Pasture / Hay Irrigation options and Management Chris Henry, Ph.D., P.E. Assistant Professor and Water Management Engineer Special thanks to Phil Tacker for inspiration and assistance with this presentation Special thanks to Phil Tacker and KSU Extension for inspiration and assistance with this presentation Micro-Irrigation for High Tunnels Contact Information: E-mail: [email protected]Office: 870-673-2661
Micro-Irrigation for High Tunnels. Pasture / Hay Irrigation options and Management. Chris Henry, Ph.D., P.E. Assistant Professor and Water Management Engineer. Contact Information: E-mail: [email protected] Office: 870-673-2661. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Pasture / Hay Irrigation options and Management
Chris Henry, Ph.D., P.E. Assistant Professor and Water Management Engineer
Special thanks to Phil Tacker for inspiration and assistance with this presentationSpecial thanks to Phil Tacker and KSU Extension for inspiration and assistance with this presentation
The slow, low pressure, precise, application of water and nutrients directly to plants’ roots in
a predetermined pattern.
What is irrigation and why do we irrigate?
• The watering of land by artificial means to foster plant growth (Merriam Webster Dictionary).
• Food security
Drip Irrigation
• Efficiency 95 – 100%• Less disease problems • Reduced weed growth • Fertilizer injection is possible
Types of Micro Irrigation
- Point Source (includes bubblers)
- Line Source
- Micro Spray
Point Source
Application: Individual plantings like orchard trees, grapes etc.
Point source emitters
‘Drippers’
Mini sprinklers
Spaghetti tubes and drippers
Each is rated for dripping at a pre-determined rate usually expressed in Gallons Per Hour (GPH)
1-3 GPH are common sizes
2 GPH emitter
Emitters
• Pressure: 1 psi minimum (2.3 ft, 0.7 meter elevation)• Typical output: ½, 1, 2 gallons per hour
– (2, 4, 8 liters per hour) • Outlet spacing is almost unlimited 2 – 12 feet is most common (0.6 – 3.6 meters)• Run length will be limited at low pressure (1 psi)
approx. 15 feet (5 meters) • 5-15 psi on larger systems (> 15 ft)
½” Polyethylene Tubing
Emitter
Punch Hole
Insert Emitter
Emitter Installed
Slow application Covers 12 – 16 inch diameter circle
Can be hidden under mulch – don’t bury emitter in the ground!!!
Wire Staple hold in place
End Closure
Line Source Application:
Irrigation in vegetable garden and/or rowed plants
Drip Tape• Pressure 1psi minimum (2.3 ft, 0.7 meter elevation)• Flow: approx. 0.5 gpm/100 ft (2 lph/42 meter)• Hole spacing: usually 12 inches (30 cm)• Covers about 12 inch (30 cm) wide strip
Concept introduced in England after WWII
Adopted in Israel for irrigating crops in the desert
American ‘invented’ the modern drip-tape concept
Tube in a tube…
Built in ‘pressure compensation’ over 5-15 PSI. Allows long runs with uniform water distribution
Line source emitters
Drip tape or drip tube
‘Leaky’ pipe
Weep hose
Line can be for dripping at a pre-determined rate usually expressed in Gallons Per Length Hour (GPH) - 25 G/100’/Hr is the most common drip capacity.
Drip Tape Wall Thickness
10 to 12 mil
Probably best for cost and durability
Header line with drip tape connected at each row
Fittings connect to header line and to drip tape
End of tape is easily sealed
Surface water supplies and well water supplies will probably require filtration for micro-irrigation.
Micro SprayApplication: Solid or close plant spacing