How to assemble irrigation from drip tape. Automatic drip irrigation

Good watering on a summer cottage - deposit high yields vegetable and fruit and berry crops, accelerated flower growth. What caring summer resident does not dream of having the most effective, non-requiring high costs installation, irrigation system?

Commonly available and inexpensive means of reclamation are drip irrigation systems. The use of drip irrigation systems makes it possible to achieve early growth and ripening of plant fruits, increase the yield of seeds and seedlings by 2-2.5 times, planting material or trees. Thanks to targeted watering of the root system, weed growth slows down and the spread of pests is prevented cultivated plants and diseases.

Being an alternative to traditional watering equipment, hoses and sprinklers, drip irrigation in the countryside reduces water consumption during irrigation by half. For those who want to automate the water supply process, there are modern innovative developments. They allow you to program the operation of drip irrigation in given parameters in time with the required sequence of functions. Anyone can set up drip irrigation in a dacha or do drip irrigation in a garden. home handyman without special knowledge of hydraulic engineering. It is enough to understand the operating principle of the system in question and have basic skills in constructing pipelines from plastic materials.

Drip irrigation system at the dacha. Photo

Types of drip irrigation

To arrange drip irrigation, you must first select one of the types most suitable for the irrigation method:

The main element of this design is a thick-walled pipe. It is usually made of polyethylene and can withstand pressure up to 3 atm. This allows water to be supplied over a distance of hundreds of meters. Emitters or droppers are built into the hose casing at regular intervals. They are designed for a certain water flow. Usually it is 1-2 l/hour. The system is installed using plastic fittings. The system is convenient for use on the ground in private gardens. The system can be disassembled winter period for closed storage until the next watering season.

Connected to the main hose. It is a thin-walled (0.12-0.6 mm) flexible tube with an internal diameter, most often OE16 or OE22 mm. Sold rolled up in the form of coils or small windings. Fittings and connectors of standard diameters 1/2 and 3/4 inches are suitable for such tapes. The length of the tape irrigation line can reach 400-450 m. The throughput of the tapes is up to 500 l/hour.

With help external microdroppers(nozzles or various models of sprinklers) with a certain standard of water consumption. They provide watering with drops or microjets, the intensity of which, in some models, is adjustable. Droppers are placed on the outside of plastic pipes or attached tubular branches. They can be installed on an unperforated (without holes) hose at any distance using self-piercing fittings.

How does gravity-fed drip irrigation work?

Drip irrigation at the dacha can be carried out using gravity feed by gravity from the water intake tank. You can arrange drip irrigation using a barrel, tank or other reservoir filled from a network water supply, natural water intake or settled rainwater. Drip irrigation systems are susceptible to clogging by algae, zooplankton and suspended particles, including rust. Therefore, you can’t use water from every open body of water, and choose a container from a material that is not subject to corrosion or destruction. This can be a used barrel or tank made of synthetic material, plastic, galvanized iron, covered with a lid to prevent leaves, debris or dust from entering. The volume of the barrel is selected taking into account the needs to ensure sufficient watering without constant replenishment of moisture reserves. Water from the tank must flow continuously. Required consumption for watering everyone summer cottage is individual, but every summer resident should know the required daily water consumption in his garden, garden or greenhouse. Based on the consumption standards, 1 tomato bush requires 1.5 liters of water, cucumbers and potatoes 2 liters, cabbage 2.5 liters daily, etc. Knowing the number of seedling bushes/tree trunks of growing crops, you can calculate the total water requirement. This will also be required to choose the right suitable model drip irrigation systems in relation to a specific summer cottage.

It is better to place the container at a height of 1.0-2.0 m from the ground to ensure water pressure in the water supply network of 0.1-0.2 atm. Water should come from the tank as purified as possible. It is better to cut the drain hole at a height of 10 cm from the bottom so that accumulated sediment does not get into the hose. Such a homemade water intake unit should be equipped with a mesh or other design filter. When using herbicides and fertilizers, it is allowed to dilute liquid forms drugs in a special fertigation unit. After fertigation, the irrigation system must be filled clean water and let it run for a few minutes to clean it out. You should monitor the condition of the filter; it should be cleaned and washed once a week. Gravity systems, in view low pressure, have a limitation - only uncompensated droppers can be used in them. Compensated drippers that maintain constant water pressure are not used due to low pressure.

