Drip Irrigation For Mid-America Mark Burgess, C.I.D. Bootheel Irrigation Conference December 15, 2003.
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Drip Irrigation ForDrip Irrigation ForMid-AmericaMid-America
Mark Burgess, C.I.D.Mark Burgess, C.I.D.
Bootheel Irrigation Conference December 15, 2003
Drip IrrigationDrip Irrigation
A method of uniformly delivering water and nutrients to a plant’s root zone in the precise amounts in order to meet plant needs
Sub-Surface Drip Sub-Surface Drip Irrigation (SDI)Irrigation (SDI) A low pressure irrigation A low pressure irrigation
system that uses polyethylene system that uses polyethylene driplines that are permanently driplines that are permanently buried below the soil surface, buried below the soil surface, placing water directly into the placing water directly into the root area of a crop.root area of a crop.
Benefits of Drip Benefits of Drip IrrigationIrrigation Crop yield and quality increase Improved field access during cultural operations
such as cultivation, spraying, or harvesting Uniform delivery of water, chemicals and
fertilizers – Water usage reduced by irrigating only the root zone – Lower pumping requirement and energy costs– Less percolation of chemicals and fertilizers into the groundwater
Controlled Wetted Area– Reduced disease and weed growth– Allows more saline water to be used for irrigation
Irrigate small or irregularly shaped fields
Benefits of SDIBenefits of SDI
Same as those of Same as those of dripdrip
Reduced Reduced irrigation labor irrigation labor costs over Center costs over Center Pivot (CP)Pivot (CP)
Considered a Considered a permanent permanent systemsystem
Things To ConsiderThings To Consider
Water AvailabilityWater Availability Water QualityWater Quality Crop NeedsCrop Needs Field Conditions (soil, topography, Field Conditions (soil, topography,
dimensions, row configuration, and etc)dimensions, row configuration, and etc) Expectations (Lifetime of system, costs, Expectations (Lifetime of system, costs,
uniformity, and etc.)uniformity, and etc.) Availability of technical assistanceAvailability of technical assistance MaintenanceMaintenance
System ComponentsSystem Components
1. System controller (If automated) 2. Pump3. Back flow prevention valve 4. Fertilizer injector/tank5. Filter tanks6. Butterfly valve or ball valve7. Pressure gauges 8. Mainline control valve9. Mainline10. Flow meter11. Air vents at high points, after valves and at ends of lines 12. Pressure relief valve13. Field control valve14. Submain secondary filters15. Pre-set pressure regulator16. Submain17. Lateral hookups18. Laterals19. Flushing manifolds20. Flush valves
Next StepNext Step
DesignDesign InstallationInstallation Flush systemFlush system Take benchmark Take benchmark
flow rates and flow rates and pressurespressures
Drip System Maintenance Checks
What to Check Frequency Compared to What What to Look For Possible Causes Pump Flow Rate per Zone and Pressures
Weekly Design or Benchmark Flow Rate and Pressures
High flow and /or Low Pressure Low Flow and/or High Pressure
Leaks in Pipelines Leaks in Laterals Open Flush Valves Open End of Lateral Closed Zone Valves Pipeline Obstruction Tape clogging Pump Problems Well Problems Filter Problems
Pressure Differential Across Filter
Every Irrigation Manufacturer Specifications
Exceeds or is close to maximum allowable
Filter becoming clogged Obstruction in Filter
Operating Pressures at Ends of Laterals
Monthly, unless other checks indicate possible clogging
Benchmark Pressures High end pressure Low end pressure
Possible clogging High system pressure Obstruction in Tape Broken Lateral Leaks in Lateral Low system pressure
Water at Lateral ends & Flush Valves
Bi-Weekly Water Source Particles in Water Other debris
Broken Pipeline Hole in filter screen Tear in Filter mesh Particles smaller than screen Filter Problem Chemical/Fertilizer precipitation Algae Growth Bacterial growth
Overall Pump Station Weekly Leaks, breaks, engine reservoir levels, tank levels
Overall System Weekly System at Start up Discoloration @ outlets or ends of laterals
Indicates possible build up of minerals, fertilizer, algae, and/or bacterial slime
FiltrationFiltration
Filter Needs CleaningFilter Needs Cleaning Damaged Screen or Damaged Screen or
Disc’sDisc’s Flush Valves Not Flush Valves Not
workingworking Tank FailureTank Failure Bad Gaskets and/or Bad Gaskets and/or
SealsSeals
LeaksLeaks
Broken Mains Broken Mains or Submainsor Submains
Damaged Damaged Laterals Laterals
Loose Loose ConnectionsConnections
CloggingClogging
BiologicalBiological Chemical/Chemical/
Mineral Mineral Sand and/or Sand and/or
SedimentSediment Root IntrusionRoot Intrusion Maintenance Maintenance
InjectionInjection
Georgia ExampleGeorgia Example
GA – 7 year rotation GA – 7 year rotation corn/peanutscorn/peanuts
Row spacing – 32”Row spacing – 32” Tape spacing – 64”Tape spacing – 64” Soil – Sandy claySoil – Sandy clay Tape depth – 9”Tape depth – 9” No tillNo till Tape – 15 mil 12 in. outletTape – 15 mil 12 in. outlet Tape flow – 24 gph/100 ftTape flow – 24 gph/100 ft Corn – 240 bu/acCorn – 240 bu/ac Peanuts – 6,000- 6,500 Peanuts – 6,000- 6,500
lb/aclb/ac
Kansas ExampleKansas Example
Crop - CornCrop - Corn Row spacing – 32”Row spacing – 32” Tape spacing – 40”Tape spacing – 40” Soil – Loessial, silt, loamSoil – Loessial, silt, loam Tape depth – 16” – 18 ‘Tape depth – 16” – 18 ‘ Ridge Till, conventionalRidge Till, conventional Tape – 15 mil 12 in. outletTape – 15 mil 12 in. outlet Tape flow – 15 gph/100 ftTape flow – 15 gph/100 ft Corn – 210 bu/acCorn – 210 bu/ac
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