Do-it-yourself drip irrigation from polypropylene pipes. DIY drip irrigation

The watering timer is installed directly on the main hose and passes water through its body; inside there is a valve that opens and closes exactly according to the time you set. You can set up several watering cycles (morning-evening) or, at your request, even every hour)

Well, let's look at the drip irrigation schemes provided by the author.

According to the scheme, it is necessary to acquire a large barrel for water, it is best if it is plastic, since it does not rust or oxidize, and this is important!!! Because hoses and capillaries can become clogged over time. The container also serves for settling and heating water to the optimal temperature. Watering is carried out with categorically settled water, otherwise you will simply ruin the planted plants and be left without a harvest.

But if you are constantly outdoors and in direct sunlight, the plastic may crack. To avoid such troubles, the barrel can be covered with some material or painted.

You can also use metal barrels, but they will rust, which is not advisable for the above reason of hose clogging.

The container should be approximately 1.5-2 meters above ground level. This is necessary to create stable pressure. The author made the frame for the barrel from a metal corner; it can also be made from wooden beams and boards. A main hose is connected to the bottom of the container.

Attention! Be sure to install a strainer so that debris does not clog the system, but remains in the sump.

Drip tapes can be bought in a store or made independently, for which punctures are made in a thin hose with an awl, a hot needle, or a thin screwdriver, directly at the level where the root of the plant is located. But the water pressure in such a hose will be uneven, while in the factory model this fineness is provided and the pressure is the same along the entire length.

For a small vegetable garden, a homemade one is quite suitable.

Also, the drip irrigation system is very economical; it is even used in agricultural fields, where they stretch for kilometers across the entire field. Economy comes first, and the result is an excellent and healthy harvest.

Having created on your site this system you will say goodbye to buckets and watering cans forever)

Drip irrigation moistens the soil evenly and promptly, supplies plants with nutrients, and does not erode the fertile layer. The method is popular for growing vegetables, fruit trees and shrubs. Its use even on poor soils and in arid climates allows you to get a rich harvest. Using the advice of experienced craftsmen and available tools, it is not difficult to create drip irrigation with your own hands for your personal farm.

The main advantage of the drip irrigation system is the targeted, economical supply of water to the plant in uniform volumes. In this case, the roots of the crop are directly moistened through the holes in the hoses. Supply is carried out in two ways: into the soil, to the rhizome using droppers, or to the surface through hoses - a special watering tape.

Drip irrigation is distinguished by the method of water supply:

• Forced. The water is under pressure from a circulation pump or water supply. The system is equipped with a reducer - a pressure meter and regulator, the upper value of which in a drip system is no more than 2 atmospheres.
• Using gravity. From a tank filled with water, under the influence of gravity, water flows to the plants. The tank or container is located approximately 2 meters above ground level.

To supply water to crops requiring irrigation, pipelines with specially mounted splitters are used. The pipes are placed and secured along the perimeter of the site, along the walls of the greenhouse, in prepared furrows. The filter at the outlet of the water supply or tank prevents blockages in watering ribbons and holes. The valve controls the water supply.

Pros and cons

The advantages of the drip irrigation system were appreciated by gardeners and gardeners who tested it in action.

Advantages of drip irrigation:

• Moisture goes directly to the root and does not touch the stem, protecting the plant from fungal diseases.
• With careful, uniform moisture, the soil near the crop remains loose and saturated with oxygen. The water does not stagnate and does not compress the soil, as happens with the conventional irrigation method.
• The result of drip irrigation is similar to natural humidification.
• Water is supplied in such a way that the soil is moistened as needed, not too dry, or flooded.
• Drip humidification is used to safely feed plants.
• Water for irrigation is used sparingly.

Usage drip irrigation makes the farmer’s work easier, and so significantly that it leaves no room for analyzing the shortcomings of the system. And they are:

• Moistening a limited area of ​​soil does not stimulate root system strengthen, grow wider and deeper, which reduces the effectiveness of fertilizers. When applying an increased amount of them, only part of them is effective on a moistened area of ​​the soil, that is, near the drip. The remaining amount of useful elements is useless or harmful to the soil. The solution to the problem is to install 3-4 droppers around the plant. But this increases the cost of the system.
• Insufficient hydration. A healthy plant requires approximately 10 cm of moist soil. It is created in 2-3 hours of operation of a drip irrigation system. If the water has not penetrated to the required depth, the plant root does not receive the necessary nutrition and required moisture. The solution to the problem is to determine in a practical way the relationship between the depth of moistening and the watering time before using the system.

Calculation of consumables

Correctly installed perforated hoses are spaced at intervals of no more than 30 cm. High-quality moistening of the soil and root system occurs in about 2 hours. Approximate water consumption per 1 sq. meter - 20-30 liters. A longer time for watering means excessive consumption of water, as well as waterlogging of the soil, leading to diseases and rotting of the roots.

DIY drip irrigation system

To correctly calculate the irrigation structure, the area requiring irrigation is taken into account. The length and location of the pipes and the volume of the gravity system storage depend on it. If drip irrigation is forced, using a well pump or water supply, it can be controlled manually or automatically, provided that a water supply controller is installed.

The capacity of the irrigation tank is calculated using the formula: volume of required liquid for 1 sq. meters (about 20–30 l) multiplied by the irrigation area.

Design

Creating a home watering system begins with developing a plan. You can choose a stationary one for perennial crops, or a portable model for annual crops. Irrigation in greenhouses is suitable for growing cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, and strawberries.