Drip irrigation on small area with your own hands. Video

Recommendations for installation and maintenance of a drip irrigation system

Any drip irrigation system consists of components and components without which the normal functioning of irrigation devices is impossible. When constructing a drip irrigation system for a summer residence, the following are sequentially assembled and installed:

• Water intake unit from a water supply, container, well/borehole. To assemble and connect to the water tank, you will need OE 3/4" components: elbow with external thread and a tap with internal thread.
• Filter mesh/disc, if the water contains hydrobionts or impurities with a particle size of more than 0.13 mm.
• Water saturation fertigation unit dressings and fertilizers or supplying nutrient solutions for hydroponics. Represents the container in which drugs are diluted. It is connected in the right place to the irrigation system through a tube with a dispenser - injector.
• Main distribution pipeline from a plastic polyethylene HDPE pipe OE from 32 mm or other durable material that meets the requirements for the system.
• Distribution network from lines - microtubes or tapes with/without droppers.

• A wide variety of components are additionally used as fastening elements for connecting linear sections when installing a drip irrigation system. These are fittings - adapters or start - connectors for drip tape, corners and bends. More complex systems use tees, splitters or “spiders”, as they are usually called, minifolds. When installing drip irrigation with your own hands, you should consider important points:
• The main HDPE pipe is laid perpendicular to the rows of beds for easy connection of branches.
• To make the drip irrigation system resistant to contamination, a plug is installed at the end of the HDPE pipe of the irrigation pipeline, which is removed when washing/blowing the main line.
• Using strip design, V drilled holes The pipes are first screwed onto the start-connector, and then the tape itself is tightly put on it. From the opposite end it is muffled. To do this, a strip in the form of a ring 1 cm wide is cut from the tape. The end of the tape is folded up and this removable ring is tightly placed on it. This is done for the same reason - sealing with the possibility of washing or blowing out clogged sections of the belts.

Choosing a tape for drip irrigation

When choosing a tape for drip irrigation in the garden, you need to take into account the inherent features different types tape devices.

Thus, a feature of tapes like “ Labyrinth» is the presence of embedded material on the surface structural element- labyrinth. It slows down the movement of the water stream in the barrel and regulates its flow through the outlet holes. However this technology manufacturing with an external labyrinth has a significant drawback. There is a high probability of damage to the labyrinth when laying the tape.

In feeds slot type Holes for water infiltration are laser-cut on the walls every 20-100 cm. A labyrinth is built inside the tape along its entire length to eliminate turbulence in the moving water flow. When unwinding, the tape is installed “labyrinth side up” to ensure uniform flow of water through the water outlets. These tapes provide the easiest and most inexpensive method of watering. It should be taken into account that slotted tapes require good filtration up to 0.08 mm.

Emitter type The tapes are distinguished by the additional equipment of the holes with built-in flat droppers “facing inward”. This is a feature of this type: the droppers are not located outside, but are placed on inner surface walls of the conveyor belt. The vortex turbulent flow of water that occurs with this design inside the tape contributes to the self-cleaning of the droppers.

Tape water conduits with a wall thickness of up to 0.16-0.2 mm are used when it is necessary to make drip irrigation on the ground surface. For underground installation, tapes with a shell thickness of over 0.2 mm are used.

DIY drip irrigation system

Using the example of a plot of 1.5 acres, let's look at installing a homemade drip irrigation design with our own hands. It has 8 rows of planted plants, each 15 meters long. You will need 120-130 m of drip tape with a perforation/emitter pitch of 0.3 m, providing a throughput of 3.8 l/hour. It should be taken into account that this water consumption parameter corresponds to a pressure of 1 atm, which is unrealistic to create using a water tank at the dacha. It would be necessary to raise the container to a height of 10 m. Therefore, we focus on the pressure in the irrigation system of 0.1 atm, ensured by installing the tank at a height of one meter. Spillway due to low pressure will decrease three times and amount to 1.2 l/hour. This will require a 3-fold increase in watering time. To make drip irrigation, perform the following steps sequentially:

