irrigation for small spaces

8/20/2019 Irrigation for Small Spaces

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DIY: IrrigationThe Basics for Small Home Gardens

Master Gardeners

February 19, 2013


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Providing in the Garden• The main purpose for irrigating is to supply

needed water for crops

• Most vegetables need between 1/3”per day or

2 inches of water per week

• Can use a watering can, regular hose, sprinkler,

irrigation system, drip hose

• Most people OVERWATER!!

• Account for natural precipitation


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Where to place a rain gauge

Rain gauges should be placed

in an open area away from

trees, buildings, and other

structures, as this may cause

an inaccurate reading.

A general guideline to follow is

placing the rain gauge twiceas far away from the height

of an object such as a tree.


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Rainwater Capturing Systems According to EPA, 50-70% of total household water

is used for landscape irrigation and otheroutdoor activities.

The most practical way to use capture in gardens

and landscapes is by drip irrigation using gravity.

# of gallons/1000 square foot area during rainfall events

Rainfall depth (in) Volume of water (gal)

0.5 3101 620

2 1250

3 1870


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PM 3017--Rainwater Catchment from

a High Tunnel for Irrigation Use

• http://vimeo.com/38525142

http://vimeo.com/38525142http://vimeo.com/38525142http://vimeo.com/38525142


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Water

spreadsdifferently in

different soil

textures

2.5 –

5 feetspread

5 – 9 feet

spread

9 – 14+ feet spread

CLAY

SILT

SAND

Soil Type and Irrigation


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Jar Test


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Where do plants get their water from in

the root zone?

Adapted from PNW 475 by A. Miller


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Garden Crop Rooting Depth

Plants will effectively take upwater from all depths of

their root zone (70% in the

upper 50%)

– check soil moisture at1/3 rooting depth

Root ZoneCrop Depth (ft)

Beans 2.0

Corn 2.5

Onions 1.5Potatoes 2.0

Peas 2.0

Tomato 2.0


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You know about how much, but

when, or how often?

• Most plants become

stressed when available

soil moisture drops below

60%

• You can check soil

moisture several ways:

– soil moisture sensors – “feel” method


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The Soil Moisture Feel Method

70-100% 50-75% 25-50%

While drought can impact plants, over-watering creates

many concerns such as:

• Increases risk of pollution from yard and garden careproducts.

• Encourages shallow root zones and increases plant

susceptibility to disease.


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Water Conservation

(or water management BMP’s)

Reduce need for watering by:

1) mulching

2) improving soil structure3) irrigate only when the plants need water

4) drip-irrigation


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Mulching

• Protects the soil from erosion

• Reduces compaction from the impact of heavy rains

• Conserves moisture, reducing the need for frequentwatering

• Maintains a more even soil temperature and moisturelevel

• Prevents weed growth

• Keeps fruits and vegetables clean

•

Keeps feet clean, allowing access to garden even whendamp

• Provides a "finished" look to the garden


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Improving Soil Structure

• Don’t Rototill…especially when soils are wet!! • ADD Organic Matter!!!


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Using sprinklers in the garden

• Convenient

• Increases chances of leaf burn

• Disease and pest issues increase

• Not efficient, 60-80%


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Measuring sprinkler output

Step One – Checking Sprinkler Distribution

• Pick a calm day with little or no wind to check coverage.• Select five identical straight sided containers, (coffee cans, cat

food cans, etc.), then place them level on the lawn, 3 to 4 feetapart in a straight line.

• Turn the water on for 15 minutes.

• After 15 minutes, turn off the water and measure the amountof water in each can to the nearest 1/8 inch. Usually, each canwill contain a different amount of water. If the water levelbetween cans differs more than 1/4 inch, inspect the sprinklernozzles for dirt or rocks that may be blocking the opening.

• With underground watering systems, it may be necessary toreplace or add sprinkler heads, or divide an existing systeminto two or more lines. Some underground systems can beadjusted for more water coverage.


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Step Two – Measuring Sprinkler Output

• To measure the amount of water (in inches) that yoursprinkler puts out over a 15-minute period.

• Use five identical straight sided containers placed level onthe lawn, space 3 to 4 feet apart in a straight line away

from the sprinkler.• Turn the water on and let it run for 15 minutes.

