Do-it-yourself drip irrigation. How to organize drip irrigation in a greenhouse with your own hands How drip irrigation works

All gardeners know how important watering the garden is. However, watering a garden is a rather labor-intensive process; for this reason, today gardeners and summer residents are interested in how to make drip irrigation.

After all, by assembling a drip irrigation system with your own hands, you can simultaneously solve several problems, save money, time, and get an excellent harvest from your plot. Because the drip irrigation system evenly distributes moisture and fertilizer throughout the entire garden plot.

In our industrial age, there are several completely different drip irrigation designs.

Device for giving

Most summer residents are interested in the question of how to organize drip irrigation with their own hands? Having decided to assemble a drip irrigation structure with your own hands, you need to take into account some nuances, and above all those relating to water resource reserves, because there should be enough water to charge the siphon.

In this situation, a siphon can be an arc-shaped pipe installed vertically, with one end connected to a tank filled with water, and the other end connected to a pipeline.

Moreover, the siphon must have a height corresponding to the volume of liquid in the tank.

The design of irrigation for a dacha looks like this: water from the tank flows into watering hoses, in which holes of a certain diameter are cut to spray water resources. This irrigation design can take a variety of forms.

As an example, we can consider watering shrubs, for which a ring irrigation structure is created, and a rectangular irrigation system from a standard pipeline is excellent for vegetable plantings.

Watering is regulated using a special system, which includes a rain valve, several springs, a lever, a pusher, and a tank lid.

The valve will operate if a recess is created on the tank lid for rain, which acts as a weight. The rain catch valve works on the same principle as the toilet cistern flush system.

When creating the actual design of drip irrigation, it is necessary to take into account certain features of planting and development of the roots of seedlings for each specific type of planting. Because the speed of liquid movement depends primarily on the exact depth at which the roots of the planted plants are located.

So, the deeper the roots go into the ground, the slower the flow of moisture. And plants with shallow roots are more susceptible to drought.

However, the roots of most green spaces are located at a depth not exceeding 20-25 cm, so drip irrigation in a greenhouse requires the use of less water, unlike fruit trees.

Automatic design

The automated design of drip irrigation is convenient in that it allows you to water every day, at a specified hour, without your presence. The fact is that this system will automatically turn on and off at the right time.

How to make drip irrigation for your dacha automatic?

Creating the design of an automatic drip irrigation system must begin with the fact that the pump must be connected to a hose, in which through holes must first be made. Water will flow freely through these holes.

The gap between the holes should be 30-35 cm. Next, the hose must be routed throughout the entire area. When setting the start time for irrigation, you need to take into account such a parameter as pump power.

The drip irrigation system is ideal for the lawn, because the roots of the grass are usually located at a depth of no more than 15 cm. Moreover, in the summer, the lawn simply needs regular watering, otherwise you risk, at a minimum, losing the attractiveness of the lawn, and otherwise it can lead to complete lawn loss.

Note!

Considering the financial cost of planting new grass, automatic watering seems quite justified.

However, when organizing an automated design, as in the photo of drip irrigation, it is necessary to take into account some design features.

Thus, there are cases when there is excess water in the nearest area, but no water has arrived in the farthest area. In addition, there are situations when powerful water pressure, when pumped, leads to waterlogging.

A special dispenser, purchased at any gardening center or assembled with your own hands from a plastic bottle, can solve this issue.

A so-called drip irrigation from bottles is formed, the effect of which is similar to the operation of a toilet flush barrel.

Note!

This design element will provide you with the rate of liquid flow into each bed, and individually to each root of the seedling.

In the automatic irrigation design, the leading place is given to the dripper mounted on the pipeline system. It is through this device that the liquid is supplied directly to the root system.

If, when assembling an automated irrigation structure, you decide to save a little on costs, then it is acceptable to replace the droppers with plastic parts from the medical system kit.

However, the best option is ready-made drippers with a mechanism for regulating water pressure, which are available for sale in specialized stores.

DIY drip irrigation photo

Note!

The main guarantee that there will be high yields of fruits, berries, vegetables and rapid growth of flowers in a summer cottage, vegetable garden or garden can be safely called high-quality watering. Among the common irrigation options, one of the first places is a drip or spot irrigation system. Its main advantages include accessibility and cost-effectiveness.

Drip irrigation: convenient and beautiful

Plus, compared to traditional irrigation methods using hoses and sprayers, drip irrigation provides half the water consumption. Note that modern technologies make it possible to make the water supply system fully automated. To do this, simply enter the required time parameters and water supply period into the irrigation control unit program.

It is possible to set up drip irrigation in your garden with your own hands even without special knowledge. You just need to understand the principle of operation of the structure using the diagrams and photos of this article. Read also:

Types of drip irrigation

There are various drip irrigation systems, and among several options the three most popular are:

Drip hose. The basic component is a pipe with thick walls, most often polyethylene. Such pipes are designed for pressures of up to 3 atmospheres, which makes it possible to supply water over hundreds of meters. Emitters or droppers are located in the hose wall with the same period, designed for a specific water flow. As a rule, it ranges from 1 to 2 liters per hour. To install such a system, plastic fittings are used. It is also possible to dismantle the structure for the winter season.
Drip tape. A flexible tube with thin walls, the thickness of which is 0.12-0.6 mm, is connected directly to the main hose. Its internal diameter in most cases is 16 or 22 mm. Installation and assembly is carried out using fittings and connectors with standard sizes of 1/2 and 3/4 inches. Such belts can reach hundreds of meters in length and are capable of passing up to 500 liters per hour.
External micro-drippers with specific water flow. They can be nozzles and sprinklers of various models. They provide watering in the form of drops or micro-jets. Some designs provide adjustment of watering intensity. The location of the droppers is on the outside of the pipes or on tubular branches. It is also possible to install it on a regular hose, on which droppers with self-piercing fittings can be placed in the required places.