1. We connect a fitting with a 3/4" external thread to the hose coming out of the tank.
2. We connect a faucet with a 3/4" internal thread in series, then a filter. We use, if necessary, a futurer to transition from internal to external threads.
3. We connect through the connecting PE coupling main pipe and lay it perpendicular to the irrigation strips. For an irrigated area of ​​up to 3 acres, a pipe diameter of OE 32 mm is sufficient. Usually it is laid along the fence or next to the wall of the greenhouse. We pay attention to the features of the relief: the main pipe is laid horizontally, and the drip tapes are laid downhill. The end of the pipe at the other end land plot We plug the PE end cap with a handle or install a tap for preventive flushing.
4. We drill holes in the pipe at each of the 8 beds, screw fittings with rubber gaskets. Instead of fittings, it is recommended to use taps that allow you to turn off any irrigation line. When making drip irrigation with your own hands, you can avoid this operation. The trade range includes models of pipes for drip irrigation, already equipped with start connectors.
5. We cut off sections from the emitter tape and lay them along the length of the bed. One end of the line is put on the fitting, the other is plugged in the manner discussed earlier.
6. To use one dripper to water several bushes, we attach minifold pipe splitters to the dripper and lay the pipes in the root zone of the plants.

Do-it-yourself drip irrigation. Assembly: video

Drip irrigation in a greenhouse

A special feature of greenhouses is the cultivation of crops with higher density planting: parsley, celery, dill and other greens. And more dense, compared to growing in open ground, a method of sowing or planting vegetables. Greenhouse cultivation is often characterized by a small distance between plantings in ridges and narrow row spacing. Plants in greenhouses grow much faster, bushier and produce more shoots. It is important that some types of crops produce 2-4 harvests per year. Therefore, drip irrigation should be installed taking into account increased consumption water for every m? glaze. It is necessary to adhere to the required water dosage and supply schedule, which vary greatly during the growing season and are individual for each crop.

When constructing drip irrigation with your own hands in a greenhouse, it is recommended:

• Decrease step connecting external droppers. If you cannot find a pipe with a standard 15 or 30 cm emitter arrangement, you can purchase a “blind” drip hose. It is used as a watering line; there are no water outlets on it; droppers can be inserted anywhere.
• Apply IVs, the design of which is designed for watering 2-4 consumers at the same time. To do this, you need to connect sections of tubes to each output and lead them to the plant trunks. More often use tees and minifolds to feed several plants at once from drippers designed for watering one bush.
• Use special pegs- holders or knitting needles with tubes that are stuck in the right place and supply water to the substrate. Install timers to turn off water after a specified period of time or equip it with automation systems.

How to organize drip poly in a greenhouse. Video

How to organize automatic drip irrigation

Drip irrigation systems have become popular among summer residents not only due to the owners’ recognition of the irrigation method as a method of intensive farming. Or the availability of systems - the ability to make a drip irrigation system with my own hands, without spending much on purchasing components. They also became a civilized part of agricultural culture due to their equipment with automation equipment.

A control system using a pressure gauge and a reduction gear allows you to protect the irrigation structure from pressure surges when connected to the water supply network. Since the beginning of popularization, it has become an immutable rule to equip models of drip systems with timers. First, mechanical and then electronic timers with valves and shut-off valves were used. This allowed the summer resident, for example, to set the watering time for several hours and go away about his business. The system automatically turned off after a specified period of time. The presence of a controller in modern programmable systems allows you to change the intensity and time of water supply according to a complex algorithm. Convenience lies in the non-interference of a person in the functioning process for a long period, the opportunity, for example, to go on vacation. More complex systems automation systems are equipped with sensors and allow you to regulate the spread of water along the lines, heat irrigation, test soil moisture, and turn off the system when it rains. To organize automatic watering, you need to ensure maximum autonomy of the system: connect to water supply network or add a well with centrifugal pump for uninterrupted supply. After installing the drip irrigation system, the timer, controller and electrical devices must be powered from self-contained batteries or backup/uninterruptible power supplies.

Drip irrigation in a greenhouse from a central water supply system: installation example

When powering drip irrigation from a water supply system, you must choose a method of connection to the water supply network. The system can be connected directly to the valve tap or through a storage tank. The standard pressure in the central water supply network is 4 atm. But in fact, taking into account pressure surges and water hammer, it can be 2-7.5 atm. However, in mass use, drip tapes of low pressure of 0.2-1.5 atm are used. To prevent water under such pressure from breaking the drip irrigation system, a reducing pressure reducer is installed between the tap and the main pipe. A way to reduce the pressure for drip irrigation from the water supply to operating values ​​can be to connect the system through storage capacity equipped with a bypass valve. Water from the water supply fills the container to a certain level, the float bypass valve is activated and shuts off the network supply. Water from a filled reservoir, located on a hill, flows by gravity through the water outlet into the drip irrigation system at any time. Let's consider the most simple design for the dacha. Drip irrigation must be installed in the following sequence:

