Irrigation system

When you hear 'irrigation system', the first things that come to mind are pipes, pumps and timers. But in fact, this is more a story about how plants drink, and not about how we supply water. Many people still believe that it’s enough to buy an expensive controller and everything will work. In fact, even with smart systems there are failures that you will notice only when the crop begins to wither.

Costly Design Mistakes

I remember last season I had to redo the scheme on one of the farms in the Rostov region. They originally put it thereirrigation systemwith the expectation of a uniform slope, but did not take into account local soil subsidence. As a result, there was water in the lowlands, and on the hills the ground cracked. We had to add additional valves and change the zoning scheme.

A common mistake is blindly copying foreign solutions. For example, drip tapes, which work well in Israel, can become clogged in our country due to hard water within a month. You have to either install additional filters or switch to other types of droppers.

Another point is the calculation of pressure. Many people think that the more powerful the pump, the better. But if you do not take into account hydraulic losses in long lines, then at the end of the line the droppers simply stop working. It is necessary to add booster stations or split the system into independent sections.

Filtration: what people save on, but shouldn’t

Filters are a different story. I have seen cases where expensive automatic systems were installed, but they forgot about preliminary sand removal. As a result, grains of sand less than a millimeter in size damaged the solenoid valves within a couple of months.

Now for most projects I recommend a combined scheme: first coarse mesh filters, then disk filters. And if the water is from an open source, then there is also a sump. This is not the most technologically advanced solution, but it works reliably.

By the way, about automation. You don't always need to pursue full automation. Sometimes it’s easier to install manual taps in critical areas so that you can quickly turn off the water in an emergency without running to the controller.

Drip irrigation: subtleties that are not written in the instructions

Cdrip irrigationI’ve been working for ten years now, and I still encounter nuances. For example, the distance between drippers - many set the standard 30 cm, but for crops such as potatoes or onions, sometimes 20 cm is better, especially on light soils.

Thermal expansion is another problem. Polyethylene pipes lengthen significantly in summer, and if expansion joints are not provided, the entire system may fail. Particularly critical for long rows over 100 meters.

From experience, it’s better to underfill a little than overfill. Overwatering not only leads to fungal diseases, but also leaches nutrients from the root zone. For some crops I specifically practice cyclic watering with periods of drying.

Automation: where it is really needed

With automation there are now kinks in both directions. Some install simple timers, others install complex SCADA systems with weather stations. The truth, as usual, is in the middle. For most farms, a programmable controller with zoning capabilities and basic logic is sufficient.

I had an interesting experience with the system fromShandong Linyao Intelligent Agriculture Technology Co.,Ltd— their solutions successfully combine low-cost automation with the possibility of remote control. I won’t say it’s ideal, but it’s enough for standard tasks.

The most important thing in automation is diagnostics. A good system should not just turn irrigation on and off, but also monitor line pressure, energy consumption, and signal blockages. Otherwise, savings on the operator result in crop losses.

Seasonal Maintenance: What's Often Missed

After the season, many simply drain the water and forget until spring. This is a gross mistake - sediment remains in the pipes, which becomes compacted over the winter and is no longer washed out in the spring. It is imperative to blow out the lines with air under pressure.

Another point is the preservation of filters. If you leave them filled with water, the rubber seals often stick and have to be replaced in the spring. It is better to disassemble, dry and lubricate with food-grade silicone.

Before starting in the spring, I always check not only the integrity of the pipes, but also the operation of the sensors. Especially soil moisture - they tend to 'float' over the winter, and without calibration they can show complete nonsense.

Integration with fertigation: pitfalls

Combining watering with fertilization is a seemingly obvious advantageirrigation systems. But in practice, problems often arise with the uniform distribution of nutrients. Especially if you use poorly soluble fertilizers.

I had to develop my own regulations: first, pour clean water for 10-15 minutes, then supply the solution, and at the end again clean water for washing the lines. Otherwise, fertilizer residues crystallize in the droppers.

The pH of the solution is a separate issue. If acidity is not controlled, sedimentation may occur in the pipes. For most regions of Russia, water has to be acidified, especially if the source is an artesian well.

Prospects and limitations

Nowadays there is a lot of talk about 'smart farming' and IoT in irrigation. But according to my observations, for most farms it is still enough to solve the basic problems: quality water, uniform distribution and timely maintenance.

Technologies like those offeredShandong Linyao Intelligent Agriculture Technology Co.,Ltd, are certainly useful, but their implementation should be gradual. First, set up the basic system, then add automation, and only then - complex analytics.

The main conclusion over the years of work: there is no ideal irrigation system. Every project is a trade-off between cost, complexity and efficiency. And the simpler the solution, the greater the chance that it will work for a long time and without surprises.