How often is the site irrigated? Many do this from a hose with a spray nozzle, someone installs water containers in the area and manually watered with a watering can or bucket. However, these irrigation methods are not considered very effective. A completely different thing is drip irrigation. With your own hands, it is quite realistic to equip it on your site. In addition, he has several advantages that distinguish him.
What is drip irrigation and its disadvantages
Drip irrigation is a process of irrigation of plants, in which water goes directly to the roots, if the water tank is installed directly in the soil. The tank may be located away from the beds, in which case watering is carried out directly in each well with the plant. This method is released because the liquid will only flow to the desired plant, and will not spread to the weeds around.
You can design drip irrigation with your own hands for a summer residence from plastic bottles, from polypropylene pipes and barrels, for example. The first option is considered the simplest and least expensive. However, once in several years the system will have to be changed, as the plastic packaging will become unusable. Despite the large number of advantages, about which later, such a system has several disadvantages:
- It is practically impossible to water a large area in this way. You will have to install too many irrigation devices, which is quite problematic and is no longer considered a rational solution to the problem.
- If the soil itself is heavy or mixed, for example, with clay, then the irrigation device inside it will clog, it will have to be removed and periodically cleaned.
- This method of irrigation cannot completely replace conventional irrigation. Maintaining humidity is very important, but sometimes you still have to water the entire land abundantly with hoses, watering cans, etc. Especially if the summer is characterized by elevated temperatures.
However, despite all this, the construction of drip irrigation with your own hands in the country is still considered the optimal solution for irrigation.
Why is drip irrigation still popular?
There are several reasons why arranging drip irrigation is beneficial. The first such reason is the huge saving of water. This is due to the fact that each plant is watered constantly and little by little. You do not have to spend 10-20 liters of water per bed. The second significant plus - the self-assembled drip irrigation works independently. Another significant advantage is the ability to dissolve inside the barrel with water, for example, a certain top dressing. In this case, along with water, plants will also receive useful trace elements for better growth and development. In addition, the biggest positive quality that drip irrigation makes with its own hands, compared to other species, is automatic watering of plants. Of course, such systems can be bought ready-made, but this does not make much sense, since creating it yourself is not difficult. In addition, it will save a good amount of material resources.
What you need to build an irrigation system
A set of materials and tools is quite simple and, most likely, any summer resident has it at hand. It is immediately worth noting that the self-assembled drip irrigation in the greenhouse, for example, will not differ from the purchased one in anything but the design. Functionality and usability are almost the same.
- The first thing you need is, of course, a plastic container. The capacity of the tank depends on how long it takes to irrigate the plant, as well as on its size. However, under any circumstances, the use of a 0.5 liter container is not practical. Most often, containers from 1 to 5 liters in volume are used. With average watering, the approximate time for which 1 liter containers can last is 2-5 days; 2-3 liter containers can irrigate from 5 to 10 days in a row; tanks of 4-6 liters can be used continuously from 10 to 17 days.
More precise values depend on how many holes will be made in the bottle cap. Depending on the desired size of the holes, you can use a thin nail, for example, or an awl to make them.
Having these tools and materials at hand, you can proceed with the construction of drip irrigation in the greenhouse with your own hands.
Watering option number 1
In the first version, the bottle will be almost completely dug into the ground with the bottom. Only the neck should remain on the surface so that it is possible to fill the water inside the tank. The container size should be such that it fits freely between plants. If you need to irrigate only one bush, for example, then the bottle can be small, and holes need to be made on only one side.
Making drip irrigation in the greenhouse with your own hands or just on the site in this design is quite simple. It is necessary to take a container prepared in advance, step back a few centimeters from the bottom of the bottle and start making holes with a thin nail, for example. It must be remembered that if they are too large, then the water will flow out too quickly. There should be about 10 such openings in total. They are made in the lateral part, the neck does not move.
Then a small hole is dug in the right place, into which the bottle is inserted. Its neck should remain outside, and the holes should be turned towards the plant, if it is only one. If there are two of them, then they must be done on both sides at once. It is worth adding that some summer residents close the neck with a kapron, for example, so that debris does not get inside. On this drip irrigation of this type can be considered ready. Water is poured into the tank through the neck, and it gradually irrigates the roots of the plant.
Additional watering options
You can also collect another version of drip irrigation from plastic bottles with your own hands. In this case, you will have to work a little more, since you will need a supporting structure over a number of plants, on which the container will be held. The simplest option for arranging the support is considered such a method. At the beginning and at the end of the bed, one vertical wooden stick is dug in, and a crossbar is placed on top of them. In appearance, the design is very similar to the horizontal bar. Water tanks will also be attached to this crossbar. They can be hooked, for example, onto metal hooks.
It is worth noting that the maximum height of such a horizontal bar is 45-50 cm, and the minimum is 35 cm. It is also worth considering the size of the bottle in the calculations. Further, to equip drip irrigation with your own hands from bottles, you must again use a thin nail or awl to make several holes, but this time in the bottle cap. Naturally, the more holes there are, the faster and more plentiful the watering will take place. The lower part of the bottle is cut off with scissors or a knife, since water will be poured through it into the container. The fabric is also stretched from various debris.
There is another fairly simple way to equip drip irrigation with your own hands from plastic containers. In this case, the bottles will be buried neck in the ground. In this option, you need to choose a container in size in the same way as in the first case. The difference between these two options is that here the lower part of the root of the plant will receive more liquid. In the first case, watering was carried out along the entire length of the spine. Holes are also made in the cover. It is recommended to make 2-3 holes, maximum 4. Otherwise, the water will leave too quickly. However, you need to understand that if it is a 5-liter container, for example, you can make a few more holes, as the volume is much larger. To successfully make a drip irrigation system with your own hands, it is necessary to cut off the lower part of the tank again, since liquid will be added through it.