1. We assemble a filtration unit from 2 filters: a dirt filter and a fine filter. We connect the filters with couplings and screw on the connectors, connecting the device to the main hose.
2. An OE20 mm hose is laid along the central path of the site. It is cut next to each bed, creating a series of separate segments.
3. The sections are connected to each other into a pipeline in series with tees, each having one OE15 mm outlet.
4. Drip irrigation tapes are placed on these outlets and secured with metal clamps. The far end of the hose is also connected using a 20/15 connector. The open ends of the tapes are twisted and secured with plastic clamps.

How to make drip irrigation in the garden: making drips with your own hands

The design of homemade drip irrigation in the garden may include elements that are not directly intended for irrigation, but can successfully replace components specifically designed for it. First of all, these are disposable medical droppers designed for dosed delivery of infusion solutions. They have a significant advantage. Using a roller clamp, you can adjust the pouring speed - from drip to jet. Used for drip irrigation systems serving crops that differ in dosage and irrigation schedule. In the garden they are hung from portable pegs in vertical position, water enters the soil through tubes.

Drip irrigation can turn a desert into an oasis. Equipping a do-it-yourself drip irrigation system for summer residents and farmers traditionally justifies itself, since the costs of its creation are not commensurate with the results - obtaining a harvest that will not take long to arrive.

