Irrigation system in a greenhouse

Many novice farmers and gardeners starting to create or modernizegreenhouse irrigation systems, immediately think about complex automated solutions with humidity sensors and complex logic. And this is understandable - you want maximum efficiency and resource savings. But it often happens that overcomplication leads to unnecessary costs and even a decrease in yield. I would say that balance is important - the optimal system that meets the needs of a particular crop and climatic conditions, and not the most advanced and expensive.

Features of choosing an irrigation system depending on the crop

The first place to start is to understand the water needs of a particular crop. What is ideal for tomatoes may be completely unacceptable for, say, cucumbers. Cucumbers, for example, are more demanding of soil moisture and need more frequent but shallow watering. Tomatoes tolerate periods of drought better, but need more abundant and less frequent watering. This is certainly not a universal principle, but it is a good starting point.

We at Shandong Linyao Intelligent Agriculture Technology LLC often encounter requests for the creation of automated systems for growing various vegetables and fruits. And in each case we approach the task individually. For example, when growing strawberries, drip irrigation is often chosen to ensure a precise supply of water directly to the roots, which minimizes losses and prevents the development of fungal diseases. For potatoes, on the contrary, sprinkling may be more effective, allowing you to evenly moisten the entire surface of the soil.

By the way, about drip irrigation. Initially, when we started designing such systems, we often encountered the problem of clogged droppers. This is especially true when using water with a high salt content. Therefore, when designinggreenhouse irrigation systems, it is imperative to provide water filtration - this is critical for the durability and efficiency of the entire system.

Types of irrigation systems and their applications

There are many typesgreenhouse irrigation systems. For example, drip irrigation, sprinkler irrigation, sprinkler irrigation, subsurface irrigation, etc. The choice of a specific type depends on many factors: soil type, crop, budget and the desired level of automation.

Drip irrigation is perhaps the most popular option for greenhouses, especially for growing vegetables and berries. It provides high efficiency in water and fertilizer use, allows precise control of soil moisture and prevents the development of diseases. But, as I already said, it requires careful filtration of water.

Sprinkler irrigation is well suited for growing crops that require high humidity, such as tomatoes and peppers. Sprinkler irrigation is an older, less effective method that is now used less frequently. Sub-surface irrigation is the most advanced and expensive option and provides the best water and fertilizer efficiency but requires a complex system and maintenance.

Problems and solutions when automating irrigation

Automation is, of course, good, but it does not always solve all problems. There is often a situation where the automated system does not meet the actual needs of the plants, namely that water is supplied too often or too infrequently. Or, for example, it does not take into account weather conditions.

We at Shandong Linyao Intelligent Agriculture Technology LLC develop our own control algorithmsgreenhouse irrigation system, which take into account not only data from soil moisture sensors, but also data from weather stations. This allows you to optimize watering depending on temperature, air humidity and light. We also take into account the phase of plant development - during flowering and fruiting, the need for water increases.

Another common problem is incorrect setting of humidity sensors. Even the most expensive sensor can give inaccurate readings if it is not installed correctly or is poorly calibrated. Therefore, before introducing automatedgreenhouse irrigation systems, it is imperative to carefully calibrate the sensors and check their performance.

Mistakes when designing and installing an irrigation system

We noticed that many farmers end up turning to us with a request to eliminate the shortcomings of an existinggreenhouse irrigation systems? Most often this is due to low-quality materials, incorrect calculation of system parameters and installation errors. For example, an incorrectly selected pump or too thin pipes can lead to low pressure and uneven watering.

I have seen situations where, due to the wrong choice of materials,greenhouse irrigation systems, rapid corrosion of pipes and droppers occurred. This, of course, not only leads to economic losses, but can also pollute the water, which negatively affects the health of the plants. Therefore, when designinggreenhouse irrigation systems, you should not skimp on materials.

Last but not least is the need for regular system maintenance. Regular cleaning of filters, checking the functionality of drippers and pumps, replacing worn parts - all this is necessary to ensure durability and efficiencygreenhouse irrigation systems.