SMALLHOLDERS NEED DRIP IRRIGATION

The roots of plants collect water from the soil to support the growth of stems, branches, leaves, flowers and fruits.

Drip irrigation prevents wasteful use of irrigation water by bringing the water near to the roots.

Pumping water from boreholes and rivers is expensive. By reducing the amount of water needed, crop irrigation saves energy and money.

The soil harbors harmful bacteria, and fungi that can cause diseases in crops. These diseases can enter the plant through the roots or the leaves.

If leaves are made wet by overhead irrigation, or roots are water logged by furrow irrigation – this can increase the risk of diseases entering the plant and causing diseases.

Drip irrigation delivers water to the crop without wetting the leaves and without over-wetting the soil.

Just enough waterat the right time and in the right place

= less disease= more yield

Overhead irrigation

Furrow irrigation

Drip irrigation

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Quarter-Acre drip kit for field vegetables

Bag Farm drip kits for leafy vegetables and animal fodder

Tunnel Tomato drip kits for tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers

Farmers can even apply biological controls (good fungi and bacteria) to the roots of crops by adding them to the drip irrigation water.

Liquid fertilisers such as vermi-liquid can be applied using drip irrigation. Come to the Real IPM SMALL HOLDER ENTERPRISE CENTRE in Thika to see how to make vermi-liquid fertiliser. www.realipm.com

Reduce wastage of fertiliser by applying it near to the roots of plants.

Real Trichoderma and Real Bacillus subtilis are registered as bio-fertilisers in South Africa because they solubilise phosphate from the soil and make it available to plant roots. Find out more about Bio-fetilisers by downloading our free publication on FAQs about Bio-fertilisers.

Real Trichoderma and Bacillus subtilis can be applied to roots using the drip irrigating system.

Real Bacillus subtilis is able to reduce bacterial wilt (Ralstonia), which attacks the roots of tomatoes, peppers, and potatoes from the soil.

Real Trichoderma is Registered in Kenya and Ethiopia for the control of root knot nematode. Download our Real Insight on Root Knot Nematode publication from the Resources page of www.realipm.com

What esle can be applied by drip irrigation ?

Frequently

Asked

Questions

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ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS

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(NOT INCLUDED IN KIT)

WATER TANK

1.5 metresabove ground

Connecting to the water tank

The base of the water tank must be at least 1.5 meters above the ground to create the pressure needed to force the irrigation water to the end of the drip irrigation lines.

Water tank should be close to the field drip irrigation system. The kit includes 100 meters of header pipe (25 mm PE pipe). If more header pipe is needed to get the water from the source to the tank or drip system - additional meters can be ordered from the website.

All Real IPM drip kits include one water tank connecter / filter to fit the main header pipe (PE 25 mm) to the water tank.

Make a smooth hole, exactly 1 inch (3 cm) in diameter in the base of the water tank, about 2 cm from the bottom of the tank.

Fit the connector plate of the connector / filter inside the water tank and screw the filter and external connector together.

Farmers must provide their own water tank and pump to serve the Real IPM drip kits. Assistance can be provided if necessary.

1 inch (3 cm) diameter hole in tank

Water tank filter on tank

Water tank set-up 1.5 m above ground

1 inch (3 cm)

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Drip Irrigation Kit Components

A 25 mm PE pipe system delivers water from the water tank to the field drip irrigation system. It can also be used to deliver water from the river or borehole to the water tank. This is referred to as the header pipe.

The drip irrigation delivery systems to the crop plants are connected to this header pipe. There are two types of delivery system that connects to the header pipe.

Both the 16 mm pipe with button drippers and the flat drip tape have end caps to stop all the water escaping from the end of the drip lines.

The 25 mm header pipe also has an end cap for each end of the header pipe. One of the end caps can be replaced later with a connector if an extra Quarter Acre Drip Kit is purchased to extend the system.