In addition to watering plants manually with a watering can, there are several irrigation methods. These include the following watering methods: sprinkling, i.e. by spraying water from above through a sprayer - this method widely used for watering lawns and flower beds; subsoil (using a system of special porous pipes and hoses) – used for irrigation of garden perennial plants, requiring painstaking care, as well as for watering hedges; using a drip irrigation system that transports water directly to the plant root zone, allowing for rapid absorption. This system is very effective for growing crops, in particular vegetables. Benefits of drip irrigation Drip irrigation is rightfully considered the most effective method of irrigation. The drip irrigation system includes the following elements: main distribution (main) pipes; plastic tape equipped with calibrated holes through which water flows directly to the roots of the plants. The following advantages of drip irrigation technology can be highlighted: How to make a drip irrigation system with your own hands To create a drip irrigation system on your site, you will not need any special pre-acquired skills, various schemes drip irrigation can be easily found on the Internet. You will need to purchase some raw materials, as well as spend several hours of time setting up such a system. But the labor costs for organizing irrigation will be significantly reduced, and the efficiency of water consumption will also increase. The source supplying water for drip irrigation in a greenhouse, garden or vegetable garden can be a central water supply system, as well as other sources - a well, an enclosed reservoir or a container that must be periodically filled with water. The second option is more convenient for controlling water consumption - if the owner needs to go somewhere for a few days, you can leave the watering on without much concern. For watering areas small size it is quite possible to do without a central pipeline - according to reviews, a barrel of water is enough to irrigate a ten-meter bed for five days. Selection and installation of drippers for irrigation For areas with complex terrain, as well as long rows of beds, it is recommended to use rigid or thick-walled tubes with built-in droppers. External droppers come in several types: with a fixed amount of water - passing a constant amount of water over a certain period of time; adjustable - their design allows you to manually adjust the irrigation intensity. It should be taken into account that when using adjustable drippers, the watering pressure may drop towards the end of a long row; uncompensated - in them the intensity of irrigation depends on the pressure in the pipes, decreasing towards the end of the row. Such drippers are suitable for short beds; compensated - equipped with a silicone membrane, which, if the water pressure drops below a certain value, is closed by a special valve. The operating pressure of such droppers is in the range of 0.4-3.5 atm. They produce compensated drippers designed to pass water in quantities of 2.4 and 8 l/hour; spider-type drippers - equipped with several outlets for watering, which is very convenient for irrigating the root system from different sides, or for watering several plants. To install external droppers, you will need to make a hole with smooth edges with a diameter of 0.3 mm in the tubes with an awl or cutting scissors. Immediately after piercing, the dropper is inserted into the hole; to improve fixation, the pipe must be heated during installation - a regular hairdryer will do. Required materials and tools To organize drip irrigation you will need following materials and tools: polyethylene pipes (HDPE) with a diameter of about 40 mm (you can use a regular garden hose); pipe plug; cleaning filter – choose a removable one mesh structure, which will be easy to wash. This will need to be done quite often, otherwise the entire drip irrigation system may become clogged; shut-off valves (ball and dispensing valves, couplings, detachable joints, bends, as well as adapters, corners and plugs); drip irrigation tape (polyethylene tube with a diameter of 16-20 mm with built-in or external droppers); awl; drill and drill bits; tow; rubber seals; silicone sealant; pliers (pliers). It is recommended to carry out work on arranging a homemade drip irrigation system with your own hands on the site in the spring, even before the onset of the field work season. Preparatory work: planning First of all, it is necessary to draw a diagram indicating the beds on it, plan the daily water consumption for each of the irrigation zones, and also think about the placement of the elements of the irrigation system - water containers, pipes, shut-off equipment, drip tapes. After determining the required amount of materials and purchases made, you can proceed directly to the installation of the irrigation system. When planning an irrigation system, it should be taken into account that if the system is located on a site located on a slope, the main pipes are placed horizontally, and the drip hoses are placed at an angle. In addition, pipes used for irrigation and laid on the soil must be opaque (lightproof) to avoid water blooms and further clogging of the system. In the case of a water supply system buried in the soil, pipes with thickened walls are chosen. The amount of water used and the speed of watering will depend on the water pressure. If you raise the tank 1.5 m above the ground level, the resulting pressure will allow you to start the irrigation process. It is recommended to make a hole for connecting to a container with water at a height of about 10 cm from the bottom level, so that particles of debris that accumulate at the bottom of the container do not enter the irrigation system along with the water. It is not recommended to use metal containers for water, as even small stains of rust can subsequently cause clogging of the irrigation system openings. Sequence of work on irrigation system equipment To manufacture an irrigation system, you will need to perform the following work: apply markings in one plane to the main pipes - in the places where the holes for connecting to the drip tape will be placed (corresponding to the row spacing); Having fixed the pipe with a vice, it is necessary to make holes in it with a drill with the diameter required for a tight connection (corresponding to the diameter of the components). Seals and fittings are inserted into them; then the pipe should be connected to a water supply source (plumbing or garden capacity), and also install a plug at the end of the pipe section; Next, drip tapes with pre-installed droppers are connected to the main pipe and laid out in the beds. The ends of the tape should be made airtight by installing plugs, securing them with wire, or “gluing them together” using heat and pliers. Please note that it is recommended to rinse before use. installed equipment, and the installed filters should be cleaned at least once a week (if possible, it is recommended to carry out this procedure daily). Liquid or easily water-soluble fertilizers are applied directly through the irrigation system - after this procedure, you need to rinse the water tank and start short-term irrigation to clean the system. The drip irrigation system is quite easy to use and works properly at low water pressure. After the end of the season, the irrigation system must be disassembled, washed, and moisture removed from it (drained). After waiting for it to dry, you should carefully fold the irrigation system (the hoses are easily wound onto the reel) and store it along with other household supplies. DIY drip irrigation - video

Drip irrigation is considered one of the most modern methods of moistening beds in greenhouses and open ground. How to make a drip irrigation system with your own hands is of interest to many greenhouse owners, because this method of watering plants is cost-effective and convenient. This is explained by the fact that plants receive the necessary moisture with virtually no human intervention.

Methods for installing a drip irrigation system and DIY options are described in this article.

How to make a drip irrigation system with your own hands

You can do such irrigation with your own hands, but it is much faster and more convenient to buy a ready-made structure and assemble it on site.

How to assemble the structure with your own hands will be described below, but first we’ll try to figure out what preparatory work must be carried out so that it functions without failures.

Preparing the area

Before you do such irrigation, you need to prepare the site. In our case, we are considering the installation of irrigation in a greenhouse, so we will take the structure of closed ground as an example (Figure 1).

Automatic irrigation involves installing a reservoir to store water and distribute tapes across the beds. It is important that the structure must be installed immediately ready-made beds, and it is not recommended to change their location in the future. Of course, you can increase or decrease the number and size of the beds, but in this case you will need to reassemble.

Figure 1. Preparing the room for installation of an irrigation system

The tapes are laid out in the beds so that the droppers are located near the main plants. Plugs are installed at the ends of the pipes to prevent water loss. They must be removable so that water can be quickly drained when cleaning the system.

