7/17/2015 1 Improving Water Use in the Landscape MAUREEN THIESSEN COMMERCIAL ORNAMENTAL AREA SPECIALIST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE Purpose of irrigation system To deliver adequate water to plantings such that manual methods are reduced as much as possible.
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7/17/2015
1
Improving Water Use in the Landscape
MAUREEN THIESSEN
COMMERCIAL ORNAMENTAL AREA SPECIALIST
TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE
Purpose of irrigation
system
To deliver adequate water to plantings such that manual methods
are reduced as much as possible.
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2
Objectives
Identify problems associated with improper irrigation management
Understand landscape and environmental elements that should be considered in
irrigation design
Learn how to account for those elements in irrigation design using appropriate equipment and scheduling
Filters and pressure regulators especially important
Some filters are pressure – regulating
Kits are available with included valve, filter,
pressure regulator components
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Precipitation Rate
Proper timing needs to take into account precipitation rate
For one given flow rate:
0.24” per
hour
0.32” per
hour
0.48” per
hour
0.96” per
hour
1X 4X2X1.3X
Know your precipitation rate
Rotating heads
usually do not adjust
flow rate for variable
arcs
Adjust GPM in your
calculations
accordingly
Always check
performance charts
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Know your precipitation rate
Matched Precipitation rate
(MPR) nozzles usually
available as “series”
Can also be variable /
adjustable arc nozzles
GPM is adjusted according
to arc to keep precipitation
rate constant.
Common in spray bodies
Always check performance
charts
Know your zone
precipitation rate…
Check performance chart data
BE CAREFUL – rotor performance data often based on
half circle operation
Therefore, divide precipitation by 2 if using 360˚ rotation
S
S
S
𝑃𝑅 =96.3 𝑋 𝐺𝑃𝑀
𝑆2𝑃𝑅 =
96.3 𝑋 𝐺𝑃𝑀
0.866 𝑋 𝑆2
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Know Your Precipitation
Rate…
AWS Irrigation
Controllers
Need to maintain flexibility
You/client are the irrigation manager, not
the clock
Consider user-friendliness, especially for homeowners
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Weather and
Location
Sensors
Rain
Soil Moisture
More sophisticated scheduling exists using ET data along with other weather parameters
Generally require weather station
Example: Hunter® ET System
When is the best time?
Efficiency
Midday irrigation offers cooling,
but is the most inefficient time of
day due to evaporative loss
Nighttime irrigation has greatest
chance for disease development
Early morning hours (5-9) allow time
for foliage to dry
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How Often?
Plant age
How established are the roots?
Consider season
Do not use one irrigation program for entire year
Differences in rainfall, temperature, plant dormancy
How Much?
Season
Imagine cost of 1” per week
for 52 weeks per year…
Rooting depth and establishment
Canopy Cover
How dense is the canopy, or
leaf area, of the area to be irrigated?
Turf vs. woody vs. annual
New plantings vs. established
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Remember
Design the system so water is placed uniformly and efficiently
Remember to consider plant type and establishment, soil type and condition, sloping, shading, and time of day.
Observe irrigation system performance after installation and routinely, adjust accordingly
Explore available technology that accounts for rain and existent soil moisture.
Reference Material
“Fertilization and Management of Home Lawns.” Publication 1038. University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service. <https://extension.tennessee.edu/publications/Documents/PB1038.pdf>.
Wells, Wayne. “Establish and Manage Your Home Lawn.” Publication 1322 Mississippi State University Cooperative Extension. http://msucares.com/pubs/publications/p1322.pdf.
“Growing Tree Fruits Successfully.” Online Presentation. Oregon State University Extension Service. http://extension.oregonstate.edu/lane/sites/default/files/documents/tree_fruit.tf_specialists.pdf.
Stein, Larry, and Welsh, Doug. “Efficient Use of Water in the Garden Landscape.” Texas A&M AgrilLife Extension. http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/earthkind/drought/efficient-use-of-water-in-the-garden-and-landscape/.
Sheffield, Ron, and Thomas, Dan. “Irrigation Basics for Landscape Contractors.” Irrigation Contractor Class Manual. LSU AgCenter.
Sheffield, Ron. “Irrigation Basics of Irrigation Contractors.” LSU AgCenter. http://www.lsuagcenter.com/en/our_offices/departments/Biological_Ag_Engineering/Features/Extension/Agriculture_and_Environment/Irrigation/Irrigation-Basics-for-Irrigation-Landscape-Contractors.htm>.
Smith, Bryan W. “Irrigation.” Series on Landscape Irrigation Basics. Clemson University Extension. http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/plants/other/irrigation/.