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Saves the crop from the heat: how to make drip irrigation with your own hands

Alina MilsentLife
Watering Systems

Excessive heat can ruin your crops. To protect your crops from the scorching sun, you can purchase an automated irrigation system. It has special sensors that detect whether the soil is wet enough and whether irrigation is needed. It would seem an ideal solution, if not for one "but" - the system is very expensive.

Experienced gardeners say that drip irrigation can be organized with your own hands. OBOZREVATEL publishes the step by step instructions.

Drip irrigation is suitable for:

  • tomatoes
  • herbs
  • onions
  • garlic.

Maintaining the right moisture can increase yields by up to 40%. The main thing is that the irrigation system should not contact the plant directly, but only irrigate the soil. An excessive amount of water can cause mold on the leaves.

The dosage is determined by multiplying the area of the bed, which should be covered by the system, by the average daily water requirement (about 4 mm). For example, 500 sq. m (bed area) multiplied by 4 mm gives 2000 mm/sq. m = 2 cu.

Method 1

The easiest thing to do is to make drip irrigation from bottles. This will save water and reduce the need to loosen the soil. This method is suitable for all types of soil, and can be used in an open bed and in a greenhouse. In addition, the plant will get warm water, which has time to warm up under the sun. Among the disadvantages - the system will have to fill by hand, and use only in the morning and evening.

How to make an irrigation system:

  1. Cut 5-10 small holes in the bottom of a plastic bottle through which water will flow.
  2. Place the bottles in the bed. The holes should be below the ground and the neck should be above.

Method 2

Polyethylene should be purchased for plastic pipe irrigation. Water will flow through a system of tubes with holes of different diameters.

Materials needed:

  • water distribution pipes
  • valves
  • couplings
  • hydraulic equipment
  • gravel
  • wire or rope
  • a programmable controller and a set of electric valves to power the irrigation units (for improved irrigation automation, if desired).

Yes, the system is complicated. Let's try to figure out how to install it.

  1. Dig a trench and lay the pipe along it. Immediately make the distribution and connection.
  2. Cut the pipe with special scissors. Pull back the nuts of the fasteners, put the gaskets on the end of the pipe. To make the connection secure, experts advise to press the clamps into the connector and tighten them tightly.
  3. Check the system by performing a test run. If there are leaks, try to repair them.

Gravel is required to arrange a drainage layer. Pour 10 cm of gravel into the trench 30 cm deep.

Method 3

The system with droppers can be fed by rainwater as well. Correct calculations on the length of hoses and the number of drip heads are the key to a successfully installed system.

Step 1: Install a polyethylene pipe. Diameter should be of medium size.

Step 2. Place the system with built-in droppers around the plants. The drip line is fixed on the bed with a special pin.

Step 3: Connect the reducer to the water distribution line.

Step 4. Install filters to prevent rapid clogging.

Previously OBOZREVATEL told how to get a rich harvest if the plot of land is small.

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