Installing the container

The water storage tank should be located at the beginning of the building. It must be placed at a height (about 2 meters above the ground surface) so that water flows into the pipes under the influence of gravity (Figure 2).

Figure 2. Installing a water storage tank

If there is not enough space in the room for the tank, it can also be installed outside the structure by laying pipes on the ground. But in this case, the water must be drained during the winter so that it does not damage the tank when it freezes.

Starter installation

Everything in ready-made kits necessary elements(except for the tank) are provided in the complex. On site, you only need to connect the hose to the tank, install the starter on the tank and program it to automatic switching on and switching off using a sensor.

The starter is connected to the tank by drilling a hole with a diameter of approximately 14 mm in the main pipe. It is this device that starts the water and stops it if necessary. If you are not buying ready product, but only its parts, choose your starter carefully. It must be powerful enough to provide water to all the plants, so when purchasing, be sure to take into account the number of beds and the area of ​​the room itself.

How to calculate drip irrigation for your plot

To ensure that the soil moistening structure exactly matches the size of your greenhouse, you need to accurately calculate the length of the tapes and their number.

To do this, you need to measure the length of the beds. For example, if you have 10 beds 15 meters long, you need to buy a little more than 150 meters of tape. The reserve is necessary in order to eliminate possible losses during installation. Plugs must be installed at the end of each tape, and fine filters must be installed near the water tank so that the hoses do not become clogged with debris, sand or plant debris.

How to make your own drip irrigation

The tips below will tell you how to make drip irrigation in a greenhouse yourself without large financial costs.

From bottles

Perfect for small buildings homemade designs from plastic bottles.

To do the watering yourself at the dacha or in the greenhouse using this method, you need to use this step by step instructions(Figure 3):

1. A hose is laid out along the beds and holes are drilled in it. The hose can be laid out both on the surface of the earth and underground. Last method more suitable for closed ground structures.
2. A plastic bottle with holes in the bottom is placed near each plant.
3. A medical dropper is inserted into the neck of each bottle and connected to a hose.

Figure 3. Installation of bottle irrigation

This design will ensure a constant supply of moisture directly to the roots of the plant. But for this it is necessary that there is stable water pressure in it, the container is installed on an elevation, and the main pipe is equipped with a starter.

The video shows how to make a similar design from plastic bottles.

From medical droppers

You can do this kind of watering in a greenhouse yourself using medical IVs. The principle remains the same as when installing a structure made of bottles (Figure 4).

Lay out along the entire length of the beds flexible hose, which is connected to the main pipe and water storage tank. Holes are drilled in the hose into which droppers with special valves are inserted, through which water will flow to the plants.

Figure 4. Installation diagram of irrigation from medical droppers

The main difference of such a system is that water does not flow to the roots, but to the surface of the soil, and the number of droppers can be any.

Automatic drip irrigation

Automation of moisture application greatly facilitates plant care, since the soil is saturated with moisture practically without human intervention.

To install such a structure, a controller running on an autonomous battery is installed on the water tank. The tank, in turn, is connected to the water supply, and when it is empty, it is automatically refilled. Automation also involves installing sensors that will start and stop soil moisture based on time.

How to make drip irrigation in a greenhouse yourself

Assembling a point irrigation system yourself is quite feasible task. To do this, you need to buy a ready-made kit and simply install it on site.

Note: IN this moment The most popular products are Dusya and AquaDusya. The latter is fully automated, while the former is considered simple and suitable even for small greenhouses.

To carry out installation correctly, you need to follow some recommendations:

• Make an installation plan and schematically draw the location of hoses and droppers;
• Install a water container above the ground surface to maintain stable pressure in the pipes;
• Place pipes or flexible hoses over the beds to supply water;
• Install the starter and electronic sensors onto the main pipe and water tank to automate watering.

At the final stage, the finished structure is mandatory tested to check if the water flows normally and if the hoses are leaking.

From the central water supply system

If your site has running water, automatic watering in the greenhouse will not be difficult. To do this, just connect the water storage container to central water supply and install a special sensor that will fill the tank.

This design makes it possible to almost completely automate watering, but it should be remembered that in the winter all its elements are dried and removed.

How does a drip irrigation system work for a greenhouse?

Principle of operation similar designs in a greenhouse is quite simple. Water is constantly stored in a special tank and enters pipes or hoses under pressure.

