Watering is one of the hardest gardening jobs. It’s scary to remember how many ten-liter watering cans were dragged onto the beds. We are in the 21st century, but many people are still wary of irrigation systems - it seems that it is terribly complicated and expensive.
Liss1970FORUMHOUSE Member
A lot of people come to our site, and I don’t understand people’s reaction: “Oh! How interesting! But we’d rather carry around with watering cans and then complain about back pain and drought!”
At FORUMHOUSE we talked about the different types of irrigation systems available to every gardener. Today we’ll talk about how to make a drip irrigation system on your site - from the simplest, from what is at hand, to the serious, from normal components.
Design and installation of drip irrigation
Today, two types of drip irrigation are used: drip moistening and sprinkling. Drip-type devices are used for root moistening. They are more in demand due to the minimum water consumption and the accuracy of its distribution. The second option is a more complex design: the components are placed between the rows. It is supplied under pressure to the nozzles and irrigates the plants (watering can principle).
The automatic transmission kit consists of a fluid reservoir, a network of hoses branched throughout the greenhouse area, with a built-in drip kit (external or internal type). Drip irrigation devices for greenhouses are also produced and equipped with pumps that provide water supplies. But they are not available in every kit.
Controller of automatic watering structure Source teplica-spb.ru
Automatic transmission devices can be equipped with additional elements:
- valves for adjusting water supply;
- counters for measuring the volume of liquid consumed;
- filtration system;
- nodes for feeding;
- timer;
- container for concentrate.
SAP uses mini-droppers (compensated and uncompensated types). To increase the volume of water supply, they have many outlets. This is determined by the care needs, types of seedlings, and their characteristics.
Types of drip devices
Depending on the type of configuration, watering systems come in the following types:
- machine;
- semi-automatic;
- mechanical.
The first ones provide for watering 60 stems. Semi-automatic machines automatically turn on or off the water at the right time. The water supply must be replenished weekly. ASCPs operate without human intervention (equipped with an electronic controller).
Automatic transmission installation Source acigaleclub.com
Advice! In order not to replenish the tank after each watering, it is better to automate the procedure: install a level valve into the wall of the barrel.
Installation features
One of the main advantages of drip irrigation devices is simple installation; just follow the instructions:
- Planning (will allow you to select the amount of equipment and installation location).
- Arrangement of the container (a valve is inserted into it to control its supply, if you do not install drip irrigation from the water supply).
- Installation of the controller (a special program is installed on it).
- Securing the pump/gearbox (controls the pressure).
- Installation of a filtration system (will purify water before entering the system).
- Laying drip tapes.
- Connecting main pipes.
- Testing the device before launch.
Drip irrigation equipment in a greenhouse can be purchased separately or as a set. The second option is more economical and safe (all components fit together).
Important Installation Considerations
In order for the drip irrigation device to function correctly, it is important to take into account the following nuances when installing it:
- Buy a good quality reducer, it will provide optimal water pressure.
- Do multi-level filtration (especially when supply is planned from a reservoir).
- Be sure to install a system flush valve at the end of the main pipe. \
KP greenhouses from a barrel Source i0.wp.com
Laying the main line
For the main water supply supplying water to tapes with droppers, HDPE pipe, plastic, polyethylene, polypropylene, is used. There are practically no restrictions here. The main thing is that the material does not corrode and does not accumulate plaque on the walls.
The pipe is installed in compliance with the specified level on a solid surface. This can be a concrete gutter, half a large-diameter steel pipe, dry brickwork, without mortar, but only to obtain a solid and even base.
It is important to secure the pipe so that it cannot be moved from its place by foot, simply by stepping, or by catching it with garden tools. Violation of the level can limit the flow of water to certain belts and impair the uniformity of watering.
In the pipe, at the row marks, tees are laid or sub-connector holes are drilled, which are mounted manually with the installation of gaskets, and also lightly pressed with a wrench. It is to these connectors that drip irrigation tapes are connected!
Distinctive features of CP in a greenhouse
To obtain high yields of vegetables, berries or herbs in greenhouses, it is necessary to properly arrange the watering of plants. The operating principle of drip irrigation is a minimal supply of liquid directly to the roots of the seedlings. UPC includes the following components:
- water collection tank;
- main pipeline;
- networks of hoses with drip devices.
