Do-it-yourself drip irrigation. Drip irrigation: from plastic bottles to an automated greenhouse - schemes, devices, solutions. Watering indoors

Well development

By installing drip irrigation with your own hands, you can significantly speed up ripening and get a wonderful harvest of vegetables, berries, fruits, and significantly save money. Every gardener knows the benefits of moisturizing the roots of a plant. A self-created drip irrigation system will ensure uniform distribution of water and fertilizer to all plantings on the site.

There are several types of self-assembly of this kind of structures. It is enough to familiarize yourself with them and make a choice of the appropriate option for a particular area.

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

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

Before you begin to independently install a structure for drip humidification of something, you need to 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 arc-shaped pipe installed in such a way that one end is open to transmit 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, water is driven by the last portion of 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 water supply until the levels in the tank and at the end of the siphon are equal. You can regulate the speed 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, you can form different shapes, for example, ring shapes for irrigating shrubs or trees. Simple rectangular systems for watering beds are made from ordinary pipes.

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

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

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

The recess on the lid should be of such a 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, a spring can lift the lid, and the valve was able to reopen.

In the process of installing a drip irrigation system, it is necessary to correctly attach the pusher, the upper end of which should be attached to the tank lid, and the lower end to the lever.

An emergency subsystem cup 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 moisture extraction from the soil depends on the depth of the root system relative to the ground surface.

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

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

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

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

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

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

The operating principle is as follows:

At the moment when the ball retainer moves to the side up to the annular groove, the balls fall into this groove under the influence of the spring, thereby fixing the rod and opening the way for fluid to enter the distribution network through the valve.

In the video you can see the stages of installing drip irrigation for your dacha with your own hands.

Do-it-yourself automated watering system

You can create an automated drip irrigation system thanks to a simple scheme, with the help of which at a given time every day, without human intervention, the irrigation system will start and turn off.

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

To set the system startup time, 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 dacha only once a week, since the irrigation of the beds will be carried out independently by this design.

This drip irrigation option is beneficial for lawn grass. After all, its root system is located at a depth of about 15 cm and in the heat, constant watering of lawns is necessary, otherwise there is a possibility of the top layer of soil drying out quickly, which leads to the death of plants. And the costs of a new lawn are quite high. Using the example of lawn grass, which is most susceptible to the harmful effects of wind and sun, it is clear where the soil dries out most quickly, 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 flows out in the first sections of the system, but may not reach the outer sections.

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

What materials can be used to make droppers?

An important role in the irrigation system is played by drippers that are installed on water supply pipes, since through them water is supplied 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 blood transfusion systems as droppers for irrigation.

There are various types of drippers on sale, in which mechanisms are installed to regulate the water pressure in the system.

Rules for operating the irrigation system

During periods of maximum load and after the season, it is necessary to clean filters and drippers from clogging.

To create a fully automated drip irrigation system, it is necessary to use electric controllers that are powered by batteries.

What should be done and in what order?

To achieve a positive result, you need to understand what, when and how to do:

Detailed instructions on creating a drip irrigation system with water supplied from a well are shown in this video:

Warm greetings to summer residents and gardeners! Today we will transform your site from a desert into an oasis! After all, we all know that a guarantee of a high yield of vegetables, berries, fruits and flowers is watering. The most popular irrigation option is drip (spot) irrigation. Thanks to which, the yield increases by 2 - 2.5 times, the plants grow and ripen quickly. In turn, the growth and proliferation of the weed slows down.

A drip irrigation system can be purchased in an online store, where the water supply system is automated and everything is thought out. However, the cost of this equipment is steep. But every farmer wants to get high yields. Therefore, we will make the irrigation system ourselves, without the huge costs of advanced equipment.

Below in the article we looked at several options for an irrigation system made from scrap materials; choose the best one for yourself and make it.

By the way, if you have ants in your summer cottage or garden, how to get rid of them using folk remedies once and for all!

This is interesting!!! Drip irrigation was invented in some areas of Israel. They were the driest and poorest in precipitation. Therefore, we can safely say that this type of watering was not invented out of interest or anything like that. He became a necessity.

Do-it-yourself drip irrigation. Advantages and disadvantages

The system of such irrigation consists of delivering water directly to the root system of crops. Therefore, their greenery will not be damaged. Watering occurs continuously, at certain intervals and slowly. This has a beneficial effect on plants. Since soil moisture is at the same level.

