Do-it-yourself drip irrigation from a hose. Homemade drip irrigation system

By installing drip irrigation with your own hands, you can significantly speed up the ripening and get a wonderful harvest of vegetables, berries, fruits, and significantly save cash. Every gardener knows the benefits of moistening the roots of a plant. A do-it-yourself drip irrigation system will ensure an even distribution of water and fertilizers to all plantings on the site.

Several types are known self-assembly this kind of structures. It is enough to get acquainted with them and make a choice suitable option for a specific area.

For those who want to mount drip irrigation on their own and want to save money, it will be enough to purchase only the necessary components or pick up analogues from improvised means without spending a penny on parts, depending on the structure being mounted, since there are several types of irrigation systems.

How to mount an irrigation system in the form of drip irrigation in a summer cottage?

Before you begin to independently mount the structure for drip moistening of something, you must take into account the volume of water reserves in the bucket, it should be enough to fully charge the siphon.

The siphon is a vertical arcuate pipe, installed in such a way that one end is open to transfer water and is immersed in a tank of water, and the other end is connected to the pipeline of this irrigation system. The height of the siphon depends on the volume of the tank and the water intended for watering the plants.

Through the siphon, the water is set in motion by the last portion of the liquid raised from the bucket to the upper level of the siphon.

The photo shows how the liquid from the tank flows through the irrigation pipe until the levels in the tank and at the end of the siphon are equal. You can adjust the rate of water supply to the tank using a tap.

From the tank, the liquid enters the distribution system, which consists of hoses, a watering pipeline with a certain size of holes for spraying water.

During the installation of drip irrigation, it is possible to form different forms, for example, ring for irrigation of shrubs or trees. Simple in shape, rectangular systems for watering beds are made from ordinary pipes.

To regulate irrigation, a special subsystem design is used, which consists of a rain valve, lever, pusher, tank cover and spring.

In order for the valve to work, it is necessary to prudently make a special recess on the tank lid, where rainwater will collect, which will play the role of a load at a certain moment.

To fit on the pins of the tank cover, holes are drilled along its edges.

The recess on the lid should be of such size that, on the one hand, the weight of the collected rainwater is sufficient to close the valve, and on the other hand, so that after the rain, when the water evaporates, and this is about a day later, the spring can lift the lid, and the valve was able to reopen.

In the process of mounting the drip irrigation system, it is necessary to properly attach the pusher, the upper end of which must be attached to the tank cover, and the lower end to the lever.

An emergency subsystem glass is installed on the pusher. The principle of creation and operation of a rain valve is similar to the function of a float valve in a sanitary cistern.

It is known that the rate of extraction of moisture from the soil depends on the depth of the root system relative to the surface of the earth.

The deeper the roots are located, the lower the rate of the extracted water. Experience shows that at least 40% of the precious moisture is extracted from the roots upper layers soil.

Plants with the most developed surface roots may die during a drought. The main number of roots is located in the soil layers at a depth of up to 20-25 cm.

During the installation of your own design of the drip irrigation system, it is necessary to take into account the peculiarities of planting and growth of the root systems of the grown plants.

The mechanism of the emergency subsystem includes a glass and an emergency drain valve. After filling the tank with water, the glass is filled, which should close the valve, and that, in turn, will block the flow of water into the tank.

The valve should open from the pressure of the water, after raising its level above top edge glass.

When calculating and installing a drip irrigation system with your own hands, it is necessary to take into account the value set pressure, and with the help of a spring and a fitting to create a certain force in the stem. If the set pressure limit is exceeded, the stem moves to the right.

The principle of operation is this:

At the moment when the ball retainer is displaced to the side to the annular groove, the balls fall into this groove from the action of the spring, thereby fixing the stem and opening the way for fluid to enter distribution network through the valve.

On the video you can see the stages of installing drip irrigation for a summer residence with your own hands.

Do-it-yourself automated watering system

Create automated system drip irrigation is possible thanks to a simple scheme, with the help of which at a given time daily without human intervention, the irrigation system will start and turn off.

In this drip irrigation design, a hose is connected to the pump, in which through holes. These holes in the hose can be made with a hot awl. Through such holes, water will be freely distributed and congestion will not be terrible for her. The distance between the holes should be within 30-35 cm from each other. A hose with holes made according to the project is laid along the site, in order to avoid clogging, it is necessary to place pieces of boards in several places.

To set the start time of the system, the pump power must be taken into account. The data is recorded using a circuit to automatically start the pump. This type of drip irrigation system will allow the owner to visit the cottage only once a week, since the irrigation of the beds will be carried out by this design independently.

This option of drip irrigation is beneficial to use for lawn grass. After all, its root system is located at a depth of about 15 cm and in the heat it is necessary constant watering lawns, otherwise there is a possibility of rapid drying of the topsoil, which leads to the death of plants. And the cost of a new lawn is quite high. On the example of lawn grass, which is most susceptible to the harmful effects of wind and sun, you can see where the soil dries out the fastest, and the benefits of regular and systematic watering are visible.

What problems can arise in the operation of drip irrigation systems?

It is known from practice that with an economical supply it may happen that all the water will flow out in the first sections of the system, and may not reach the extreme ones.

And in the case of a strong pressure of water pumped from a well, it may be overused, and as a result, waterlogging of the soil. This problem can be solved by buying a special dispenser in the store or making a similar dispenser with your own hands from an ordinary plastic bottle, using the principle of a toilet drain system and connecting it at the junction of the distributing pipes to the liquid supply point. Via this device it is possible to regulate the rate of water supply both to the beds and to individual plants.

