Drip Irrigation In A Greenhouse: How To Do It Yourself, Device And Advantages Of A Drip Irrigation System, Irrigation From Plastic Bottles And From A Barrel

2024 Author: Beatrice Philips | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 05:33

The greenhouse should be a comfortable and convenient help for solving the everyday problems of gardeners and gardeners. And this means that it is required to carefully think over the irrigation system (watering) in it. Moreover, with high-quality drip irrigation, it is possible to achieve an optimal result.

Advantages

Installing an automatic irrigation system for greenhouse land is beneficial, if only because it helps reduce the risk of sunburn in plants. Even the most careful and tidy landowners cannot always avoid dripping on leaves and stems. And these drops work like a magnifying glass and can overheat part of the plant. By supplying metered water to the roots, gardeners eliminate such a threat in principle. Equally important is what happens to the water after it is on the ground.

The regular flow of liquid allows you to abundantly wet the entire fertile soil layer. If you water the greenhouse with a watering can or a hose, it will be possible to achieve water leakage of only 10 cm, even when it seems that there are no dry places left outside. Thanks to drip irrigation, it is possible to supply water and nutrient mixtures as accurately as possible, taking into account the characteristics of individual species and varieties. The appearance of puddles and wet paths is excluded.

An important feature of drip irrigation is that it helps to save on the fertilizers used . Since the seedlings will die less often, this will also help reduce costs. For your information: the flow of water directly to the roots of crops makes it difficult to develop weeds and useless plants that have accidentally fallen into the greenhouse. The root system with drip irrigation increases the ability of plants to obtain nutrients from the ground. Gardeners will be able to leave plantings unattended for a certain time, without worrying about their safety, and the danger of leaf diseases in cucumbers disappears.

Types of autowatering: features

There is no need to doubt that drip irrigation is useful. But it can be organized in various ways and it is important to know the nuances of each technique. Special systems produced in factories and plants are quite expensive, and it can be difficult to establish their operation on a specific site. But there are much simpler solutions: drip irrigation is perfectly organized with your own hands by using droppers. With this method, water can be obtained from wells, wells and even reservoirs of a suitable capacity. But connection to open water bodies in this case is categorically unacceptable.

Drippers are divided into two types: in some, fluid consumption is regulated, while in others it is set initially. Compensating devices are considered to be more effective than uncompensated devices. The "tape" version is considered to be relatively simple and uses a multi-hole irrigation tape. As soon as water gets into the hose, it begins to flow to the plants.

There are serious disadvantages here:

• you cannot change the intensity of the water supply (it is strictly determined by the pressure);
• it will not be possible to selectively water a separate area;
• some insects are capable of damaging relatively thin walls;
• even a tape that has not been attacked by a bear will work for a maximum of three years.

Most often, gardeners and gardeners choose systems that contain a hydraulic valve. A special controller sets the program, and the most advanced devices are capable of operating at strictly defined hours, set a month before the appointed date. Any summer residents will be able to operate such equipment; this does not require solid knowledge of technology. But not everyone can mount drip irrigation with a hydraulic valve. You can simplify the work if you briefly familiarize yourself with similar industrial watering systems.

There are other ways to automate drip irrigation . Often sprinklers are used for this purpose, the sprinkler radius of which is 8-20 m, depending on the model and its operating conditions and on the operating mode. A polypropylene pipe is used to supply water, but occasionally it is replaced with a leyflet-type hose. Drum-type sprinklers, widely used in small and medium-sized agricultural enterprises, are a good alternative. Water is immediately sprayed over tens of square meters. The only problem is that it must be taken exclusively in a reservoir and that such a solution is unnecessarily expensive for a single dacha economy.

There is also micro-sprinkling - this method is used both in large lands and in small gardens. All it takes is a flexible perforated hose connected to a stable water source. There are no particular differences from drip tape. Paying attention to the features of each option, carefully calculating the necessary parameters, you can get an advantageous ratio between water consumption and the resulting crop. This does not always work out the first time, but the experience of thousands of owners shows that high-quality drip irrigation is within the power of everyone.

System design

It is possible to water the ground in the greenhouse using the method of drip irrigation using improvised means. The simplest among them is the use of plastic bottles, from which the liquid will flow directly into the ground at the root. If you accumulate a sufficient number of containers (and they will be recruited along the way), the cost of materials can be reduced to zero. An important disadvantage is that such watering cannot be 100% automatic. You still have to fill each container with water every few days.

Regardless of the method of organization, the water should be at the same temperature as the ambient air. Only under this condition can the risk of hypothermia of plants be reduced to zero. Since the pressure in rural and suburban water pipelines often changes, it is advisable to use a reducer to extend the life of pipelines and tapes. The type of water source can be anything, and you still need to use a filter to avoid deformation of the following parts of the system. With the help of solenoid valves, it is possible to control the supply of liquid and its shutdown.