Advantages:

Automation. It is possible to set the time for water supply and shutdown, as well as pressure. He can be both strong and weak.
Save time. Every day a lot of time is freed up, which could have been spent on watering the ridges.
Additional fertilizing of crops. Liquid fertilizers can be added to the irrigation system. And this has a positive effect on plant growth and increases productivity.
Saving water. Due to the fact that moisture comes exclusively to the root, much less is required. In some regions, this is the main advantage of drip irrigation.
Versatility. Climate, soil, crop diversity, landscape do not in any way affect the use of this irrigation.
Supply water temperature. As it flows through the pipes, it heats up a little. This has a beneficial effect on plants and they do not experience discomfort from ice water.
Disease prevention. Some plant diseases can be associated with drought. For example, a fungus. In drip irrigation, as we have already said, the soil near the root system remains constantly moist.
Avoiding leaf burns. Absence of thermal and chemical burns of green crops due to root watering.
Self-assembly of irrigation structure. The system is not only easy to use, but also easy to assemble. It does not have complex mechanisms. Therefore, the summer resident will be able to assemble the structure himself.

Flaws:

Price. If you are going to purchase such equipment from a store, it can significantly reduce your budget. But you can try to make it yourself. And this will significantly save money.
Clogged dropper tubes. If a blockage occurs in the pipes, water will not flow to the ridges in the quantity that the summer resident needs. Or its supply will be stopped altogether.
Mechanical damage. Equipment belts can wear out or simply break.
Condensed root development. This occurs due to the accumulation of moisture in one place.

As you can see, drip irrigation has many more advantages. But there are also disadvantages, they are minor and easy to fix.

How to make drip irrigation for your garden using plastic bottles

Perhaps the cheapest watering system can be made from plastic bottles and small diameter tubes. Finding containers in the required quantity, I think, will not be difficult, and there are no difficulties in using such a system.

There are several methods of irrigation from eggplants:

Surface watering. We hang the bottles over the plants - . A wire or metal rod is stretched over the ridge. We tie the required number of bottles. You need to make small holes in the bottom or lid. The advantage of this method is that the water enters the soil already warm, warmed by the sun's rays. Take the volume of the bottle such that the support can withstand it. It is better to hang the eggplant closer to the ground, since many plants do not tolerate water getting on the leaves, or insert a dropper tube into the hole of the bottle. We cut off the bottom, but do not throw it away, it will serve as a lid to prevent debris from getting in and water from evaporating. We make a hole in the lid for the tube and insert it at a slight angle. We turn the container upside down and hang it up; of course, you can place it with the neck up, but this will be less convenient.

In reality it looks like this:

Dropper tubes are convenient because you can control the water flow rate

Underground root irrigation

1. The next option is simpler. We dig a plastic container between the bushes with the bottom down 10-15 cm, after making holes 3 cm away from the bottom. You determine the number of holes yourself, depending on whether the weather is dry. There can be either 2-3 or all 10. If you plan to close it with a lid, then you need to make a hole in it. So that after all the water has gone, the bottle does not crumple under the ground.

If cucumbers and tomatoes are irrigated on clay soil, the holes will most likely quickly become clogged. Therefore, first put a stocking on the bottle or lay a piece of burlap on the bottom of the hole, you can also sprinkle it with straw.

Important! The water should not immediately go into the soil, but should be used up gradually over several days. This is the whole point of this irrigation method.

This is how watering plants works:

You can also bury the eggplant with the neck down, making holes just above the lid. We cut off the bottom, but I advise you not to throw it away, but to cover it on top so that the water is not clogged with debris and does not allow evaporation. The optimal tilt angle is 30-45 degrees.

You can replace the plastic structure with a 5-6 liter eggplant, then there will be enough water for about 5 days of watering.

2. A simple method with a special nozzle. Now this option is common among summer residents. The only thing you need to do is buy them in specialized stores for gardeners. The nozzle has an oblong shape with holes, which is screwed onto the neck of the bottle instead of a cap. There are volume restrictions up to 2.5 liters; this method will not work for a 5 liter eggplant.

In action it looks like this: the cap is put on, and now it needs to be stuck into the ground next to the bush along with the bottle. You don’t have to cut off the bottom; after the water runs out, you can unscrew the tip and fill the container with water and repeat the manipulation.

Plastic containers are also actively used in greenhouses to make a structure with a rod. This makes it possible to water the bush at a certain distance.

