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Installation of Drip Irrigation Systems
The installation of drip irrigation systems is based on the principle of providing a small amount of water to the plant root zone at regular intervals by determining the moisture deficiency in the soil. This method is used in various production areas such as field crops and orchards. Drip irrigation systems can be divided into two main classes: surface and subsurface. To benefit from drip irrigation systems in the best way, it is important to pay attention to certain criteria and to perform applications according to these criteria.
The stages involved in the installation of a drip irrigation system can be listed as follows;
1. Pre-Project Preparation Stage
Some information is needed for the project design of a drip irrigation system. These are;
- Field Status: The location, position, and slope status of the field where the system will be installed must be determined.
- Water Source: Determining the location of the water source is important for project design, as is the type of water source for selecting the filter to be used, and its quality for determining suitability for agricultural production and the chemicals to be used.
- Physical Structure of the Soil: Soil analysis must be conducted to determine the physical structure of the soil. According to the data obtained from the analysis, the dripper spacing and dripper flow rate of the drip irrigation pipe to be used in the system are determined.
- Plant Type and Inter-row and Intra-row Distance: These data are factors that affect the irrigation duration and cycle after system installation, as well as the project design.
2. Project Design Stage
The most suitable project design is prepared by experts in the field. Based on the project design, a material list is created and made ready for a proposal.
3. Assembly and Control Stage
Surface Drip Irrigation for Field Crops
- Laying the drip irrigation pipes: They must be designed in a way that does not damage the drippers. To lay the drippers facing upwards, the drip irrigation pipe rolls must be attached to the rollers of the laying machine in the correct direction/manner.
- Installation of the filter system: It is beneficial for the system if the ground where the filter system will be installed is flat and, if possible, concrete.
- Assembly of main line and submain pipes: In the field where drip irrigation pipes have been laid and the filter system installed, the next step is the assembly of the main line and sub-main lines of the diameter, length, and features required in the project.
- Giving water to the system and controls: It is important for system safety to run the water to waste for a certain period before giving it to the system. When water is first given to the system, it is not desired for the water to go to the drip irrigation pipes in the first stage. This is because there is a risk of clogging the drip pipes with soil particles or other pollutants that may remain inside the main and sub-main lines during assembly.
Subsurface Drip Irrigation for Field Crops
- Field preparation: Before laying the subsurface drip irrigation pipes, the soil of the field must be plowed in two directions with machines that process the soil deeply (such as a subsoiler) and leveling must be carried out.
- Laying the drip irrigation pipes: It should be remembered that the pipe used in subsurface applications is different from the pipe used in surface applications. For this, Netafim Dripnet PC AS or Dripnet PC AS XR drip pipes should be used.
- Installation of the filter system: In subsurface applications, the use of fully automatic filters such as Filtomat or Sigma should be preferred.
- Excavation works: After the process of placing the drip irrigation pipes underground is finished, excavation begins for the main line and sub-main lines. Generally, a channel opened 1 meter deep and 40-60 cm wide is sufficient. Of course, these dimensions may vary according to the pipe diameter to be used and the project design.
- Valve groups: When creating valve groups, attention should be paid to the use of pressure-regulating valves, double and single-acting air valves, and manometers according to the place of use.
- Assembly of main line and sub-main line pipes: PE or PVC pipes can be used as the main line and sub-main lines. While assembling the main and submain lines of the desired features according to the project, the valve groups prepared previously or at that moment are also assembled.
- Giving Water to the System and Controls: It is important for system safety to run the water to waste for a certain period, first from the discharge valves on the main line, then from the discharge valves on the sub-main lines, and finally from the discharge valves on the flushing line before giving water to the system.
Surface and Subsurface Drip Irrigation in Orchards
We can list the differences of subsurface drip irrigation systems compared to surface drip irrigation systems in orchards as follows;
- The drip irrigation pipe to be used in subsurface applications is different from the pipe used in surface applications. In subsurface applications, Netafim DripNet PC AS, DripNet PC AS XR, UniRam AS, or UniRam AS XR are used.
- Drip irrigation pipes are buried 30-40 cm deep in the soil with suitable machines in subsurface applications.
- In subsurface applications, there is a Flushing line at the end of the drip lines.
- In subsurface applications, there is a control filter in the valve groups. Water meters, manometers, and vacuum breakers become even more important.
Other processes generally show similarities except for the items listed above.
4. Post-Installation Support Stage
After the system installation is completed and the necessary checks are made, the field or orchard where the installation was made is visited by experts in their field at certain periods.
It is important to follow the irrigation schedule recommended by experts, to perform necessary acid and fertilizer applications, and to maintain the filter system and other components at certain periods.
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