Drip Irrigation

Prepared By: Mr.Maulik H Doshi Enrollment No: 106170306009 Branch: Civil Engineering Government Polytechnic, Ahmedabad Gujarat, India

Definition of Drip Irrigation:

Drip irrigation is an advanced low-pressure and water saving irrigation technology; for which the scientific and reasonable construction and operation management is the key link to ensure the project quality and the normal operation of the sys- tem Combined with the relevant construction and operation management experiences, all the aspects of the construction method and operation management mode and the attention must be paid to for the drip irrigation project are analyzed herein, so as to pm- vide some recommendations on the popularization and application of this technology in the days to come.

Introduction:
Drip irrigation is the slow and precise delivery of water to chosen plantings. It uses flexible polyethylene tubing with devices for dripping water (emitters) and low-volume sprays. The systems are easy to install, require no trenching, and the only tools needed are pruning shears and a punch. Drip irrigation maintains near-perfect moisture levels in the root zone of plants, avoiding the too wet/too dry swings typical of overhead watering. Drip systems are controlled by hand or by an automatic timer, and can also be used to apply fertilizers directly to the roots of plants. Drip systems irrigate all types of landscape: shrubs, trees, perennial beds, ground covers, annuals and lawns. Drip is the best choice to water roof gardens, containers on decks and patios, row crops and kitchen gardens, orchards, and vineyards. Systems range in size from a few hanging baskets to several thousand acres of crops.

Overview of the technique:

Drip irrigation can be traced back to the early Roman aqueduct period, when broken clay pipe distributed water along rows of plants. It was not until the formation of modern Israel, however, that the concept of placing a small amount of water only at the root zones when needed, and at an exact rate, began to be developed commercially. The Israelis were faced with an inadequate water supply, often of a saline nature, and a lack of prime agricultural land. They laid out lines of perforated polyethylene tubing. These early systems exposed many problems: plants close to the source received too much water, while plants at the end of the line wilted; the discharge orifices clogged easily; and elevation changes only complicated the obvious need for hydraulic engineering.

Widely used in irrigated farming, the drip method is an important irrigation technique which, while conserving valuable resources -- water, land, labor, energy, and fertilizers -promotes improved plant growth and productivity. Larger yields, better crops, and earlier production are important benefits to the grower whose livelihood depends on his irrigation system. The objective of drip irrigation is to continually provide even moisture only to the plants root zone. Overhead sprinklers saturate entire areas followed by a drying out period. They are designed for lawns that need only shallow watering. Slow applications over long periods of time are required to getthe deep water penetration required for deep-rooted vegetation.

Drip irrigation is a method of applying slow, steady, and precise amounts of water and nutrients to specific areas of trees, vines, ground covers, potted plants, or shrubs. At a slow application rate, water seeps into the soil and moves laterally by capillary action beneath the soils surface. An adequate section of the root zone of the plant is maintained with moisture close to soil capacity, providing a soil-to-water-to-plant relationship which is conductive to better plant growth. Thus, smaller quantities of water are used to the utmost efficiency.

Why should one use Drip Irrigation?

The answer to this question is, because the process is 1- Time, energy and water efficient. Hand watering is no longer an obligation, but a choice. Your time can be better spent on planting, plant maintenance and harvest. The payback on the cost of your drip system can be calculated from money you save on your water bill. Of course, water costs energy as well as money. For everything gallon of water saved, that much less electricity is consumed. A drip system operates at lower pressures so pumps are not working so hard or so long. Add a quality water timer for the ultimate in convenience. 2- Easy on your plants. With consistence gentle water, plants can thrive, and when plants are happy, your yields will make you happy! Placing water directly at your plants, roots can dramatically reduce weed growth, decreasing plant stress, and reducing your weeding time. Less erosion keeps vital, nutrient-rich soil around your plants. 3- Versatile. Placement is extremely flexible. Irrigate on a hillside or on the flat. Tubing can be mulched over or buried. 4- Satisfying - Knowing your plants are doing so well under a variety of conditions can give one a sense of well-being

Components of the system:

A drip or tickle irrigation system includes the following six major components:

I.

Delivery or Distribution System

o o o o o Mainline distribution to field - underground PVC pipe or above-ground aluminum pipe. Sub-main or header line - vinyl lay-flat hose Feeder tubes small plastic tubes. Drip lines - turbulent flow drip tape or drip tape with internally attached emitters. Sand - separate sand and heavy matter by swirling the water passing through them. Media - most common; can filter poor quality water at high flow rates, but are expensive, heavy, and large.

II. Filters

o o o o o o o o o

Screen most commonly used if the water source is relatively clean, but they are not capable of removing as much debris as a media filter. Disk possess the traits of both media and screen filters. Fixed Outlet Adjustable Outlet Lateral Flush Valve Solenoid Valve Positive displacement injectors - externally powered diaphragm, gear, piston, and roller pumps powered by gas, diesel, or electric; medium to high in cost. Pressure differential injectors - pressurized mixing tanks and venture injectors; often simple in design. Water-powered injectors - driven by the pressure of the irrigation system; piston and diaphragm types are available.

III. Pressure Regulators

IV. Valves or Gauges

V. Chemical Injectors

VI. Controllers
o o Manual Computer

Water Connection:
A backflow preventer is required for all watering systems that are connected to the household water supply. The most common and reliable type is an anti-siphon device that eliminates the possibility of back siphon age of irrigation water. The anti-siphon is usually part of the irrigation valve, or it can screw onto a regular garden hose.