The finished design looks like this:

Using these structures you can feed plants. To do this, you need to dilute the fertilizers in water according to the instructions on the packaging, which must be strictly followed. The solution will be evenly distributed near the roots, allowing the plant to successfully absorb it.

An irrigation system using plastic bottles is an excellent alternative, and in some cases even a complete replacement for traditional irrigation. Making such an irrigation system yourself will not be difficult, because the necessary materials are almost always at hand.

Do it yourself watering with your own hands from plastic pipes

With such irrigation, you only need to ensure that there is always liquid in the system and that the shut-off valve is opened in a timely manner during irrigation. The advantage is that the installation process is quite simple. And the cash costs during the acquisition of the necessary material are reduced.

Installation

You only need a few different-sized pipes. This directly depends on the area of plantings. A fine filter and a barrel to collect liquid are also required.

First you need to accurately outline the layout of the ridges and the irrigation system. After this, it will be possible to calculate the exact quantity and cost of equipment.

The container is placed on a hill of 1-1.5 meters. This will provide the required water pressure.
A pipe (larger in diameter) is removed from the container. It is laid along all the ridges and to the end of the garden. A plug is installed at the end of the pipe.
Smaller pipes are then attached to the pipe. Holes are pre-drilled in them. The entire structure is supported by a start connector on the side of a large pipe. The ends of the pipes are also capped to prevent water from leaking out.

Now the system is installed! Now you need to open the water supply tap so that your beds with tomatoes and cucumbers, as well as other plants and bushes, receive enough moisture.

Drip irrigation from medical droppers

Of course, this is the same economical design. It has its advantage if different varieties of crops are planted on the site. And they are watered in different quantities. The downside is the periodic flushing of clogged droppers. But you can’t do without this with any drip irrigation equipment.

Installation

You will need to purchase:

disposable medical droppers;
hoses for distributing water over ridges;
stands for storage containers;
shut-off and connecting fittings for hoses and droppers (taps, plugs and tees).

It is better to take dark-colored equipment, then the droppers will be protected from algae.

First you need to lay out the hoses over the area with the ridges.
The first end of the hose is connected to the pressure line. The second one should be muted.
The main is connected to a barrel of water. It is raised at least 2 meters above the ground. Then the necessary water pressure will be provided to the entire garden.
After all the pipes are connected, it is necessary to make notes in which places the droppers will be located.
We make holes and insert medical droppers into them. The other end is brought to the roots of the crops.
Well, for a longer service life, it is worth installing fine filters in front of the supply line.

This design has many advantages: significant water savings, watering occurs independently, you just need to open the tap. Moisture does not get on the leaves of plants and this is not the whole list. In a word, with its help you can simplify the entire process of caring for a plant.

We make an irrigation and watering system from pipes

When installing a main pipeline from a water tank to an irrigation site, pipes and fittings made of the following materials are used:

polypropylene;

These pipes withstand contact with water perfectly, do not corrode, are chemically neutral and do not react to the flow of fertilizers through them. To irrigate a small area, in most cases a diameter of 32 mm is used.

Main pipes must be plastic. And what type you will need, choose for yourself.

It is necessary to connect tees at the points where the lines are branched off. And connect drip hoses or tapes to their side outlets. For this you also need to purchase adapters. They are attached using metal clamps.

For additional convenience, after each tee you can install taps that will regulate the water supply. This is convenient when different vegetables are grown in the garden.

I suggest watching a video of another option for installing a spot irrigation system using PVC pipes. This method is very simple but effective:

Another option for drip irrigation from polypropylene pipes:

Installation:

We install the barrel on an elevated platform. This will help get pressure to supply water.
We attach the main pipe (32 mm in diameter) to it. It will supply water to the distribution pipe.
A PVC distribution pipe is laid along the entire perimeter of the garden.
Holes for taps are made in it. This can be done with a screwdriver.
Taps are inserted into them. And drip tapes or hoses are already installed on them.

System installation is ready!

How to equip your own spot irrigation in a greenhouse

Drip irrigation in a greenhouse is a little more difficult to install than watering for an entire garden. Therefore, it would be better for the greenhouse to use surface drip irrigation.

Installation:

You need to purchase a PVC garden hose. Its diameter should be 3-8 mm.
We attach dies to it.
Regular buckets are suitable for containers with water. We make a hole in the bottom of each.
We tighten the spout with a standard plug. It can also be sealed with a thin rubber band.

