Pipe for irrigation systems

When they talk aboutpipe for irrigation systems, many immediately imagine even rows of plastic structures - but in reality everything is more complicated. Last season we faced a situation where the customer bought the “most expensive” ones. polyethylene pipes, and after three months cracks appeared at the joints. It turned out that the material was not designed to withstand pressure drops in clay soil conditions. This point is often missed: it is important not just to buy a pipe, but to understand how it will behave in a specific soil and with your type of water.

Materials: What Really Works in the Field

If you take polypropylene, yes, it’s cheap, but in the sun it becomes fragile. Especially in the steppe regions, where there is ultraviolet radiation almost all year round. We once experimented with samples from Shandong Linyao Intelligent Agriculture Technology LLC: their HDPE pipes with a UV stabilizer lasted two seasons without deformation, although the neighboring field with analogues from another manufacturer already required replacement. But there is a nuance: even good material will not save you if you do not take into account the hardness of the water. In some areas, water with a high salt content literally eats away the walls within 4–5 months.

Metal seems reliable, but corrosion kills everything. One of our projects in the Krasnodar region showed that galvanized pipes began to rust from the inside within a year. The site had to be rebuilt, which means additional costs for excavation work. Now we are leaning towards composite solutions, but not everything is smooth there either: for example, when installed in frozen soil, threaded connections often crack. It is necessary to either warm the area, or install the installation for a warm period - a small detail that can disrupt the watering schedule.

Sometimes it seems perfectpipes for irrigation systemsjust no. But if you work with trusted suppliers, like Shandong Lingyao, the risks are reduced. By the way, they have custom solutions - for example, pipes with increased wall thickness for areas with high pressure. We tested it on a drip irrigation system in greenhouses: with surges of up to 6 atmospheres, ordinary pipes began to leak, but these ones survived. But the price is 15–20 percent higher.

Installation: Costly Mistakes

The most common problem is saving on fittings. I remember in 2022, near Samara, they assembled a system using cheap connectors - after a month, half of the connections were leaking. We had to urgently change it under pressure; the crops almost flooded. Now we always check that the fittings are from the same manufacturer as the pipes. Wu ?Lingyao? This, by the way, is clearly stated in the recommendations - their technical specialists always emphasize the compatibility of components.

Another point is the slope. It seems that everyone knows that pipes should be laid with a slope to drain water for the winter. But in practice, the relief often makes adjustments. We once did a project on a slope: the calculated slope was observed, but water accumulated at the lowest point, and in the winter the pipe ruptured. Now we always install additional drainage valves at the lowest points - a small thing that saves us from major repairs.

By the way, about the instrument. Many people still cut pipes with a grinder - and then they wonder why the joints don’t hold. The website lynzhihuinongye.ru has detailed installation instructions, it clearly shows that special scissors are needed for cutting, otherwise the end will be uneven. At first we neglected this, we thought, “this will do?” — as a result, during tests under a pressure of 4 atmospheres, every third joint leaked.

Pressure and diameter: how not to miss the calculations

Pipe diameter is not an abstract number. For long irrigation lines (over 200 meters), we usually take pipes of at least 63 mm, otherwise at the end the pressure drops catastrophically. There was a case in Tatarstan: the customer saved money and installed 50 mm on an area of ​​300 meters - the latest sprinklers simply did not work. We had to switch with an intermediate pumping station, which turned out to be more expensive than the original correct calculation.

It's also interesting with pressure. I often hear, they say, “take it with a reserve?”. But excess pressure means the risk of rupture of old connections or increased wear of equipment. We usually do test spills at each site and measure real indicators. By the way, the automation is from Shandong Lingyao. allows you to adjust the pressure by zone - very convenient for fields with complex terrain. But there are pitfalls here too: if the valves are not configured correctly, water hammer may occur.

From experience, it is better to have a slightly smaller diameter, but add a buffer tank - this gives more stable pressure during peak watering hours. This is especially true for systems with solar pumps, where the pressure can fluctuate during the day.

Seasonality and climate: what is not written in the instructions

Winter storage is a separate issue. Once we left the pipes with residual water; in the spring, half of them had to be replaced. Now we always blow it with a compressor, even if we are sure that the water has been drained. In regions with frosts below -20°C, it is better to use pipes with frost-resistant additives - ordinary polyethylene becomes brittle. The same ?Lingyao? There is a line for the northern regions, but it is rarely ordered, apparently because of the price. Although in the long run it is more profitable.

In summer, another problem is expansion from the heat. In open areas, pipes may sag, especially if the fasteners are sparsely spaced. We mark supports every 1.5 meters, even if the manufacturer allows 2 meters - it’s a bit of an overinsurance, but it pays off. By the way, black pipes withstand ultraviolet radiation better, but they heat up more - in the southern regions this can lead to deformation. Now we are trying to combine: black for underground installation, light for above-ground installation.

Air humidity seems like a small thing, but in coastal areas, condensation inside the pipe can lead to fouling of the walls. Once we dismantled the system near Vladivostok - there was a real “garden” inside. from algae. We now recommend regular washing with disinfectant solutions, especially if water is taken from open sources.

Economics vs. reliability: where to look for balance

Often customers ask to “make it cheaper?” But cheappipe for irrigation systemsusually means frequent repairs. We believe this: if the price difference between the economy and premium options is less than 30%, it is almost always more profitable to take quality. For example, pipes from ?Shandong Lingyao? At first they seem more expensive, but their service life - the stated 10 years - is actually confirmed in practice. We have facilities where systems have been operating for 7 years without replacement.

Another point is compatibility with fertilizers. In fertigation systems, some types of liquid fertilizers can accelerate the aging of plastic. We tested different brands - some pipes developed microcracks after six months. Now, when selecting, we always ask the manufacturer for data on chemical resistance. By the way, “Lingyao” has detailed compatibility tables - it helps a lot in design.

As a result, the ideal pipe is not the most expensive, but the one that suits your conditions: water type, terrain, maintenance budget. And yes, do not hesitate to request test samples from suppliers - we always test them on our equipment before purchasing a batch. It’s a small thing, but it saves you from many problems in the future.