How often is the site watered? Many do it from a hose with a spray nozzle, someone sets up water containers on the site and waters manually with a watering can or bucket. However, these irrigation methods are considered not very effective. Drip irrigation is a completely different matter. With your own hands it is quite possible to equip it on your site. In addition, it has several pluses that set it apart.
What is drip irrigation and its disadvantages
Drip irrigation is a process of irrigating plants in which water flows directly to the roots, in the event that a water container is installed directly in the soil. The reservoir can also be located away from the garden, in which case watering is carried out directly into each well with the plant. This method stands out 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 giving from plastic bottles, from polypropylenepipes and barrels, for example. The first option is considered the simplest and least expensive. However, the system will have to be changed every few years, as plastic containers will become unusable. Despite the large number of advantages, which will be discussed later, such a system has several disadvantages:
- Irrigating a large area in this way is almost impossible. You will have to install too many devices for watering, and this is quite problematic and is no longer considered a rational solution to the problem.
- If the soil itself is heavy or mixed with, for example, clay, then the irrigation device in it will become clogged, it will have to be taken out and periodically cleaned.
- This irrigation method cannot completely replace conventional irrigation. Maintaining moisture is very important, but sometimes you still need to water the whole earth abundantly with hoses, watering cans, etc. Especially if the summer is characterized by high temperatures.
However, despite all this, designing drip irrigation with your own hands in the country is still considered the best solution for irrigation.
Why is drip irrigation still popular?
There are several reasons why installing drip irrigation is beneficial. The first such reason is the huge water savings. 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 is that drip irrigation collected by oneself works independently. Another significant advantage is the possibilitydissolve inside a barrel of 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 distinguishes drip irrigation with your own hands, against the background of other types, 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. Plus, it saves a good amount of money.
What will be required to assemble the irrigation system
The set of materials and tools is quite simple and, most likely, any summer resident has at hand. It is immediately worth noting that drip irrigation assembled by oneself in a greenhouse, for example, will not differ from the purchased one in any way, except for the design. The functionality and practicality of the application is almost the same.
The first thing you need is, of course, a plastic container. The capacity of the tank depends on how long you need to irrigate the plant, as well as on its size. However, under any circumstances, the use of a 0.5 liter container is impractical. The most commonly used containers are from 1 to 5 liters in volume. With average watering, the approximate time for which a 1-liter container can last is 2-5 days; a container of 2-3 liters can irrigate from 5 to 10 days in a row; 4-6 liter tanks can be used continuously for 10 to 17 days
More accurate values depend on how many holes will be made inbottle cap. Depending on the size of the holes you want, you can use a thin nail, for example, or an awl to make them.
Having these tools and materials at hand, you can start building drip irrigation in the greenhouse with your own hands.
Irrigation Option 1
In the first version, the bottle will almost completely dig into the ground with its bottom. Only the neck should remain on the surface so that it is possible to pour water into the container. The size of the container should be such that it fits freely between the plants. If you need to irrigate only one bush, for example, then the bottle can be small, and holes need to be made only on one side.
It is quite simple to make drip irrigation in a greenhouse with your own hands or just on a site in this design. It is necessary to take a container prepared in advance, step back from the bottom of the bottle a few centimeters 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 holes in total. They are made in the side part, the neck is not touched.
Next, a small hole is dug in the right place, into which the bottle is inserted. Her neck should remain outside, and the holes should be turned towards the plant, if there 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 capron, for example, so that debris does not get inside. On this drip irrigation of this typecan be considered ready. Water is poured into the tank through the neck, and it gradually irrigates the roots of the plant.
Additional irrigation options
You can assemble 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 support structure above a row of plants, on which the container will hold. This method is considered the simplest option for arranging a support. At the beginning and at the end of the beds, one vertical wooden stick is dug in, and a crossbar is placed on top between them. In appearance, the design is very similar to a horizontal bar. Water tanks will be attached to this crossbar. You can cling them, for example, to metal hooks.
Here 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 arrange 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 abundantly watering will occur. The bottom of the bottle is cut off with scissors or a knife, as water will be poured into the container through it. The fabric is also stretched from getting 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 dug upside down into the ground. In this option, you need to choose a container according to the size sothe same as in the first case. The difference between these two options is that it is the lower part of the plant root that will receive more liquid here. In the first case, watering was carried out along the entire length of the spine. Holes are also made in the lid. It is recommended to make 2-3 holes, a maximum of 4. Otherwise, the water will leave too quickly. However, you need to understand that if this is a 5-liter container, for example, then you can make a few more holes, since the volume is much larger. To successfully make a drip irrigation system with your own hands, you need to cut off the bottom of the tank again, as liquid will be added through it.