From what improvised materials can droppers be made?

An important role in the irrigation system is played by droppers that are installed on the water pipes, since water is supplied through them to the root system of plants.

To save money when creating a drip irrigation system with your own hands, you can use plastic elements from medical systems for blood transfusion as drippers for irrigation.

There are various types of droppers on the market, in which mechanisms are installed to adjust the pressure of water in the system.

How do you water your yard? Do you put water containers, warm it up and only then use a watering can or a hose to water vegetables and berries or install drip irrigation for a greenhouse from a barrel? It should be noted that in the first case, the usefulness of irrigation is minimal, It all depends on the composition of the soil.. And with drip irrigation, you take into account only the composition of the soil and the type of crop (you can create your own irrigation scheme for each plant!), But huge water savings.

Conveniently - the system works by itself, the paths between the beds are absolutely dry, you do not need to drag hundreds of liters of water at a time. When correct installed system drip irrigation, you can simultaneously supply plants with useful trace elements - dissolve in a barrel of water the right top dressing, now with the water the plants will get everything they need.

Modern systems that provide automatic drip irrigation for plants are commercially available. You can work a little yourself and make the same convenient system out of improvised materials, you will find a diagram at the end of the article.

Domestic drip irrigation systems

For irrigation of plants in greenhouses and open field you are offered new developments of drip irrigation systems "Beetle", "Dusya", "Drop", "WaterLey". These are developments of domestic production.

It is most difficult to water plants indoors. For watering the lawn and plants in the beds are installed everywhere simple systems automatic irrigation with rotary mechanisms, water supply regulators and timers. Such systems are installed on the site at the very beginning of construction, while work on the formation of landscape design has not yet been carried out.

To install drip irrigation of plants, such global work is not necessary. The simplest drip irrigation for a greenhouse from a barrel involves having a large capacity warm water , the required amount of supply hose with micro hoses and micro droppers. Due to the fact that water penetrates into the soil drop by drop, soil moistening is achieved to a depth of about half a meter, this cannot be done from a watering can. Nutrients for each specific plant variety can be dissolved in water.

Which system to choose

The drip irrigation system for each type of plant may be the same, but the supply water will contain only needed by plants bait. You no longer need to bypass the plants in the beds with a small watering can and lift the bushes to get exactly to the roots. Groundbait is useful for plants, but can leave burns on stems and foliage, and therefore watered with such compositions carefully and carefully, only in cloudy weather or in the evening, after sunset. Your new system can work during the day, it is absolutely safe for plants and reliable.

The only strict condition the presence of a filter, microdroppers can quickly become clogged, bait particles can also settle on the walls of the micro hoses, making them impassable to water. All systems of such convenient drip irrigation are divided into two types:

• Manual. The watering tank is filled in the morning for warming up. In the evening, the tap for supplying water to the water system simply opens.
• semi-automatic. You will fill the container yourself, then the automation works according to a given program. Such systems are convenient for areas with a well or well.

The history of the creation of drip irrigation systems tells that they were produced and developed for regions with a shortage of water. Only after feedback from grateful users was received, such systems began to be used everywhere.

Today, almost every owner has a ready-made drip irrigation device in a greenhouse. And if you do not find a system that can fully satisfy you, then it is not at all difficult to make drip irrigation in a greenhouse with your own hands. Just imagine that the yield of tomatoes in greenhouses with such equipment doubles! The soil is sufficiently moistened, salt deposits do not form on the soil surface, appearance plants are improving.

Almost all drip irrigation systems for plants use drip-impulse circuit. Such designs are convenient for small greenhouses, we will assume that an area of ​​36 sq m is optimal. However, even for huge greenhouses, individual irrigation systems are being created, based specifically on drip irrigation of plants.

Local-impulse irrigation system allows you to direct right amount water into the root system of the plant. An impenetrable dry crust does not form on the soil, the soil structure remains intact, evaporation from the soil surface is minimal. Moisture does not get on the leaves, which does not cause burns and drying out of plants.

Design of drip irrigation systems for plants

Why install drip irrigation in a greenhouse? The answer is clear even to a novice gardener. Purchase a hose, micro hoses and micro droppers and install such a design in your greenhouse. Analog - ready-made irrigation system "Dusya", directing water to the root system of each individual plant. A rather extensive moistened zone is formed around the root system, there is no cone knocked out by water.

This is how drip irrigation of tomatoes works in a greenhouse: the plant gets enough moisture, the root system is not destroyed, dark spots of late blight do not form on the leaves of plants.

Pay attention to how the drip irrigation device is arranged in the greenhouse:

• Water intake from a source - a well, a well, a reservoir.
• filtering system.
• drip lines.

The basis of the system is precisely the drip line. Which base to choose tubing or drip tape- you decide. Droppers can be inserted into tubes or tapes, or installed externally. External droppers are compensated and uncompensated, their water consumption is different, they are adjusted and regulated manually. There are also "push-button" smallest droppers.

All these systems are non-separable, you will not be able to clean them mechanically, which is why an inlet filter to the device is needed. Only modern droppers have a "self-cleaning" mode.

You can buy hoses ("ribbons") made of thermal polyethylene with built-in microscopic watering holes. However, it should be noted right away that such systems do not last very long, therefore they are considered unprofitable, although their price suits buyers.

