Drip irrigation system for gardens, greenhouses, soilless farmland

When you hear aboutdrip irrigation system, many people immediately think - just pipes with holes. But in fact, this is a complex mechanism where each element affects the yield. Especially in greenhouses and hydroponics, where an error in calculating pressure or filtration ruins everything in a week.

Why drip irrigation is not a universal lifesaver

At the beginning of my career, I saw how cheap drip tapes were installed in a greenhouse complex near Moscow without taking into account water hardness. A month later, the emitters became clogged with salts, and the cucumbers began to dry out. We had to change the entire system, but there were already losses. Then I realized: there is no such thing as “just drip irrigation?” — there is a system that is competently designed for specific conditions.

For example, soilless substrates such as coir or rock wool require precise moisture control. The sensors must work 24/7, otherwise the root system either dries out or rots. Once I was setting up a system for Dutch tomatoes - there I had to combine droppers with humidity sensors fromShandong Linyao Intelligent Agriculture Technology Co.,Ltd. Their equipment was integrated with controllers, which made it possible to automate watering according to growth phases.

By the way, their website islyzhihuinongye.ru— I sometimes use it to select components. Especially when non-standard solutions are needed for slopes or multi-tiered greenhouses.

Mistakes when choosing filters and how to avoid them

Filtration is 70% of the success of drip irrigation. Once in the Krasnodar region I saw farmers installing mesh filters on water from an open reservoir. After two weeks, the droppers became clogged with algae. I had to convert it to disk filters with washing. Disc filters retain organic matter better, but require regular maintenance.

For greenhouses with a closed cycle, I recommend multi-stage filtration: first coarse cleaning, then a sand filter, and finally a bag filter. We used this scheme in the project forsmart agricultural parks, where the water was recirculated. By the way,Shandong Lingyao Co.,Ltdjust supplies sets of filters that can be customized according to the composition of the water.

An important nuance: when using fertilizers through injectors, you need to install filters that are resistant to chemicals. Cheap plastic ones quickly fail.

Automation: where it is really needed and where it is not

Many are chasing full automation, but in small gardens this is often unjustified. For example, for a 5-hectare apple orchard, a simple timer and rain sensor are enough. But for hydroponic complexes with different growing zones withoutfrequency automatic equipmentcan't get by.

I remember how in Tatarstan they set up a system for strawberries on a substrate. They used remote-controlled valves - you could change the watering schedule for different sections from your phone. This reduced labor costs by 40%, but required staff training.

Before automation, I advise you to conduct an audit: how many irrigation zones are there, what is the source of water, are there any elevation differences. Sometimes it is easier to install several independent circuits than one complex system.

Features of installation in soilless systems

In hydroponics, drip irrigation is a completely separate topic. You can't work here by eye. For example, when growing lettuce on floating platforms, the nutrient solution must be dosed accurately. We used pressure-compensated drippers so that the flow rate was the same at all levels.

A mistake that is often made: saving on main pipes. They install thin HDPE pipes and then wonder why the pressure drops at the end of the line. For long beds, it is better to take pipes with a diameter of 32 mm or more.

By the way, when designinghigh quality agricultural fieldsIt is important to consider the slope. On slopes over 5%, special drippers with anti-drainage valves are needed, otherwise when the system is turned off, water will flow to the lower part.

Repair and maintenance: what sellers are silent about

No system works forever. Drip tapes in open ground last 2-3 seasons, then they begin to leak. In greenhouses the period is longer - up to 5 years, but only if the lines are washed regularly.

Once a month, be sure to check the filters and the first droppers in the line - they clog faster. For washing, it is better to use a weak acid solution (for example, citric acid), but only if the manufacturer allows it.

You should always have spare parts in reserve. I usually recommend to clientsShandong Linyao Intelligent Agriculture Technology Co.,Ltd— they have service centers in Russia, and you can quickly get the parts you need. Their water and fertilizer integration equipment proves particularly reliable in intensive greenhouse farming.

Perspectives and personal experience

Nowadays, systems with AI are increasingly being introduced that analyze data from sensors and adjust watering themselves. It's expensive, but for large projects it pays off. For example, in one ofsmart agricultural parksnear Kazan, such a system made it possible to reduce water consumption by 25% without loss of yield.

Among the failures: we once tried to install drip irrigation in an old garden without a preliminary soil analysis. It turned out that the soil was too dense, the water did not spread. I had to add surface micro-sprinklers to ensure even moisture.

The conclusion is simple:drip irrigation systemis not just a set of components, but an individual project. And success depends on how accurately local conditions are taken into account - from water quality to topography. The main thing is not to skimp on consultations with specialists and choose equipment with the possibility of modernization.