16 mm pipe with button dripper

Flat drip tape

End cap for 16 mm PE pipe

End cap diagram for header pipe

End cap for flat drip tape

16 mm PE pipes with button drippers used in the Real PM bag farm kit and the Real IPM tunnel tomato bag farm kit.

Flat tape with holes through which the water drips into the soil – used in the Real IPM Quarter Acre Drip Kit.

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Step 2: A gravity-fed drip irrigation system works best when the total length of the drip line is less than 30 meters:

Measure the field and decide on the number and layout of the drip lines. Ideally all drip lines will be the same length.

There are 1,100 meters of drip tape in the Quarter Acre Drip Kit. Having decided on the layout of the field and the length of the drip lines - cut the drip tape into the correct lengths.

Step 1: Decide on the optimum crop spacing between:

Plants within a row Distance between each row of plants

Designing the layout of the Quarter Acre Drip Kit

The Real IPM Drip Kits are gravity-fed. The water tank and the header pipe must be set up at the top of any sloping field. Water will not move up hill unless it is pumped uphill. If the land is not sloping, the position of the header pipe and tank is not so important. However, make sure that the water tank is raised at least 1.5 meters above the ground level to create the water pressure needed to push the water to the end of the drip lines.

DRIP KIT IRRIGATION FIELD LAYOUTS

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Some examples of crop row spacing are given above. The planting pattern will determine the layout

of the drip lines.

DRIP LAYOUTS PATTERNS1/4 ACRE FIELD DRIP KIT (MODULAR)

Step 3: Each piece of drip tape must be directly inserted into the header pipe. The kit includes 45 connectors to fit the tapes into the header pipe:

Measure the distance between the drip tapes on the header pipe with a tape measure and mark the place where the holes are needed with a wax crayon.

Make a small hole in the header pipe with a hot stiff wire, heated to red hot, over a fire or portable gas burner.

Screw the connector into the hole in the header pipe. The hole needs to be smaller than the connector piece so that it fits tightly and water does not leak from this hole.

Fit the drip tape into the connector and screw tightly to keep the tape in place. Make sure the tape is pushed well into the connector before screwing the connector together. The tape may pop out of the connector when water under pressure is passing through it.

Ksh. 40,000/-Quarter acre drip kitORDER ONLINE

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Step 4: Lay the drip lines out in the field to their full length and attach the end caps at the far end:

Unscrew the end cap components. Firmly place the drip tape into the end cap. Tighten the pieces of the end cap so that the drip tape is securely fastened inside. The drip tape must be placed above the SURFACE of the soil with the holes facing UPWARDS.

Connector into drip tape

Drip tape with hole facing UPWARDS

Connection from the tank

Step 5: Test the system by opening the valve at the water tank

How much water to apply per day with Quarter Acre Drip Kit?

The amount of water to apply per day is dependent on:

Type of crop and its water needs Growth stage of the crop Local weather Soil type.

The specification of the drip tape in the kit is:

6600 litres per quarter acre per hour.

This means that per day the irrigation will need to be running for 2 to 4 hours per day (depending on the above factors)

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Plant establishment

During transplanting of crops such as cabbage and onions and direct seeding of crops

such as carrots and legumes - drip irrigation may need to be applied for three hours per

day.

Make sure that the lines are straight and near the plants. Sticks may need to be placed

along the lines of drip to keep them in a straight line

Plant seeds at the correct depth and in straight lines so that the water reaches them

easily. Bad planting will reduce yields because the water cannot reach them.

With the exception of legume seeds (do not prime), most seeds benefit from short

periods of soaking (no more than 12 hours). This imbibes the seeds and makes them

germinate quickly. DO NOT soak for more than 12 hours.

Use GroPlus phosphate seed treatment from Real IPM to give the seeds a growth boost.

One sachet is enough for 12 kg of seeds

Gro-Plus sachet

ORDER ONLINE

Download the Gro-Plus instructions for more information

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Watch the Real IPM You Tube video on our website for more detailed instructions.www.realipm.com/resources

Subscribe to our Youtube channels

Enroll on our one-day practical course on Drip Irrigation at our SMALLHOLDER ENTERPRISE

CENTRE demo farm. All our Drip Kits are being demonstrated at the farm.