Drip irrigation, Aqua Dusya

A few words about the "Dusya" drip irrigation system. To date, manufacturers offer buyers:

• Without automation. Can be connected to a barrel usually installed above ground level. One barrel can irrigate up to sixty plants. Each drip dispenses about three liters of water every hour. The system must be turned on and off manually.
• semi-automatic. You need to fill the barrels once a week, everything else happens automatically.
• Machine. It is installed on the site at the beginning of the season and there is no need to follow it in the future.

The system works with the help of a controller - a device the size of a palm. System at night pumps water from the water supply. During the day, the water warms up, then watering is turned on. Controls the on/off of the photocell system.

Homemade drip irrigation system

How to make with your own hands the same or similar ready-made drip irrigation system for plants? The container from which water will be supplied must be installed at a height. With a line diameter of 0.2 mm, the pressure should be about 0.2 atmospheres.

On the drawing of the future system, indicate how the micro-hoses will be located, calculate how many rows you will need and how many droppers in each row. Decide where the barrel will stand, install a filter at the outlet (only with it your system will work for a long time!).

Tools and material for work:

You can take any hose, an ordinary garden hose with a diameter of no more than 1.5 mm is also suitable. Need cut the hose into equal length pieces. Micro fittings, elbows, crosses, plugs, tees or plungers can be used to connect pieces of hose.

Water from one such external dropper can go in several directions. Just do not punch holes in the hose with nails. For mounting droppers, an awl or a hole punch is used. When inserting the dropper into the hose, you need to make an effort, a loose dropper will fall out during operation.

Too soft or too hard hoses will not be able to hold the drip. Instead of droppers, you can use microtubes with tips that supply water to 2-3 plants. Water enters the hose by gravity. Check how your finished irrigation system works, and now just regularly check how much water is in the barrel and clean the filter.

Providing water to plants and plantings is one of the concerns of homeowners. Someone waters vegetable beds, someone flower beds and lawns, and someone needs to provide water to the garden. In any case, the procedure takes a lot of time. But that's not all: with the usual way a crust is formed on the surface, which prevents plants from developing, so the soil has to be loosened. All these problems are solved by drip irrigation of plants. You can buy ready-made kits, order turnkey development and installation, or you can do everything yourself. Here's how to make drip irrigation yourself and will be discussed in this article.

Principle of operation and varieties

This technology was tested several decades ago. Its results were so impressive that the system was widely adopted. The basic idea is that water is supplied to the roots of plants. There are two ways:

• poured onto the surface near the stem;
• is fed underground into the root formation zone.

The first method is easier to install, the second is more expensive: you need a special hose or drip tape for underground installation, a decent volume land works. For temperate climate there is not much difference - both methods work well. But in regions with very hot summers, underground laying performed better: less water evaporates and more of it gets to the plants.

There are gravity-fed systems - they require a water tank installed at a height of at least 1.5 meters, there are systems with stable pressure. They have a pump and a control group - pressure gauges and valves that create the required force. There is completely. In the very simple version This is a valve with a timer that opens the water supply for a given period of time. More complex systems can separately control the flow rate for each of the water supply lines, testing the soil moisture and determining the weather. These systems operate under the guidance of processors, operating modes can be set from the control panel or computer.

Advantages and disadvantages

Drip irrigation has many advantages and all of them are significant:

• Significantly reduced labor intensity. The system can be fully automated, but even in the simplest version, irrigation requires literally a few minutes of your attention.
• Reduced water consumption. This happens due to the fact that moisture is supplied only under the roots, other zones are excluded.
• Eliminates the need for frequent loosening. With a dosed supply of water to a small area, a crust does not form on the soil, respectively, it does not need to be broken.
• Plants develop better, yield increases. Due to the fact that water is supplied to one zone, the root system develops in this place. She has large quantity thin roots, becomes more lumpy, absorbs moisture faster. All this contributes rapid growth and more abundant fruiting.
• It is possible to organize root top dressing . Moreover, the consumption of fertilizers due to the point supply is also minimal.

The economic efficiency of drip irrigation systems has been proven repeatedly even in industrial scale. In private greenhouses and gardens, the effect will be no less significant: the cost of creating a system can be reduced to a small amount, and all the pluses will remain.

There are also disadvantages, but they are very few:

• For normal operation water filtration required, which is an additional cost. The system can function without filters, but then it is necessary to consider a purge / flush system to eliminate blockages.
• Droppers get clogged over time and need to be cleaned or replaced.
• If thin-walled belts are used, they can be damaged by birds, insects or rodents. There are places of unscheduled water consumption.
• The device requires an investment of time and money.
• Periodic maintenance required- blow out the pipes or clean the droppers, check the fastening of the hoses, change the filters.

As you can see, the list of shortcomings is rather big, but they are not very serious. This is a really useful thing in the garden, in the garden, flower bed or.

Components and layout options

Drip irrigation systems can be organized with any source of water. Suitable well, well, river, lake, centralized water supply, even rainwater in the tanks. The main thing is that there is enough water.

A main pipeline is connected to the source, which brings water to the irrigation site. Then it goes along one of the sides of the irrigated area, at the end it is muffled.

Opposite the beds, tees are inserted into the pipeline, to the side outlet of which drip hoses (pipes) or tapes are attached. They have special droppers through which water is supplied to the plants.

Between the outlet from the source and the first branch to the garden, it is desirable to install a filter or filter system. They are not needed if the system is powered by domestic plumbing. If you pump water from a lake, river, rainwater tank, filters are required: there can be a lot of pollution and the system will clog too often. Types of filters and their number is determined depending on the condition of the water.

