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Throughout the entire period of life, the plant can not do without water. Moisture naturally reaches the roots when it rains. During dry periods, artificial irrigation is required. There are manual and automated irrigation systems that can be built in your summer cottage from plastic pipes.
Varieties of artificial irrigation systems
If there is a central water supply at the dacha, it is easier to water the beds from a hose or buckets. But not every summer cottage has a city water supply, and the cost of water will hit your pocket hard. Most often, for watering the garden, they use their own well or a nearby reservoir. To simplify this whole process with your own hands, the cottage is equipped with an irrigation system. This is a kind of engineering and technical complex of varying complexity. Pipes and a pump are usually used for all irrigation systems, but control can be mechanical or automatic. Let’s look at what artificial irrigation systems exist for giving.
Sprinkling
An irrigation system that simulates rain has got its name – sprinkling. To make it for a summer residence, you will need to buy a special water sprayer that sprays in different directions. Sprayers are connected to the pipeline using adapters. When the pump inside the system creates a certain pressure, the water sprayed in the form of rain will evenly fall on the area with the seedlings.
The advantage of such irrigation is to increase the humidity of the air itself. After all, the plant absorbs water not only by the roots, but also by the aerial part. Water falling in small drops does not erode the soil, but is evenly absorbed. In the process of watering, dust is washed off the leaves, which positively affects the metabolism of the plant. Such irrigation systems are easy to automate, but use wisely in large areas, such as a vegetable garden.
The only disadvantage of sprinkling is the mandatory creation of a certain water pressure inside the system, plus the high cost of materials.
drip irrigation system
The next type of irrigation is represented by drip irrigation. That is, water is supplied in doses from the pipe directly to the plant, where it immediately reaches the roots. This significantly saves water, since the watered area is reduced, but the air humidity is much less than when sprinkling. Due to the low water consumption, the system will be able to work even from a tank.
The advantage of drip irrigation is that the system’s performance is less dependent on water pressure drops inside the pipeline. By expanding the holes of homemade drippers, you can adjust the simultaneous supply of different amounts of water, depending on the needs of the plants. In terms of cost of materials, drip irrigation outperforms sprinkling.
Among the disadvantages of such a system for giving, one can single out the frequent clogging of droppers that require constant flushing. Complex care is not always in the hands of summer residents.
The video shows drip irrigation:
Internal soil irrigation
The next irrigation system involves watering the plant under the root. It is made from a special porous tube called a humidifier. The pipes themselves are not laid on the surface of the soil, but buried. Through the pores, water seeps into the soil, falling directly under the roots of plants.
The advantage of the under-root irrigation system is the same economical water consumption. It can work even from a small capacity. Moisture does not come to the surface, which is why it does not evaporate. Due to the fact that the top layer of the earth remains dry, it does not form a crust that requires fluffing.
Among the shortcomings, one can single out the same difficult care due to contamination of droppers, plus the difficulties of the operation itself. On sandy soils, the system will not work, so it is not used here. Another disadvantage is the high cost of porous tubes.
The advantage of PVC pipes in the manufacture of country irrigation systems
If you decide to make an irrigation system at the dacha with your own hands, you should stop your choice only on a PVC pipe. It has many advantages and, most importantly, the pipe does not rot. It is very easy to assemble an irrigation system from plastic pipes in the country, as reusable fittings are sold for its installation. The whole system is assembled as a constructor without the participation of a welder. If necessary, the same fittings can be untwisted to clean the system or move it to another location. PVC pipe is very light, allows one person to work.
The video shows the elements for mounting irrigation:
Irrigation drip system made of PVC pipes
In terms of popularity, the drip system is gaining momentum, so we will consider the manufacture of country irrigation using this example. It should be noted right away that the main line must be laid from a thick-walled PVC pipe of a larger diameter. For all branches, a thin-walled pipe of a smaller diameter will go to the beds.
The installation order is approximately the following:
- A tank is installed at a level of at least 2 m from the ground surface. At its lowest point, a threaded pipe segment is cut in, onto which a ball valve is screwed.
- Since the drip system can become clogged, it is advisable to put a filter after the ball valve. It should be collapsible for easy cleaning.