Course Fees 2,000/- per person per day.

Water requirements of crops

The peak water requirement of crops will be at flowering and fruit swell. If insufficient water is applied the harvest will be of small fruits and tubers and there may be fewer fruits because the flowers aborted and dropped off.

The irrigation needs of crops are usually measured in cubic meters. A cubic meter of water is 1000 litres.

The Real IPM Quarter Acre Drip Kit delivers 6.6 cubic meter per hour per quarter acre.

Passionfruit

Irish potatoes

Legumes

Field tomatoes

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MODULAR SYSTEMS

Our Quarter Acre Drip Kit and the Ten-bag Farm Kits are designed to be modular – so that farmers can start small and gradually build up their drip irrigated system as they can afford to.

The second Quarter Acre Drip Kit can either be positioned to the side of the first Drip Kit or below it. Extra 25 mm header pipe may be needed. Order this on line. www.realipm.comThe larger the drip-irrigated field, the more water pressure will be needed to move the water evenly throughout the system. A larger water tank may be needed - or a water pump added to the system at the water tank.

An extra connector for the 25 mm header pipe is included in the drip kit to enable an extra system to be joined to the first Quarter Acre drip lit.

Extending the Quarter Acre Drip Kit

If the field is longer than 30 meters and second header pipe and irrigation set will need to be added.

Quarter acre drip kit layout 10 bag farm drip kit layout

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TEN-BAG FARM KIT

Bag farming is a very productive way to farm small areas of land. The Ten-bag Farm Kit has an integrated drip irrigation system made from 16 mm PE pipes (tubes) with button drippers, connected to a 25 mm PE pipe (header pipe).

For instructions on how to set up the bag farms refer to our the Real IPM Bag Farming Booklet.

It can be downloaded from our website www.realipm.com/Resources

Step 1: Two lines of five large bag gardens need to be set up according to the diagram below. The bags should be 1 meter apart within the row and the two rows need to be two meters apart. The bags should be positioned in a zigzag pattern. (see page 14)

Step 2: Dig a trench about 30 cm (1 foot) deep, along the centre of the two rows of bags - so that the central header pipe can be buried and out of the way - after the 16 mm risers have been connected. This makes it easier to move between the bags to spray and pick the crop without tripping up on the pipework.

Step 3: The 16 mm PE riser pipes for the bags are cut into equal lengths of 3 meters. One riser for each bag garden, taking the water from the central header to the bag.

Step 4: The last one-meter of the riser will have the ten button drippers. The riser is curled around the top of the bag on the outside edge. Make the holes with a hot stiff wire. The hole must be smaller than the plug for the button dripper - so that the button fits tightly into the holes without leaks. Drippers face UPWARDS on the pipes. Fix 10 button drippers per bag - spaced 15 cm apart.

Step 5: Use the ties at the top of the bag to secure the riser and button drippers to the outside of the top of the bag. The roots of the plants DO NOT GROW into the centre of the bag - all the water needs to be focused on the outer 10 inches of the bag.

TEN-BAG FARM KIT

Vertical bag farming is a very productive way to farm small areas of land. The Ten-bag Farm Kit has an integrated drip irrigation system made from 16 mm PE pipes (tubes) with button drippers, connected to a 25 mm PE pipe (header pipe).

For instructions on how to set up the bag farms refer to our the Real IPM Bag Farming Booklet.

It can be downloaded from our website www.realipm.com/Resources

Step 1: Two lines of five large bag gardens need to be set up according to the diagram below. The bags should be 1 meter apart within the row and the two rows need to be two meters apart. The bags should be positioned in a zigzag pattern. (see page 14)

Step 2: Dig a trench about 25 cm deep, along the centre of the two rows of bags - so that the central header pipe can be buried and out of the way - after the 16 mm risers have been connected. This makes it easier to move between the bags to spray and pick the crop without tripping up on the pipework.