This irrigation system is very convenient if you are at the dacha on weekends. It folds freely and also unfolds.

In the photo below you can see a diagram of the automatic watering of the greenhouse.

Here is an example of a simplified design without connecting elements:

That's all for us. We tried to consider the most common homemade irrigation designs. Which one to choose depends on your preferences. Or maybe you think it’s better to buy an irrigation system in an online store - it’s up to you to decide.

And we wish you a rich harvest in your beds!

Plants in the garden require moisture. It will be better if it is supplied to the roots constantly and in measured quantities. For this purpose there is a drip irrigation device. Difficulties with installing the system in the future eliminate heavy and ineffective physical labor. This can be judged by numerous reviews from gardeners. Many people are happy with this kind of liberation from hard manual labor. In addition to watering, there are many other things to do at the dacha. It is tempting to replace difficult and painstaking work with relaxation.

There are many types of devices and irrigation systems. They can be made or assembled with your own hands, or you can involve specialists.

Pros and cons of drip irrigation

Drip water supply has many advantages.

The flow of water directly under the stem, which allows fertilizer to be applied simultaneously with moisture.
Saving working time and physical effort for the summer resident. Having installed the system once, you can avoid manual watering throughout the entire season.
Eliminating the possibility of soil drying out. Its humidity is always sufficient for the necessary plant growth.
The system can be used for any plant because it is universal.
Possibility of choosing the optimal option for irrigating beds.

Among the disadvantages, we can note the costs of the component parts of the drip irrigation device: fittings, hoses, tapes, dosing water pump, filter, etc. The system must be constantly monitored, dirt must be periodically removed, water flow checked, valve operation, etc. The installation is volatile and requires constant availability of electricity.

Drip irrigation: structure and principle of operation

The drip irrigation system delivers moisture directly to the roots, which saves water and prevents damage to the above-ground parts of the plants. Water flows slowly at certain periods or continuously, which allows maintaining a given level of soil moisture, which has a beneficial effect on garden crops.

Making drip irrigation with your own hands: where to start?

First, the drip irrigation scheme is drawn on paper, where all watering points, the location of the water source and containers are indicated. The spacing between rows of plantings is measured. Based on the finished dimensions, you can easily calculate the number of communications.

If a pump is installed, its location can be anywhere, but when watering by gravity, the container is installed closer to the plants.

Drip hoses or tapes are laid on the beds. They have built-in special droppers for supplying water to the plants.

Before assembling a drip irrigation system, it is necessary to have all the components for irrigation. If you have experience, it is advisable to choose them yourself, since watering kits are more expensive.

A container of water - a barrel or tank.
The main distribution manifold for water supply, from which it is supplied to the branches.
Drip hose or tape.
Valves connecting drip tapes to the collector.

Drip hoses

Hoses are sold in coils. Their feature is the supply of the same amount of water throughout the entire bed, even if the terrain is uneven. The maximum irrigation length is selected so that the unevenness at the beginning and end of the hose does not exceed 10-15%. For one season, for drip irrigation of the garden, it is enough to use tapes with a wall thickness of 0.1 to 0.3 mm. They are laid only on top.

Thick-walled (up to 0.8 mm) will last 3-4 seasons. They can also be used for underground installation. The diameter of the tapes is 12-22 mm (common size is 16 mm). Hard tubes last up to 10 seasons. Their diameter is 14-25 mm.

Through one dropper the water consumption is:

hose - 0.6-8 l/h;
thin-walled tape - 0.25-2.9 l/h;
thick-walled tape - 2-8 l/h.

To regulate the flow, a tap for drip irrigation is connected to the hose or drip tape.

On average, you need to take 1 liter of water per day per plant, 5 liters per bush, 10 liters per tree. The data is indicative, but is suitable for determining the total consumption. To be more precise, when drip irrigation is performed, 1 tomato bush requires 1.5 liters, cucumbers - 2 liters, potatoes and cabbage - 2.5 liters. 20-25% of the reserve is added to the result obtained and the required tank volume is determined.

The distance between the drippers depends on the frequency of planting and can be from 10 to 100 cm. Each of them has one or two outlets. The consumption may remain the same, but in the latter case the depth decreases and the irrigation area increases. Dropper spiders are installed on a bed in 4 rows with the distribution of up to 4 plants.