Holes are made in all hoses into which droppers are inserted. Through them, water seeps in small drops and enters the soil. It is this method of providing moisture that is considered the most convenient, since all plants, without exception, receive required quantity water. However, the irrigation structure cannot be left without attention either: valves, hoses and drippers must be checked periodically in order to eliminate the blockage or malfunction in time.

In greenhouses, not only vegetables, fruits and herbs are often grown, but also indoor plants in pots, which also require high-quality watering (Figure 5).

Figure 5. Diagram and example of installation of an irrigation structure for closed beds and indoor plants

In this case, the system will be beneficial for several reasons. Firstly, it can be installed not only on the ground, but also on vertical racks. Secondly, the design allows you to connect tubes to each pot and plant.

How to choose drip irrigation for a greenhouse

The success of soil moistening largely depends on the quality of the chosen system. To buy for real good product, please note a few important parameters(Figure 6):

• Pump power and its functions: in high-quality products, it not only starts the system itself, but also creates the required level of pressure.
• The walls of the hoses must be strong so that water does not break through them during operation.
• Sensors must be easy to operate: ease of use will depend on this.

Figure 6. Tools for assembling the system yourself

As a rule, high-quality products are more expensive, but since their operation lasts for years, it is not worth saving on such a purchase.

How to choose drip tape for irrigation

A key role in the use of such irrigation is played by the tape - a flexible hose that is laid out over the beds and brought to the plants.

When purchasing, carefully inspect the tape. It must be strong enough, but at the same time flexible, so that creases form on it, which could cause the entire system to fail in the future.

The technology for assembling such irrigation structures is shown in the video.

The garden and vegetable garden need timely watering, especially during the hot summer months. The drip irrigation system is a real salvation for summer residents who do not want to spend the lion’s share of the weekend dragging a watering hose around their site. Drip irrigation is the most rational way to supply plants with moisture; it does not allow the root system to dry out and lack nutrients, and also prevents the formation of a hard crust on the soil surface or erosion of the fertile layer.

Drip irrigation system design

The principle of operation of drip irrigation is the drip supply of water directly to the root system of plants. Depending on the equipment used, moisture can be supplied both to the surface of the soil - using a drip tape or hose, and into the depths of the fertile layer - using droppers.

Depending on the type of water supply, the system can be gravitational or forced. In the first case, water comes under the influence of gravity from a pre-filled tank of the required capacity, in the second - from a water supply or from a pump connected to a well. Drip irrigation systems are designed for a pressure of no more than 2 atm, therefore, a pressure regulator - a reducer - must be installed in the forced system. To create the necessary pressure in the gravity system, the tank is raised to a height of at least 1.5-2 meters.

Water from a tank or water supply system is supplied to the irrigation site through main pipes with branches. Standard fittings for drip irrigation are usually used as branches; they are described below. The main pipes are laid along the fence, the walls of the greenhouse, or simply in a furrow, secured with holders.

Drip lines running along the rows of plants along the entire length of the bed are connected to the branches. For drip lines, you can use a flexible drip tape with holes or a regular plastic pipe, to which droppers are connected through splitters. The ends of the drip lines are closed with plugs or flush valves.

To avoid clogging of the system, a fine filter is installed at the outlet of the tank or at the point where it is connected to the water supply, as well as a valve tap or reducer, with the help of which the water supply is regulated.

Design of a drip irrigation system

For high-quality irrigation, the droppers should be located at a distance of 30 cm from each other, while the fertile layer is moistened in 1-2 hours. Further watering is undesirable, as it leads to waterlogging and rotting of the root system, as well as excessive water consumption. During this time, about 15-30 liters of water per square meter are consumed.

To achieve such an irrigation regime, you need to correctly calculate the total length of the system or its individual sectors, as well as the capacity storage tank in the gravitational system. In a forced system, you cannot do without manual or automatic irrigation control. Manual control suitable for gardeners living in the country: just open the tap and, while you are resting or harvesting, the system will moisten the soil to the desired depth. If you rarely visit the dacha, it is worth purchasing a controller that can be programmed for any period.

Example of calculating tank volume

The greenhouse has dimensions of 10x3.5 meters. The area of ​​the greenhouse is: 10 · 3.2 = 32 m 2. We multiply the resulting value by 30 liters required for irrigation: 32 · 30 = 960 liters. Thus, a greenhouse requires a tank with a volume of 1 cubic meter.