Drip Hoses

Hoses for drip irrigation are sold in bays from 50 to 1000 meters. They already have water points built in: labyrinths through which water flows before entering the outlet. These oozing hoses provide the same amount of water throughout the line, regardless of terrain. Due to this labyrinth, the flow rate at any point of irrigation is almost the same.

They differ in the following characteristics:

• • Tube stiffness. Drip hoses - there are hard, there are soft. The soft ones are called tapes, the hard ones are called hoses. Hard ones can be used up to 10 seasons, soft ones - up to 3-4. Ribbons are:
    • Thin-walled - with a wall thickness of 0.1-0.3 mm. They are laid only on the surface, their service life is 1 season.
    • Thick-walled tapes have a wall of 0.31-0.81 mm, the service life is up to 3-4 seasons, they are available for both ground and underground laying.

Watering can be organized with tapes or hoses

The maximum length of the irrigation line is determined so that the unevenness of the water output at the beginning and at the end of the tape does not exceed 10-15%. For hoses, it can be 1500 meters, for tapes - 600 meters. For private use, such values ​​\u200b\u200bare not in demand, but it is useful to know)).

Droppers

Sometimes it is more convenient to use not tapes, but droppers. These are separate devices that are inserted into the hole in the hose and through which water is supplied under the root of the plant. They can be installed in arbitrary steps - put a few pieces in one place, and then a few in another. This is convenient when drip irrigation of shrubs or trees is organized.

There are two types - with a normalized (constant) and adjustable release of water. The body is usually plastic, on the one hand there is a fitting, which is inserted with force into the hole made in the hose (sometimes rubber rings are used for sealing).

There are also compensated droppers - and non-compensated ones. When using compensated at any point in the irrigation line, the water output will be the same (approximately), regardless of the terrain and location (at the beginning or at the end of the line).

There are also spider-type devices. This is when several thin tubes are connected to one outlet. This makes it possible to simultaneously water several plants from one water outlet (reduces the number of droppers).

Spider-type dripper - you can water several plants from one point of water distribution

Main pipes and fittings

When creating a system for laying the main pipeline from the water source to the irrigation zone, plastic pipes and fittings are used from:

• polypropylene (PPR);
• polyvinyl chloride (PVC);
• polyethylene:
  • high pressure (HPV);
  • low pressure(PND).

All of these pipes tolerate contact with water well, do not corrode, are chemically neutral and do not react to fertilization. For watering a small greenhouse, garden, lawn, a diameter of 32 mm is most often used.

Main pipes are plastic. Specifically, choose any type: PPR, HDPE, PVD, PVC

Tees are installed at the outlets of the lines, to the side outlet of which a drip hose or tape is connected. Since they are smaller in diameter, adapters may be needed, and their outside diameter should be equal to the inner diameter of the hose (or slightly less). You can attach tapes / hoses to fittings using metal clamps.

Also, taps can be made through special fittings, which are installed in a hole of the required diameter made in the hose (as in the photo above).

Sometimes, after the tee, a tap is installed on each water distribution line, which allows you to turn off the lines. This is convenient if drip irrigation is diluted for moisture-loving plants and those that do not like excess water.

If you are reluctant to choose components and select sizes, fitting diameters, you can buy ready-made ones from various manufacturers.

Do-it-yourself drip irrigation: device examples

There are many options for the device of the system - it easily adapts to any conditions. Most often, the question arises of how to organize irrigation independent of electricity. This can be done if you install a sufficiently voluminous water tank at a height of at least 1.5 meters. This creates a minimum pressure of approximately 0.2 atm. It is enough for watering a small area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe garden or garden.

Water can be supplied to the tank from the water supply, pumped up by a pump, drained from the roofs, even filled with buckets. A tap is made at the bottom of the tank, to which the main pipeline is connected. Further, the system is standard: a filter (or a cascade of filters) is installed on the pipeline before the first branch to the irrigation line, and then the wiring goes through the beds.

For the convenience of introducing fertilizers on the highway, it is possible to provide for the installation of a special unit. In the simplest case, this is, as in the photo above, it can be a container with legs, in the bottom of which a hole is made and a hose is inserted. Need also shut-off valve(tap). It cuts into the pipeline through a tee.

Shrubs can be watered as needed. fruit trees. The whole difference lies in the fact that the tape or hose is laid around the barrel at some distance. One line is assigned to each tree, bushes can be watered several pieces on one line. Only in this case, you need to use a regular hose, into which droppers with the required water flow should be inserted.

If the low pressure in the system does not suit you, you can install it on the main water supply (see the photo below) or a full one. They will provide water even far located areas.

Can water be supplied directly from the source? It is possible, but not desirable. And this is not due to technical difficulties - there are not so many of them, but due to the fact that plants cold water do not like. That is why most small-scale drip irrigation systems - for greenhouses, vegetable gardens, orchards and vineyards - use storage tanks. In them, the water is heated, and then diluted around the site.

Drip irrigation: how to calculate the system

The capacity from which water is supplied to the system can be one - common, as in the picture above, or separate for each section. With a significant distance between the irrigation objects, this can be more profitable than pulling the main pipeline.

The required volume is calculated depending on the number of plants and the volume of water for their normal development. How much water is needed for watering vegetables depends on the climate and soils. On average, you can take 1 liter per plant, 5 liters per bush and 10 liters per tree. But this is the same as "average temperature in the hospital", although for indicative calculations fit. Count the number of plants, multiply by the consumption per day, sum everything up. To the resulting figure, add 20-25% of the stock and you know the required volume of capacity.