Droppers

Droppers can be installed on plastic pipes. They are produced in several types:

with fixed water flow;
adjustable - with manual adjustment of irrigation intensity;
uncompensated - the intensity of water supply decreases towards the end of the bed;
compensated - with a membrane and a special valve, creating a constant pressure during pressure fluctuations in the water supply;
"spider" type - with distribution to several plants.

External droppers are inserted into a plastic pipe, in which holes are pierced with an awl.

Filtration

Special attention is paid to the purification of irrigation water. First, coarse filtration is performed, and then fine filtration. Dirty water quickly clogs the droppers.

Purpose of fittings

The system can be simply assembled using special fittings for drip irrigation.

Start connectors for connecting drip tape to plastic water pipes. They are made with a rubber seal or a clamping nut. Holes are drilled in the HDPE pipe using a wood drill with a centering spike and start connectors are tightly inserted with or without taps. Regulation of water consumption is required if certain zones consume it less than others or for alternate watering of different areas.
Drip irrigation fittings, angled or in the form of tees, are used to connect the tape to a flexible garden hose. They are also used for branching or turning. The fitting seats are made in the form of ruffs, which ensures tight fastening of the tubes.
The repair fitting is used in case of a break or to extend the drip tape. With its help, its ends are connected.
The plug is installed at the ends of the drip tape.

Installation from thin-walled tapes

Distributing polyethylene pipes with a diameter of 4 cm are connected to the garden water supply. This diameter is best suited for installing a start connector - a special tap for drip irrigation, which is used to connect a perforated drip tape to the pipe.

It is manufactured with a small thickness and assembled using reinforcement. The holes are made at equal intervals. The drip tape is put on the tap with tension, and then additionally secured with a plastic nut. The ends of the sleeves are closed with plugs, sealed or tucked.

The disadvantage is the low strength of the tape material, which is easily damaged by rodents and insects. In terms of other indicators, the system shows itself only on the positive side.

Installation of a system with tubes and built-in droppers

The system is highly durable and significantly longer lasting. It consists of a hose in which cylindrical droppers are built at regular intervals. The tube can be placed on the soil surface, mounted on stands, suspended on a wire, or buried in the ground.

Water under pressure disperses from the container throughout the system and is smoothly distributed, coming from small holes. It is important that the tank is located at a height of 1-1.5 m from the ground surface. The gardener is only required to fill it in a timely manner, after which the liquid flows to the plants under the influence of gravity.

How to water cucumbers?

In industrial systems, drip irrigation of cucumbers is carried out with water supplied to each plant. The depth of the roots is 15-20 cm and tensiometers are installed there to control humidity. For gardeners, improvised means made from plastic bottles are suitable. They are installed on the bottom or with a closed plug in the ground. The top should be open to fill with water.

First way. The dropper is made from a used ballpoint pen refill. It is washed with a solvent to remove any remaining paste and plugged at the end with a match. A puncture is made at the end half the thickness of the rod. A homemade dropper is inserted into a puncture made from the bottom of the bottle at a height of 15-20 cm. Then the containers are filled with water and placed near the bushes so that the moisture gets to the root.
Second way. Holes are made in the bottle along the entire height, departing 3-5 cm from the bottom. Then it is buried bottom down to a depth of 20 cm. The cork is unscrewed and the container is filled with water through the top. The bottle can be buried upside down, having previously cut off the bottom, through which it is convenient to fill it with water in the future. To prevent the holes from becoming clogged with soil, the outside of the bottles is wrapped with needle-punched fabric, which is used as a covering material for greenhouses.
Third way. Bottles filled with water can be suspended above the ground by punching holes in the lid.

Bottle drip irrigation of cucumbers is convenient due to its cost-effectiveness, since there is no need to spend money on materials. The disadvantage is the difficulty of installation over large areas. The process of filling with water is troublesome, and the holes are often clogged with soil. Despite this, you can be convinced of the advantages of the drip method. Reviews indicate that it is quite effective in small greenhouses.

It is more convenient to fully water cucumbers in large greenhouses through a centralized system with branded drippers.

Drip irrigation devices: automatic

Automatic watering requires funds for equipment, but as a result, a lot of time will be saved and the harvest will compensate for the costs. The most important component of the system is the controller or timer, which does not require human intervention. The latter sets only the frequency and duration, which can be electromechanical or electrical. The controller can set an irrigation program, which takes into account the pressure in the system, sets daily watering cycles and takes into account humidity and temperature.