Step 3: The 16 mm PE riser pipes for the bags are cut into equal lengths of 3 meters. One riser for each bag garden, taking he water from the central header to the bag.

Step 4: The last one-meter of the riser will have the ten button drippers. The riser is curled around the top of the bag on the outside edge. Make the holes with a hot stiff wire. The hole must be smaller than the plug for the button dripper - so that the button fits tightly into the holes without leaks. Drippers face UPWARDS on the pipes. Fix 10 button drippers per bag - spaced 10 cm apart.

Step 5: Use the ties at the top of the bag to secure the riser and button drippers to the outside of the top of the bag. The roots of the plants DO NOT GROW into the centre of the bag - all the water needs to be focused on the outer 10 inches of the bag.

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HOW TO IRRIGATE A BAG FARM

Before transplanting the seedlings the compost in the bag must be thoroughly wetted. The button drippers deliver 4 litres of water per dripper per hour. There are ten drippers per bag - delivering a total of 40 litres of water per hour. If the water pressure is low - then less water will be delivered per hour.

The drip irrigation may need to be on for at least 3 hours per day (120 Litres of water) for the first 10 days after planting.

Check the planting holes to see if the soil is getting wet enough. It may be necessary to also use a watering can to water the planting holes from the outside during this critical plant establishment phase.

After the seedlings have established, daily irrigations of about one hour per day will be needed. At least 30L of water per day per bag will be needed.

In hot weather there may be more irrigation needed. Plants must not look wilted. During the rains - less irrigation may be required.

Step 6: Use the T junction (25 mm) to fix the central header pipe (from between the two lines of bags) to the top 25 mm header pipe. Attach the two 25mm end caps to either end of the top header pipe.

Step 7: The top header pipe is connected to the water tank (via elbows and T junctions) to the water tank in the same way as described for the Quarter Acre Drip Kit. If more header pipe, T junctions or elbows are needed - please order these from our website ON LINE SHOP.

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TIPS In semi-arid areas – it may be helpful to reduce solar radiation and water evaporation from the crop leaves by adding a shade net tunnel.

In areas where there are strong winds this will also remove water form the crop leaves - a windbreak would be helpful.

10 BAG FARM DRIP KIT (MODULAR)Ksh. 21,500/-

10 bag farm drip kitORDER ONLINEwww.realipm.com

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HOW TO IRRIGATE A BAG FARM

Make regular checks that all the drip holes and button drippers are working properly.

If any of the holes in the drip tape in the Quarter Acre Drip Kit are blocked - hold the tape above the soil and sharply tap the tape to dislodge any soil that may be in the hole. DO NOT poke the holes with wire to remove the dirt. If the holes are damaged they will not work properly.

Check that all the fittings are well secured to stop any more soil getting into the system at the connectors.

FLUSH the system occasionally by taking off the end caps form the drip lines and allowing the water to flush out of the end - clearing any mud from the drip lines.

Clear the filter at the water tank on a regular basis. If water used is very dirty - the filter may need to be cleaned every day. Check that the water tank is not filling up with settled mud. Clean it out if necessary.

Clearing the button drippers

Check regularly that all ten, button drippers per bag are working well.

If any button drippers are blocked – pick the pipe up off the soil and sharply tap the button dripper directly several times.

If necessary, remove the button dripper from the 16 mm pipe and wash out the soil with water in a bucket. Gently remove dirt with a needle.

Extending the Ten-Bag Farm Drip Kit

Extending the ten-bag farm kit is just as easy.

Simply replace the end cap on the header with a connector and Add the second set of ten bags.

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TUNNEL TOMATO DRIP KIT

This simple drip kit is based on the 16 mm PE pipe with a button dripper for each plant.

TUNNEL TOMATO DRIP KITGREEN HOUSE SET UP

Ksh. 45,500/-Tunnel tomato drip kit

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Bacterial wilt

It is recommended that farmers combine this with the Real IPM tomato grow bags and that the tomatoes are grown out of the soil. This will help to protect the plants from bacterial wilt (Ralstonia). Real IPM biological control agents can be applied down the drip-lines into the compost bags surrounding the plant roots.

