Drip Irrigation Systems Installation
For home gardens and lawns, there are many ways to keep your plants hydrated and alive. The use of a hose, watering can, or sprinkler may sometimes suffice. For those who are peculiar about how their garden grows, they often resort to installing irrigation systems in their gardens. As some may refer to drip systems as being time consuming and expensive, this idea is often misunderstood. Drip systems are actually easy to set up, take less time, and are very affordable.
Drip systems are known as garden irrigation systems that are considered as the most efficient way to water garden plants, bushes or shrubs, and trees. The way a drip system works is that it lets the water reach the roots through the soil via flexible tubes. The reason why drip systems work efficiently is because the water is supplied directly on the areas where it is needed which is on the roots of the plants or trees.
The head assembly is the part of the drip system that is connected to the water source. The components of the head assembly are the timer, manual control valve, filter, pressure regulator, and backflow preventer. Each component of the head assembly has its own distinctive function that ensures the proper function of the drip system.
History
Before the patented components of irrigation systems and drip systems, drip irrigation has already been used thousands of years ago. With only their hands and other elements of nature as their tools, ancient people were able to find the means to water their crops, which is their source of food. Eventually, they were able to figure out how to do so by burying their water pots near the plants. These pots had holes around them, allowing water obtained from the rain to flow slowly out of the wholes and on to the plants. In 1866, researchers were able to improve this irrigation system by using pipes and were successful at doing so. After the 2nd World War, an Australian inventor named Hannis Thill used long plastic tubes to hold and distribute the water to his garden crops. After Thill’s invention, a company named Netafim adapted his idea and developed a water emitting device that would evenly distribute the water supply on the crops efficiently and effectively. Nowadays, drip systems or drip irrigation vary from simple to complicated depending on the needs of the user. As the years progressed, drip irrigations now include filters that would prevent the clogging of the pipes with sediments and minerals. Drip systems also work like sprinklers, which can have timers that work automatically after the timer is set, in case the owner forgets to water his plants. Others also mix in their fertilizers with the water to save more time in boosting the growth of the fauna.
Components and Operations – Advantages and Disadvantages
Unlike other micro irrigations systems, drip systems are easier to install and can be set up to collect rain water. There are both advantages and disadvantages in using drip systems, depending on the type of components you use, and how responsible the owner is in maintaining the drip systems installed in his lawn or garden. When compared to sprinklers, drip systems are much more effective in distributing the water throughout the crops. As sprinklers require high pressure for an efficient water flow, drip systems do not need this as the tubes are located along the plants, allowing the water to flow slowly and easily. Sprinkler systems also tend to force water outside areas other than the plants, which results to wasted or unutilized water.
The control valve is a component of the drip system that turns the water supply on and off. For a single drip line, gardeners may simply attach it to a faucet, which can be the control valve for the drip system. If the owner wishes to use a timer, the control valve will be a part of the timer as well. In for multiple drip lines, one drip line is attached to the water line and a separate control valve is used for each additional drip line in the circuit. The advantage of using multiple drip lines allow you to efficiently distribute the water especially if you have a large area of crops, bushes, or trees. The only disadvantage for this is when the material for the drip lines cannot withstand extreme weather conditions especially during winter. The drip lines may crack or break, depending on the type of material.
The purpose of the backflow preventer is to keep the water from flowing back to the water supply. With an optional fertilizer injector, you can mix your fertilizer with the water flow to save time in effectively applying the fertilizer to your plants. With the help of the pressure regulator, the flow of water can be regulated and can prevent the forced or weak distribution of water to the plants. If the backflow preventer is not equipped with a filter, the water supply may be clogged with sediments or minerals which can result in poor water distribution.
The emitter is one of the most essential components of the drip system. It dispenses at least 1 gallon up to 2 or more gallons of water per hour, depending on the settings. Depending on the type of soil being used on your garden, the rate of the water output may vary especially if your garden is on a sloped area. Emitters can become less efficient if there are clogs caused by hard water and mineral deposits. Without the use of filters, emitters will eventually clog up and prevent water to flow through the drip lines. Just like with the other components of the drip system, following a schedule for watering and system maintenance is essential in order to enjoy the benefits of using this type of irrigation system.