Filter pressure regulator A protects the small openings of drippers, sprays, and emitter lines from clogging. It contains a fine mesh screen that can be rinsed and reused. Y-filters are the easiest type to clean and allow higher flow rates. A reduces the high water pressure in home plumbing from the normal 45-100 lbs. per sq. in. (psi) to 30 psi or less, depending on the model

used. This lower pressure greatly increases the life of your tubing and fittings and will reduce leaks and fertilizer injector blowouts. Use 25 or 30 psi for most systems, or 20 psi if you are starting at the top of a slope because the water gains pressure as it travels downhill. A can be inserted before the filter (see page 18). It allows you to use any soluble fertilizer with precise control over the concentration and amount. Make sure that the fertilizer is truly water soluble and that the backflow preventer is working.

Benefits of Drip Irrigation system:

A drip system produces healthy, fast-growing plants. In fact, improved crop yields were the primary force behind the development of drip irrigation for agriculture. In traditional watering methods there is an extreme fluctuation in the water content, temperature, and aeration of the soil, resulting in plant stress. Drip watering keeps the moisture content of soil relatively constant and ensures that oxygen remains available to the root system. For many gardeners, water conservation is the main reason for installing a drip system. When you water your garden, your purpose is to water plants rather than soil. Drip irrigation gives you the ability to put water exactly where its needed & keep paths and areas between plants dry. This reduces both waste and weeding. You can regulate precisely the amount of water used during irrigation so that nearly all of it remains in the root zone. Water lost to evaporation is negligible compared to overhead watering. Traditional watering methods deliver water faster than most soils can absorb. If water exceeds the soils percolation rate, it can only run off the surface, taking valuable topsoil and nutrients with it. On a slope, drip can be designed for minimum run-off and, is often the only means of bringing a hillside into cultivation. Another advantage of drip is that you can deliver equal amounts of water to plants over a wide area. This is very hard to accomplish with other methods of irrigation. Drip irrigation saves so much water that it is required by California law as the way to water narrow or sparse plantings in new commercial and larger residential landscapes.

A drip irrigation system is easy to install. Since no trenching is needed, you can install a system in an existing landscape with no damage to your plants root systems. Tubing will be overgrown by ground cover, or it can be quickly concealed with mulch. Drip irrigation also allows you to water a large area from a small water source, since it uses water more slowly than other methods.

Advantages of Drip irrigation System:

Fertilizer and nutrient loss is minimized due to localized application and reduced leaching. Water application efficiency is high. Field leveling is not necessary. Fields with irregular shapes are easily accommodated. Recycled non-potable water can be safely used. Moisture within the root zone can be maintained at field capacity. Soil type plays less important role in frequency of irrigation. Soil erosion is minimized. Weed growth is minimized. Water distribution is highly uniform, controlled by output of each nozzle. Labor cost is less than other irrigation methods. Variation in supply can be regulated by regulating the valves and drippers. Fertigation can easily be included with minimal waste of fertilizers. Foliage remains dry, reducing the risk of disease. Usually operated at lower pressure than other types of pressurized irrigation, reducing energy costs.

Disadvantages:
Expensive: initial cost can be more than overhead systems. Waste: the sun can affect the tubes used for drip irrigation, shortening their usable life. Clogging: if the water is not properly filtered and the equipment not properly maintained, it can result in clogging. Drip irrigation might be unsatisfactory if herbicides or top dressed fertilizers need sprinkler irrigation for activation. Drip tape causes extra cleanup costs after harvest. Users need to plan for drip tape winding, disposal, recycling or reuse. Waste of water, time and harvest, if not installed properly. These systems require careful study of all the relevant factors like land topography, soil, water, crop and agro-climatic conditions, and suitability of drip irrigation system and its components.

Germination problems: in lighter soils subsurface drip may be unable to wet the soil surface for germination. Requires careful consideration of the installation depth. Salinity: most drip systems are designed for high efficiency, meaning little or no leaching fraction. Without sufficient leaching, salts applied with the irrigation water may build up in the root zone, usually at the edge of the wetting pattern. On the other hand, drip irrigation avoids the high capillary potential of traditional surface-applied irrigation, which can draw salt deposits up from deposits below.

Drip Irrigation Now:

Now, drip irrigation can be a complicated, or simple, setup depending on what your needs are. Large farms use drip irrigation on their crops, and you will find a similar, smaller system in almost every greenhouse in the country. Irrigation systems have evolved, however. To begin with, most use a filter to stop the plants from getting unhealthy water and to stop the piping from getting clogged with minerals and sediment. Many places use liquid fertilizer mixed in with the water to give their plants a bit of a boost, and the drip system is the best way to deliver it all at the same time. Like many other systems, a drip system can be put on a timer so that the owner doesnt have to worry about remembering to water their plants. Unlike other systems, however, micro irrigation systems are easy to set up with fresh rain water. With a simple system, you can collect rain water and have it distributed through the irrigation lines. There are a few disadvantages to using this type of a system. The first is that it can get clogged if you don't keep it clean or use a proper filter on it. I've been running my system for two years now and so far no problems. It is a good idea when you first start your system you check to make sure none of the drip emitters are plugged. Another is that the tubes, if used outside, the tubes can experience weather damage if you leave the system connected during the colder months. The first year I had a drip irrigation system I disconnected everything and put it in my garden shed. This year I disconnected the hose from the tap and drained this system of water.