The advantage of this solution is the ability to coordinate the work of cranes with signals coming from timers or controllers via cable channels. It is often recommended to install sensors along with the electronics that can recognize weather conditions and adjust drip irrigation modes accordingly. The supply line is made of pipes - steel, polymer or metal-plastic. Some experts believe that those systems work better in which there is also a container with liquid fertilizer.

It should be noted that irrigation in a semi-automatic mode based on plastic bottles is very easy and simple to organize. It is recommended to use containers of 1-2 liters, which allow you to supply plants with water for up to three days; smaller sizes don't pay off, and larger bottles take up too much space. Important: before placing containers, you must remove all labels and stickers from it, they may contain substances hazardous to health. Using scissors, the bottoms of the bottles are cut off by approximately 50 mm.

The holes in the lids are very easy to make, for this you only need metal objects heated on a fire - awl, needle, thin nail. By varying the number of holes and their size, you can change the intensity of watering the plant. Of course, the more moisture-loving a crop is grown in a particular location, the more water must flow. From the inside, a little gauze is put into the lid so that it retains dirt and does not allow the holes to clog; cotton fabric or nylon can replace gauze. Next to the plant or the place of its future planting, a recess is dug, the diameter of which corresponds to the diameter of the bottle, and the depth does not exceed 150 mm.

As it is easy to see from this description, any gardener can correctly and quickly mount a complex of semi-automatic bottle irrigation. To reduce the risk of clogging the holes, you can pump the bottles upside-down by making holes in the bottom. And you can also put caps for which a container of 5 liters is used. The simplest solution, which at the same time makes filling the bottles easier, is to connect a branch from a garden hose to each bottle. In case of difficulties in choosing, it is worth consulting with specialists.

Calculation of the volume of water

Agronomy can hardly be called an exact science, but nevertheless, approximate calculations of the need for a greenhouse in water can be calculated by the gardener himself, without resorting to outside help. The chosen planting scheme must be taken into account, which can greatly affect the actual level of water evaporation by plants. The consumption of each drip irrigation unit must strictly correspond to the total throughput of the pipelines connected to it. The area occupied by each crop is always rounded up. This is especially important if a home-made micro-drip irrigation system is used, because the work of enthusiasts is rarely as effective as the actions of trained engineers.

When it is impossible to place on the site the number of blocks provided for by the calculations (for technical or economic reasons), it is required to make more of its fragments, and, on the contrary, the specific capacity of one block, on the contrary, must be reduced.

The main pipeline through the irrigation segment can occur:

• in the middle;
• in the middle with a shift;
• along the outer border.

Most professionals are convinced that the most advantageous arrangement is located in the middle of the irrigation block, with the pipes being withdrawn from both sides, since the pipeline is expensive. Having calculated the diameter of the pipe, which will allow the required amount of water to be supplied, if necessary, round it to the nearest standardized value. If the liquid is supplied from the tank, its capacity is calculated so that when it is 100% full, it will be enough for one daily irrigation cycle. It usually ranges from 15 to 18 hours, depending on how long the hottest hours last. The figures obtained must also be compared with the pressure that the water supply can provide.

Automation: pros and cons

There is no doubt that drip irrigation is necessary and that it is relatively easy to organize. But there is one subtlety - the automation of such irrigation has not only positive aspects. Many people strive to create an automatic complex as soon as possible, because they are tired of walking with watering cans and hoses and do not think about possible problems. A lot has already been said about the positive properties of automation, but all of them are weakened by one important circumstance - such systems work well only with a stable flow of liquid. In addition, each additional component increases the cost of creating an irrigation system and increases the risk that something will go wrong.

Water supply: options

The barrel is not only one of the options for obtaining water for drip irrigation. It is necessary to supplement it with systems that receive fluid from a water supply system or an artesian well. Indeed, in both cases, purely technical interruptions are possible, and then the water supply will turn out to be an extremely valuable resource. Where there is no central water supply, it is recommended to place the container at a height of approximately 2 m. To reduce evaporation and prevent the development of algae, it is necessary to protect the barrel from direct sunlight.

Pipes are laid from a container or other structure (even a water column) or hoses are pulled. Most people simply leave them on the ground, although sometimes it is necessary to hang them on supports or to be laid in the ground. Important: pipelines running underground should be relatively thick, and those laid on the surface of the earth are made only of opaque materials to prevent water bloom. In the absence of a central water supply or instability of its operation, you need to choose between a well and an artesian well.

