Pipe for drip irrigation: what to look for when choosing + rules for working with it

Plants need water no less than people. With insufficient watering, they also experience stress, which slows down growth and disrupts the metabolic processes in the stems, leaves and root system. For a constant supply of water to the roots in metered quantities, a tape or pipe for drip irrigation is increasingly being used.

In this article, we consider in more detail the types of this equipment found on the market, and the features of choosing the right option.

We will also pay attention to the peculiarities of self-assembly of the drip pipeline, we will give recommendations on the use of the system and its storage in the winter. We will also consider the main problems that most often arise during operation, and how to solve them.

Components of drip irrigation systems

The system for drip irrigation of plants is not just connected to a water tap, but has many special components and devices.

The optimal equipment includes such components:

1. Pressure regulating valves. They are located in front of the drip pipes and lower the pressure of the water. High pressure can cause damage to the pipes and uneven watering along their length.
2. Filter system. The outlets in the pipes are very small, so they are easily clogged with the smallest particles of sand and dirt. To prevent blockage and filters are applied.
3. Water meter. Device for determining and accounting for real consumptionneeded to calculate real water demand.
4. Fertilizer site. It consists of a container for mixing fertilizers and pumping equipment that supplies water to the pipe system.
5. Controller. The device that regulates the operation of the water meter and pumping equipment. Serves to control the volume and time of irrigation.
6. Trunk pipe systemleading water to the irrigated area.
7. Drip pipes and droppers. Devices that directly distribute water.
   

Due to the need for drip irrigation systems in maintenance and adjustment, their cost is largely determined by the price of additional equipment. Often it costs much more than the polyethylene pipes themselves, so when choosing an irrigation system, the financial factor should be taken into account.

There are drip irrigation systems for both the unpretentious grassy lawn and for half a kilometer industrial greenhouses. You can invest in any budget

Main advantages and disadvantages

The market has a wide selection of different types of pipes for irrigation plants, so choosing the right option is not so simple.

The choice of a drip system as the best option for irrigation of plants should be done only after weighing all the advantages and negative aspects. After all, a method using a hose with suitable irrigation nozzle much cheaper than the maximum automation of the irrigation process.

The benefits include:

1. The absence of sunburn of leaves. During rainwater, water focuses light on the leaves, which leads to fatal sunburn. Drip irrigation lets water directly into the soil, eliminating damage to plants by the sun.
2. Low minimum working pressure. In the summer season, the pressure of the water supply often drops, and water the plants with a hose uncomfortable. The drip system is enough for the pressure to work in 0.2-0.3 atmospheres.
3. Possibility of supplying warm water from storage tanks, which eliminates temperature stress in plants.
4. 60% water saving compared to rain irrigation.
5. Possibility of applying insecticides directly to the soilwithout contact with vegetables and berries.
6. Fertilizer consumption reduction due to their better digestibility and lower soil losses.
7. Possibility of night watering. Water is supplied automatically without the participation of the owners of the site.
8. Lack of physical watering costs and control over the amount of water consumed.
9. Ability to automate the irrigation process. A convenient feature that allows you to care for plants with minimal labor, because you do not need to walk around the site, "dragging" a hose behind it.
10. 2-3 times increase in productivity. It becomes possible due to constant water recharge and reduction of stress in plants.

Despite the obvious benefits of use, the drip irrigation pipe system has its drawbacks. Which are only superficially.

These include:

1. The high cost of drip irrigation systems. It should be borne in mind that the initial cost of equipment is offset by savings in water consumption and income from increased yields.
2. The complexity of installation. Installing the simplest dosed irrigation system is easy. This can be done in one day, and then all summer to save time on irrigation.
3. Clogged droppers. Properly installed droppers are rarely clogged with earth, and the supplied water can be cleaned with passive filters.

The benefits of a drip irrigation system are not exhaustive. This technique has many additional benefits for professional farmers. Therefore, the installation of pipes for drip irrigation is ideal for watering a summer cottage.