The tank must be installed at such a height that the system maintains stable pressure. When the tank is raised to a height of 2 meters, the pressure in the system will be 0.2 atm, which is enough to irrigate approximately 50 m2. If the area of ​​the site is larger, with the gravitational method of water supply, it is advisable to divide the irrigation system into sections and supply water to them one by one, or install it on each section separate tank. A pump that increases the pressure will also help solve the problem - in this case it must be maintained at about 2 atmospheres.

To ensure stable pressure in the system, factors such as the diameter of the main pipes and drip lines are also important. A pipe with a diameter of 16 mm passes 600 liters of water per hour, which is quite enough to water a 30 m2 area. If the area of ​​the site is larger, it is better to choose a pipe of larger diameter: a 25 mm pipe will allow you to pass 1800 liters per hour and water the area about 100 square meters, a 32 mm pipe has a throughput capacity of about 3 cubic meters, which is enough for a plot of 5 acres, and a 40 mm pipe has a capacity of 4.2 cubic meters, or 7 acres.

The length of each drip line should not exceed 100 meters at any bandwidth main pipes. Typically, drip lines are connected in parallel at a distance equal to the distance between rows of plantings. In case of watering fruit trees or bushes, drip lines are placed around them at a distance of 0.5-1 meter from the trunk.

Equipment and fittings

Before starting the installation of a drip irrigation system, it is necessary to draw a pipe layout plan and calculate required amount materials, connecting elements and equipment.

To install a water supply system you need:

• A plastic or metal tank of the required volume or a pump that supplies water from a well;
• Valve tap;
• Controller – in case of installation of an automated system;
• Ball valve;
• Pressure reducer;
• Fine filter;

Adapter for connecting to an irrigation system.

The irrigation system includes the following elements:

• Plastic pipes with a cross-section from 16 to 40 mm for main pipes;
• Drip tape or drip tubes complete with splitters and droppers;
• Fittings: taps, tees, mini taps, start connectors, adapters for connecting drip tape, plugs.

Installation technology

1. Install the tank at a height of 1.5-2 meters or connect to the water supply system. An adapter is cut into the tank, onto which a valve tap is screwed using a FUM tape - it is necessary to regulate the water supply. If the water in the tank comes from the water supply network, it can be equipped shut-off valve float type, as in a cistern.

   

2. After the tap, a programmable controller is installed that regulates the water supply depending on the specified program. You can set it to turn on every day or to water every few days, and you can also set the watering time. After the controller is installed ball valve, allowing you to shut off the flow of water.

   

3. To regulate the pressure, a reduction reducer or a pump is installed in the supply system to increase the pressure. The working pressure is 1-2 atmospheres; if it increases, leaks may form at the junctions of the tubes and droppers; if it decreases, the water will flow unevenly. To purify water, the system is equipped with a fine filter - this will avoid blockages.
4. Plastic main pipes are connected to the supply system through splitters and adapters, cut into sections corresponding to the distance between drip tubes. The pipes are connected using tees. The last main pipe at the remote end is equipped with a flush tap - it will come in handy if the system is clogged.
5. Drip tapes or tubes are connected to the tees via adapters. Drip tape is a flexible hose with perforations through which drip irrigation is carried out. The tape is easily cut with a knife, its ends are bent and special clips are put on them, acting as a plug.

   

6. A drip tube is a plastic pipe, usually its diameter does not exceed 16 mm. In the top of the tube, at a distance of 30-60 cm, holes are made for a splitter with a diameter of 3 mm. Rubber seals and splitters are inserted into them, which can have from 2 to 4 branches. Dropper hoses are inserted into the branches - plastic tubes with holes. Droppers are stuck into the ground next to the plants.

   

7. Test the system and determine required pressure, which is regulated by a gearbox or valve tap on the tank.

Installing a drip irrigation system with your own hands is not difficult; with proper calculation, drip irrigation can reduce labor intensity gardening work and increase the yield by 1.5-2 times. For the winter, the system is easily disassembled: the tubes and droppers are removed, the water is drained from the tank, and the control equipment is removed. If necessary, the system can be expanded or redesigned. Its use is not limited garden plot, it can be successfully used in flower beds, balconies, lawns and in the greenhouse.

Video: connecting a drip irrigation system