They are connected to each other by shaped connecting parts. The advantage of the device is the individual hydration of seedlings. Water is supplied to the root system as needed. And the soil near it is always wet.
In a drip irrigation system for a greenhouse, liquid flows gradually from a barrel. The combination of optimal temperature and humidity creates a favorable climate and ensures good productivity in the greenhouse. The water is heated in the sun to the desired temperature.
Arrangement of the pepper control center Source sornyakov.net
See also: Catalog of companies that specialize in water supply and sewerage.
Using drip irrigation from a barrel has a number of advantages:
- Automatic water supply mode is used;
- the watering process is optimally dosed;
- the time and duration of the procedure is regulated;
- easy to install and simple to operate;
- plant fertility increases;
- the influence of climatic factors is reduced;
- fertilizers are applied along with water;
- less soil is washed away.
UPC in a greenhouse from a barrel
The design works on the principle: the main pipeline is laid through the filter from the storage tank, and drainage pipes located throughout the irrigation area are connected to it. The hoses have holes for droppers (diameter 3-8 mm), through which water is supplied to the roots of the seedlings. To create pressure, the barrel rises to the required height (the best option is 0.5-3 m). This creates a gravity irrigation system. When the pressure is not enough, installing a submersible pump is necessary.
Watering from a barrel Source build-experts.ru
Features of automatic watering for greenhouses
To automate watering, it is advisable to use a timer or controller. Both devices operate on batteries and allow you to control the process (start and stop in accordance with specified parameters). In large-area greenhouses, systems with a high level of automation are installed. They allow you to control air temperature and soil moisture, and in some cases there is even a water metering function.
When arranging drip irrigation for a greenhouse from a barrel, you can use mechanical or electronic timers. The principle of operation of the first is based on a spring; it creates a daily constant supply of water. The parameters are set manually for a certain period. The second allows you to fully automate the watering process. It can be programmed to last indefinitely. The new model has 16 commands: you can select the irrigation mode for several types of plants individually.
In a greenhouse, you can arrange a more complex automatic watering design. In addition to moistening the soil, it will be able to apply fertilizers. In such a situation, a sprinkler irrigation system is created. It is better suited for watering seedlings with a superficial root system.
Automatic transmission kit Source teplica-spb.ru
The design of automatic drip irrigation for a greenhouse from a barrel is controlled using sophisticated automation and a remote control. In this case, it is important to consider that full automation is only possible in conditions where there is a constant supply of water at the site.
Features of using drip tubes with external droppers
The drip tube is made of HDPE and is rigid and durable. It is produced without holes and is intended for self-installation of external drippers. The wall thickness of the product is 0.9-1.2 mm. The material is resistant to UV rays. The drip tube can withstand pressure up to 6 bar.
Drip tubes are rigid and durable and can withstand pressures up to 6 bar.
External drippers are used when organizing drip irrigation at a dacha individually for each plant. To ensure normal operation of the system, it is necessary to have high pressure in the network. These devices can be connected through thin hoses or connected directly to the drip pipe.
There are several types of external IVs. Compensated ones are used for uniform irrigation with a very long drip tape, as well as in areas with a slope. They operate exclusively from a pressure system. Less prone to contamination by small debris. Uncompensated devices are used with a short length of drip pipe and on flat areas. This option is used for gravity flow systems from a tank. They can operate at low network pressure. There are also dropper pegs that are used for spot watering. The product is installed in the root zone of the planting.
On a note! For drip irrigation of tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants and peppers, it is advisable to use drip tubes with external droppers.
The advantage of such pipes is that you can independently choose the installation step and regulate the volume of water released. The disadvantages include the high cost of the product (compared to drip tapes), the labor-intensive and time-consuming process of cleaning the droppers.
Drip tubes are commonly used for watering tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and other vegetables.
How to make a CP in a greenhouse and at the dacha with your own hands
Creating drip irrigation in a small greenhouse or suburban area is difficult. But before you do drip irrigation, it is important to correctly select all the components. For watering systems in small garden plots, the best solution would be to purchase an inexpensive kit. Today they are produced in many different types. You can water a bed 50 - 100 m long with even the simplest kit.
Important! If the set does not include filters, you must purchase them in addition, otherwise the system will quickly become clogged.