Drip systems are known as garden irrigation systems that are considered as the most efficient way to water garden plants, bushes or shrubs, and trees. The way a drip system works is that it lets the water reach the roots through the soil via flexible tubes. The reason why drip systems work efficiently is because the water is supplied directly on the areas where it is needed which is on the roots of the plants or trees.
The head assembly is the part of the drip system that is connected to the water source. The components of the head assembly are the timer, manual control valve, filter, pressure regulator, and backflow preventer. Each component of the head assembly has its own distinctive function that ensures the proper function of the drip system.
History
Before the patented components of irrigation systems and drip systems, drip irrigation has already been used thousands of years ago. With only their hands and other elements of nature as their tools, ancient people were able to find the means to water their crops, which is their source of food. Eventually, they were able to figure out how to do so by burying their water pots near the plants. These pots had holes around them, allowing water obtained from the rain to flow slowly out of the wholes and on to the plants. In 1866, researchers were able to improve this irrigation system by using pipes and were successful at doing so. After the 2nd World War, an Australian inventor named Hannis Thill used long plastic tubes to hold and distribute the water to his garden crops. After Thill’s invention, a company named Netafim adapted his idea and developed a water emitting device that would evenly distribute the water supply on the crops efficiently and effectively. Nowadays, drip systems or drip irrigation vary from simple to complicated depending on the needs of the user. As the years progressed, drip irrigations now include filters that would prevent the clogging of the pipes with sediments and minerals. Drip systems also work like sprinklers, which can have timers that work automatically after the timer is set, in case the owner forgets to water his plants. Others also mix in their fertilizers with the water to save more time in boosting the growth of the fauna.
Components and Operations – Advantages and Disadvantages
Unlike other micro irrigations systems, drip systems are easier to install and can be set up to collect rain water. There are both advantages and disadvantages in using drip systems, depending on the type of components you use, and how responsible the owner is in maintaining the drip systems installed in his lawn or garden. When compared to sprinklers, drip systems are much more effective in distributing the water throughout the crops. As sprinklers require high pressure for an efficient water flow, drip systems do not need this as the tubes are located along the plants, allowing the water to flow slowly and easily. Sprinkler systems also tend to force water outside areas other than the plants, which results to wasted or unutilized water.
The control valve is a component of the drip system that turns the water supply on and off. For a single drip line, gardeners may simply attach it to a faucet, which can be the control valve for the drip system. If the owner wishes to use a timer, the control valve will be a part of the timer as well. In for multiple drip lines, one drip line is attached to the water line and a separate control valve is used for each additional drip line in the circuit. The advantage of using multiple drip lines allow you to efficiently distribute the water especially if you have a large area of crops, bushes, or trees. The only disadvantage for this is when the material for the drip lines cannot withstand extreme weather conditions especially during winter. The drip lines may crack or break, depending on the type of material.
The purpose of the backflow preventer is to keep the water from flowing back to the water supply. With an optional fertilizer injector, you can mix your fertilizer with the water flow to save time in effectively applying the fertilizer to your plants. With the help of the pressure regulator, the flow of water can be regulated and can prevent the forced or weak distribution of water to the plants. If the backflow preventer is not equipped with a filter, the water supply may be clogged with sediments or minerals which can result in poor water distribution.
The emitter is one of the most essential components of the drip system. It dispenses at least 1 gallon up to 2 or more gallons of water per hour, depending on the settings. Depending on the type of soil being used on your garden, the rate of the water output may vary especially if your garden is on a sloped area. Emitters can become less efficient if there are clogs caused by hard water and mineral deposits. Without the use of filters, emitters will eventually clog up and prevent water to flow through the drip lines. Just like with the other components of the drip system, following a schedule for watering and system maintenance is essential in order to enjoy the benefits of using this type of irrigation system.