Drip irrigation by gravity without a pump

Supplying water under the influence of gravity without a pump is one of the options for drip irrigation. This system provides for a storage tank. It can be an ordinary barrel or another tank. The storage tank is filled with tap water or from a natural reservoir. Sometimes settled rainwater is used.

A feature of the drip irrigation system is that it can be clogged by living organisms and small vegetation of reservoirs and debris.

Thus, water is not suitable from any body of water, and the surface of the tank must be resistant to corrosion and destruction. A barrel made of plastic, synthetics or galvanized iron are the most suitable options for water intake containers. To prevent leaves or debris from getting into the barrel, it must have a lid.

The size of the barrel depends on the consumption of water resources. The volume must be sufficient to provide the necessary watering. According to consumption standards, cabbage requires 2.5 liters per day, potatoes - 2 liters, and a tomato bush - 1.5 liters. As a result, the owner of a summer house or garden needs to individually calculate the daily consumption, in accordance with the number of seedlings and trees. Knowledge of this data will also be useful when choosing an irrigation system.

Watering is carried out due to water pressure in a barrel raised above the ground

To ensure water pressure in the system of 0.1-0.2 atmospheres, the tank must be located at a height of 1-2 meters above the ground. It is important to monitor the purity of the water coming from the barrel. To prevent accumulated debris from entering the hose, the drain hole should be placed 100mm above the bottom of the tank. This design also requires a mesh or other filter. Irrigation systems with gravity flow are designed for low pressure, as a result of which only uncompensated drippers are suitable for them, since compensated ones maintain the pressure of the water flow constant at excess pressure.

If you plan to use herbicides and fertilizers, it is worthwhile to provide a separate fertigation unit in the system for diluting liquid forms of preparations. After each procedure, the irrigation system requires cleaning. To do this, it is necessary for the system filled with clean water to operate for several minutes. The filter also needs periodic cleaning. It must be done weekly.

Rules for installation and maintenance of a drip irrigation system

The assembly of an irrigation system in a country house or garden should be done in a certain sequence, following a number of simple rules:

They begin to install the irrigation system from the water intake unit. Power can be supplied from a water supply, reservoir, well, well or special tank. When installing a water tank, you will need an outlet with an external thread and a tap with a 3/4-inch internal thread.
If the water contains impurities and large particles, a mesh or disk filter must be provided.
Next, the mixing unit is installed. It saturates the water with chemicals and fertilizers or supplies nutrients. The fertigation unit is a reservoir where the appropriate preparations are diluted, which is connected to the irrigation system using a tube with a dispenser in the required location.
For the installation of the main pipeline, plastic pipes made of HDPE with a diameter starting from 32 mm or polypropylene pipes are used. In principle, any pipes that meet the requirements of the system are suitable.
The next stage is installation of the distribution network. Micropipes or watering drip tapes are laid out in irrigated areas.

During the installation process, fittings are required: connectors and fittings, tees and angles.

Fertilizer application in a drip irrigation system

When creating a drip irrigation system with your own hands, it is worth considering some nuances:

The main pipe should be laid at an angle of 90 degrees to the rows of beds. This will make it convenient to connect branches.
A plug installed at the end of the pipe of the pipeline itself will help to avoid contamination of the irrigation system. It must be removed during the cleaning of the irrigation line.
Having drilled holes in the pipe of the tape structure, the first thing you need to do is screw on the start - the corrector, on which to tightly put the tape. The tape itself must be plugged at the opposite end in order to achieve a tight seal and be able to wash and blow through its clogged areas. This can be done using a 1cm wide ring cut from the ribbon, which will fit tightly on its folded end.

Use of polypropylene pipes

Nothing prevents you from building drip irrigation with your own hands from polypropylene pipes. This option of drip irrigation from plastic pipes has many advantages. These pipes are strong, flexible and characterized by low density. Polypropylene pipes are quite resistant to hydraulic shocks and temperature changes.

Modern additives allow the walls of polypropylene pipes to remain undamaged when exposed to ultraviolet rays. The pipe is not damaged if the water in the system freezes, unless it is completely filled. In addition, installing drip irrigation from polypropylene pipes yourself will cost less than from HDPE, since the cost of components for welding is lower than prefabricated structures with threads.

Scheme of drip irrigation from polypropylene pipes

Pipes made from this material are suitable for creating a main pipeline and for a distribution network with drippers. In the latter case, holes can be drilled in the right places. The diameter is selected in practice with a fully installed system.

Of course, when working with plastic pipes there are also disadvantages:

Using a special soldering iron.
The system cannot be disassembled for winter or for cleaning.
Compared to HDPE, polypropylene pipes are less resistant to freezing of water in the structure. For this reason, the entire system must be purged with a compressor before winter.