For simple systems, the drip irrigation scheme requires a single-channel device, but in a complex scheme, the number of channels may be required. Judging by the reviews, experienced gardeners prefer to use several simple timers that work according to separate programs.

In order not to depend on the energy source, it is advisable to purchase devices that run on several AA batteries.

Automatic drip irrigation from a water supply often requires a pump. Its power must correspond to consumption. The mechanism should be simple, not very noisy and resistant to chemical compounds, which are often used in the system as fertilizers.

Conclusion

Despite the fact that surface irrigation is the most common, the lack of sometimes favorable conditions for it, water shortages and energy savings lead to the need to use one or another drip irrigation device. The choice depends on the climate, landscape, types of crops cultivated and other factors.

It is important to properly design and install a drip irrigation system to reduce the likelihood of failures and avoid wasting time on repair and maintenance work.

Evgeniy Sedov

When your hands grow from the right place, life is more fun :)

Since ancient times, people have tried to use water as carefully as possible to irrigate cultivated crops. Improving irrigation methods, people gradually moved from using pots with holes buried in the ground to a drainage irrigation system, from clay conduits to perforated metal pipes. A real breakthrough in the issue of economical use of water for irrigation was the invention of plastic. Thanks to plastic pipes, a drip irrigation system has become a reality, which today any adult can assemble.

What is drip irrigation

The irrigation method of supplying water in small portions to the root zone of cultivated plants is called drip irrigation. This unique method was first proposed by the Israeli Simcha Blass. Since 1960, microirrigation has rapidly spread throughout the world. In addition to minimizing water consumption, drip irrigation has a positive effect on the development of crops, which increases crop yields. This method has gained particular popularity in arid climates.

Advantages over manual watering

The usual method of irrigating land in household plots is to spray water using various devices. The automatic drip irrigation system has clear advantages over traditional methods of soil moistening:

It can be used in open ground conditions of vegetable gardens, greenhouses, indoor plants, fully automating the watering process.
Water enters the root zone of the plant, providing uniform moisture to the required area of soil. At the same time, the top layer of earth is not eroded.
The jet pressure and time of water flow are adjustable. The root system of the plant organism does not become wet from excess moisture.
Through the micro-irrigation design, mineral fertilizers can be supplied directly to the roots, which contributes to the natural feeding of crops and increases yield.
The likelihood of diseases of cultivated plants associated with putrefactive infections that affect them in conditions of constant waterlogging of the soil is minimized.
There are fewer weeds, since water does not get into the aisle.
The soil does not require constant loosening to allow air to enter, because a dense crust does not form on the surface of the earth.
Water consumption is significantly reduced.
Productivity increases.

Operating principle and device of drip irrigation

The system operates on the basis of drip supply of water to the root system of plants in two ways: to the soil surface (with a perforated hose) or deep into the soil (using special drippers). The water flow is supplied from a storage tank or water supply system. The drip irrigation system is assembled from the following parts and assemblies:

Plastic or metal container for collecting water. Plastic is more practical because it does not rust. It is better to choose an opaque tank so that the liquid in it does not “bloom”.
Pump for pumping water from a well.
Water tap for regulating water flow.
Mechanical or electronic controller (timer) to automate the irrigation process.
Ball valve for emergency shut-off of water movement.
Water pressure reduction reducer.
A water filter to prevent pipe clogging.
Adapter for fastening the water conduit system.
Main plastic pipes with a cross-section of up to 40 mm.
Thinner water conduits: drip tapes and tubes, droppers.
Fittings (tees, adapters, plugs, etc.) for mounting and distributing system parts.

Water from the tank moves through the main pipes. Their location depends on the area of the irrigated area and branches out with drip lines to each plant. If the system provides for deep watering, the water pipes are equipped with branches with droppers at the end, which are inserted into the ground to each root. The water filter protects the pipes from clogging, and the reducer regulates the jet pressure to the required level that is safe for the operation of the irrigation system. The ends of the water conduits are closed with plugs.

Kinds

The operation of a drip irrigation system is based on gravity or forced water supply. The first type of irrigation is based on the gravity of the water flow. In order for the pressure to be sufficient and the liquid to flow to the root system of the plants, the storage tank is raised above the ground to a height of at least two meters. A forced irrigation system is provided with water due to its movement from the central water supply or pumped from a well.