Types of drip systems

Despite the apparent uniformity of all water hoses for drip irrigation of plants, they are all divided into two groups: tapes and pipes.

Features of drip tapes

Polyethylene drip tapes have a wall thickness of up to 0.4 mm, so they are easily flattened and wound onto a drum. Due to the low material consumption, the price of tapes is quite low.

According to the mechanism of water outflow, they are divided into labyrinth, slotted and emitter.

Labyrinth droplet tapes have an adjustment mechanism that changes the flow of water. Its disadvantage is easy clogging and the need for strict adherence to the location of the tape

Pipes for drip irrigation

The pipes for assembling the drip system are made of polyethylene or PVC and they have walls with a thickness of 0.4 to 1.5 mm. Hoses do not fall off and constantly keep a round section.

These products themselves will be discussed later.

Classification and use of drip pipes

Drip pipes, unlike tapes, are guaranteed to last 5-6 seasons, so their use is effective in growing perennial plants and trees. Due to the wide variety of designs and types of pipes for drip irrigation, it is worthwhile to dwell in more detail on the areas of application and the choice of one or another type of equipment.

Most drip pipes on the market have an outer diameter of 16 mm, although products with a thickness of 12 and 20 mm are sold.

Otherwise, drip systems can be divided into the following functional and structural differences:

• by the uniformity of pressure in the pipe;
• by type of dropper;
• a step between the droppers;
• by the location of the equipment relative to the ground;
• by the presence of holes for droppers;
• by water consumption.

Next, we will consider the classification of drip tubes according to the listed characteristics.

Criterion # 1 - uniformity of pressure in the pipe

According to the uniformity of the pressure distribution, the tubes are divided into:

1. Compensated. The flow rate of the leaving water at the end and beginning of the tube remains unchanged and does not depend on the pressure.
2. Not compensated. The water flow rate varies depending on the pressure supplied at the beginning of the hose.
3. Adjustable.

It makes sense to buy compensated pipes with a length of irrigation lines of more than 20 meters and with a minimum working pressure of at least 1 atm. In Spanish droppers, the opening threshold is 0.3 atm, Israeli - 1 atm, that is, with less pressure, the water simply will not leave the system. About ways to increase the pressure in the system, we talked here.

And with a small length of pipes, watering will be uniform throughout the length.

Under the pressure of water, the silicone membrane opens the way for water to come out. The disadvantage of the scheme is the presence of a minimum threshold pressure at which watering is possible

Uncompensated and adjustable droppers can function at any pressure and even in gravity systems. Adjustable pipes require initial fine tuning, which is time consuming.

Criterion # 2 - type of dropper

Pipes can have droppers of the following types:

• rigid, in the form of an elastic tube;
• soft, in the form of a tape;
• embedded in the wall.

Pipes with built-in droppers are used mainly in dense gardens, artificial landscapes and shrubs, where the poured water will be available to the root system anywhere.

Built-in droppers with labyrinth compensators are prone to clogging with mechanical impurities, therefore, they require thorough water purification using filters

Drip hoses with built-in external droppers are used for watering plants in the following areas:

• decorative crop production;
• hydroponic systems;
• industrial berry gardens;
• nurseries.

They can also be found in vertical landscaping systems.

The holes for the droppers are quite large and practically do not clog, and the tubes themselves are easy to wash, cleaning from sand

Droppers allow you to supply water to each root separately.

Criterion # 3 - step between droppers

The step between the emitters in the droplet tubes must be selected, focusing on the crops grown. No need to buy equipment without a clear understanding of the list of plants that it will water.

Pipes can have such a step between emitters:

1. 10-20 cm - It is installed when irrigating grassy lawns, onions, garlic, parsley, lettuce, etc., is used on sandy soils, if necessary, a large flow of water or linear irrigation.
2. 30 cm - used for irrigation of potatoes, strawberries, cucumbers, peppers.
3. 40 cm and more (up to 150 cm) - It is used for irrigation of tomatoes, pumpkins, zucchini, watermelons.

