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Drip Irrigation Mary McSherry April 17, 2014 Slide 2 Drip Irrigation Slide 3 What Why Where How Slide 4 Key elements for growing plants Light Air Temperature Nutrition Water/Moisture Slide 5 Ideal Slide 6 Not so ideal Slide 7 Automatic sprinkler systems Slide 8 Drip Irrigation Slide 9 Advantages 90 to 95% of the water goes directly into the soil Plant foliage stays dry which reduces plant diseases Amount of water can be controlled, especially when using an automatic timer It is so efficient that many water utilities exempt landscapes irrigated with drip from restrictions during drought Weed growth can be minimized Efficient way to fertilize plants Systems can be used in irregular plots and/or on slopes Slide 10 Disadvantages Sun/rodent damage to tubes Tubes can get clogged if not properly maintained Susceptible to freezing in cold weather Slide 11 Drip Irrigation System Slide 12 Drip Irrigation CommercialResidential Slide 13 Commercial Garden Slide 14 Slide 15 Home Flower Garden Slide 16 Home Vegetable Garden Slide 17 Availability/Cost Home and garden centers Big box stores On-line shopping Initial investment may be recovered in savings of water and time Slide 18 Resources https://extension.umd.edu/learn/drip-irrigation- vegetable-gardens https://extension.umd.edu/learn/drip-irrigation- vegetable-gardens http://extension.psu.edu/plants/plasticulture/techn ologies/drip-irrigation http://extension.psu.edu/plants/plasticulture/techn ologies/drip-irrigation http://www.irrigationtutorials.com/dripguide.htm http://www.shareablesurvival.com/download/food/g ardening/Drip_Irrigation_for_Home_Gardens.pdf http://www.shareablesurvival.com/download/food/g ardening/Drip_Irrigation_for_Home_Gardens.pdf Slide 19 University of Maryland Extension programs are open to any person and will not discriminate against anyone because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, political affiliation, and gender identity or expression. Slide 20 Thank you!