- After the filter, the main line is assembled using fittings, laying it near the beds perpendicular to the rows. The end of the line is closed with a plug. If mineral fertilizers are added to the water during irrigation, an additional unit must be installed after the filter. It is a small towering tank connected to the main pipe through a tee.
- Opposite each row of beds, tee fittings are cut into the main pipe. Branches from thin pipes are connected to their central outlet, the ends of which are similarly closed with plugs.
For branches, you can use perforated PET tapes, but they are short-lived, so it is better to take a thin-walled polyethylene pipe and drill holes in it opposite each plant. You can leave them like that for the sake of saving money or screw a purchased dropper into each hole. Alternatively, medical droppers are suitable for irrigation. Now it remains to draw water into the tank, open the tap and check the system for operability.
Automated and manual system control
The irrigation system can be controlled manually or automatically. The first method is cheaper, and the second allows you to appear less often in the country to water the garden.
Manual control
Making manual control of the irrigation system is very simple. It is enough to put ball valves on all pipeline lines and open and close them as needed. Most of all, manual control is suitable for drip irrigation that works without a pump. Water flows through the pipeline by gravity due to the pressure created by the total mass of liquid in the tank. The advantage of manual control is low cost and independence from electricity. The disadvantage is the constant presence of a person in the country to turn on watering.
Automated control
To create automated irrigation, you will need a special device like a computer to program the process. On all branches and the main line of the pipeline, instead of ball valves, electromagnetic valves connected to a computer are installed. With the help of software control, the valve operates at a certain time, opening or closing the water supply. You can program the system for several days, and it will work without human intervention. The operation of the pump is also included in the programming system.
Considered in this state, automated control is inefficient. The program will turn on the water supply after a specified time, even in rain, when it is not needed. Correct operation of the system is only possible in conjunction with soil moisture sensors and a precipitation controller. According to the signals received from them, the computer will know when, where and how much to water.
The fully automated system is very smart and will run smoothly when water and electricity are available. However, the cost of it will be large, and the installation of sensors and the entire electrical circuit will require the participation of a specialist.
Using the water tank
The use of a container in an irrigation system is justified by an uninterrupted supply of water, plus it will be warm, which is useful for plants. It is better to install a tank from stainless steel, since ferrous metal is prone to corrosion. The crumbling rust will clog the main components of the system. A black plastic container is considered the cheapest and best option for giving. The water inside the tank will quickly heat up from the sun’s rays. It is undesirable to use transparent tanks due to the formation of algae inside, which, like rust, will clog the entire system. The volume of the tank is selected according to the size of the plot, for example, a container with a capacity of 2 m2 is suitable for XNUMX acres3. Water is pumped into the tank by a pump from a well or a centralized water supply system.
Suitable water pumps for irrigation
The use of pumps in the country irrigation system is mandatory. Irrigation without water pressure will not work at all, and drip irrigation will still need to pump the tank.
Surface mounted units
Surface pumps are installed on land. They are able to lift water from a well or suck it from tanks and supply it to a pipeline. Water is sucked in through a submerged pipe with a valve installed at the end.
Submersible units
Submersible pumps are also called deep pumps. They are tied to a cable, after which they are immersed in a well, pond or any other source of water intake. The unit is convenient to use in landscape design due to its invisibility on the surface.
How to take care of your irrigation system
In any irrigation system, droppers and sprayers are most often clogged. Their care involves removing blockages.
Cleaning is done in the following ways:
- Mechanical pollution is formed from the ingress of sand or any dirt into the water. All particulate matter must trap the filters, which must be washed periodically. The droppers themselves must be disassembled and rinsed with clean water.
- Biological pollution comes from blooming water. The dropper is cleaned of mucus, washed with a chlorine solution, and then the entire system is pumped with clean water.
- Remains of chemical contamination are possible after the introduction of mineral fertilizers into the assembly of the system. Special acidity regulators added to the water will help keep the droppers clean.
The main care process is to completely disassemble the system when cold weather sets in. The pipes are washed with clean water, after which they are cleaned in a warm room. If the pipes are buried in the ground, they are not afraid of frost and let them stay for the winter.
As you can see, any irrigation system can be made independently in the country. Their maintenance is minimal, and the comfort of use is maximum.