There are no problems with calculating the length of the line and drip hoses. The main is the distance from the tap on the tank to the ground, then along the ground to the place of irrigation, and then along the end side of the beds. Adding all these lengths, the required length of the main pipeline is obtained. The length of the tubes depends on the length of the beds and on whether water will be distributed from one tube to one or two rows (for example, using spider droppers, you can dilute water for two to four rows at the same time).

By the number of tubes, the number of tees or fittings and taps (if you install them) is determined. For each branch using tees, we take three clamps: press the hose against the fitting.

The most complex and expensive part is the filters. If water is pumped from an open source - a lake or a river - a filter is needed first coarse cleaning- gravel. Then there should be fine filters. Their type and quantity depend on the state of the water. When using water from a well or a well, a coarse filter can be omitted: primary filtration occurs on the suction hose (if used). In general, there are so many cases, so many solutions, but filters are needed, otherwise the droppers will quickly clog.

Homemade drip hoses and drippers

One of the largest cost items for independent device systems from ready-made components - droppers or drip tapes. They, of course, provide the supply of the same amount of water throughout and the flow is stable, but in small areas this is not so necessary. It is possible to regulate the supply and flow with taps built into the beginning of the irrigation line. Therefore, there are many ideas that allow you to distribute water under plants using ordinary hoses. See one of them in the video.

It is difficult to call this system drip irrigation. It is rather root watering: water is brought under the root in a trickle, but it works, maybe only a little worse and is more suitable for plants with a root system developed in depth. This method will be good for trees, fruit bushes, grapes. They require a significant amount of water, which must go deep into a decent distance, and this homemade drip irrigation system can provide this.

In the second video, really drip irrigation is organized. This was done with the help medical droppers. If you have the opportunity to stock up on such used material, it will turn out to be very cheap.

The amount of water supplied is regulated by a wheel. From one hose, you can supply water to three and four rows - if you take a hose of sufficient diameter, you can connect not three devices to it, but more. The length of the dropper tubes makes it possible to water two rows on each side. So the costs will be really small.

Droppers can be used almost without altering. This is if the system was with a bag. An example is in the photo.

Waste into income - watering for young plants is provided

You can almost also do drip irrigation for houseplants. It is suitable for those flowers that like constant moisture.

Constantly moisturizing your flowers on the balcony? Easily! Watering from a drip

The cheapest drip irrigation: from plastic bottles

There is the cheapest and fastest way to organize the supply of water to plants without hoses and large containers. You will only need plastic bottles and small lengths - 10-15 cm each - thin tubes.

Cut off the bottom of the bottles. So that a cover is obtained from the bottom. So the water will not evaporate. But you can cut off the bottom and completely. At a distance of 7-8 cm from the cap in the bottle, make a hole into which a thin tube is inserted at a slight angle. Dig the bottle with the cork down or tie it to the peg, and stick the peg into the ground next to the plant, pointing the tube to the root. If there is water in the bottle, it will run down the tube and drip under the plant.

The same design can be done by turning the bottle upside down. But this option is less convenient: it is more difficult to fill in water, you will need a watering can. How it looks like, see the picture below.

As you can see, there is a second option for drip irrigation from plastic bottles. A wire is stretched over the bed, bottles are tied to it in the bottom or lid of which holes are made.

There is another photo option for using bottles, but with standard drippers for irrigation. They are fixed on the neck of the bottles and in this form are installed under the bush.

This option, of course, is not ideal, but it will enable plants to develop better if you can rarely visit the country house. And two liters from a bottle can be decisive in the battle for the harvest.

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

Drip irrigation systems are widely available and inexpensive means of amelioration. The use of drip irrigation systems makes it possible to achieve early growth and ripening of plant fruits, to increase the yield of seeds, seedlings, planting material or trees. Thanks to spot watering of the root system, the growth of weeds is slowed down, the spread of pests is prevented. cultivated plants and diseases.

As an alternative to traditional watering equipment, hoses and sprinklers, drip irrigation in the country reduces water consumption by half during irrigation. For those who want to automate the process of water supply, there are modern innovative developments. They allow you to program in the given parameters the operation of drip irrigation in time with the required sequence of functions. Arrange drip irrigation in the country or make drip irrigation in the garden under the force of anyone home master who does not have special knowledge of hydraulic engineering. It is enough to understand the principle of operation of the system under consideration and to have the initial skills of designing pipelines from plastic materials.

Drip irrigation system in the country. A photo

Types of drip irrigation

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

The main element of this design is a thick-walled pipe. It is made, as a rule, of polyethylene and withstands pressure up to 3 atm. This allows water supply over a distance of hundreds of meters. At regular intervals, emitters or droppers are mounted in the hose sheath. They are designed for a certain flow of water. Usually it makes 1-2 l/hour. The system is mounted using plastic fittings. The system is convenient for use on the ground in private household plots. It is possible to disassemble the system in 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. It is sold in a folded state 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 irrigation line from the tape can reach 400-450 m. The throughput of the tapes is up to 500 l / h.

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

How does gravity drip irrigation work?

Drip irrigation in the country can be carried out by gravity type of supply by gravity from the water 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 particulate matter, including rust. Therefore, you can use water not from every open reservoir, but choose a container from a material that is not subject to corrosion or destruction. It can be a used barrel or tank made of synthetic material, plastic, galvanized iron, covered from the ingress of leaves, debris or dust, with a lid. The volume of the barrel is selected according to the needs to ensure sufficient watering without constant replenishment of moisture reserves. Water must flow continuously from the tank. Required flow for watering each suburban area is individual, but each summer resident should know the required daily water consumption in his garden, garden or greenhouse. Based on the consumption standard, 1 tomato bush needs 1.5 l of water, cucumbers and potatoes 2 l, cabbage 2.5 l 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 in order to correctly select the appropriate model of the drip irrigation system in relation to a particular summer cottage.

