Drip irrigation is popular among all people residing all over the world. The utility of drip irrigation is characterized by the presence of certain implied conditions to be satisfied. These technical requirements determine the overall activity of the drip irrigation system.
Technical requirements
The pressure is the main ingredient that is to be maintained by tubing with adequate level of supply of water. The tubing should withstand a pressure of about 2 bars. The tubing is to be maintained sufficiently deep in the ground. The ground can be dug to a depth that can be easily approached by the root tips of plants. Pressure regulation can be done to minimize or maximize the pressure that is maintained. Also flow valves can control the intensity of water. The ideal flow that is used is about 0.2l/s for standard dimension of tubing. The tubing that is generally employed in the drip irrigation is about 24mm diameter.
Pressure Regulator- Types
Pressure regulator is of different types. Varied range of pressure regulators can be used for the effective control of pressure in the tubing in different parts of the drip irrigation systems. They are numerous types and differ based on the design specifications namely—
- Low flow pressure regulators
The design of low flow regulators is quite unique. Also the design can regulate pressure based on the utility. A flow rate of about 0.1 to 1GPM can be achieved with low flow pressure regulators.
- Medium flow pressure regulators
Medium flow regulators are utilized for the gardens that require the flow rate of range 2- 20 GPM to be achieved. With this type of flow pressure regulators one can limit the pressure based on the inlet pressure applied.
- High flow pressure regulators
Flow rate can be limited to about 32 GPM with this type of high flow pressure regulators. The external pressure can vary from 10 psi till 50 psi.
Despite its advantages in supplying water for plants, a drip trickle irrigation system may also be the cause of headache for some farmers. Several problems occasionally occur and interfere in water deliverance. For major problems you can consult to an irrigation specialist or the company designing and installing your drip trickle irrigation system. While for these common simpler problems you can solve and avoid on your own. Here are how.
- Make sure the whole drip trickle irrigation system is on.
- Make sure water sources are adequate. It means you have to find municipalities, wells, ponds, reservoirs, canals, ditches, streams or rivers.
- Consider to use thorough, expensive multi-stage filtration or chemical treatment of the soil surface if ever needed.
- Make sure that the pump’s suction pipe is elevated above bottom of the pond.
- Make sure the pond does not contain too much algae. If so, inhibit the algae growth with a non-phytotoxic algaecide.
- Record water meter reading well since decreased flow can stop the whole drip trickle irrigation system.
- Make sure the zone valves between secondary filter and pressure regulator are not closed.
- Read the pressure on gauges number 1 and 2. If the difference in pressure between both gauges is greater than 5lb, backwash the filters.
- Read the pressure on gauges number 3 and 4. If the difference in pressure between both gauges is greater than 5lb, clean the secondary filter. If pressure on both gauges is low, the primary sand filters may be clogged, or there may be a break in the mainline, or the pump may fail.
- Read the pressure on gauge number 4. If pressure is too high, there may be drip lines clogging. It usually rises gradually as the watering continues. If pressure is too low, the secondary filter may be clogged and must be cleaned.
- Read the pressure on number 5. If pressure is too low, there may be leak(s) in the system. If no leak is found, the pressure regulator may fail. If pressure is too high, the pressure regulator definitely fails.
- Check all row laterals once in 2 weeks. If there is an excessive deposit of materials, they should be flushed.
- Record tensiometer reading every morning, at exactly same time. Weekly maintenance is required to ensure its proper operation.