Types of drip tapes

Since we have decided to build drip irrigation with our own hands in our country house or garden, we need to choose the right watering tape. The choice of type of belt device is determined by the specific conditions on your site. There are three main types of tapes:

with a labyrinth;
slot type;
emitter

The type of drip tape is indicated on the marking

In the first case, there is a built-in element on the surface of the tube - a labyrinth. This structural feature makes it possible to slow down the water flow in the tape trunk and streamline the flow of water through the holes. Unfortunately, the external location of the labyrinth means that there is a great danger of damaging it during the process of laying the tape.

Holes in slot-type tapes for water to flow out are made using a laser at intervals of 20 to 100 cm. A labyrinth is built inside along its entire length to prevent turbulence in the movement of water. The tape must be installed with the labyrinth facing up. This helps water flow out evenly through the holes. This is the easiest option to organize watering, which does not require significant expenses. The only thing worth remembering when choosing a slot type is the need for high-quality filtration.

A distinctive feature of the emitter type is the presence of additional holes built into flat droppers that face inward. The idea is that the droppers are located on the inner, rather than the outer, surface of the wall, as a result of which turbulent movement of water occurs inside the tape. Thanks to it, the droppers self-clean.

Also, when choosing a tape, the wall thickness is important. If laying underground is planned, the thickness of the tape should be 0.2 mm. In the case of arranging drip irrigation on the surface of the ground, a tube with a thinner wall thickness is suitable.

Self-installation of a drip system

Below is a diagram of how to independently assemble drip irrigation in your garden at home. An example would be equipping a plot of 150 m2 with irrigation with 10 rows of planted strawberries, the length of which is 12 meters.

For a homemade system you will need a drip tape 110-140m long. When emitters or perforations are located every 30 cm, the throughput of the system will be about 4 liters per hour. The approximate pressure without using a pump is 0.1 atmosphere, to maintain which the irrigation system tank must be placed 1 meter above the ground. It is impossible to create a water pressure of 1 atmosphere, since in this case it would be necessary to raise the water tank to a ten-meter height. As a result of insufficient pressure, the throughput drops three times - to 1.3 liters per hour. As a result, watering time triples.

Drip irrigation of strawberries is the right decision

A sequential scheme of actions for creating drip irrigation with your own hands:

Connect the tap to the tank fitting, and then install the filter.
Using a coupling, the distribution pipe is connected and laid perpendicular to the irrigation beds. If the area is less than 300m2, a 32mm pipe will do. The pipe itself must be laid parallel to the horizon, and the irrigation tapes must be laid with a slope. The end of the pipe on the opposite side of the section must be closed with a removable plug or a valve installed to facilitate preventive flushing.
Opposite the strawberry beds you need to drill a pipe, screw on fittings with gaskets or install taps. The latter will ensure separate shutdown of each irrigation branch if necessary. You can also connect pipes that were originally equipped with start connectors.
Lay emitter tapes along the entire strawberry bed. One end of the tube should be put on the fitting and the other should be plugged.
When using a common dripper for watering several bushes, you should attach minifold splitters in the form of tubes to it and place them near the roots of the plantings.

An example of a drip irrigation installation from a central water supply system

This capacity will last a long time

Before installing drip irrigation from the central water supply network, you should choose how the structure will be connected to the water supply. Direct connection to the valve or connection via a storage tank is possible.

The pressure in the municipal water supply is normally 4 atmospheres, but taking into account its surges and water hammer, this figure can range from 2 to 7.5. Considering the fact that for drip irrigation, tapes with low operating pressure (about 0.2-1.5 atmospheres) are usually used, in order to avoid rupture of the system due to strong water pressure, a reducer is installed between the tap and the central pipe, which reduces the pressure.

Another way to reduce the pressure to the required numbers is to use a storage tank that has a bypass valve. It is filled with water to a specifically set level, which is controlled by a valve, regulating the water supply. From there, water enters the system by gravity through a fitting at the bottom of the tank. If you create a watering system with your own hands, you can use a standard valve from a toilet tank as a bypass valve.

The filter in drip irrigation is a necessary element of the system

Step-by-step instructions for one of the simple options for installing drip irrigation in a country house or garden:

Assembling the filtration unit. It consists of 2 filters, namely: a dirt filter and a fine filter. The filters are connected to each other by a coupling, connectors are screwed onto them, after which the entire assembly is connected to the main hose.
A hose with a diameter of 20mm is laid along the central path. It must be cut near all beds, so a sequence of individual segments is formed.
The resulting pieces of hose must be connected to each other through tees with one 15mm outlet for further wiring.
Drip tapes are attached to the tees, which can be secured with metal clamps. The free ends of the tapes must be twisted and secured with plastic clamps, and the hose must be connected using a 20-15 adapter.

Installation of a drip system using a pump

The pump can be used in a drip irrigation system either to fill an irrigation tank or to increase the pressure in the system itself. In the first case, the scheme of work is almost no different from the above for watering from a water supply. In this case, you will need a water level sensor in the container, which will turn off the pump as it fills.

