Water irrigation system

When you hear “water irrigation system,” the first thing that comes to mind is banal pipes and sprinklers. But in reality it is a complex organism, where each element must work like a Swiss watch. Many people still believe that it is enough to buy expensive equipment and the problems will be solved. I have seen from my own experience that even the most advanceddrip irrigationmay turn out to be useless if the specifics of the soil and crops are not taken into account.

Basic design mistakes

In 2019, we encountered a curious case in the Krasnodar region. The customer purchased an expensive Israeli system, but the yield did not increase. A detailed analysis revealed that the designers did not take into account the level of water mineralization. The salts literally clogged the IVs for two months. We had to completely redo the filtration circuit.

A common mistake is a universal approach to different cultures. For vineyards, one type of emitter is needed, for vegetables in closed ground - a completely different one. I remember how in the Rostov region they tried to apply the system for tomatoes to onion plantings. The result is 30% losses from waterlogging.

The choice of materials is especially critical. Cheap HDPE pipes can become deformed in the summer heat, disrupting the entire hydraulic calculation. After several unsuccessful experiments, we began to cooperate with Shandong Linyao Intelligent Agriculture Technology LLC - their combined solutions of stainless steel and UV-stabilized polymer showed themselves to be ideal in the conditions of southern Russia.

Selection of equipment: subtleties that are not written in the instructions

Filtration is a different story. Mesh filters are only good for relatively clean water. In our conditions, with a high content of iron and suspended matter, it is necessary to combine several stages of purification. On a project in the Stavropol region, a three-stage system was used: a gravel filter, a disk filter and, finally, a mesh filter with automatic washing.

Automation is a double-edged sword. Soil moisture sensors must be properly calibrated. Once I had to urgently travel to Kabardino-Balkaria - the system turned off irrigation at 70% humidity, although for a particular pepper variety the optimal figure was 85%. It turned out that the sensors were installed in the wrong zone of the root system.

Pumping stations are a separate headache. They often save on frequency converters, and then are surprised at the excessive consumption of electricity. In collaboration with https://www.lyzhihuinongye.ru, we have developed a scheme with cascade connection of pumps of different power - this allows you to accurately select the pressure without unnecessary energy consumption.

Installation and launch: where are the pitfalls?

The most common mistake installers make is incorrect installation of drip tapes. If you place them with the emitters facing up, the very first rains will clog them with dirt. We have to carry out educational programs every time, although these are basic things.

Starting up the system after winter is a whole ritual. First, we flush the main pipes, then we connect the zones step by step. It is especially important to check the group valves - congealed dirt can damage the solenoids. Last year, because of this little thing, we had to change the control unit on 50 hectares.

Calibrating controllers is a job for the patient. Over large areas the signal may be lost, especially in hilly areas. We have to install repeaters, although initially rarely are they included in the estimate. The website of Shandong Linyao Intelligent Agriculture Technology LLC has good zoning recommendations for different terrains.

Seasonal maintenance: something that is often forgotten

Preservation for the winter is not just draining water. It is necessary to blow through all the lines with a compressor, drain the condensate from the receivers, and treat the filters with corrosion inhibitors. In the Voronezh region, an oversight was once made - in the spring, 80% of the pipelines had to be replaced.

Spring preparation includes more than just cleaning the filters. Be sure to check the uniformity of watering in each zone. It happens that somewhere the emitter is clogged, somewhere rodents have damaged the pipe. I recommend keeping a check log - it saves time searching for problems.

In summer, it is important to monitor not only the operation of the system, but also the condition of the plants. Yellowing leaves can signal salinity, which means it's time to change the watering regime. This is where the experience of Shandong Linyao Intelligent Agriculture Technology LLC specialists in integrating crop condition monitoring comes in handy.

Economic efficiency: numbers against myths

Many people expect instant payback. But even well-designedwater irrigation systembegins to show real savings after 2-3 seasons. The first year is usually spent debugging and selecting optimal modes.

Water accounting is a separate topic. Without water meters it is impossible to assess efficiency. Once they compared the indicators of two identical farms: where the meters were installed, the water consumption was 40% less with the same yield.

Reducing labor costs is not always a linear process. Yes, automation replaces 3-4 workers, but there is a need for a qualified technologist. In the long term, this is more profitable, but requires a restructuring of the entire farm management system.

Prospects for technology development

Systems with AI data analysis are now being actively implemented. But for now this is more marketing than real practice. Simple soil moisture sensors and weather stations are often more effective than complex neural networks.

An interesting direction is the use of drones to monitor irrigation operations. Multispectral photography shows well the unevenness of watering. True, this is still an expensive pleasure for medium-sized farms.

In collaboration with Shandong Linyao Intelligent Agriculture Technology LLC, we are testing a predictive analysis system - it predicts the need for irrigation based on 5 years of data. So far the results are encouraging, but mass implementation is still a long way off.

Overall,irrigation system- this is not just equipment, but a comprehensive solution where everything is important: from water quality to operator qualifications. And the main conclusion from 15 years of work: there are no universal solutions, each project requires an individual approach and constant monitoring.