When the plot or greenhouse is larger, all components will have to be selected taking into account the planting plan and their requirements for humidity, soil type, and method of water supply.
Installation of drip irrigation at the dacha Source images.ua.prom.st
DIY drip irrigation from plastic bottles
For a small area, the simplest system of ordinary plastic bottles is suitable.
They are hung on a peg, with the neck down, and a narrow tube or simply the refill of a ballpoint pen is inserted into it. Be sure to make a hole for air to escape.
The second option is to make holes in the bottom. Here it is important to take into account the type of soil and its ability to absorb moisture, since the number of holes depends on this:
- sandy - 8;
- clay -12.
Their size is small so that the liquid does not spill out quickly. You can make them with a needle.
A simple option is underground watering: the bottle is buried in the ground, and the neck remains above the surface. When the amount of water decreases, add it. The advantage of this method is that there is no crust on the surface that needs to be loosened. For example, in a greenhouse, one tomato bush will need 1 liter of liquid for 7 days.
The holes quickly become clogged if there is clay in the soil. To prevent this:
- put ordinary nylon tights on the part of the container with holes;
- make a little drainage - put burlap or grass in the hole before burying.
This is a good idea for people who are often away. The bottle is placed in the ground, tilted at 30-45° to reduce the water pressure and the rate of its consumption.
Kits for arranging control points in summer cottages
Today on the market you can easily find gearbox kits of various types of domestic and foreign manufacturers. But there are some among them that have gained popularity among consumers in recent years. Let's consider drip irrigation systems for a summer cottage, a review and comparison of which will help the average consumer make a choice.
SKP "Signor Tomato" Source teplica22.ru
"Signor Tomato"
The most popular among farmers today is the Signor Tomato system for arranging drip irrigation, equipped with a solar battery. This is quite expensive, but also the most acceptable option available. When compared with other devices of this type, the kit has a number of advantages:
- Autonomous operation is ensured by a solar battery (no need to replace batteries or rechargeable batteries, like other systems);
- the presence of a pump that pumps water and controls the pressure independently;
- convenient hoses can be easily placed in problem areas;
- equipped with a remote control, through which certain parameters are selected (number of waterings per day, their duration and cyclicity);
- Fertilizers can be added to irrigation water.
For use over large areas, an expanded version of “Signora Tomato” is produced with a maximum coverage of 60 plants, each of which requires an average of about 3.5 liters of water per day.
Pseudo-drip irrigation system for garden beds
Lukaed created an irrigation system for cucumbers, which it called “pseudo-drip” due to the fact that it used non-core products. To manufacture the system, we purchased: a metal-plastic pipe and a meter of silicone hose that fits tightly onto this pipe, and six pharmacy systems, which were assigned the role of droppers.
Next, Lukaed rolled out the pipe in the center of the cucumber bed, cut it to size, and sealed the far end with a wooden chopper.
Using a 3.5 mm drill, I drilled holes for the dropper tubes, and cut the tubes to fit the cucumber stem with a margin of 2-3 mm. I inserted the tubes into the holes.
LukaedFORUMHOUSE user
The tubes should be cut at an angle, so it is more convenient to insert them into the holes.
I connected the irrigation system to a water tank using a connector and a piece of silicone hose. I secured the pipes with wire hooks.
Each cucumber bed took six meters of pipe. This system does not comply with the basic principle of drip irrigation - moisture does not continuously flow to the roots of the 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 installing an irrigation system for two beds was 700 rubles.
Lukaed
The metal-plastic pipe can be reused - unnecessary holes can be wrapped with tape or plugged with an M4 screw.
Rules of operation, maintenance, care
Self-installed irrigation systems require periodic maintenance and proper operation.
For open ground
For irrigation systems for gardens and large areas, it is necessary to consider:
- Possible damage from garden tools, birds and rodents.
- Clogging of the system with soil and fertilizers.
The entire system must be installed efficiently. Air leaks from the outside greatly affect the overall pressure and quality of irrigation.
For the greenhouse
The most important thing when watering a greenhouse is that the water is at room temperature. This is especially important in the cold season. Therefore, it is necessary to fill the tank with water in advance, let it settle and heat up. Greenhouse irrigation systems also require regular cleaning with high pressure water.
