Growing seedlings and vegetables in greenhouses is much faster thanks to optimal temperature, lighting, and proper irrigation. To save time, resources, and effort, many gardeners install drip irrigation systems. This ensures complete plant moisture and avoids the intense evaporation typical of greenhouses. You can set up a drip irrigation system yourself, constructing a system from readily available materials.
Operating principle
Drip systems were developed in Israel and first used in 1950. The reason for this system's use was the water shortage that is common in the region. Therefore, scientists were tasked with finding an irrigation method that would reduce water consumption. Research has shown that drip irrigation is so effective that it saves both water and time on plant maintenance. Crop yields with drip irrigation increase by 30%.
In greenhouses, a barrel is used as the water source for this type of irrigation. It is connected to dispensers and outlet pipes via a main pipeline. All system components are connected using fittings.
The main line connects to the watering barrel through a filter. A pipeline with small holes for dispensers extends from it along the entire length of the garden bed. Moisture slowly seeps through these holes, nourishing the plants' root systems. To ensure good pressure, the barrel is placed at an elevation of 50 cm to 3 m. This ensures gravity-fed irrigation. If the pressure is insufficient, a submersible pump can be used.
You may be interested in:To automate irrigation, install a controller. It regulates the intensity and frequency of watering. Multiple timers can be installed in different sections of the network to customize the regime for different groups of plants.
Advantages and disadvantages
With regular watering, the soil is only saturated to a depth of 10 cm. If the water is applied slowly, it penetrates much deeper. The root system grows faster and more vigorously, allowing the plant to extract more nutrients. The risk of overwatering is significantly reduced because the rest of the soil is not saturated. This reduces the risk of dangerous plant diseases such as powdery mildew, blackleg, gray mold, and bacterial spot.
Water doesn't fall on plant leaves, so there's no risk of sunburn. Weeds don't have the opportunity to spread quickly, as water is delivered only to the roots of the crop. Furthermore, this irrigation system prevents soil erosion. Drip irrigation is simple to implement but offers the potential to significantly increase yields.
The main drawback of this irrigation system is the need to constantly monitor its performance. If water is in excess, the plant may die. Therefore, it's necessary to regularly check the condition of the reservoir and refill it.
Another drawback is the dripper holes becoming clogged. Because they are so small, they constantly become clogged with dirt. Therefore, they are periodically cleaned by blowing them out. To prevent debris from getting into the water container, it is also covered with a lid.
Types of IV drips and intervals between them
A dripper is a small device with a tube at the top that fits into the opening of a distribution hose. It controls the flow of moisture to plants. The drip system is selected based on the plant variety and the size of the greenhouse.
The following varieties are found:
- uncompensated ones provide a stronger supply of moisture at the beginning of the bed than at its end;
- compensated ones are equipped with a valve and a membrane, therefore they provide the optimal volume of moisture even in areas with uneven terrain;
- supplying a certain volume of liquid, which is indicated on the packaging and ranges from 1 liter;
- with manual mode for adjusting the amount of liquid dispensed;
- with an anti-drainage system, the liquid is completely removed from the hose when the water supply is turned off; such droppers do not need to be blown out, since the pressure in them does not drop to a minimum;
- With spider dispensers, moisture is supplied to different plants at the same time.
When choosing an IV drip, make sure it's disassemblable. This is essential for effective cleaning.
When building a drip irrigation system yourself, pay special attention to regulating the water supply. If the pressure is insufficient, the plants at the end of the bed will suffer from lack of moisture. Intensive water supply is also undesirable, as it will overwater the soil.
The distance between droppers and dispensers is selected based on the type of crop:
- Spider drippers are installed at significant intervals. They are used to irrigate perennial greenhouse plants. They are not used for open ground or seedlings; overhead water lines are installed for them.
- For other crops, the interval between drippers is 30 cm.
- Root crops are irrigated with drippers installed at 20 cm intervals.
- For watering melons, the distance between dispensers is increased to 1 m.
How to calculate water volume and irrigation duration
Before installing a homemade drip irrigation system, draw a plan of the garden beds, indicating their dimensions and marking the plant locations. Then, draw an irrigation diagram, indicating the location of the tank and all pipes. Such a detailed plan is necessary for calculating the required quantities of materials.
Next, calculate the volume of liquid consumed, which determines the size of the barrel. To lay a ten-meter pipeline and install drippers at 30-cm intervals, 34 drippers are required. At a flow rate of 5 liters per hour, the total volume of water will be 170 liters.
Volume of water for high-quality irrigation with drip irrigation Watering is significantly reduced. For cucumbers, 2 liters per day is sufficient. Tomatoes can be watered with 1.5 liters of water once every 4 days. Potatoes and cabbage require 2.5 liters of liquid per day.
The irrigation duration depends on the drip rate of the drippers. At a rate of 3 liters per hour, potatoes and cabbage require a little less than an hour of irrigation. For cucumbers, 40 minutes is sufficient, and for tomatoes, half an hour.
Advantages of the auto controller
By installing a timer on a drip irrigation system, it will operate fully automatically. This eliminates the need for humans to operate the valves. Water will be turned on and off by dedicated equipment at preset times. Fully automated devices operate without human intervention. They independently control the temperature and humidity in the greenhouse, as well as the soil irrigation rate.
To automate drip irrigation for a home greenhouse, simply install a simple device that schedules watering at a specific time. This device opens a faucet at a preset time and shuts off the water supply after a few minutes. This timer can be installed anywhere in the pipeline. Sometimes it is connected to a pump to control water intake.
Self-assembly of a drip irrigation system
For a homemade drip irrigation system, you'll need a 100-200-liter barrel, PVC pipes, and regular IV drips. The barrel is placed 1-2 meters above ground level. The higher it is, the greater the pressure in the pipes. A faucet with a filter is installed at the bottom of the barrel. Then, pipes for water supply are brought into the greenhouse.
Water supply pipes are installed according to the number of beds. A tee or elbow is used for the distribution. The ends of the pipes are capped. Valves are installed on the pipes to regulate the flow. Drippers are positioned according to the number of plants in each bed. To do this, first mark them with a marker, and then drill small holes in the pipes. Insert one end of the drip into the hole. The other end of the tube is lowered toward the plant.
The best irrigation systems
Various commercially produced drip irrigation systems are now available for sale. Typically, domestic gardeners and summer residents use products from Russian or Belarusian manufacturers.
The AquaDusya drip irrigation system is produced in Belarus in both automatic and semi-automatic versions. In the automatic version, the entire soil irrigation process is automated. During the day, water is collected in a barrel, and the plants are irrigated at night. In the semi-automatic version, the tank must be filled manually.
The "Zhuk" irrigation system is produced by a Russian manufacturer. It is suitable for a greenhouse of 18 square meters and is not automated. It can be connected to a water tank or a permanent water source.
The Clip-36 drip irrigation system allows you to water your garden beds 24/7. Water is delivered in thin streams every 1.5-2 minutes. This system can water an area of up to 36 square meters. It connects to a watering can or a water supply.
Reviews
Nikita, 45 years old:
Built DIY drip irrigation from medical IV drips in my small greenhouse. While this isn't a fully-fledged, factory-produced system, it does make caring for my plants much easier.
Alena, 36 years old:
I bought and installed AquaDusya in the greenhouse at my dacha. It's an excellent, fully automated system, and now, instead of tediously lugging buckets of water, I can focus on other tasks.
Conclusion
Drip irrigation systems If properly installed and configured, they simplify plant care. They reduce water consumption and increase crop yields. If you can't afford an expensive factory-made system, you can make your own using materials you have on hand.