It is better to place the tank at a height of 1.0-2.0 m from the ground in order to ensure the water pressure in the water supply network is 0.1-0.2 atm. From the tank, water should flow as clean as possible. It is better to cut a drain hole at a height of 10 cm from the bottom so that the accumulated sediment does not get into the hose. Such a home-made water intake unit should be equipped with a mesh, or other design, filter. When using herbicides and fertilizers, it is allowed to breed liquid forms preparations 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 up. The condition of the filter should be monitored, it should be cleaned and washed once a week. Gravity systems, due to low pressure, have a limitation - only non-compensated 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 the drip irrigation system

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

• Water intake unit from a water supply system, tank, well / well. Components OE 3/4" are required for assembly and connection to the water tank: outlet with external thread and 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 treaters 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 pipe polyethylene HDPE OE from 32 mm or other durable material that meets the requirements of the system.
• Distribution network from lines - microtubules or tapes with droppers / without droppers.

• A wide variety of accessories are additionally used as fasteners for connecting linear sections during the installation of a drip irrigation system. These are fittings - adapters or start - connectors for drip tape, corners and spurs. In more complex systems, tees, splitters or "spiders", as they are commonly called, minifolds are used. When laying drip irrigation with your own hands, important points should be considered:
• The main HDPE pipe is laid perpendicular to the rows of beds for the convenience of connecting 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 flushing / purging the main line.
• Using tape construction, in drilled holes the pipes are first screwed on 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 off from the tape. The end of the tape is tucked up and this removable ring is tightly put on it. This is done for the same reason - sealing with the possibility of washing or purging clogged sections of the tapes.

Choosing a Tape for Drip Irrigation

When choosing a tape to make drip irrigation in the garden, one must take into account the features inherent different types tape devices.

So, a feature of tapes like " labyrinth"is the presence on the surface of the material of a built-in structural element - a labyrinth. It slows down the movement of water in the tape barrel and streamlines its outflow through the outlet holes. However this technology manufacturing with an external location of the labyrinth has significant disadvantage. There is a high probability of damage to the labyrinth when laying the tape.

In tapes slot type Holes for water seepage are cut out by laser on the walls every 20-100 cm. A labyrinth is built in along the entire length of the tape to eliminate the turbulence of the moving water flow. When unwinding, the tape is installed "labyrinth up" to ensure uniform outflow of water through the water outlets. These tapes provide the easiest and most inexpensive way to water. Please note that slotted tapes require good filtration up to 0.08 mm.

emitter type tapes are distinguished by the additional equipment of the holes with built-in flat droppers, "facing inward". This is a feature of this type: droppers are not localized outside, but placed on inner surface conduit walls. Arising from such design whirling turbulent flow of water inside the tape, contributes to the self-cleaning of droppers.

Tape conduits with a wall thickness of up to 0.16-0.2 mm are used when drip irrigation is required on the soil surface. For underground laying, tapes with a sheath thickness of more than 0.2 mm are used.

DIY drip irrigation system

Consider, on the example of a plot of 1.5 acres, installation homemade design drip irrigation with your own hands. It has 8 rows of planted plants 15 meters long. It will take 120-130 m of drip tape with a perforation / emitter pitch of 0.3 m, providing throughput 3.8 l/h. It should be noted that this water flow parameter corresponds to a pressure of 1 atm, which is unrealistic to create using a water tank in the country. 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, provided by installing the tank at a height of one meter. Weir due low head will decrease three times and will be 1.2 l / h. This will require an increase in watering time by 3 times. To make drip irrigation, we perform the following steps in sequence:

1. To the hose coming out of the tank, we connect a fitting with an external thread 3/4 ".
2. We connect in series a tap with a 3/4" internal thread, then a filter. We use, if necessary, a fitting to switch from an internal to an external thread.
3. We connect the main pipe through the PE coupling and lay it perpendicular to the irrigation strips. For an irrigated area up to 3 acres, an OE pipe diameter of 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 sloped. We plug the end of the pipe at the other end of the land with a PE end cap with a handle or install a valve 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. In the assortment of trade there are models of pipes for drip irrigation, already equipped with start-connectors.
5. We cut off segments from the emitter tape and lay them along the length of the beds. One end of the line is put on the fitting, the other is muffled by the previously discussed method.
6. To use one dropper for watering several bushes, we attach the minifold pipe splitters to the dropper and lay the tubes in the root zone of the plants.

Drip irrigation with your own hands. Assembly: video

Drip irrigation in a greenhouse

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

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

• Decrease step connection of 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 main, there are no water outlets on it, droppers can be inserted anywhere.
• Apply droppers, the design of which is designed for watering, at the same time, 2-4 consumers. To do this, you need to connect segments of tubes to each outlet and bring them to the plant boles. More often use tees and minifolds to feed several plants at once from droppers designed for watering one bush.
• Apply special pegs- holders or needles with tubes that are stuck in the right place and supply water to the substrate. Set water shutdown timers after a specified period of time or equip with automation systems.

How to organize a 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 recognition by the owners of the irrigation method as a method of intensive farming. Or the general availability of systems - the ability to make a drip irrigation system with your own hands, especially without spending money on the purchase of components. They have also become a civilized part of the agrarian culture, due to being equipped with automation tools.