The well will have to be dug, spending a lot of time and effort . If there is a body of water nearby, it may well be used for watering the greenhouse and open beds, but you will need to obtain official permission from the owners of the water area or supervisory authorities. A practical step for regularly used summer cottages is the use of reservoirs where water is collected from drainage systems or septic tanks. A serious disadvantage is that the productivity of such water supply is low, and it is often necessary to make up for the deficiency by calling in tank trucks (which is very expensive). It is not recommended to water anything with water flowing from the roof - and this rule applies not only to drip irrigation.

Ready-made kits

To simplify your work and not spend too much time setting up the drip irrigation system, you can choose one of the ready-made sets of irrigation systems. As the practice of gardeners shows, most of these devices work relatively well, while maintaining stability for a long time.

A striking example of a worthy solution controlled by timers is the brand's micro-drip irrigation Gardena … Such devices will help to reduce water consumption by 70% (compared to simple use of hoses). The connection is thought out in such a way that even children can create an extended contour.

The basic module contains three containers (each with its own lid), a pallet and a dozen clips (standard) or 6 clips (angled). Components can be ordered to make watering potted plants easier. In addition to Gardena, there are other fully finished complexes, each of which has its own characteristics.

" Beetle "collected in Kovrov, provides watering of 30 or 60 plants (depending on the modification). You can connect the devices to the water supply or to the tank, in some versions a timer is provided. The Beetle's droppers are designed to block the very possibility of contamination. The delivery set includes a filter.

" Water strider "made by a well-known firm " Will ", specializing in the production of greenhouses, fully meets the conditions for their irrigation. The standard version includes everything that is needed for drip irrigation in a 4 m greenhouse with a couple of beds. The system contains an automatic controller, and if necessary, you can always buy a section for an additional 2 m beds; serious weakness - unsuitability for connection to the water supply.

" Signor Tomato " Is one of the most expensive irrigation solutions on the Russian market. But the board is quite justified, because the system includes not only the controller, but also the autonomous power supply system of the automation due to the solar battery. To install such a kit, you do not need to lift the container and attach a tap to it. The initial delivery already includes a submersible pump capable of drawing water from a barrel. The length of the contour varies from 24 to 100 m.

DIY making

With all the advantages of ready-made kits, a large number of people are trying to do irrigation on their own. This allows you not only to save significant money, but also to fine-tune the created system to your needs and requirements as accurately as possible.

Schema and markup

The first condition for success is the formation of a competent and rational scheme. If the planning is wrong, you can face overconsumption of water and premature equipment failure. And even when factory irrigation complexes will be installed on the site, you need to carefully approach this moment.

The diagram shows:

• the properties of the greenhouse and its exact location;
• location of the water source;
• the contours of the water supply system connecting them.

It is impossible to draw up a clear scheme if there is no detailed plan of the irrigated area .; even the topographic map is already insufficiently detailed. All objects that can affect the trajectory of the system and its operation should be taken into account: relief drops, sheds and other outbuildings, planted trees, fences, residential building, gates, and so on. A wide variety of crops can be grown in greenhouses, including perennial crops, so their features must be taken into account. Watering of vegetables is organized in different ways depending on the planting technique and its plan, on the size of the row spacings, on the number and height of the rows, the areas they occupy. As for the sources of water supply, it is not enough to note their location and type, a good diagram always includes other important information.

So, when water is planned to be taken from a river, lake, stream or spring, the exact distance from the greenhouse to such sources must be reflected. When connected to the water supply, the working pressure and the mode of its action are described. In the case of wells, it is very useful to know the daily and hourly debit, the age of drilling, the pumping equipment, the diameter, and so on. You also need to think about what circumstances are important in a particular case and do not forget to include them in the created scheme. All these parameters are analyzed when choosing the optimal type of system and ordering parts for it.

Tools and accessories

The organization of drip irrigation is impossible without earthworks. Therefore, the necessary distances are measured with a tape measure, and a shovel will become the gardener's constant companion for the next few days. The installation of the system itself is carried out using screwdrivers and pliers, and a set of keys will probably also be required. The reserve or main barrel for irrigation must have a capacity of at least 200 liters, because only such a volume is really a guarantee against surprises. When water is supplied from a well, a pump is required; You can also remove it from the well manually, but you need to carefully consider whether the savings on the motor are worth the extra effort.

The simplest drip irrigation system in the proper sense of the word is formed from:

• a plastic water pipe with a diameter of about 5 cm;
• fittings;
• filter;
• drip tape.

