Drip irrigation in gardening

Many novice gardeners thinkdrip irrigationsomething very complex and expensive. In fact, if you approach the issue wisely, this can be a real salvation for the garden, especially in regions with uneven irrigation or problematic water. When I started, I thought that some kind of space equipment was needed, but it turned out that everything is much simpler, although, of course, it requires certain knowledge and planning. We have been working with systems for several years nowdrip irrigationand I see how this changes the result, especially when growing vegetables and berries. We often get questions about equipment selection, setup and maintenance, so I decided to share my experience. I don’t promise revelations, but rather a set of observations and recommendations that I hope will be useful.

Why do you need drip irrigation at all? (Not just to save water)

The first thing that comes to mind when you mentiondrip irrigation– this is saving water. This is certainly true. Unlike sprinkler irrigation, where most of the water is lost to evaporation, drip irrigation delivers water directly to the roots of plants. But this is far from the only advantage. The key advantage, in my opinion, is the uniform distribution of moisture. Imagine watering a garden bed with a watering can—there will likely be over-watered and over-dried areas. Cdrip irrigationThis doesn't happen. This is especially important for plants with different moisture needs. In addition, drip irrigation reduces the risk of diseases associated with waterlogging of leaves and reduces the number of weeds, since moisture is supplied only to the necessary plants. By the way, we, within the framework of the Shandong Linyao Intelligent Agriculture Technology LLC project, are developing and implementing complexesdrip irrigation, taking into account the characteristics of a particular site and culture. For example, to grow tomatoes and peppers we use systems with micro-dosers of fertilizers - this allows us to achieve maximum yield at minimal cost.

Saving resources and increasing productivity

Of course, saving water means saving money directly. But the real savings come in the long term. Reduced energy costs (if a pump is used), less fertilizer (due to point supply), less labor costs (no need to water manually). As for yield... this is a complex question, but statistically, with the right approach,drip irrigationallows you to increase productivity by 20-50% or more. Our clients who grow vegetables commercially record exactly the same results. Of course, this depends on many factors: the type of soil, the climate, the crops chosen. But, as a rule, the effect is positive.

One of the most common questions is how to choose the right typedrip irrigation? There are many options: drip tapes, droppers, microtubules... The choice depends on the size of the area, the type of plants, and the characteristics of the soil. For example, drip tapes with different pitches are often used for apple orchards, and drip tapes are often used for vegetable beds. It is important to consider the water supply range, water flow and pressure in the system. We usually conduct a preliminary analysis of the site and advise clients on choosing the optimal solution. You should not skimp on the quality of equipment - cheap droppers quickly become clogged and fail, which means additional costs and a headache.

Problems and Solutions: Clogging and Unevenness

There are problems. The most common is clogged droppers. This may be due to hard water, the presence of organic matter in the water, dust and sand. The solution is to use filters. Be sure to install a coarse filter at the inlet of the system, as well as fine filters for droppers. Flush the system periodically to remove contaminants. It is also important to use high-quality water - if the water is very hard, you can use a water treatment system. For example, we often recommend that our clients install ultrafiltration systems if the water from a well or borehole contains a large amount of salts.

Another problem is uneven watering. This may be due to uneven pressure distribution in the system, clogged droppers, or uneven moisture permeability of the soil. The solution is to carefully set up the system, regularly flush the drippers, and use drippers with adjustable flow. It is also important to consider the soil type. Water flows faster on sandy soils than on clay soils. Therefore, on sandy soils it is necessary to use drippers with less water flow, and on clay soils - with more.

System setup and maintenancedrip irrigation

System setupdrip irrigation- This is a simple process, but it requires care and attention. It is important to correctly set the pressure in the system, water flow for each dropper, and watering time. You can start with minimal water flow and gradually increase it until you reach optimal soil moisture. Regularly check the condition of the droppers and tubes for blockages and damage. Clean filters and flush the system.

Recommendations for irrigation automation

Automating watering is a great way to save time and effort. Using the controller, you can configure automatic turning on and off of irrigation depending on the time of day, air temperature, and soil moisture. For example, you can set it to water only in the morning or evening hours to avoid water evaporation. You can set watering only if the soil moisture drops below a certain value. Automating irrigation is not necessarily a complicated or expensive thing. There are simple controllers that allow you to automate the watering of a small area. Shandong Linyao Intelligent Agriculture Technology Co., Ltd. offers a wide range of automated irrigation systems designed to meet the individual needs of each client.

Don't forget about regular system maintenance. Once a year, it is recommended to carry out complete maintenance of the system, including flushing, cleaning filters, checking the condition of tubes and droppers, and adjusting pressure. This will help extend the life of the system and avoid serious breakdowns.

Conclusion:drip irrigationis an investment in the future

Drip irrigation- This is not just a way to water plants. This is an investment in the future. This is an investment in productivity, in saving resources, in caring for the environment. Yes, it requires some knowledge and effort. But the result is worth it. Watching how the plants rejoice at properly organized watering, you understand that it is really worth it. And if you are just thinking about implementingdrip irrigationon my site, then I can say with confidence that this is the right choice.