You can make the sensor yourself by connecting a limit switch to the valve from the toilet tank. However, turning on and off the pump will not occur simultaneously as a result of “bouncing” of the switch contacts, which can damage the pump. The control circuit will have to be supplemented with a timer, which is sold in an electrical goods store. All issues can be easily resolved if you purchase a ready-made pumping station.

In the absence of running water, watering is organized using a pump

If a pump is used to increase the pressure in a drip irrigation system with a large water flow rate, it is possible to use a reducer or special compensated drippers in conjunction with a pipeline that can withstand the pressure created by the pump. In this case, it is very important to choose a pump that will provide the necessary water flow with some reserve. Read also.

Providing water to plants and plantings is one of the concerns of homeowners. Some water the vegetable beds, some water the flower beds and lawns, and some need to provide water for the garden. In any case, the procedure takes quite a lot of time. But that’s not all: with the usual method, a crust forms on the surface, which prevents plants from developing, so you have to loosen the soil. All these problems can be solved by drip watering the plants. You can buy ready-made kits, order turnkey development and installation, or you can do everything yourself. This article will discuss how to make drip irrigation yourself.

Operating principle and varieties

This technology was tested several decades ago. Its results were so impressive that the system became widespread. The basic idea is that water is supplied to the roots of the plants. There are two ways:

poured onto the surface near the stem;
fed underground into the root formation zone.

The first method is easier to install, the second is more expensive: you need a special hose or drip tape for underground installation, and a decent amount of excavation work. For temperate climates there is not much difference - both methods work well. But in regions with very hot summers, underground installation has shown itself to be better: less water evaporates and more of it gets to the plants.

There are gravity systems - they require a water tank installed at a height of at least 1.5 meters, there are systems with stable pressure. They have a pump and a control group - pressure gauges and valves that create the required force. There is completely. In its simplest form, it is a valve with a timer that opens the water supply for a specified period of time. More sophisticated systems can monitor the flow of each water supply line separately, testing soil moisture and sensing the weather. These systems operate under the guidance of processors; operating modes can be set from the control panel or computer.

Advantages and disadvantages

Drip irrigation has many advantages and all of them are significant:

Labor intensity is significantly reduced. The system can be fully automated, but even in the simplest version, irrigation requires literally a few minutes of your attention.
Reduced water consumption. This happens due to the fact that moisture is supplied only to the roots, other zones are excluded.
Eliminates the need for frequent loosening. With a dosed supply of water to a small area, a crust does not form on the soil; accordingly, it does not need to be broken.
Plants develop better and productivity increases. Due to the fact that water is supplied to one zone, the root system develops in this place. It has a larger number of fine roots, becomes more lumpy, and absorbs moisture faster. All this contributes to rapid growth and more abundant fruiting.
It is possible to organize root feeding. Moreover, fertilizer consumption due to point supply is also minimal.

The economic efficiency of drip irrigation systems has been proven many times, even on an industrial scale. In private greenhouses and vegetable gardens, the effect will be no less significant: the cost of creating the system can be reduced to a small amount, but all the advantages will remain.

There are also disadvantages, but there are very few of them:

For normal operation water filtration required, and these are additional costs. The system can function without filters, but then it is necessary to consider a purge/rinse system to remove blockages.
Drippers become clogged over time and require cleaning or replacement.
If thin-walled tapes are used, they may be damaged by birds, insects or rodents. Places of unplanned water consumption arise.
The device requires an investment of time and money.
Periodic maintenance required— blow out the pipes or clean the droppers, check the fastening of the hoses, change the filters.

As you can see, the list of shortcomings is quite long, but all of them are not very serious. This is a really useful thing in the garden, garden, flower bed or.

Components and layout options

Drip irrigation systems can be organized using any water source. A well, borehole, river, lake, centralized water supply, even rainwater in tanks will do. The main thing is that there is enough water.

A main pipeline is connected to the source, which supplies water to the irrigation site. Then it goes along one side of the irrigated area and is muffled at the end.

Opposite the beds, tees are inserted into the pipeline, to the side outlet of which drip hoses (pipes) or tapes are attached. They have special droppers through which water is supplied to the plants.

It is advisable to install a filter or filter system between the outlet of the source and the first branch onto the bed. They are not needed if the system is powered from the home water supply. If you pump water from a lake, river, rainwater tank, filters are required: there can be a lot of contaminants and the system will clog too often. The types of filters and their number are determined depending on the condition of the water.

Drip hoses

Hoses for drip irrigation are sold in coils from 50 to 1000 meters. They already have built-in water flow points: labyrinths through which water flows before entering the outlet. These oozing hoses provide the same amount of water throughout the entire line, regardless of the terrain. Due to this labyrinth, the flow rate at any irrigation point is almost the same.

They differ in the following characteristics:

- Tube stiffness. Drip hoses can be hard or soft. The soft ones are called tapes, the hard ones are called hoses. Hard ones can be used for up to 10 seasons, soft ones - up to 3-4. Tapes are:
  - Thin-walled - with a wall thickness of 0.1-0.3 mm. They are laid only on the surface, their service life is 1 season.
  - Thick-walled tapes have a wall of 0.31-0.81 mm, service life - up to 3-4 seasons, available for both above-ground and underground installation.

Watering can be organized using tapes or hoses

The maximum length of the irrigation line is determined so that the unevenness of the water output at the beginning and end of the line does not exceed 10-15%. For hoses it can be 1500 meters, for tapes - 600 meters. For private use, such values are not in demand, but it is useful to know)).

