For the full growth and development of plants, it is necessary to ensure timely watering. Of particular importance is the irrigation of garden crops during the seasons when the weather is hot. Watering plants is not always possible if the plantings are at a remote distance from the main place of residence of the gardener or sometimes a person does not have enough time and effort. Currently, the problem of timely water supply for the necessary manual or automatic irrigation regime of garden plants, vegetables, flowers, fruits, helps to solve the set watering timer.
Types of devices
Currently, plant irrigation controllers for greenhouses, gardens and kitchen gardens are available in two control options: manual and automatic. Irrigation devices by type of design are divided into the following types: automatic, mechanical, electronic and digital. The watering timer can be mounted in any irrigation system of planted areas. There are models installed on a water tap. Also, certain types of controllers are resistant to adverse environmental conditions and may be located outdoors.
Benefits of Using Controllers
An irrigation timer, also called a controller, is able to supply water not only in personal plots, but also in large-sized vegetable gardens, regardless of what cultivated plants grow there. Due to the fact that vegetable and fruit crops consume water differently, the device using the program allows you to select and set the necessary irrigation regime, taking into account the characteristics of plants. In addition, the watering timer has a sensor that responds to rain and high humidity. Depending on the occurrence of precipitation, the water supply may automatically stop, and again with the improvement of weather conditions. This feature eliminates soil flooding and saves water consumption. In addition, there are models that can be controlled remotely. In the case when a separate zone needs additional irrigation, it is possible to change a pre-set program using the remote control. The owner no longer needs to be directly on the lawn.
Auto timer
The automatic watering timer helps to complete the task of planned and dosed water supply for irrigation of plantings. It also allows automatic control of drip irrigation of plants, being one of the most effective devices for growing crops in greenhouse conditions. The irrigation controller can be programmed to perform optimal water supply modes, based on the necessary conditions for each type of plant. In greenhouses equipped with timers for automatic watering, an effective ventilation system should be provided, which is extremely necessary for the successful growth of crops. If it is necessary to irrigate vast territories, high throughput of irrigation equipment is required, which is very difficult to implement. This device allows you to reduce the load on the pumping system by alternately partially saturating the site with water.
Drip Irrigation Controller
Farmers, gardeners, owners of summer cottages have recently begun to widely use controllers in the drip irrigation system of plants on beds, in small fields, etc. The use of electronic irrigation devices provides the planned automatic water supply, in accordance with the program that is chosen for another type of plant. The controllers provide efficient and correct water supply to the green spaces at the specified hours. The timer for drip irrigation eliminates waterlogging of the soil, which has a beneficial effect on the health of garden crops.
Advantages of drip controllers
- The ability to water within 24 hours a day, regardless of weather conditions.
- Providing a slow water supply, in which the plants are most successfully saturated with the moisture entering them.
- The ability to supply not only water, but also the additives necessary for their development in the form of minerals, salts and fertilizers.
- The use of this irrigation system is effective, since with this type of irrigation water does not fall on the leaves, which reduces the risk of plant disease.
- Due to the rapid absorption of water and nutrients directly by the root system of plants, their development period is significantly accelerated.
- Using a timer for drip irrigation, it is possible to adjust the irrigation process in automatic mode.
Ball Irrigation Controller
There are timer models that have a ball valve. To supply water, the ball in the device rotates and passes the required amount of liquid. At the same time, water jet pressure is not required. The valve rotates automatically following the program installed on the controller. The spherical electronic irrigation timer itself has an electronic display, which facilitates programming of the necessary data: timing, frequency, frequency, duration of irrigation, and more. It also reports the state of charge and equipment malfunctions. The watering timer runs on ball batteries, which lasts for the entire irrigation season, until the harvest.
Work with the controller
Watering timers are available in the following types:
- with one channel;
- multichannel.
In turn, multichannel timers are available in two versions: mechanical, electronic. The mechanical watering timer differs from the electronic type timer in ease of operation. So, before it is put into operation, you need to set the time periods between the water supply and the duration of the irrigation itself.
Before starting the operation of the electronic timer, it is necessary to set: the date, time of the start of work, select the desired program that is most suitable for growing crops. The required amount of water for irrigation is supplied by a pump, to which the timer gives a command to supply water, and then to stop the flow, after which this cycle is repeated.
The moisture supply cycle is established, depending on the types of plants, for which the amount of necessary water for irrigation is determined in advance, based on the recommendations given by experts. The operation of each timer is provided, depending on the type of device, with one or two pairs of batteries.
Before starting the operation of the timer, it is necessary to carefully read the instructions that are attached to each device. The advantages of multichannel timers with a digital version are: the ability to set the frequency of turning on and off the water supply for watering plants, as well as providing watering for crops growing in different areas with different intensities, based on each type of plant.
Conclusion
Based on the feedback of many farmers who use an electronic watering timer in the irrigation system of the site, we can conclude that such a device greatly facilitates the care of planted plants. It relieves the summer resident from the need for a constant presence in the garden in order to provide vegetable and fruit crops with water. These smart devices take on most of the daily worries about the site.