The 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 indisputable rule to complete models of drip systems with timers. At first, mechanical, and then electronic timers with valves and shutoff valves. This allowed the summer resident, for example, to set the watering time for several hours and go 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 process of functioning for a long period, the possibility, for example, to go on vacation. More complex automation systems are equipped with sensors and allow you to control the flow of water along the lines, to heat irrigation, to test soil moisture, to turn off the system during rain. To organize automatic watering, it is required to ensure the autonomy of the system as much as possible: connect to water supply network or supplement with a well with a centrifugal pump for uninterrupted supply. After installing the drip irrigation system, the timer, controller and electrical devices must be powered by independent batteries or backup / uninterruptible power sources.

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

When powered from a drip irrigation water supply, it is necessary to choose a method of connecting to the water supply network. The system can be connected directly to a valve cock or via a storage tank. Regulatory pressure in the network central water supply is 4 atm. And in fact, taking into account pressure surges and water hammer, it can be 2-7.5 atm. However, low-pressure drip tapes of 0.2-1.5 atm are used in mass application. So that water under such pressure does not break the drip irrigation system, between the tap and main pipe a pressure reducer is installed. 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 bypass valve. Water from the water supply fills the tank to a certain level, the float valve is activated and shuts off the mains supply. Water from a filled tank located on a hill at any time flows by gravity through the water outlet into the drip irrigation system. Consider the most simple design for giving. Drip irrigation should be laid in the following sequence:

1. We assemble a filtration unit from 2 filters: a mud filter and a fine filter. We connect the filters with couplings and wind the connectors, connect the device to the main hose.
2. An OE20 mm hose is laid along the central path of the site. Next to each bed, it is cut, you get a series of separate segments.
3. The segments are connected to each other in a pipeline in series by tees having one OE15 mm outlet each.
4. Drip irrigation tapes are put on these outlets and fixed with metal clamps. The far end of the hose is also connected with a 20/15 connector. The open ends of the tapes are twisted and fixed with plastic clamps.

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

The design of home-made drip irrigation in the garden may include elements that are not directly intended for irrigation, but successfully replace components specially designed for it. First of all, these are disposable medical droppers designed for dosed supply of infusion solutions. They have a significant advantage. By means of a roller clip it is possible to regulate pouring speed - from drop to jet. Used for drip irrigation systems serving crops that differ in dosage and irrigation schedule. In the garden, they are suspended from portable pegs in a vertical position, water enters the soil through pipes.

There are several reasons why gardeners are unwilling or unable to purchase ready system irrigation of gardens and greenhouses. In such cases, drip irrigation is made by hand from the funds that every summer resident has.

After all, on your site you can find enough items and details for this. The advantage will be minimal financial costs. In addition, a well-made drip irrigation system for the garden can be safely used for its intended purpose.

Benefits of using drip irrigation

Soil aeration. The soil is not waterlogged, which ensures good ventilation of the plant root system for the entire period of growth, which is not interrupted at the time of irrigation or after it. Soil oxygen helps the root system achieve the best possible functioning.

root system. Root development is much better than with other irrigation methods. The plant more intensively consumes liquid and absorbs nutrients. With this method of irrigation, the efficiency exceeds 95%, when surface irrigation gives only 5%, and sprinkler - about 65%.

Nutrition. Liquid fertilizers are absorbed directly by the root system. Nutrients are absorbed with maximum intensity, which gives the best effect. This method of plant nutrition is most effective in dry climates.

Plant protection. The leaves remain dry, as a result of which the likelihood of diseases is significantly reduced, since medicines are not washed off the leaves.

Soil erosion prevention. This method of irrigation makes it possible to irrigate slopes or topographically difficult areas. There is no need to build complex structures or move the soil.

Significant water savings. Compared to other irrigation methods, drip irrigation saves water in the range of 20-80%. Only the root system is moistened. Reduced water evaporation losses. Liquid from peripheral drains is not spent.

early maturation. With this irrigation, the soil temperature is higher than with other options, and this stimulates crops to harvest earlier.

Energy and labor costs. The power costs for irrigation are reduced. Saves energy. The drip system is not affected by the pressure drop in the pipeline.

Agrotechnology. Drip irrigation allows you to treat the soil, spray plants and harvest at any convenient time, regardless of irrigation, because the areas between the beds are not moistened throughout the season.

Soils. Drip irrigation allows you to grow plants on soils with a moderate salt content, since salted water can be used.

Did you know? Auto-irrigation has grown in popularity among Australians due to its ability to conserve water. For the inhabitants of this mainland, there are strict restrictions on the use of this natural resource. Such irrigation systems are installed in 3/4 of the dachas and gardens of Australians.

How to make a simple irrigation system

Drip irrigation is not an innovative technology and was invented a long time ago in a country with an arid climate - in Israel. Since then, it has been actively used in the agricultural industry around the world.

But in a small area it does not make sense to use expensive irrigation systems. Therefore, drip irrigation can be done with your own hands from improvised materials.

Making drip irrigation from bottles

The easiest way to build a homemade drip irrigation is to stock up on unnecessary plastic bottles. This system is perfect for small areas.

One container is designed for a maximum of two bushes, which makes it possible to develop an individual irrigation regime for each plant.

For watering crops that consume more liquid, bottles with an increased number of holes are attached. So the moisture will be sufficient. A two-liter container is enough for up to four days of irrigation.

If you have to leave for a longer period, then you can put bigger bottles, for example, 5-6 liters.

Design for bottle irrigation garden plants can be built in three ways.