The optimal pressure for drip irrigation is no more than 2 atmospheres, so it is advisable to provide the forced mechanism with a reducer to regulate the water pressure. In extreme cases, this function is performed by a water tap. With its help, you manually adjust the water jet, approximately determining the desired pressure. The owner of the cultivated plot independently chooses which irrigation system to use. His choice depends on many factors. Material costs, as a rule, play a decisive role.

How to make drip irrigation in an open area or greenhouse

The distance between the droppers must be at least 30 cm so that the soil is moistened evenly. In this case, a maximum of 20 liters per plant. For small cultivation areas, a gravity-based drip irrigation system is often used. In the case of equipping large areas with irrigation devices, the best option would be automated irrigation using an electronic controller. It will provide regular, high-quality watering.

Materials and equipment

A simple micro-irrigation system for garden beds can be built from scrap materials yourself. A two-hundred-liter plastic barrel raised to a height of 2 meters, a watering main hose and thinner water conduits are the main parts of a homemade irrigation structure. The most primitive method of drip irrigation is plastic bottles suspended on poles with medical droppers inserted into their caps. Their free ends with a non-needle tip are inserted into the ground near each plant being grown.

Tubes of medical droppers are used as taps and in more complex homemade micro-irrigation designs. To do this, attach the rubber tips of the droppers to the holes made in the main hose. There should be as many holes as the number of plants being watered. Automation of drip irrigation is possible through the use of the following mechanisms in the design:

float-type shut-off valve to control the filling of the tank with water;
reducer for regulating water pressure in the system;
micro-irrigation controller to eliminate excess water consumption and excess soil moisture.

Scheme development

To regularly provide cultivated plants with water, it is very important to correctly develop an irrigation scheme and calculate the parameters of the parts that need to be purchased. The size of the water intake tank is calculated by multiplying the irrigated surface area by 30 liters required to deeply moisten the soil. If a storage tank with a capacity of 1 cubic meter is raised to a height of 2 m, you can efficiently water an area with seedlings of 50 square meters.

It is not advisable to make drip lines longer than 100 m. Violation of this rule will lead to problems in the operation of the irrigation structure at any capacity of the main pipes. Modified types of water pipelines are more expensive, but are more resistant to changes in water and air temperatures and the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays. The following parameters depend on the diameter of the pipes used:

Installation

If you correctly calculate the parameters and develop a drip irrigation scheme, you can significantly reduce the labor intensity of gardening and greenhouse work and almost double the yield of grown crops. When all the necessary parts have been purchased, you should begin installing the irrigation structure:

Make a support platform at a height of 2 meters and install the tank on it.
If the container is filled with water from the water supply network, it is advisable to equip it with a float-type shut-off valve. This will prevent liquid from overflowing.
Insert an adapter into the lower part of the water collection tank. Screw a water tap onto it using FUM sealing tape to manually regulate the water pressure.
Next, according to the diagram, install the controller (timer). By programming it in a certain way, you can achieve watering of the area without the presence of an observer. Irrigation of the land plot will begin at the specified time and end strictly at the appointed hour.
Install a ball valve to shut off the flow of water into the system if necessary.
To avoid surges in water pressure, a reduction gear is installed. If the pressure in the water supply network is less than 2 atm, install a pump that increases the water pressure.
A fine filter will prevent clogging of pipes. It is attached after the water pressure regulator.
Using fittings, the developed design of main pipes and branches with drip lines is mounted. It is connected to the main water pipeline through an adapter.
A thinner hose is connected to the main pipe through tees and adapters. The ends of the bends are bent and special clamps are put on them, which act as plugs.
3 mm holes are made on top of the thin hose at a distance of 30 cm from each other. Splitters are inserted into them. Rubber seals are used to prevent water from leaking out.
The splitters come in different designs; they have 2-4 outlets, onto which “antennae” (thin tubes) with droppers are attached.
Test the operation of the installation by adjusting the water pressure.

Operating a Drip Irrigation System

Correct operation of the automated system is the key to its uninterrupted operation. To prevent failure of the micro-irrigation structure, it is necessary to:

Clean the filter weekly.
In the fall, dismantle the drip irrigation system, drain all the water and store it until the next season.
After feeding the plants with a solution of mineral fertilizers through the micro-irrigation system, fill the tank with clean water, rinse the pipes and hoses with it for 10-15 minutes. This must be done to avoid the negative effects of chemicals on plastic water pipes.
To increase the service life of a drip irrigation system, it is advisable to lay its elements underground. Subsoil irrigation requires a lot of effort when installing the structure, but has a number of advantages. Firstly, water is saved because it does not evaporate from the surface of the earth. Secondly, the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays and weather conditions on pipes and hoses are reduced.