The filtering system is connected to a hose leading from the barrel or from the water supply. Its other end is brought out to a pipe that distributes water through the site or through the greenhouse itself separately. In addition to such components, you will definitely need staples, self-tapping screws, scissors for cutting pipes. If the system is made independently from improvised components, you will need to use a connector, nozzles, hospital droppers, drip tape, various pipes and taps for switching. It is desirable that the parts are plastic, because PVC is not prone to corrosion, unlike metal.

Not every type of plumbing equipment is recommended to take for drip irrigation . So, fittings are required only from primary polyethylene. Its production is subject to strict official standards and quality control. But secondary polyethylene (recycled) by each enterprise is produced in accordance with TU, and even the fulfillment of these standards is guaranteed only by the manufacturer's word of honor. And even the best samples are not protected in any way from the action of ultraviolet rays and other harmful environmental factors.

The fact that the fitting is made of recycled polyethylene is most often indicated by depressions; they can also say that the standard technology is grossly violated in the production. There should be a strictly right angle between the ends and the axes, the slightest deviation from it indicates the low quality of the product and its unreliability. Mini starters with a diameter of 6 mm are needed to connect standard drip tapes. When using them, there is no need for a reinforced seal.

Threaded starters will help tie the drip system and the threads at the ends of the main lines. When polyethylene or polypropylene pipes with thick walls are used on the site, starters with a rubber seal must be used. In a greenhouse designed for year-round use, the irrigation system is made stationary. And therefore, slightly different components are used, which are more expensive (but also surpass the available analogues in terms of functional qualities).

Adjustable droppers are mounted on the plastic pipe, the clamping nut helps to vary the tightness of the tightening . The top cap helps you set the drip rate and water flow rate. The compensating type of adjustable drippers is needed if there is a large slope in the greenhouse. Thanks to him, even pressure drops in the line will not change the stability of the water supply. Starting cranes are equipped with clamps, with the help of which the connection becomes as tight as possible.

A drip tape is connected to the opposite inlet end of the starting valve. If the thread is made inside, then the valve is cut into the pipeline, and the ribbons are connected using this thread. It remains to figure out the tapes themselves and the requirements imposed on them, because a lot depends on the properties of this element. Even if all other parts of the drip system are selected and installed correctly, but the irrigation itself is upset, any expenditure of money and effort will be useless.

The lightest and thinnest tape is used when watering vegetables with a short growing season . The longer the ripening period of an irrigated crop, the higher should be the strength of the walls (and with it their thickness). For ordinary gardens and greenhouses, 0.2 mm is enough, and on rocky soils, a value of 0.25 mm is already recommended. When the irrigation holes are located 10-20 cm apart, the tape should be used for crops with dense planting, for sandy soils or for plants that actively consume water.

On ordinary soils with an average fraction size, the optimal value is 0.3 m. But 40 cm is required when the plants are planted sparsely, or you need to create a long watering line. The universal value for water consumption is 1 liter per hour. Such an indicator will satisfy the needs of almost every crop and is almost independent of the soil. Important: if you reduce the flow to 0.6 liters in 60 minutes, you can create a very long watering line; the same value is recommended for soils with low water absorption rates.

Procedure

The pipes are laid along the edges of the beds, making holes in them for the future connection of the drip tape. The spacing between these holes is determined by the width of the beds and row spacings, as well as the aisles in the greenhouse. It is important to organize all the work so that the holes on the pipe are marked in a single plane. As soon as the marking is completed, the plastic is initially drilled with a thin drill, then additionally traversed with a thick feather. Important: you cannot drill through the bottom walls.

It is required to take large drills with a smaller diameter than the rubber seal , this will avoid chaotic flow of water. Some of the masters believe that according to the technology it is necessary to place the pipe drilled at the proper points horizontally and shake it. Then the plastic shavings will be removed from the inside. Each hole is cleaned with emery and rubber seals are inserted into it (insert tightly to avoid leaks). After that, you can start installing the irrigation system in the greenhouse or in the garden.

The water pipes are connected by couplings onto which the valves are screwed. This is the only way to ensure sufficient pressure and concentrate the water supply to a certain area. The ends of the pipes are fitted with plugs. If you need to save money, they just put round blocks, tightly fitted to the diameter. After laying the pipeline, you can connect fittings, both ordinary and supplemented with taps. The role of a fitting with a tap is to shut off the water supply to a strictly defined bed.

When this is done, you need to equip the greenhouse with drip tape. The holes in it are located every 100-150 mm, the exact distance depends on the manufacturer's policy. All work is reduced to the layout of the tape over the territory and its attachment to the fittings. The far edge of the belts is sealed to avoid water spillage. For your information: it is advisable to plan the consumption of equipment and materials by 15% more than provided for by calculations. In reality, various mistakes and shortcomings, and even manufacturing defects, are absolutely inevitable.