№1. Dig a container between rows or bushes, having previously made holes in it with a needle. Shouldn't be pierced big holes. Moisture should not flow out quickly.

Important! Make punctures as low as possible so that there is no liquid left in the bottle.

Leave the neck of the container above the soil by 5-7 centimeters, so it will be more convenient to fill it. To prevent the liquid from evaporating, screw the bottle with a lid with a hole previously made in it.

If you simply close the neck with a cap, a low pressure is formed inside the bottle, which crushes it. Depending on the type of soil, the number of holes made also varies.

Three will be enough for sandy. For clay it is better to do five.

№2. Water containers are suspended above the plants. Place pegs along the edges of the bed and stretch a wire or a strong rope between them. Hang bottles without a bottom on it.

Moisture in this case will evaporate faster, but heated water will not injure the roots of plants that love heat so much.

Make a hole in the neck of such a diameter that the liquid does not pour out too quickly. To direct water directly to the root system, you need to insert a rod from the handle into the lid. So the water will be better absorbed.

Plug the free end of the rod with a toothpick and make a hole higher, then the water will not flow out too quickly. Lubricate the junction of the rod and the cover with sealant so that excess liquid does not get into the bed.

№3. In this method, bottles are also used as materials for drip irrigation, but with a small addition. The bottom of the bottle must be cut off and a special ceramic cone put on the neck.

They stick the container into the ground in the root circle of the plant. The internal structure of the cone serves as a kind of indicator that determines the level of soil moisture. As soon as it begins to dry out, moisture is again supplied to the root system.

How to create an irrigation system from medical droppers

Another simple way to feed plants is to collect drip irrigation with your own hands. from medical droppers. The main thing is to have everything at hand. necessary materials and toolkit.

From droppers, you can make an effective irrigation system, which is very affordable in terms of material resources. To create such a design, it is enough to strictly adhere to the plan and follow all the rules.

First of all, cut the system into segments equal to the length of the beds, and make holes in them. The distance between them should be at least half a meter.

Then hang the tubes over the beds. This can be done in different fasteners for details. Plug the ends of the pipes. The wheel allows you to adjust the water pressure.

A do-it-yourself dripper for drip irrigation is a very convenient system. With its help, you can quickly water the beds, without making much effort.

Also, this system is suitable for plant nutrition. liquid fertilizers. Nutrient fluid enters directly under the root of the culture.

Among the shortcomings, one can single out the need to dismantle the equipment when the temperature drops. Plastic can become unusable in winter.

How to make underground drip irrigation

Name this method speaks for itself. Its essence lies in the fact that moisture does not come to the roots of plants from the outside, but directly underground.

This result is achieved thanks to pre-installed special structures for underground irrigation. Next, we will tell you how to organize drip underground irrigation with your own hands.

Required Tools

To create an apparatus for underground irrigation on garden plot, you will need the following:

• Hoses and pipes suitable diameter- 0.5 cm.
• Drainage layer consisting of pebbles, crushed stone, slag and cuttings of branches.
• Shovel.
• Roll of polyethylene.
• Filter element.
• Water access point.

Manufacturing and installation process

Before you equip drip irrigation at home, decide on the method of water supply. If there is no water supply to the garden, you should consider an option with a separate container specifically for irrigation.

Can be accumulated rain water from the roof, it remains only to think over the system for draining, supplying and collecting liquid into a separate container. The barrel of water should be higher than the beds.

Nobody canceled the physical laws, and water under pressure will come from the barrel. You can adjust the height of the tank to increase or decrease the water pressure.

The next step is laying the system itself. Dig a hole or trench, cover it with polyethylene and pour a drainage layer. Install the tubes (the holes in them should already be made) with the filter. Top with a drainage layer again and then cover with earth.

Did you know? In the US, a sub-irrigation system is one of the top desirable improvements for the garden.

If you don't feel like working with your hands

Just recently, only experienced gardeners with "hands where needed." After all, it is not so easy to calculate everything, pick up hoses and fasteners, carefully make holes. Today, in specialized stores, you can choose any model of drip irrigation system that you want.

Choosing a drip irrigation system

Manufacturers of drip irrigation systems can design and manufacture various structural details. As they say, everything is in their hands. Yes, and they can be called pretentiously and differently, just to attract customers.

But standard system drip irrigation consists of the following elements: a main hose through which water from the primary source goes to the supply hose, from which droppers depart.

Droppers can be both small thin tubes and larger hoses, at the ends of which there are screwed irrigation dispensers. The deeper they are twisted, the less water drips.

There are also various adapters in the kit, which are used for joining individual structural elements. There are also plugs for unnecessary hose holes so that water does not flow out from where it is not needed.

It is better to choose a system with a built-in filter that prevents drippers from clogging. The pegs that fix the hose will also be a plus, since, depending on the pressure of the water, the hose can change its position in space.

You can additionally order a timer - a very convenient thing. With it, you can endow the drip irrigation system with intelligence. You can set the start and end of irrigation, as well as the interval between watering. This feature is very convenient when you have to leave your garden for a long time.

Installation of the system in a greenhouse or vegetable garden

Every business that concerns the construction of any structure for a summer residence or garden should begin with planning. As they say, calculation is the key to common sense and successful design.

Therefore, the organization of drip irrigation should begin with the scheme of the suburban area. The action plan is the following:

How to automate the process: do-it-yourself "smart drip irrigation"

The drip irrigation system is automated according to the usual simple system, which, without the daily participation of the owner, at a certain time will turn on the pump, starting the irrigation system.