The latter species is often used in the nesting scheme for planting shrubs.

It must be remembered that the flow rate of drip pipes is indicated on one hole, and not on the entire length as a whole

If there is no plan for planting, then it is best to buy a blind tube and determine the location of the dropper insert later on yourself. In addition, a decrease in the pitch between emitters leads to an increase in the cost of equipment.

Criterion # 4 - location of equipment relative to the ground

By location relative to the soil, the pipes are divided into:

• superficial;
• subsoil.

Pipes laid underground have a special design that prevents them from being quickly clogged by the ground.

They apply in such cases:

1. It is necessary to hide watering for aesthetic beauty.
2. There is the possibility of theft of the pipe.
3. In artificial terrain systems.

They are also relevant to prevent damage to equipment during cultivation.

To drip holes less clogged, the pipe can be covered with medium gravel.This will additionally prevent the germination of plant roots in the system.

Installation of an underground system requires additional labor and financial costs.

Criterion # 5 - the presence of holes in the pipes

According to the availability of special places for connecting droppers, the pipes are divided into:

• the blind - these are solid pipes, holes for droppers in which you can do it yourself in an arbitrary place;
• emitter, with integrated outlets.

Both types are actively used.

When buying a blind drip pipe, you must definitely purchase a special metal tip to form holes for external droppers

Blind droppers are convenient for watering chaotically located berry bushes and elements of an artificial landscape. In them, using a drill or tip, you can always make a hole in the right places and insert a drip tube into it. There are stubs to plug extra holes.

Criterion # 6 - water consumption

As for water consumption, there is no clear separation of drip pipes, but for each product this parameter is specified in the instructions.

Equipment with different bandwidths has its own fields of application.

1. Emitters with a flow rate of 2-4 l / h are installed on beds where two-way watering from one hose is required, as well as on sandy soils with high absorbency.
2. Water in an amount of 1-1.5 l / h is enough for most grassy lawns and vegetables.
3. Low consumption of 0.6-1 l / h is used on long irrigation lines and clay soils. With this pressure, good water filtration is required, otherwise the pipes may become clogged.

If desired, the water flow can be adjusted.

In uncompensated pipes, the pressure value influences the water flow, so the watering volume at their end will be lower than at the beginning

Before choosing pipes for drip irrigation, specialist consultation is required in order to purchase exactly the equipment that meets the existing conditions and plants.

Own construction of an irrigation system

An effective automated watering system can be done with your own hands. Its device will cost much less than the assembly and installation of a ready-made set of pipes and devices. In addition, the application of one's own strengths and skills will bring undoubted pleasure:

It is permissible to lay the system of automated watering from a polyethylene pipe openly; it is not afraid of sunlight.

In open areas, it is not recommended to arrange PVC pipelines, it is undesirable to use polypropylene if there are open flame sources nearby.

We decided to do the installation of summer water supply in the country on our own, so as not to spend extra time and effort watering the plants manually? We recommend that you familiarize yourself with walkthrough on laying an automatic irrigation system using pumping equipment.

Recommendations for the use of drip systems

There are proven over the years recommendations for the use of drip pipelines, which increase their effectiveness.

1. Fertilizing and dietary supplements is best done by dissolving them in the water supplied through the drip system.
2. Watering should begin 2 hours after sunrise, and finish - 2 hours before sunset.
3. The optimum temperature of water for irrigation is 20-23 degrees.
4. You can not immediately supply cold water after running out of warm supplies.
5. In a gravity system, the water tank must be at least 1 meter from the ground.
6. It is necessary to monitor the uniformity of the diameter of the wet spots near each dropper. Their increase or decrease may indicate a rupture or clogging of the pipeline, respectively.

