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Greenhouse Irrigation Systems
Greenhouse irrigation systems refer to systems designed to provide the water plants need regularly and effectively. Irrigation generally refers to the transfer of water that the plant cannot obtain from natural rainfall to the root zone of the plant through various methods. In greenhouses, irrigation is the process of supplying the water necessary for plant development to the soil through various systems. To perform effective irrigation, it is important to first choose an irrigation method suitable for the characteristics of the plant and soil. After that, it is necessary to determine when, how much, and by what method the water will be given.
What Are the Irrigation Systems Used in Greenhouses?
The irrigation systems used in greenhouses include various technologies that allow for precise control of the water plants need. Systems such as drip irrigation, sprinkler irrigation, and sub-surface irrigation allow for efficient and effective use of water in greenhouse cultivation, thus optimizing plant growth and contributing to sustainable agricultural practices. Irrigation systems used in greenhouses:
1. Irrigation with Buckets and Hose with Strainer: Buckets with strainers and various sprinkler-type hoses or strainers used in home gardens, greenhouses, and small-scale irrigation needs can be considered basic spraying tools.
2. Surface Irrigation System: Surface irrigation systems allow for the control of water distribution across the soil surface. In this type of irrigation, the soil must be prepared before irrigation. Surface irrigation requires an effective water distribution system. Surface irrigation methods used in greenhouses have the advantage of providing rapid irrigation of a large area. They also have lower operating costs compared to other methods due to low energy consumption. Surface irrigation systems are generally divided into two categories: basin irrigation and furrow irrigation.
- Basin irrigation: In the basin irrigation method, the inside of the greenhouse is divided into basin points with dimensions of 1.5x3.0-3.0x5.0-5.0x7.0 m. The edges of the basins are worked in the form of ridges. Since a crust layer forms as a result of excessive water consumption, hoeing is necessary after each irrigation. This method is widely used in the cultivation of spinach, purslane, parsley, dill, and lettuce. In addition, the basin irrigation system is preferred to prevent the washing away of greenhouse soil and to deliver an equal amount of water to the soil.
- Furrow irrigation: Furrow irrigation is more widely used because it consumes less water compared to basin irrigation, creates less of a crust surface since water flows through furrows between plant rows, and prevents fruits from coming into contact with mud. Furrow irrigation, which is an effective method for irrigating row crops such as tomatoes, onions, and strawberries grown under greenhouse conditions, is also advantageous as it allows for soil cultivation after irrigation.
3. Sprinkler Irrigation System: This irrigation system includes a network of pipes with nozzles that spray water in the form of fine droplets under certain pressure onto the soil surface. In this irrigation method, water is delivered to the plant or soil surface by spraying under certain pressure from rotating or fixed sprinkler heads.
- Overhead sprinkler system: In this system, laterals and sprinkler heads are positioned to ensure equal distribution of water across the entire area to be irrigated. In this way, cut flowers, vegetables, and seedlings on the surface or in growing trays can be easily watered. Sprinkler heads can optionally be set as fixed or mobile.
- Soil Surface Sprinkler: The water distribution system and sprinkler heads can be designed to be placed at a certain height from the soil surface or directly on the soil surface. The ground-based irrigation system can be organized as mobile, similar to the overhead sprinkler system. In this system, the laterals are hung from the greenhouse roof and move on rails throughout the greenhouse. Sprinkler heads are connected to the ends of the pipes hung from above. This system can be used not only for irrigation but also for misting, cooling, liquid fertilization, and pesticide purposes.
4. Drip Irrigation System: The drip irrigation system is an effective irrigation method where treated water and fertilizers are delivered to the soil surface by dripping at short intervals under low pressure. In this system, water can be transported to each plant through an extensive pipe network. Drippers reduce the pressure in the pipe network using a small orifice or a long flow path, allowing water to flow at a small flow rate of a few liters per hour. The basic elements that make up the drip irrigation system include the pump and power unit, filter systems, pipe systems, and drip devices. Various types of drippers have been developed for this method. When grown in a pot or pad, drippers placed on the lateral pipe can be used. In pot farming, drippers called "octopus" or "capillary tube" are preferred.