Download the Real Insight on Ralstonia form our Resources page www.realipm.com

Setting up the Tomato Drip Kit

The header pipe (25 mm) is connected to the water tank and the 16 mm PE drip lines, in the same way as described for the Ten-Bag Farm Drip Kit.

Step 1: Measure the distance from the water tank to the position of the header pipe inside the tunnel. Cut the 25 mm header pipe to the required length.

Five meters for the header pipe inside the tunnel. Plus the header pipe needed to get the water from the water tank to the header pipe inside the tunnel. Use the elbows and connectors provided according to the route needed to get the 25 mm pipe from the water source to the tunnel. Fit the tunnel header pipe with end caps.

Step 2: Decide on the layout of tomato pants in the tunnel. If the plants are to be set out in 6 double rows of bags - there will be 12 lines of plants in total. To optimize space and light, the plant bags in each double row should be in a zigzag pattern. Cut the 16 mm PE drip pipes into the required lengths according to the layout. IN THE ABOVE option, the pipes will be cut into twelve lengths of 17 meters.

Step 3: Connect the 16 mm drip pipes to the header pipe and line the pipes up to lie on top of the bags. Place sticks into some of the bags to hold the pipes in position. Connect one button dripper over the centre of each of the bags so that one dripper serves one plant. Attach end caps to every 16 mm drip line.

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How to irrigate with the Tomato Tunnel Drip Kit

Tomatoes and peppers suffer from blossom end rot when irrigation is irregular or not enough. There is no cure for this. Optimum irrigation is needed.

The amount of water applied will depend on the weather. During hot weather it may be necessary to apply water two times per day for 15 minutes in each irrigation cycle. With a button dripper that applies 4 litres of water per hour this will apply about two litres of water per plant per day.

During cool or overcast weather - It may be necessary to apply water only once per day for about 20 minutes.

Check the wetness of the compost in the bags and adjust the irrigation cycles according to the needs of the crop. If the compost is too wet - reduce the irrigation. If the compost is too dry increase the irrigation.

Bacterial wilt on tomatoes

Blossom end rot on tomatoes

Big solutions | For small holder farmers

All these drip kits are demonstrated at the Real IPM Smallholder Enterprise Centre in Thika Kenya

Here we have a two-hectare demonstration farm where we provide One-day Practical Trainingcourses and offer Educational Farm Walks of two hours duration.

Download a map www.realipm.com | Contact us for more information 0725 806086

SMALL HOLDER ENTERPRISE CENTRE

SMALL HOLDER ENTERPRISE CENTRE (THIKA)

Call Centre: 0725 806 086

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What can you see on the Educational Farm Walk?

Take a tour with our experienced farm managers and see:

Ten-bag farm units, Quarter Acre field vegetable drip kits, tunnel tomato production, dairy goats, dairy cows, poultry for eggs, rabbits, biogas, insect protein production for animal fodder, vermi-culture, compost making, propagation of transplants, kitchen gardening, commercial horticulture production and hydroponic fodder.

Group of less than 10 people - 500 Ksh per person (for two-hour tour)Groups of more than 10 people - 250 Ksh per person (for two-hour tour)

One Day Practical Training

We offer a range of training courses. www.realipm.com If the training you need is not listed – ask us – we may be able to devise something to meet your needs. The following one-day trainings relate to the Drip Kits

Drip Irrigation management (1 day) Bag Farming (1 day) IPM for Tomato Production (1 day) IPM for Field Vegetables (1 day)

Course Fees: 2,000/- per person (inc. light refreshment and lunch)

TOTAL ORDER VALUES MUST BE ATLEAST 1000/- FOR FREE DELIVERY

Upon confirmation of payment your order will be processed and delivered to your nearest Fargo Courier depot.You will be alerted via SMS once your order has been delivered to the depot.

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