of material resources. To create such a design, it is enough to strictly adhere to the plan and follow all the rules.
First of all, cut the system into segments equal to the length of the beds, and make holes in them. The distance between them should be at least half a meter.
Then hang the tubes over the beds. This can be done with various fasteners for parts. Plug the ends of the pipes. The wheel allows you to adjust the water pressure.
A do-it-yourself dripper for drip irrigation is a very convenient system. With its help, you can quickly water the beds, without much effort.
Also, this system is suitable for feeding plants with liquid fertilizers. The nutrient fluid enters directly under the root of the culture.
Among the shortcomings, one can single out the need to dismantle the equipment when the temperature drops. Plastic can become unusable in winter.
How to make underground drip irrigation
The name of this method speaks for itself. Its essence lies in the fact that moisture does not come to the roots of plants from the outside, but directly underground.
This result is achieved thanks to pre-installed special structures for underground irrigation. Next, we will tell you how to organize drip underground irrigation with your own hands.
Required Tools
To create an apparatus for underground irrigation in a garden plot, you will need the following:
- Hoses and pipes of suitable diameter - 0.5 cm.
- Drainage layer consisting of pebbles, crushed stone, slag and cuttings of branches.
- Shovel.
- Roll of polyethylene.
- Filter element.
- Water access point.
Manufacturing and installation process
Before you equip drip irrigation at home, decide on the method of water supply. If there is no water supply to the garden, you should consider an option with a separate container specifically for irrigation.
Can be accumulated rain water from the roof, it remains only to think over the system for draining, supplying and collecting liquid into a separate container. The barrel of water should be higher than the beds.
Nobody canceled the physical laws, and water under pressure will come from the barrel. You can adjust the height of the tank to increase or decrease the water pressure.
The next step is laying the system itself. Dig a hole or trench, cover it with polyethylene and pour a drainage layer. Install the tubes (the holes in them should already be made) with the filter. Top with a drainage layer again and then cover with earth.
Did you know? In the US, a sub-irrigation system is one of the top desirable improvements for the garden.
If you don't feel like working with your hands
Just recently, only experienced gardeners with "hands where needed." After all, it is not so easy to calculate everything, pick up hoses and fasteners, carefully make holes. Today, in specialized stores, you can choose any model of drip irrigation system that you want.
Choosing a drip irrigation system
Manufacturers of drip irrigation systems can design and manufacture various structural details. As they say, everything is in their hands. Yes, and they can be called pretentiously and differently, just to attract customers.
But a standard drip irrigation system consists of the following elements: a main hose through which water from the primary source goes to the supply hose, from which droppers depart.
Droppers can be both small thin tubes and larger hoses, at the ends of which there are screwed irrigation dispensers. The deeper they are twisted, the less water drips.
There are also various adapters in the kit, which are used for joining individual structural elements. There are also plugs for unnecessary hose holes so that water does not flow out from where it is not needed.
It is better to choose a system with a built-in filter that prevents drippers from clogging. The pegs that fix the hose will also be a plus, since, depending on the pressure of the water, the hose can change its position in space.
You can additionally order a timer - very handy thing. With it, you can endow the drip irrigation system with intelligence. You can set the start and end of irrigation, as well as the interval between watering. This feature is very convenient when you have to leave your garden for a long time.
Installation of the system in a greenhouse or vegetable garden
Every business that concerns the construction of any structure for a summer residence or garden should begin with planning. As they say, calculation is a pledge common sense and successful design.
Therefore, the organization of drip irrigation should begin with the scheme of the suburban area. The action plan is the following:
How to automate the process: do-it-yourself "smart drip irrigation"
The drip irrigation system is automated according to the usual simple system, which, without the daily participation of the owner, at a certain time will turn on the pump, starting the irrigation system.