Drip Irrigation ForDrip Irrigation ForMid-AmericaMid-America

Mark Burgess, C.I.D.Mark Burgess, C.I.D.

Bootheel Irrigation Conference December 15, 2003

Drip IrrigationDrip Irrigation

A method of uniformly delivering water and nutrients to a plant’s root zone in the precise amounts in order to meet plant needs

Sub-Surface Drip Sub-Surface Drip Irrigation (SDI)Irrigation (SDI) A low pressure irrigation A low pressure irrigation

system that uses polyethylene system that uses polyethylene driplines that are permanently driplines that are permanently buried below the soil surface, buried below the soil surface, placing water directly into the placing water directly into the root area of a crop.root area of a crop.

Benefits of Drip Benefits of Drip IrrigationIrrigation Crop yield and quality increase Improved field access during cultural operations

such as cultivation, spraying, or harvesting Uniform delivery of water, chemicals and

fertilizers – Water usage reduced by irrigating only the root zone – Lower pumping requirement and energy costs– Less percolation of chemicals and fertilizers into the groundwater

Controlled Wetted Area– Reduced disease and weed growth– Allows more saline water to be used for irrigation

Irrigate small or irregularly shaped fields

Benefits of SDIBenefits of SDI

Same as those of Same as those of dripdrip

Reduced Reduced irrigation labor irrigation labor costs over Center costs over Center Pivot (CP)Pivot (CP)

Considered a Considered a permanent permanent systemsystem

Things To ConsiderThings To Consider

Water AvailabilityWater Availability Water QualityWater Quality Crop NeedsCrop Needs Field Conditions (soil, topography, Field Conditions (soil, topography,

dimensions, row configuration, and etc)dimensions, row configuration, and etc) Expectations (Lifetime of system, costs, Expectations (Lifetime of system, costs,

uniformity, and etc.)uniformity, and etc.) Availability of technical assistanceAvailability of technical assistance MaintenanceMaintenance

System ComponentsSystem Components

1. System controller (If automated) 2. Pump3. Back flow prevention valve 4. Fertilizer injector/tank5. Filter tanks6. Butterfly valve or ball valve7. Pressure gauges 8. Mainline control valve9. Mainline10. Flow meter11. Air vents at high points, after valves and at ends of lines 12. Pressure relief valve13. Field control valve14. Submain secondary filters15. Pre-set pressure regulator16. Submain17. Lateral hookups18. Laterals19. Flushing manifolds20. Flush valves

Next StepNext Step

DesignDesign InstallationInstallation Flush systemFlush system Take benchmark Take benchmark

flow rates and flow rates and pressurespressures

Drip System Maintenance Checks

What to Check Frequency Compared to What What to Look For Possible Causes Pump Flow Rate per Zone and Pressures

Weekly Design or Benchmark Flow Rate and Pressures

High flow and /or Low Pressure Low Flow and/or High Pressure

Leaks in Pipelines Leaks in Laterals Open Flush Valves Open End of Lateral Closed Zone Valves Pipeline Obstruction Tape clogging Pump Problems Well Problems Filter Problems

Pressure Differential Across Filter

Every Irrigation Manufacturer Specifications

Exceeds or is close to maximum allowable

Filter becoming clogged Obstruction in Filter

Operating Pressures at Ends of Laterals

Monthly, unless other checks indicate possible clogging

Benchmark Pressures High end pressure Low end pressure

Possible clogging High system pressure Obstruction in Tape Broken Lateral Leaks in Lateral Low system pressure

Water at Lateral ends & Flush Valves

Bi-Weekly Water Source Particles in Water Other debris

Broken Pipeline Hole in filter screen Tear in Filter mesh Particles smaller than screen Filter Problem Chemical/Fertilizer precipitation Algae Growth Bacterial growth

Overall Pump Station Weekly Leaks, breaks, engine reservoir levels, tank levels

Overall System Weekly System at Start up Discoloration @ outlets or ends of laterals

Indicates possible build up of minerals, fertilizer, algae, and/or bacterial slime

Common ProblemsCommon Problems

FiltrationFiltration LeaksLeaks CloggingClogging

FiltrationFiltration

Filter Needs CleaningFilter Needs Cleaning Damaged Screen or Damaged Screen or

Disc’sDisc’s Flush Valves Not Flush Valves Not

workingworking Tank FailureTank Failure Bad Gaskets and/or Bad Gaskets and/or

SealsSeals

LeaksLeaks

Broken Mains Broken Mains or Submainsor Submains

Damaged Damaged Laterals Laterals

Loose Loose ConnectionsConnections

CloggingClogging

BiologicalBiological Chemical/Chemical/

Mineral Mineral Sand and/or Sand and/or

SedimentSediment Root IntrusionRoot Intrusion Maintenance Maintenance

InjectionInjection

Georgia ExampleGeorgia Example

GA – 7 year rotation GA – 7 year rotation corn/peanutscorn/peanuts

Row spacing – 32”Row spacing – 32” Tape spacing – 64”Tape spacing – 64” Soil – Sandy claySoil – Sandy clay Tape depth – 9”Tape depth – 9” No tillNo till Tape – 15 mil 12 in. outletTape – 15 mil 12 in. outlet Tape flow – 24 gph/100 ftTape flow – 24 gph/100 ft Corn – 240 bu/acCorn – 240 bu/ac Peanuts – 6,000- 6,500 Peanuts – 6,000- 6,500

lb/aclb/ac

Kansas ExampleKansas Example

Crop - CornCrop - Corn Row spacing – 32”Row spacing – 32” Tape spacing – 40”Tape spacing – 40” Soil – Loessial, silt, loamSoil – Loessial, silt, loam Tape depth – 16” – 18 ‘Tape depth – 16” – 18 ‘ Ridge Till, conventionalRidge Till, conventional Tape – 15 mil 12 in. outletTape – 15 mil 12 in. outlet Tape flow – 15 gph/100 ftTape flow – 15 gph/100 ft Corn – 210 bu/acCorn – 210 bu/ac

THANK YOU