Droppers

Sometimes it is more convenient to use droppers rather than tapes. These are separate devices that are inserted into a hole in the hose and through which water is supplied to the root of the plant. They can be installed in arbitrary increments - put several pieces in one place, and then several in another. This is convenient when organizing drip irrigation of shrubs or trees.

There are two types - with standardized (constant) and controlled water release. The body is usually plastic; on one side there is a fitting, which is inserted with force into the hole made in the hose (sometimes rubber rings are used for sealing).

There are also compensated and uncompensated droppers. When using compensated ones at any point in the irrigation line, the water release will be the same (approximately), regardless of the terrain and location (at the beginning or end of the line).

There are also spider-type devices. This is when several thin tubes are connected to one output. This makes it possible to simultaneously water several plants from one water outlet point (the number of droppers is reduced).

Spider-type dripper - you can water several plants from one water distribution point

Main pipes and fittings

When creating a system for laying a main pipeline from a water source to an irrigation zone, plastic pipes and fittings are used from:

polypropylene (PPR);
polyvinyl chloride (PVC);
polyethylene:
- high pressure (HPP);
- low pressure (LPP).

All these pipes tolerate contact with water well, do not corrode, are chemically neutral and do not react to the application of fertilizers. For watering a small greenhouse, vegetable garden, or lawn, a diameter of 32 mm is most often used.

Main pipes are plastic. Choose any specific type: PPR, HDPE, LDPE, PVC

In places where the lines are drained, tees are installed, to the side outlet of which a drip hose or tape is connected. Since they are smaller in diameter, adapters may be needed, and their outer diameter should be equal to the inner diameter of the hose (or be slightly smaller). You can attach tapes/hoses to fittings using metal clamps.

Bends can also be made through special fittings, which are installed in a hole of the required diameter made in the hose (as in the photo above).

Sometimes, after the tee, a tap is installed on each water distribution line, which allows you to turn off the lines. This is convenient if drip irrigation is used for moisture-loving plants and those that do not like excess water.

If you don’t feel like choosing components and selecting sizes and diameters of fittings, you can buy ready-made ones from various manufacturers.

Do-it-yourself drip irrigation: examples of devices

There are many options for designing the system - it easily adapts to any conditions. Most often the question arises about how to organize watering independent of electricity. This can be done if you install a sufficiently large water container at a height of at least 1.5 meters. This creates a minimum pressure of approximately 0.2 atm. It is enough to water a small area of a vegetable garden or garden.

Water can be supplied to the container from a water supply system, pumped by a pump, drained from roofs, or even poured into buckets. A tap is made at the bottom of the container, to which the main pipeline is connected. Next, the system is standard: a filter (or a cascade of filters) is installed on the pipeline up to the first branch on the irrigation line, and then there is distribution to the beds.

For the convenience of introducing fertilizers on the highway, it is possible to install a special unit. In the simplest case, as in the photo above, it can be a container on legs, in the bottom of which a hole is made and a hose is inserted. A shut-off valve (faucet) is also needed. This cuts into the pipeline through a tee.

If necessary, you can water both shrubs and fruit trees. The whole difference is that the tape or hose is laid around the trunk at some distance. One line is allocated for each tree; bushes can be watered several times on one line. Only in this case you need to use a regular hose into which to insert droppers with the required water flow.

If low pressure in the system does not suit you, you can install (see photo below) or a full-fledged one on the main water supply. They will provide water even to far-flung areas.

Can water be supplied directly from the source? It is possible, but not advisable. And this is not due to technical difficulties - there are not many of them, but to the fact that plants do not like cold water. That is why most small-scale drip irrigation systems - for greenhouses, vegetable gardens, orchards and vineyards - use storage tanks. The water is heated in them and then distributed throughout the area.

Drip irrigation: how to calculate the system

There can be one container from which water is supplied to the system - common, as in the picture above, or separate for each area. If there is a significant distance between irrigation objects, this may be more profitable than pulling a main pipeline.

The required volume is calculated depending on the number of plants and the volume of water for their normal development. How much water is needed to water vegetables depends on the climate and soil. On average, you can take 1 liter per plant, 5 liters for bushes and 10 liters for trees. But this is the same as the “average temperature in the hospital,” although it is suitable for approximate calculations. You count the number of plants, multiply by the consumption per day, and add everything up. Add 20-25% of the reserve to the resulting figure and you know the required volume of capacity.

There are no problems with calculating the length of the main line and drip hoses. The main line is the distance from the tap on the tank to the ground, then along the ground to the watering site, and then along the end side of the beds. By adding up all these lengths, the required length of the main pipeline is obtained. The length of the tubes depends on the length of the beds and on whether water will be distributed to one or two rows from one tube (for example, using spider drippers you can distribute water for two to four rows at the same time).

The number of tees or fittings and taps (if you install them) is determined by the number of pipes. For each branch using tees, take three clamps: press the hose to the fitting.

The most difficult and expensive part is the filters. If water is pumped from an open source - a lake or river - you first need a coarse filter - gravel. Then there should be fine filters. Their type and quantity depend on the condition of the water. When using water from a well or a well, you do not need to install a coarse filter: primary filtration occurs on the suction hose (if used). In general, there are as many cases as there are solutions, but filters are needed, otherwise the droppers will quickly clog.