The rest is pretty simple. Next to each bush, you need to dig a small recess into which the neck of the bottle will be inserted. It is important to remember only one thing here, the recess should not be too deep, otherwise all the water will go past. It is optimal that the bottle cap is slightly higher than the roots of the plant begin.
Irrigation option from purchased nozzle
Of course, such a device will not be considered 100% handmade, but it has every right to life, since the cost of nozzles is just a penny. In specialized stores, plastic nozzles for bottles with ready-made holes are sold. This device is screwed onto the bottle instead of a cap, 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 nothe need to cut off the bottom. When the liquid runs out, the container can be easily removed, twist the nozzle, draw water, and then return everything to its place. In other words, this method is just a little easier than the previous one.
Description of polypropylene pipes
Building a drip irrigation pipe system with your own hands is another great option to equip permanent irrigation on the site. Unlike conventional metal pipes, this material has several advantages that have made them popular.
These qualities should include:
- light weight and low cost;
- easy to install and no condensation;
- The service life of such pipes is about 50 years, which is much longer than that of metal pipes.
In addition, this product is divided into 4 more categories depending on its performance.
The first group is PN10. Such pipes can only be used where the water temperature does not exceed +45 degrees Celsius, and the pressure does not go beyond 10 atmospheres. These characteristics are considered rather weak in construction, and therefore pipes are used extremely rarely.
The second group is PN16. The maximum operating temperature rises to +60 degrees Celsius, and the maximum operating pressure is up to 16 atmospheres. It is these pipes that are most often used to equip a drip irrigation system.
There are two more groups - thisPN20 and 25. Their characteristics are even higher, but they are too redundant for irrigation, and their cost is much higher, therefore their use is impractical. 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, using PN10 or 16 is the best option.
What you need to assemble the system
To design drip irrigation from a barrel with your own hands using such pipes, you will need a few basic elements.
The first important detail is the fluid reservoir. On the one hand, this container will be connected to the irrigation pipes, and on the other hand, to the water supply, through which it will be collected. Although this is optional and you can fill it manually. The presence of this container is necessary, since here the liquid will be stored and warmed up to warm. If you connect the pipes directly to the water supply, then the water will be too cold for irrigation. For crops, this is "stress", which is likely to reduce yields.
Another important element is the ball valve. Everything is simple here. When the shutter opens, water will begin to 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 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, as it will become clogged.
You will need a container of fertilizer, as plants withdrip irrigation need a lot of supplements.
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 of 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.
Bends - these are the elements through which water will flow to all plants on the site. As they can be used drip tapes or polypropylene pipes with a small diameter. Connection to the main line is carried out using tee fittings.
How to make drip irrigation with your own hands?
Here you need to know that you need to install a container of water on a hill. In this case, the necessary water pressure will be created, which will deliver the liquid through the pipes. Most often, 2 m is considered the optimal height. This is quite enough to successfully irrigate about 40-50 square meters. m plot. If the area is even larger, then you need to either increase the height or install a pump.
Therefore, the first step in arranging irrigation is to install the barrel on a hill. Most often, it is built from several thick beams and wooden boards that play 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 the installation of the connection. To do this, a fitting and a tap are installed at a height of 5-10 cm from the bottom of the tank. A slight lift is needed to keep sediment out of the line.
The third stage is the installation of a connection to the water supply from 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 close when the tank is full. It is worth noting here that the connection of the pipe itself from the water supply is carried out last in the installation of drip irrigation.
The fourth stage is the rise and installation of the tank on a hill.
Installation of the main line and branches
The most difficult thing is to install these parts. In total, there are three ways to connect pipes. The first method is by soldering, the second is by crimping, the third is by cold welding.
The first method differs in that it can be used to create a very reliable connection that will withstand even great 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 the skills to work 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 lengths for defects.
The second step is to degrease the inside of the fitting and the outside of the pipe that will be connected. 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 fitting part to the inner section. After that, the soldering tool itself and the nozzle warm up.
Next stepconsists in the fact that you need to simultaneously put on a piece of pipe and a fitting on the corresponding nozzles. The instructions for the tool will indicate the time you need to wait. During this time, the soldering iron will heat up the outer parts of the pipe and fitting.
Last step. At the same time, the pipe and fitting are removed and connected to each other exactly to the depth of heating of both parts. So they need to be held for about 5 seconds, after which you need to let the connection cool down.