Further, everything is quite simple. Next to each bush, you need to dig a small depression in which the neck of the bottle will be inserted. It is important to remember only one thing, the depression should not be too deep, otherwise all the water will go by. It is optimal for the bottle cap to be slightly higher than the roots of the plant.
Watering option from a purchased nozzle
Of course, such a device will not be considered 100% made by hand, but it has every right to life, since the cost of the nozzles is just cheap. Specialized stores sell plastic nozzles for bottles with pre-made holes. This device is wound instead of the cap on the bottle, after which you just need to insert this invention into the ground. The only difference from a regular bottle buried in the ground is that there is no need to cut off the bottom. When the liquid runs out of capacity, you can easily get it out, twist the nozzle, draw water, and then return everything to its place. In other words, this method is simply somewhat simpler than the previous one.
Description of polypropylene pipes
Do-it-yourself system design from drip irrigation pipes is another excellent option to equip permanent irrigation in the area. Unlike ordinary metal pipes, this material has several advantages, due to which they have become popular.
These qualities include:
- light weight and low cost;
- ease of installation, as well as the absence of condensation;
- the service life of such pipes is about 50 years, which is significantly longer than that of metal pipes.
In addition, this product is divided into 4 more categories depending on its operational characteristics.
The first group is PN10. Such pipes can be used only where the water temperature does not exceed +45 degrees Celsius, and the pressure does not exceed 10 atmospheres. These characteristics are considered rather weak in construction, and therefore pipes are used extremely rarely.
The second group is PN16. The maximum working temperature rises to +60 degrees Celsius, and the working maximum pressure is up to 16 atmospheres. It is these pipes that are most often used to equip the drip irrigation system.
There are two more groups - these are PN20 and 25. Their characteristics are even higher, however they are too excessive for irrigation, and their cost is much higher, therefore their use is inappropriate. The pressure in the drip irrigation pipes will not exceed 2-3 atmospheres, and the water temperature will always be equal to the ambient temperature. Therefore, the use of PN10 or 16 is the best option.
What you need to build the system
To construct drip irrigation from a barrel with your own hands using such pipes, you will need several basic elements.
The first important detail is the fluid reservoir. On the one hand, this tank will be connected to irrigation pipes, and on the other, to the water supply, through which it will be dialed. Although it is not necessary and you can fill it manually. The presence of this container is necessary, since here the liquid will be stored and warmed to warm. If you connect the pipes directly to the water supply, the water will be too cold for irrigation. For crops, this is “stress,” due to which crop yields are likely to decrease.
Another important element is the ball valve. Everything is simple here. When the shutter opens, water will flow into the system and drip irrigation will begin.
When arranging drip irrigation with your own hands from polypropylene pipes, you will need a filter. It will protect the system from the ingress of dirt and other small particles that will clog the channel. If you do not install it, you will have to constantly clean the entire system, since it will clog.
You will need a container with fertilizers, since plants with drip irrigation need a lot of additives.
The main part is the main pipeline. It is through it that water will be delivered from the barrel to all outlets throughout the garden. One edge is mounted in a barrel with water, the second is either closed with a plug or equipped with a tap so that it is possible to flush the line and drain the water.
Branches are those elements through which water will flow to all plants on the site. As them can be used drip tapes or polypropylene pipes with a small diameter. The connection to the trunk is done using tee fittings.
How to make drip irrigation with your own hands?
Here you need to know that it is necessary to install a container of water at an elevation. In this case, the desired water pressure will be created, which will deliver the fluid through the pipes. Most often, the optimal height is 2 m. This is enough to successfully irrigate about 40-50 square meters. m plot. If the area is even larger, you must either increase the height or install a pump.
Therefore, the first step in arranging watering is to set the barrel on a hill. Most often, it is built from several thick bars and wooden boards, playing the role of a platform. Instead of wooden materials, it is quite possible to use metal or bricks, if they are in abundance.
The second step is to install the connection. For this, a fitting and a crane are installed at a height of 5-10 cm from the bottom of the tank. A slight rise is necessary so that the sediment does not fall into the highway.
The third stage is the installation of a connection to the water supply on the opposite side of the tank. For this, a locking mechanism with a float device is used. In this case, it will automatically open to fill the tank and will close when the tank is full. It is worth noting that the connection of the pipe itself from the water supply is carried out in the last turn of the installation of drip irrigation.
The fourth stage is the raising and installation of the tank on a hill.
Installation of trunk and bends
The most difficult to carry out the installation of these parts. There are three ways to connect pipes. The first method - using soldering, the second - using crimping, the third method - using cold welding.
The first method is characterized in that it can be used to create a very reliable connection that can withstand even a lot of pressure, but in this case you will need to have a special soldering machine and a set of nozzles. In addition, you will have to have skills with this tool. This connection is equipped quite often, and therefore it is worth knowing how to make it.
The first step is to inspect all fittings and pipe sections for defects.
The second step is to degrease the inside of the fitting and the outside of the pipe that will connect. Next, the desired nozzle is installed on the soldering tool. The hole in the pipe part must correspond to the outer diameter, and in the part for the fitting to the internal section. After this, the soldering tool itself and the nozzle are heated.
The next step is to put the pipe section and fitting on the appropriate nozzles at the same time. The instructions for the tool will indicate the time you need to wait. During this time, the soldering iron will warm the outer parts of the pipe and fitting.
Final stage. At the same time, the pipe and fitting are removed, and are interconnected exactly to the heating depth of both parts. So they need to be kept for about 5 seconds, after which it is necessary to allow the compound to cool.