Homemade drip hoses and droppers

One of the most significant costs when constructing a system from ready-made components yourself is droppers or drip tapes. They, of course, provide the same amount of water throughout and the flow rate is stable, but in small areas this is not necessary. You can regulate the supply and flow rate using taps built into the beginning of the irrigation line. Therefore, there are many ideas that allow you to distribute water to plants using ordinary hoses. Watch one of them in the video.

It is difficult to call this system drip irrigation. This is more of a root watering: water is supplied in a stream under the root, but it works, perhaps only a little worse and is more suitable for plants with a root system developed deeper. This method will be good for trees, fruit bushes, and grapes. They require a significant amount of water, which must go deep into a decent distance, and this homemade drip irrigation system can provide this.

In the second video, real drip irrigation is organized. This was done using medical droppers. If you have the opportunity to stock up on used material, it will turn out to be very cheap.

The amount of water supplied is controlled by a wheel. From one hose you can supply water to three or four rows - if you take a hose of sufficient diameter, you can connect not three devices to it, but more. The length of the tubes from the drippers allows watering two rows on each side. So the costs will really be small.

Droppers can be used almost without modification. This is the case if the system had a bag. An example is in the photo.

Waste into income - watering for young plants is provided

It is almost also possible to do drip irrigation for house plants. It is suitable for those flowers that love constant moisture.

Constantly moistening your flowers on the balcony? Easily! Watering from a drip

The cheapest drip irrigation: from plastic bottles

There is the cheapest and fastest way to organize water supply to plants without hoses and large containers. You will only need plastic bottles and small lengths - 10-15 cm - thin tubes.

Partially cut off the bottom of the bottles. So that you get a lid from the bottom. This way the water will not evaporate. But you can cut off the bottom completely. At a distance of 7-8 cm from the cap, make a hole in the bottle into which a thin tube is inserted at a slight angle. Bury the bottle with the cork down or tie it to a peg, and stick the peg into the ground next to the plant, pointing the tube towards the root. If there is water in the bottle, it will run down the tube and drip under the plant.

The same design can be made by turning the bottle upside down. But this option is less convenient: it is more difficult to pour water, you will need a watering can. What this looks like, see the figure below.

As you can see, there is a second option for drip irrigation from plastic bottles. A wire is stretched over the bed, and bottles with holes in the bottom or lid are tied to it.

There is another photo option for using bottles, but with standard droppers for watering. They are fixed to the neck of the bottles and in this form are installed under the bush.

This option, of course, is not ideal, but it will give the plants the opportunity to develop better if you can rarely visit the dacha. And two liters from a bottle can be decisive in the battle for the harvest.

In order for the garden and vegetable garden to produce a good harvest, regular and timely watering is important. Especially in the summer. Of course, you can saturate the soil with moisture using a special watering hose, but today there is a more modern option - drip irrigation. What this system is, the principle of its operation, how much it costs and how to do drip irrigation correctly, you can find out by reading the article.

A drip system is designed for irrigation of plants that are planted using the row method. Ground or underground drip irrigation is used to care for crops, grapes, flowers and trees. This is also an ideal option for watering greenhouses. But drip irrigation is not suitable for moistening lawns. Because it is impossible to water a large area using pipes. In this case, sprinklers are used.

But for a small garden, berry garden, vegetable garden, the drip system is an excellent way. Many summer residents install from droppers, considering this the most economical and rational method of caring for plants.

Pros of the system

Drip irrigation prevents the root system from experiencing nutrient deficiency and drying out, and prevents the formation of a hard crust on the soil surface and the erosion of the fertile layer. Drip irrigation was first used in Israel. The effectiveness of the method is obvious. After all, today Israel is a leading exporter of agricultural products. A summer resident receives a lot of benefits from using a drip system.

The drip irrigation device gives the following results:

Plant fertility increases by approximately 40%.
Labor costs are significantly reduced. There is no need to carry heavy buckets or drag a hose. All you have to do is open the tap.
There are much fewer weeds growing. Because they lack moisture. This reduces the number of weedings.
Eliminates the possibility of soil erosion.
The likelihood of fungal diseases occurring is reduced.
Leaf burns are excluded. After all, drip tubes supply water specifically to the roots of plants.
Water savings are approximately 70%. Moisture does not spread throughout the entire area, but only enters the root zone of the plants.
The system operates at low pressure.
The presence of a gardener and total control of watering are not required. An automated system will supply water at the right time.

Design and principle of operation

The operating principle of drip irrigation is as follows: water is supplied directly to the root system of plants. Depending on the equipment used, moisture can be supplied to the soil surface or deep into the fertile layer. In the first case, the system is equipped with a drip tape or hose, in the second - with a dropper.

Based on the type of water supply, there are gravitational and forced systems. In the first option, the flow of water occurs due to an inclined container of water and the action of gravity. In the second option, drip irrigation is carried out from a water supply or a pump connected to a well. In this case, the system must be equipped with a gearbox. From the water supply network or tank, water moves through main pipes that have branches and is supplied to the desired irrigation location.

Drip irrigation is divided according to functionality into:

manual;
auto;
semi-automatic.

