Drip irrigation hoses, also known as drip irrigation tubing, are hoses specifically designed to carry water and drip it through tiny holes attached to them; the tiny holes are called “emitters”. They drip water slowly into the soil exactly at the plant root zone where it is needed. This way moisture levels are kept optimal, improving plants productivity and quality.
Drip irrigation hoses are made of polyethylene. They come in various types and diameters, accordingly to your needs. The length of a single drip irrigation hose should not over 200 feet from the point where water enters it.
You need to stake the hoses to keep them from moving. More importantly, never bury the hoses and their emitters even if they are designed to be. Otherwise, you will need to spend more time and energy to overcome clogging and rodent damage.
When choosing hoses for your drip irrigation system, you have to keep in mind these important factors: size, pressure rating, weight, length and chemical compatibility.
Some drip irrigation hoses available in the market :
Drip Irrigation Hose .580
It comes in various lengths: 25’, 50’, 100’ and 500’.
Using .580 compression fittings, it operates at pressure rate 10 to 60 PSI and has a maximum flow rate 180 GPH. It is best if you operate it at pressure rate 25 PSI.
Drip Irrigation Hose .700
It comes in various lengths: 50’, 100’ and 500’.
Using .700 compression fittings, it operates at pressure rate 10 to 60 PSI and has a maximum flow rate at 240 GPH. It is best if you operate it at pressure rate 25 PSI.
Drip Irrigation Hose .820
It comes in various lengths: 100’, 250’ and 500’
Using .820 compression fittings, it operates at pressure rate 10 to 60 PSI and has a maximum flow rate at 380 GPH. It is best if you operate it at pressure rate 25 PSI.
1/4″ Micro-Drip Irrigation Hose
It comes in various lengths: 25’, 50’, 100’ and 500’. Used with 1/4” barbed fittings, it is used for extending drippers and micro-sprinklers from main line or as the primary line in a small drip irrigation system. It can be put above or below the ground.
Use this hose to distribute water from main line to drippers, misters and low volume sprinklers.
1/4″ Laser Drilled Drip Irrigation Hose
It comes in various lengths: 50’ and 100’. Holes are laser drilled into the hose against the flow of water. Used with 1/4″ barbed fittings, it is to be put within 12” or 6” space.
Drip irrigation has turned out to be the best method for irrigating the crops. Many crops fail due to the lack of water. Water is the main reason for the growth and if the water is supplied at the right time then we can get maximum production. Drip irrigation is the best solution for the drought hit areas or the areas with low water.
A drip irrigation system consists of the drippers and the PVC pipes connected to every plant in the farm. The water is uniformly distributed to the plants in the form of the drops with the help of these PVC pipes. The drops from the pipes directly flow into the roots and therefore avoid flooding of the nearby area. A flooding usually results because the plants cannot take up the water after a limit. Usually flooding, leads to the growth of the weeds in the farms. As the drip water system needs just drops of water for the growth of the plants, there is a greater chance for the water conservation in the drip irrigation. The drops are also well absorbed by the plants.
Benefits of using drip irrigation systems:
Drip irrigation system has a lot of advantages when compared with the other systems which may include the following:
- Since the water is allowed to flow to a particular area, the flooding of the area is greatly reduced.
- Only 1/10th or 1/20th of the water required for the normal cultivation is needed.
- Drippers ensure that the water percolates well into the ground. In the case of the sprinkler systems the bushes present on the surface doesn’t allow the water to pass into the ground.
- It also reduces the attack of pests to a greater extent, as the humid conditions are required for the growth of the pests. But in this system, the humidity is reduced to a greater extent, as the water is well directed into the soil.
- It also prevents the washout of the top soil by the water as the water is concentrated in the form of the drops at a particular area.
Disadvantages of using the drip irrigation system:
- Drip irrigation system is more expensive than the traditional systems, but once the system has been constructed then we will not suffer from the lack of water.
- The life span of the drip irrigation system is also less usually 10 to 15 years.
- The drippers must be replaced if the periodic flushing is not carried out which further adds to the cost.
Drip irrigation system is popular among the commercial growers and now-a-days it is also becoming popular among the small scale farmers and gardeners as well. On the whole the drip irrigation system is the best technique to irrigate your field without much wastage of water.
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