Production of irrigation systems

When you hear “production of irrigation systems,” the first thing that comes to mind is stamped plastic pipes and standard sprinklers. But in reality, everything is more complicated: each region dictates its own conditions, and what works in the Krasnodar Territory may turn out to be a failure in the Volgograd Region due to the difference in water mineralization.

Design pitfalls

I remember how in 2019 we launched a project near Stavropol. The customer required the “most modern system?” - but when analyzing the soil, it turned out that the local soil has a layer of clay at a depth of 40 cm. If the research had not been carried out on time, the drip lines would have clogged within a season.

The key point is not just to sell the equipment, but to calculate the irrigation cycle, adjusted for local features. Sometimes you have to dissuade clients from expensive solutions: for example,irrigation systemswith automatic humidity control are not always justified in small farms, where it is easier to visually assess the condition of the crops.

The choice of filters is especially critical. Once we installed disk filters at a facility with a high proportion of sludge; after a month of operation, we had to urgently change them to mesh filters with backwashing. Now we always require an extensive water analysis before installation.

Technological nuances of production

Our production in Shandong was initially designed for modular solutions. For example, we assemble collectors from AISI 304 stainless steel instead of galvanizing - there is a difference in price, but when used in saline soils this gives at least 5 years of additional service life.

I often come across the myth that “imported is always better.” But here's a concrete example: remote control valves fromShandong Linyao Intelligent Agriculture Technology Co.,Ltdshow better compatibility with our domestic controllers than some European analogues. At the same time, maintainability is higher - it is enough to replace one module instead of the entire unit.

During assemblyintegration of water and fertilizersWe use polypropylene tees with reinforced stiffeners. It would seem a trifle - but it is precisely such details that eliminate leaks due to pressure drops in the lines.

Infrastructure integration

The most difficult project is upgrading existing systems. Last year, irrigation was redesigned in an agricultural holding near Voronezh, where the pumping station was designed for outdated aluminum pipes. We had to design transition units with pressure sensors - without this, the new equipment would work at half capacity.

We pay special attention to the compatibility of components. For example, when installingfrequency automatic equipmentWe always check that the communication protocols between controllers and servos match. Somehow we encountered a situation where we “didn’t see” equipment from different manufacturers. each other - we had to develop a gateway to convert the signals.

For large objects likesmart agricultural parksWe recommend building a cascade system: separate modules for sprinkling, drip irrigation and fertilizer. This is more expensive at the installation stage, but simplifies local repairs without stopping the entire complex.

Operational errors

Most often, problems arise due to untimely maintenance. I saw how in Tatarstan farmers skimped on washing filters - as a result, clogged emitters led to losses of 30% of the corn harvest.

Another common mistake is improper winter preservation. One client in the Rostov region did not drain water from the mains before the first frost - the result: broken pipes and replacement of 200 meters of pipeline.

Now we always include staff training in the contract. We show how to check pressure in zones, clean injectors, and calibrate sensors. This reduces the number of emergency calls by 60% - a figure verified at our facilities over the past 3 years.

Development prospects

We are currently experimenting with combined systems forhigh quality agricultural fields— adding sensors for determining the humidity of the root zone. Test plots in the Belgorod region show water savings of up to 25% without loss of yield.

An interesting direction is the adaptation of technologies for small farms. We develop simplified kits based on equipment from the sitelyzhihuinongye.ru, where installation is possible by two people without special equipment.

The main challenge is not so much technology as personnel. There is a shortage of engineers capable of designingdesign and construction of hydraulic structurestaking into account agronomic requirements. We have to independently train specialists through partnership programs with agricultural universities.