The summer resident needs to turn the manual system on and off independently. The water container is also filled manually using a hose or buckets. Automatic devices operate completely under the control of the system. The semi-automatic device starts and turns off watering independently. But the gardener needs to replenish the water tank on his own. The semi-automatic machine can be programmed and the intensity and time of watering can be set. In terms of cost, automatic models are the most expensive.

System elements

Installation of drip irrigation does not present any great difficulties. This work does not require any special knowledge or skills.

But before installation, you should decide what you need to buy for drip irrigation, and which manufacturer to give preference to.

In fact, the range for drip irrigation is very wide and is represented by various parts from different manufacturers. When choosing, you should not chase the low price. Because the quality of cheap products cannot be high. It is better to adhere to the optimal ratio of cost and quality. It should also be noted that today well-equipped drip irrigation kits are available for sale. This saves the summer resident from the need to select individual parts. Below are the materials needed to set up a drip irrigation system.

Dropper: its types and functions

There can be two types: drip tapes and single devices. Drip tape is a hose with a large number of holes. There are special systems inside that regulate the water output. Depending on the principle of operation, there are three types: labyrinth, slot, emitter. Each of the varieties has its positive and negative sides. Most summer residents prefer emitter tapes. Because they are more technologically advanced and durable.

But before you buy an emitter tape for drip irrigation, you need to remember that it is most convenient to lay the tapes on beds with vegetable crops. But single devices or drippers are more suitable for watering free-standing perennial crops, shrubs, and trees. These units are also divided into two types: without pressure compensation and with compensation. Drippers can be used, for example, for watering currant bushes. In addition to watering, you can read in detail about high-quality and timely care of currants.

The main difference between a drip tube and a tape is the wall thickness and longer service life. The tube can serve properly for 3 years or more. Also, the tube, unlike the tape, can be buried in the ground. This does not change its functionality. Therefore, many people decide to buy a drip tube for irrigation, because it has excellent performance characteristics.

Many novice summer residents are wondering where to get drippers for drip irrigation and how much they cost. You can purchase these system elements at any specialized store or order them on the Internet.

To extend the life of the tube, it is advisable to install a filter. Otherwise, the dropper may quickly become clogged and stop performing its task. The cost of the dropper is low. But if you purchase a drip irrigation tube in bulk, many companies make a discount and in the end the product comes out even cheaper.

Tee - an important detail

Without this part, productive operation of the system is impossible. Using a tee, you can organize watering in several areas simultaneously. Therefore, a tee for drip irrigation is an important element and it is advisable to install it immediately.

Soft watering hose or ready-made hose

If you use a soft watering hose on one side, it will need to be plugged. The cost of this part is low. You can buy a drip irrigation hose at any specialty store.

Controller: types and applications

It is the main part of any automatic irrigation system. It determines the operating time of the valve and ensures regular watering. It looks like a small box with a display and several switches. The controller receives information from wind, humidity, and temperature sensors. Most models work from the network. True, there are also devices with a battery. They are more convenient to use.

If you buy an automatic controller for drip irrigation, the efficiency of the entire system will increase significantly. Semiconductor and hybrid controllers are available for sale. Semiconductor devices are installed indoors. Used to control irrigation in small areas. Most often for irrigating lawns and lawns near houses.

Hybrid models are more reliable and modern. Allows you to save energy and water. Equipped with a microprocessor that controls the valves one by one. Such units are mainly used to organize watering of large areas and greenhouses.

Drip irrigation injector

This element allows you to increase productivity, reduces the labor intensity of irrigation, eliminates contamination of groundwater and soil, and allows water to instantly reach the roots of crops along with mineral fertilizers. But you need to know how to choose the right injector for drip irrigation, since it costs a lot. You should choose a device based on your specific situation, after consulting with a specialist.

Other system elements

Also, to install a drip irrigation system you will need a pump, fitting, taps, adapters and plugs. Most often, difficulties when choosing parts for organizing drip irrigation arise with hoses. Because they can be of different types. And many summer residents do not know which supply hoses for drip irrigation are best to use.

When choosing, you should be guided by where the system will be located: on the surface or under the ground. On sale you can find a oozing hose. It is used for laying underground. Made of PVC, has a microporous structure. Performs the function of moistening the soil around the crop. Ideal for caring for tomatoes, which do not like moisture getting on their leaves.

The sprinkler is used for watering flower beds, beds, and lawns. The maximum hose length is 22 m. But if necessary, the length can be increased. The unit is equipped with fittings for more efficient irrigation. Tape hose is the most expensive. Its advantage is that it can be used in conjunction with electrical engineering.

Knowing how to install drip irrigation, you can organize an effective irrigation system for crops.

Installation is simple. First, the pipework is laid. After this, install the filter and pump. Then the controller and, if necessary, a unit for applying fertilizers are installed. Next, drip tapes are laid out under the trees and in the beds. The tapes are connected to the main pipes.

Cost and popular models

Many novice gardeners and summer residents are interested in how much drip irrigation costs and which models are more popular. As for the cost of equipment, it depends on the type of system chosen, as well as on the model, quality and manufacturer. For example, the semi-automatic drip irrigation system Aquadusya will cost a summer resident about 1,700 rubles, and the automatic model will cost 2,100 rubles.

