Content
- 1 Types of artificial irrigation systems
- 2 The advantage of PVC pipes in the manufacture of country irrigation systems
- 3 Irrigation drip system made of PVC pipe
- 4 Automated and manual system control
- 5 Using the water supply container
- 6 Water pumps suitable for irrigation
- 7 How to care for your irrigation system
Throughout its entire life, the plant cannot do without water. Naturally, moisture reaches the roots during rain. During dry periods, artificial irrigation is required. There are manual and automated irrigation systems that can be built at your summer cottage from plastic pipes.
Types of artificial irrigation systems
If there is a central water supply at the dacha, it is easier to water the beds with a hose or buckets. But not every summer cottage has a city water supply, and the cost of water will hit your pocket hard. Most often, they use their own well or a nearby body of water to water the garden. To simplify this whole process with your own hands, the dacha will be equipped with an irrigation system. This is a kind of engineering and technical complex of varying complexity.Typically, pipes and a pump are used for all irrigation systems, but the control can be mechanical or automatic. Let's look at what artificial irrigation systems exist for dachas.
Sprinkling
The irrigation system that creates an imitation of rain got its name - sprinkling. To make it for your dacha, you will need to buy a special water sprayer that sprays in different directions. Sprayers are connected to the pipeline using adapters. When the pump inside the system creates a certain pressure, water sprayed in the form of rain will evenly fall on the area with seedlings.
The advantage of such irrigation is that it increases the humidity of the air itself. After all, the plant absorbs water not only with its roots, but also with its above-ground parts. Water falling in small drops does not erode the soil, but is evenly absorbed. During watering, dust is washed off the leaves, which has a positive effect on the plant’s metabolism. Such irrigation systems are easy to automate, but they are wise to use in large areas, such as a vegetable garden.
The only disadvantage of sprinkling is the mandatory creation of a certain water pressure inside the system, plus the high cost of materials.
Drip irrigation system
The next type of irrigation is drip irrigation. That is, water is supplied in doses from the pipe directly to the plant, where it immediately reaches the roots. This significantly saves water, since the area to be irrigated is reduced, but the air humidity is much less than with sprinkling.Due to the low water consumption, the system can operate even from a container.
The advantage of drip irrigation is that the performance of the system is less dependent on changes in water pressure inside the pipeline. By expanding the holes of homemade drippers, you can regulate the simultaneous supply of different amounts of water depending on the needs of the plants. In terms of the cost of materials, drip irrigation is superior to sprinkling.
Among the disadvantages of such a system for a summer residence, one can highlight the frequent clogging of the droppers, which require constant flushing. Complex care is not always to the advantage of summer residents.
The video shows drip irrigation:
Internal soil irrigation
The following irrigation system involves watering the plant at the root. It is made from a special porous pipe called a humidifier. The pipes themselves are not laid on the ground surface, but buried. Through the pores, water seeps into the soil, falling directly under the roots of the plants.
The advantage of the root irrigation system is the same economical water consumption. It can work even from a small capacity. Moisture does not come to the surface, which is why it does not evaporate. Due to the fact that the top layer of soil remains dry, a crust does not form on it, requiring fluffing.
The disadvantages include the same difficult maintenance due to contamination of the droppers, plus the difficulties of operation itself. The system will not have an effect on sandy soils, so it is not used here.Another disadvantage is the high cost of porous tubes.
The advantage of PVC pipes in the manufacture of country irrigation systems
If you decide to make an irrigation system at your dacha with your own hands, your choice should only be on a PVC pipe. It has many advantages and, most importantly, the pipe does not rot. It is very easy to assemble an irrigation system from plastic pipes at your dacha, since reusable fittings are sold for its installation. The entire system is assembled as a constructor without the participation of a welder. If necessary, the same fittings can be unscrewed to clean the system or move it to another location. The PVC pipe is very light, allowing one person to work.
The video shows elements for installing irrigation:
Irrigation drip system made of PVC pipe
The drip system is gaining momentum in popularity, so we will look at the production of country irrigation using this example. It should be noted right away that the main line must be laid from thick-walled PVC pipes of larger diameter. For all branches, a thin-walled pipe of smaller diameter will go to the beds.
The installation procedure is approximately as follows:
- A tank is installed at a level of at least 2 m from the ground surface. At its lowest point, a piece of threaded pipe is cut in, onto which a ball valve is screwed.
- Since the drip system can become clogged, it is advisable to install a filter after the ball valve. It should be collapsible to make it easy to clean.
- After the filter, the main line is assembled using fittings, laying it near the beds perpendicular to the rows. The end of the line is closed with a plug. If mineral fertilizers are added to the water during irrigation, an additional unit must be installed after the filter. It is a small, elevated container connected to the main pipe through a tee.
- Opposite each row of the bed, tee fittings are cut into the main pipe. Branches of thin pipes are connected to their central outlet, the ends of which are similarly closed with plugs.
For branches, you can use perforated PET tapes, but they are short-lived, so it is better to take a thin-walled polyethylene pipe and drill holes in it opposite each plant. You can leave them like this to save money or screw a purchased dropper into each hole. Alternatively, medical droppers are suitable for irrigation. Now all that remains is to fill the tank with water, open the tap and check the system for operation.
Automated and manual system control
You can control your country irrigation system manually or automatically. The first method is cheaper, and the second allows you to appear at the dacha less often to water the garden.
Manual control
Manual control of the irrigation system is very simple. It is enough to install ball valves on all pipeline lines and open and close them as needed. Manual control is most suitable for drip irrigation operating without a pump.Water flows through the pipeline by gravity due to the pressure created by the total mass of liquid in the tank. The advantage of manual control is low cost and independence from electricity. The disadvantage is the constant presence of a person at the dacha to turn on the watering.
Automated control
To create automated irrigation, you will need a special device like a computer to program the process. Instead of ball valves, solenoid valves connected to a computer are installed on all branches and the main pipeline line. Using software control, the valve operates at a certain time, opening or closing the water supply. The system can be programmed for several days, and it will work without human intervention. Pump operation is also included in the programming system.
Automated control considered in this state is ineffective. The program will turn on the water supply after a specified time, even in rain, when it is not needed. Correct operation of the system is only possible in conjunction with soil moisture sensors and a precipitation controller. Based on the signals received from them, the computer will know when, where and how much to water.
The fully automated system is very smart and will work smoothly as long as water and electricity are available. However, it will cost a lot, and the installation of sensors and the entire electrical circuit will require the participation of a specialist.
Using the water supply container
The use of a container in the irrigation system is justified by the uninterrupted supply of water, plus it will be warm, which is beneficial for the plants. It is better to install the tank from stainless steel, since ferrous metal is susceptible to corrosion.The crumbling rust will clog the main components of the system. The cheapest and best option for a summer residence is considered to be a black plastic container. The water inside the tank will quickly heat up from the sun's rays. It is undesirable to use transparent tanks due to the formation of algae inside, which, like rust, will clog the entire system. The volume of the tank is selected according to the size of the plot, for example, for 2 acres a container with a capacity of 2 m is suitable3. Water is pumped into the tank from a well or a centralized water supply system.
Water pumps suitable for irrigation
The use of pumps in a country irrigation system is mandatory. Sprinkling without water pressure will not work at all, and for drip irrigation you will still need to pump up the tank.
Surface mounted units
Surface pumps are installed on land. They are capable of lifting water from a well or sucking it from tanks and feeding it into a pipeline. Water is sucked through a submerged pipe with a valve installed at the end.
Submersible units
Submersible pumps are also called deep pumps. They are tied to a cable, after which they are immersed in a well, reservoir or any other source of water intake. The unit is convenient to use in landscape design due to its invisibility on the surface.
How to care for your irrigation system
In any irrigation system, drippers and sprayers most often become clogged. Caring for them involves removing blockages.
Cleaning is performed in the following ways:
- Mechanical pollution is formed when sand or any dirt gets into the water. All solid particles must be retained by filters, which must be washed periodically. The droppers themselves must be disassembled and washed with clean water.
- Biological pollution occurs from water blooming. The dropper is cleared of mucus, washed with a chlorine solution, and then the entire system is pumped with clean water.
- Residues of chemical contamination are possible after adding mineral fertilizers to the system unit. Special acidity regulators added to the water will help keep the droppers clean.
The main maintenance process consists of completely disassembling the system when cold weather sets in. The pipes are washed with clean water and then removed to a warm room. If the pipes are buried in the ground, they are not afraid of frost and let them remain over the winter.
As you can see, any irrigation systems can be made independently at the dacha. Their maintenance is minimal, but the comfort of use is maximum.