Drip irrigation system for indoor plants

If there is no one to entrust with watering indoor plants during the holidays, you can build gravity drip watering for green pets using improvised means. To do this, you will need a water container, the volume of which depends on the number of flower pots, and medical droppers. This method of micro-irrigation is good because it can be used to regulate the rate of moisture supply to the root of the plant.

If we take, for example, a ten-liter plastic canister and several droppers as the basis for the design, then you need to proceed as follows:

1 cm above the bottom of the container, drill as many holes as there are flower pots that require watering during the absence of the owners. Their diameter should be slightly less than the lumen of the dropper tube.
Heat the tubes one by one in boiling water until they soften and insert into the holes of the canister. To avoid leaks, treat the joints with any sealant available in the house (silicone, waterproof glue).
Fill the container with water and place it 1 m above the level of the flower pots. Adjust the flow of liquid using the clamp-regulator (wheel) of the dropper.
Insert the injection unit without a needle into the soil of the flower pot closer to the plant stem.

How to choose automatic drip irrigation

To buy a drip irrigation system, you need to know what the fundamental difference between the models offered on the market is. By correlating the capacity of the structure, its price with your own goals and capabilities, you can make a purchase. Criterias of choice:

view:
1. Tubular. They are based on rigid hoses with built-in nozzles for attaching bends.
2. Tape. The branches of the system consist of elastic bands with capillary holes.
equipment:

The larger the irrigation area, the more components for drip irrigation and the higher the cost of the product.
Availability of a storage tank. Such models are more expensive.
With automatic regulators of water pressure and watering time or providing manual adjustment.
Availability of external dropper nozzles. Their design can be monoblock or collapsible. Monoblock ones cannot be repaired if they break. In collapsible models, you can regulate the speed of falling drops, regardless of the water pressure in the pipe.

Video

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Good watering in a summer cottage is the key to high yields of vegetable and fruit crops and accelerated flower growth. What caring summer resident does not dream of having the most efficient irrigation system that does not require large installation costs?

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

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. Any home craftsman who does not have special knowledge of hydraulic engineering can install drip irrigation in a dacha or make drip irrigation in a garden. 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. It is possible to disassemble the system in winter 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 based on needs to ensure sufficient watering without constant replenishment of moisture reserves. Water from the tank must flow continuously. The required flow rate for watering each summer cottage is individual, but every summer resident should know the required daily water flow in his or her 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 correctly select the appropriate model of a drip irrigation system for 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 of the preparations in a special fertigation unit. After fertigation, be sure to fill the irrigation system with 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-flow systems, due to 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.

Do-it-yourself drip irrigation in a small area. Video

Recommendations for installation and maintenance of a drip irrigation system

Any drip irrigation systems consist 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: a male threaded outlet and a female threaded tap.
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.
When using a tape design, the start connector is first screwed into the drilled holes of the pipe, and then the tape itself is tightly placed 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 features inherent in different types of tape devices.

Thus, 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 the water stream in the barrel and regulates its flow through the outlet holes. However, this manufacturing technology with an external labyrinth location 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 the inner surface of the wall of the tape conduit. 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. Due to low pressure, the spillway 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:

We connect a fitting with a 3/4" external thread to the hose coming out of the tank.
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.
We connect the main pipe through a PE coupling 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. We plug the end of the pipe at the other end of the land plot with a PE end cap with a handle or install a tap for preventative flushing.
We drill holes in the pipe at each of the 8 beds, screw on 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.
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.
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 a higher planting density: parsley, celery, dill and other greens. And a more dense method of sowing or planting vegetables, compared to growing in open ground. 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 the increased water consumption per 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 general availability of systems - the ability to make a drip irrigation system with your 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 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 irrigation, it is necessary to ensure maximum autonomy of the system: connect it to the water supply network or supplement it 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 from autonomous 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 a storage tank 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 simplest design for a summer house. Drip irrigation must be installed in the following sequence:

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.
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.
The sections are connected to each other into a pipeline in series with tees, each having one OE15 mm outlet.
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 suspended from portable pegs in a vertical position, and water enters the soil through tubes.