• Using a ruler, measure and record the water accumulatedin each can to the nearest 1/8 inch.

• Pour the four cans into the fifth, and measure the total

water content. Then divide that total by 5. You now havethe average amount of water the sprinkler puts out in 15minutes.

• Use this average to time your watering. Run the water onlylong enough to deliver water, two to three times a week.


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Can #1…3/8" (3/8")

Can #2…3/8" (3/8")

Can #3…1/4" (same as 2/8")

Can #4…1/2" (same as 4/8")Can #5…3/8" (3/8")

Total 1 7/8" (same as 15/8")

Divide the total inches (15/8") by 5 = 3/8" to getthe average inches of water per can.


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Soaker Hoses

• Not as efficient as drip

• Needs filter and

pressure regulator, hard

water can clog• Cannot bury or use on

slope , can mulch over

•


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Drip Irrigation

Drip irrigation is an easy way to water your yard

in the most efficient, least labor intensive

manner.

With a timer, it can be an automated system

that will mostly take care of itself, requiringonly a bit of maintenance to keep things

running smoothly.

Application efficiency about

90-95%


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Types of Drip Equipment

•

Drip tubing with built-in emitters• Drip tubing or poly pipe with

punch-in emitters

•Drip tape with built-in emitters


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In-line Emitters, AE=90-95%


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Punch-in Emitters

• Allow watering only at each plant(eg. Best for plants spaced several feet apart

• Emitters should be punched in on the top orside of tubing to minimize plugging

• Usually 1-2 gal/hr emitters work well in silt orsandy soil

• For fruit trees, add multiple emitters to thetubing on each side of tree as it grows


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Goof plugs (poly pipe)


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Drip emitters and

Spaghetti tubing


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Drip Tape with Built-in Emitters

• Less expensive

• Can also be buried

• More subject to damage

from hoes or rodents

• Provides a line source ofwater - good for

irrigating rows in agarden


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• 4 mil to 25 mil thickness

• Emitter spacing 2” up to 36”

• Flow rates: usually X gpm per 100 ft

– .25 up to 1.5 gpm/100 ft

• Filtration: 200 mesh for all tape

• Pressure: 10-15 psi

• ½”, 1”, and 2” tape width (for vol)

Drip Tape Specs


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Soil Wetting Patterns

• Depend on emitter location

– max wetting at or near soil

surface for surface location

– max wetting at depth of tape forsubsurface location

– thickness of wet soil above

emitter is about 1/4 wetted

width for sandy soils and about

1/2 wetted width for silt or clay

soils


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Soil Wetting Patterns

Depend on soil type

sandy soils: water

moves deep with

narrow wetted width.

Max wetted widthabout 12-16”

silt or clay soils: water

moves slightly deeperthan wetted width.

Max wetted width

about 20-30 inches


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Soil Type and Irrigation

Consideration is the type of soil that you have is important for

determining drip irrigation details, spacing and flow of emitters

• Clay Soil = water from emitters will tend to move farther away

from source, you might use a lower flow emitter (1/2 gph to 1

gph)• Sandy Soil = water moves further down but closer to source, you

might use a higher flow (1 to 4 gph) emitter while in a clay soil


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Good for row crops


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Great with plastic or row cover


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Simple layout


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Drip tape couplings


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Tees & tubing


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Elbows


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Drip tape ends - plugs


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Drip tape to hose connector


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Shut-off valve


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Flower pots


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Zone sprinkler head adapter

http://www.dripirrigation.com/drip_irrigation.php?cPath=41_76


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Spray tubes & misc.


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Foggers


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Adjustable dripper


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www.dripworks.com


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B k t kit


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Bucket kits

Infiltration and Flow-Through Planters


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Infiltration and Flow Through Planters

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UAF CES Publications Catalog

www.uaf.edu/ces/pubs/catalog/


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Bottom line…..

• Be creative with the space, but make itfunctional.

• Irrigation timing and amount should depend

on soil type and form of irrigation

• Stick your fingers in the soil as often as

necessary.

• Don’t forget to MULCH!!!

irrigation for small spaces

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