In addition to Aquadus, models such as Rodnichok and Zhuk are also widely used. Semi-automatic devices are most often chosen. They are cheaper and, moreover, the automatic float for filling the water tank can be purchased and installed separately. Installing a control system yourself allows you to save some money. Some craftsmen are trying to organize underground drip irrigation with their own hands, and they are doing quite well.

Thus, drip irrigation is currently the most modern and effective method of irrigating plants. It allows you to increase productivity and save water. The drip irrigation device is quite simple. This allows you to easily install the system yourself.

Summer residents, who have the opportunity to come to their plot only on weekends, are well acquainted with the situation when, after a working week, plants have to be literally “soldered off” in order to bring them to normal condition. For such cases, experts recommend using drip irrigation systems. This can be purchased as a kit, or you can make it yourself. But in any case, you will need to install drip irrigation, the correct implementation of which determines the volume of the future harvest.

Briefly about the composition and operation of the system

Drip irrigation is a set of pipelines stretched across the site. Through them, water is supplied to the irrigation zone. However, it is not poured in large quantities onto the beds, but comes in drops at a flow rate of 1–2 liters per hour. This is achieved due to low pressure and small diameters of the outlet openings.

Such a system must include:

water source;
main pipeline;
drip lines;
optional equipment.

General view of the drip irrigation system

The functions of a water feeder are usually performed by a storage tank. The water supply can also be used as a source. But most often, irrigation requires water at a temperature higher than that found in the central network. For this reason, a storage tank is a more common option.

How to do the installation yourself

Having chosen drip irrigation as an option for providing plants in a summer cottage with a sufficient amount of moisture, it is necessary not only to carry out the installation procedure of the drip irrigation system efficiently, but also to take a responsible approach to the design and planning of the purchase of necessary materials.

Automatic system assembly diagram

Planning a drip irrigation system

It is advisable to plan the system before the plants are planted. In such a situation, it is easier to lay communications.

First you need to decide on the water source. If a storage tank is used as such, its volume is calculated based on the number of consumption points and the intensity of use of the system. Water consumption depends on what plants are planned to be watered and what climate is typical for the region. Usually, as already mentioned, a flow rate of 1–2 liters per hour is sufficient. Moreover, the water supply is not carried out constantly, but as the soil dries out.

When planning the installation of a storage tank, it is better to choose its location based on the distance to the irrigation areas. It is advisable to make these distances as close in size as possible. In this case, the container is installed at a height of at least 1 meter above the ground.

Plastic pipes are used for the main pipeline. The diameter is better to take 50 mm. This size will make it possible to install fittings for side branches (drip lines) without problems. Although it is permissible to use smaller diameters.

Option for storage tank location

For drip lines, you can use ½- or ¾-inch plastic pipes or use drip tape. Water can be supplied to the outside through small-diameter holes in pipes or tape, or using special droppers. This option makes it possible to supply water directly to the roots of the plant.

The use of droppers is also preferable because they are all guaranteed to have the same diameter. Accordingly, the flow through them will depend only on the pressure, and since the pressures in such networks are small, the costs will be comparable.

In order to install drip irrigation with your own hands you will need:

storage tank (pumping station);
main pipeline;
drip lines or tapes;
droppers;
fittings (start connectors, tees, plugs);
taps.

Installation diagram with storage tank

Drip irrigation installation technology

You need to start by installing the water feeder. Then the main pipeline is connected to it. It is better to install a shut-off valve at the entrance to it. If necessary, you can turn it off and stop watering. It would also be useful to install a filter at the inlet of the pipeline. It will reduce the likelihood of clogging of droppers or water outlet holes.

Next, the main pipeline is assembled. They usually lay it along paths and the edges of beds. At the points where the drip branches are connected, holes for connectors are drilled in the main line (diameter 14 mm). To seal the connection, you can additionally use a union nut. Drip pipelines or tapes are connected through connectors. It is advisable to install a tap at the entrance to each branch so that a specific direction can be shut off if necessary.

After the drip pipelines are laid, holes for irrigation are drilled or droppers are installed, their far end is blocked with a plug.

After completing the assembly of the system, it is necessary to carry out hydraulic tests, check it for unauthorized leaks, and adjust the amount of water flowing through the sections using shut-off valves.

Connecting drip pipelines

Some installation nuances

At the installation stage, it is advisable to pay attention to the presence of a slope towards the farthest droppers. Otherwise, in a system operating due to the forces of gravity, there will be no movement of water.

When connecting the main pipeline to a water source, it is better to install an additional tee in case it becomes necessary to add new irrigation directions. And if the functions of a water source are performed by a well and a pumping station, then this tee will allow the water to be used for other purposes.

It is advisable to make all connections in the network detachable. This will allow you to dismantle the system at the end of the gardening season and remove the equipment indoors. This will also make it possible, if necessary, to change the configuration of the irrigation network when the layout of the planted beds changes.

Water consumption in individual sections can be controlled using water meters. Their readings will help you set up the system with the required accuracy - after all, different plants require different intensity of watering.

To automate the entire system, a timer can be installed at the outlet of the water source, which will organize the supply of water according to the desired schedule during the absence of the owners.

This is how you can install drip irrigation from a pumping station or storage tank, making life easier for yourself at the dacha during the gardening season. It is recommended to get more detailed information from the video: