By increasing application precision and reducing unneeded applications, water can be conserved and energy can be saved. About 80 percent of these acres use center pivot systems. Other types of irrigation systems can be upgraded to increase irrigation efficiency. Switching from high or medium pressure drip sprinklers to low pressure systems can conserve water and reduce distribution costs.
Diesel-powered pumps are used on about 10 million irrigated acres. Other emission devices are better suited to sparse plantings, but can also be used to supplement broadcast emission devices in dense plantings when a certain plant needs more targeted watering.
These include single-outlet emitters, multi-outlet emitters and bubblers. These emitters come in a range of flow rates from 0. The plant type, the soil and the type of installation will determine which emitter to choose.
To satisfy the different water intake requirements of plants in one irrigation zone, emitters can distribute different volumes of water using the same run time.
These factors need to be considered so that each plant receives the correct amount of water to keep it healthy and that water is not wasted. Hydraulic calculations are necessary in drip irrigation designs, just as they are with traditional systems. You must ensure that you size your header correctly for the amount of flow required, and that pressure loss is taken into account when you calculate the lateral lengths of your tubing runs.
Pressure should not exceed 50 psi or go below 15 psi at any point in the system after the pressure regulator. A landscape drip design guide is a helpful tool that shows maximum lateral lengths and header sizes based on flow rates, helping determine calculations.
You may find an online example by visiting www. A change in flowers may require a change in irrigation design. In many cases the drip zone can be dug up without disconnecting the irrigation system and repositioned to efficiently water the new flower beds.
And contractors have choices in water supply connections when installing a drip system. The system can draw from an outside faucet, or can be installed to an existing, traditional system, allowing you to schedule watering times with a battery controller or existing sprinkler timer.
The landscape maintenance industry continues to rise to the challenge of addressing concerns over water conservation. Drip irrigation will continue to serve as a win-win for the industry as it becomes more widely understood and as more advancements are made in equipment, benefiting the environment and the contractors who use it.
For more information about drip irrigation, contact her at or jreilly rainbird. What is drip irrigation? Where should drip irrigation be used? Benefits As a result of drought conditions and water restrictions throughout much of the country, the concept of drip irrigation has caught on with more and more contractors in recent years.
Water conservation The most recognized benefit of drip irrigation is that it saves water. Improved plant health Drip irrigation is a targeted watering technique that allows each plant zone to receive the exact amount of water it needs to thrive. Cost-effective Installing and maintaining a drip irrigation system saves both time and money.
Design Flexibility Installation of drip irrigation systems offers more flexibility, literally and figuratively. Water savings. Drip irrigation can reduce water use by 30 to 70 percent compared to conventional sprinkler irrigation.
Sprinklers can waste water due to scattered spray from winds, evaporation, run-off or deep leaching. Healthier plants. The ideal soil moisture level also minimizes plant stress, which spurs faster growth. Drip irrigation also prevents unsightly brown spots on flowers because spray never touches the plants, and it reduces fungal diseases by keeping the soil surface and foliage dry. There are no unobtrusive risers or sprinkler heads to lessen the aesthetic value of a landscape. Drip irrigation can be hidden under mulch or beneath the soil, which also eliminates spray on buildings, windows, fencing or pedestrians in high-traffic areas.
Reduced weed growth. Drip systems can easily be automated by hooking the system into conventional electric valves and timers. Optimal fertilization. Water-soluble plant food can easily be applied through the filter, to the drip system, directly to the plant root zone.
Use on slopes. Traditional sprinklers often create wasteful run-off when used to water upper slopes of hills. Drip irrigation applies the water slowly enough to allow all the moisture to soak directly into the soil. Reduced labor and maintenance. Irrigation Management Mobile Apps Mobile apps that can assist farmers with irrigation management are continuously improving.
One example is FieldNET Mobile , which allows users to control and monitor irrigation equipment from their iPhone or Android device enabling farmers to quickly adjust their irrigation based on changing conditions. Smart Irrigation Apps , developed by a University of Georgia agricultural scientist, helps southeast farmers plan their irrigation based on how much water their crops need and data from local weather stations.
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