If it is impossible to water during the day, it is recommended to give plants 2/3 of the daily norm of water in the morning, and 1/3 in the evening.

In greenhouses, it is better to put the storage tank indoors - there it heats up faster and keeps the water temperature longer

Proper watering saves water and is a guarantee of a high yield and beauty of the lawn cover.

Pipe problems and troubleshooting

The efficiency of drip pipes is highly dependent on operating conditions. Equipment can last a month, or maybe five years - it all depends on following the elementary rules for its use.

The main causes of drip pipe problems are:

• clogging;
• root sprouting;
• improper storage in the offseason.

Further, the listed problems will be considered in more detail, and options for their prevention are proposed.

Clogging and flushing the system

Country watering is often carried out with water from wells or natural bodies of water, so the periodic clogging of pipes is understandable.

For groundwater treatment, a screen filter will be sufficient, and when watering from ponds, an additional disk filter device must be installed. In the absence of preliminary cleaning, clogging of droppers can occur within a few days.

Regardless of the presence of filters, drip pipes must be regularly cleaned of mechanical sediment by the pressure of water. To do this, open the far end of the pipeline and supply water to the system at a speed of 6-7 l / min. Rinsing continues until the sediment is completely cleaned.

You can punch a clogged hole in a dropper using a conventional foot pump. It is enough to put the pump hose to the hole of the empty pipe and swing it sharply

The elimination of bacterial mucus from the system is carried out by washing with a 0.5% sodium hypochlorite solution. It is necessary to fill the system with a mixture and leave for 12 hours. After this, drain the chlorine liquid and rinse the pipeline with clean water for 10 minutes.

As the contamination is carried out, the drip system is also cleaned of salt deposits of 0.6% nitric, phosphoric or perchloric acid. The water used should be as warm as possible. The pipeline is washed with an acid solution for 50-60 minutes. After the procedure, rinse the system with clean water for half an hour.

Prevention of root sprouting in pipes

Drip systems with round openings for water outlet are most susceptible to germination. The greater the lack of moisture experienced by plants, the stronger their roots reach for its source. Therefore, the prevention of root sprouting is based on sufficient watering.

Additionally, you can periodically move the pipes a few centimeters to the side so that the roots do not concentrate near the droppers.

Particularly relevant is the germination of plant roots in the holes of drip tubes in compact enclosed soils. It is recommended in such cases to periodically change the location of the water supply rod

If the problem is not solved by these methods, then it is possible to use special chemicals that inhibit the growth of the root system. But it is recommended to use them carefully so as not to destroy the cultivated plants.

Pipe storage in winter

It is necessary to plan the cleaning of the drip pipeline in advance so that unexpected cold does not freeze the water in the system and do not damage the pipes.

Winding pipes on a drum is ideal for long-term storage: hoses and built-in emitters are not squeezed, and the roll can be easily protected from rodents

Before cleaning the pipeline for the winter, it is necessary to clean it from mechanical sediment, mucus and lime deposits. You need to rewind the drip system slowly, raising the hoses for draining water high. It is necessary to store rolls in a dry room, preventing the penetration of rodents into it that can nibble equipment.

Compliance with these rules will allow you to operate drip pipes without problems during the entire warranty period.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Presented videos demonstrate field irrigation systems. Viewing them will help to better understand the processes of installation, operation and automatic control of drip pipes.

Mounting a blind drip pipe:

Work with a tube of drip irrigation:

Automated drip system:

In skillful hands, drip irrigation turns into a powerful tool for saving finances and personal time, while improving plant growth dynamics and well-being.

These systems do not require special equipment and installation skills, so anyone can assemble them. And certain financial expenses will pay off many times in a couple of years.

Do you irrigate all the plants in your area using a drip system? Tell us which pipes you have chosen for the installation of the system, approximately what amount it cost you, are you satisfied with the results? Share with your beginners your success in growing vegetables and increasing their productivity - leave your comments under our article.