5. Irrigation System with Perforated Pipes: In this irrigation method, water is supplied to the plants through holes opened at intervals of approximately 7 cm on both sides of polyethylene pipes. One end of the pipe used is closed with a blind plug, and the other end is connected to the main distribution pipe. When water is supplied to the system, the water in the pipes, which swell and take a cylindrical shape under pressure, exits the holes as small streams. This system is quite economical, but requires more attention in application.
6. Sub-surface Irrigation System (Percolation Irrigation): In this method, water is supplied directly to the plant root zone through perforated pipes buried underground. The system prevents the formation of a crust layer on the soil surface due to the absence of water that could harm the plants. In addition, with this method, evaporation from the soil surface is minimized, and humidity saturation within the greenhouse is significantly reduced.
7. Sand Culture Irrigation Systems: In addition to surface and pressurized irrigation systems commonly used to water greenhouse plants, sand culture irrigation systems and capillary tube irrigation systems, which are often preferred in greenhouses where cut flowers are grown, are based on the principles of capillarity. Sand culture irrigation systems are based on the capillary rise of water through holes under the moist sand layer where the pots are located in containers produced in greenhouses. It is important that the sand used in this system be coarse-grained for homogeneous wetting. Wetting of the sand is carried out through pipes passing under the growing containers or through the sand culture.
8. Capillary Irrigation System: In this irrigation method carried out using very small diameter capillary tubes, it is based on the principle of water transferred to the laterals under low pressure rising in the capillary tubes connected to these laterals and the water reaching the surface of the plants in pots. While the diameters of the laterals used in these irrigation systems can vary between 25-35 mm, the diameter of the capillary tubes providing the transfer of water to the pots can vary between 1.25-1.50 mm.
The Most Effective Greenhouse Irrigation Systems
The most efficient greenhouse irrigation systems include methods that optimally meet the water demand of greenhouse plants and minimize water waste. The two main efficient greenhouse irrigation systems are:
Drip Irrigation System: In this system, water is delivered directly to the root zones of the plants in the form of droplets. This is an efficient irrigation method where water reaches the plant directly and evaporation loss is reduced.
Sprinkler Irrigation System: It is a system where water sprayed in the form of fine droplets under certain pressure in the greenhouse is distributed across the soil surface. In this system, water is distributed equally and plants are irrigated homogeneously.
These irrigation systems form an important part of modern greenhouse practices aimed at increasing plant health and crop productivity by using water more efficiently. In addition, each of the greenhouse irrigation systems mentioned above has its own advantages and challenges.
Advantages of Greenhouse Automation Systems
Automatic greenhouse irrigation systems are considered an important investment, especially in terms of efficient resource use. Among the advantages of an automatic greenhouse irrigation system, the most important factor is water saving. The use of low-pressure versions offers a more sustainable solution by reducing energy consumption. In addition to savings, automatic irrigation systems can increase productivity significantly, sometimes up to 50%. Where manual irrigation always yields uneven irrigation results, automatic systems overcome this challenge by providing homogeneous irrigation. Automatic irrigation systems include a model where the pump operates for a few hours a day with low energy consumption. The irrigation time and duration are predetermined and irrigation occurs automatically. The programming feature gives farmers convenience and control. Farmers can monitor and direct the modern greenhouse irrigation system via a smartphone or tablet.
With Esular’s smart irrigation technology that monitors, learns, and manages, you can instantly see not only the irrigation data in your greenhouses but also many data points such as fertilization, window control, air conditioning, greenhouse humidity, and temperature data. Moreover, you can control all these systems remotely. The best part is that our systems are completely wireless and have long battery life. For more detailed information, don't forget to review our content below and contact us!
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