Irrigation system plan for the site

Planning the irrigation system on the site:

1. 1. A diagram of the greenhouse with dimensions (length, width) contains an image of the beds and the location of the plants. Required to calculate the length and select the type of garden hoses.
2. 2. Water is supplied to the site through plastic pipes; they are conveniently located around the perimeter of the greenhouse.
3. 3. The pipes are equipped with fasteners and fittings for further installation. To create a portable, mobile system, flexible garden hoses are used; to install a stationary system, hoses with a rigid structure or plastic pipes are used.
4. 4. The water tank is placed in a place convenient for collecting and distributing water, at a sufficient height for the correct operation of the gravitational system. Gardeners agree that a water supply of at least 100 liters is required.
5. 5. Calculation of the length of hoses, the number of accessories and spare parts is made according to the planting scheme. These include pipes and flexible hoses, fittings, shut-off valves, plugs, and adapters. When planning an automatic irrigation system, regulators and a water supply controller are purchased.

After calculations and preparation of materials, installation of the irrigation system begins. A home tool kit will do.

Installation of simple drip irrigation

An example of creating a drip irrigation system for one plant:

The system can be installed in three ways to choose from:

1. 1. Using a watering tape with holes is convenient. It will last up to 10 years in a greenhouse or indoors, but is susceptible to the destructive effects of ultraviolet radiation.
2. 2. The second way is to make holes in the flexible hose yourself using a heated nail, an awl, or a thin drill.
3. 3. The third option is to use additional thin hose outlets with holes up to 30 cm long and up to 4 mm in diameter. The advantages of this method are mobility and the ability to move the device as the plant grows. There is no need to plant crops in even rows.

For open ground

Installation is carried out according to a similar scheme, but taking into account the following features:

• Landings in open ground exceed the area in greenhouses, which increases the amount of water required for irrigation. Requires connection to water supply or well.
• Water supply lines and hoses that are constantly outdoors must be resistant to temperature changes and still be able to maintain working condition.
• To water large areas, it is advisable to use a pump and a hydraulic accumulator, which maintain the required pressure in the system and regulate the water supply.

From infusion medical systems

Medical drippers do an excellent job of garden watering. They have rubber adapters that are conveniently inserted into the main hose, as well as ready-made water supply intensity regulators.

Drip irrigation using medical systems

Irrigation installation diagram:

• The number of drippers is equal to the number of plants that require watering.
• Inlet holes are created in the main hose according to the diameter of the drip tubes.
• Connections and branching of hoses using fittings of the required size.
• Sections of hoses with plugs at the ends are laid out along the plants along the length of the furrows.
• Rubber tips of medical systems are inserted into prepared holes in the main hoses.
• The other ends, where the plastic needles are placed, are located near the root of the plant.

The first start of water will allow you to evaluate the intensity of the pressure, which can be adjusted later. If a tank is used for irrigation, its top should be protected from direct sunlight to prevent contamination of the filter and hoses.

From plastic bottles

The simplest option for drip water supply to the root is to use plastic bottles. This is an elementary, profitable and reliable device that serves well in greenhouses and open ground. The summer sun heats the water, and at night the earth continues to be moistened with warm water.

Bottle irrigation system

A peculiarity of using the method when moistening dense clay soils is the need to monitor the cleanliness of the device’s holes. In dry times, plants require periodic heavy watering in addition to drip irrigation. The disadvantages include the difficulty of servicing large areas.

The device is cheaper than a ready-made kit, but is not inferior to it in terms of efficiency. The choice of bottle size is based on the size of the plant and its need for moisture. Containers from 1 to 5 liters are used. The amount of watering time that will last depends on the size and number of holes. To create them, nails, an awl, and a needle are used. Use a nylon stocking or fabric as a filter.

Relationship between bottle volume and watering time^

Installation options:

1. 1. Select a bottle that corresponds to the distance between plants and dig it into the ground with the neck up. To irrigate one bush, you can use a small container with holes made in the direction of the plant's root. They bury it in the ground next to the bush and fill it with water. Nylon is used as a filter. After this, water begins to flow into the soil and moisturize the root system.
2. 2. The bottle is hung upside down on a crossbar or convenient holder up to half a meter high. A uniform supply of water occurs through the holes in the bottle cap.
3. 3. The container is placed in the ground, neck down, with holes made. This technique helps deliver water directly to the depth of the root. The peculiarity of the method is that the lid should not be lower than the root in order for the moisturizing to act strictly as intended.
4. 4. Special nozzle with ready-made holes. It easily screws onto the bottle. The method is simple and convenient. The nozzle is convenient to place in the ground and remove for cleaning and filling the bottle with water. The disadvantage of this method is the single size of the nozzle, suitable for use in bottles with a capacity of no more than two liters.

Liquid nutrients and fertilizers are poured into a bottle in a diluted state. The proportions for the correct solution are indicated in the instructions for each fertilizer. Feeding the plant will be uniform and distributed along the entire length of the root.

Underground drip irrigation

The root system of garden crops is shallow, located closer to the soil surface. The distribution pipes of the irrigation system are placed taking this factor into account - no deeper than 2 shovels. If the pipeline is located at a shallower depth, there is a possibility of damage during cultivation and digging.

Subsoil moistening device

Arrangement of underground irrigation involves planning the placement of plantings for several seasons, so that the plants are located close to a source of moisture. The watering device is not intended for free movement within the area.

A preliminary design of the system will help to correctly calculate the amount of materials required, the location of the trenches and the drainage layer. The following are placed in the recesses prepared according to the diagram:

• a layer of polyethylene film;
• perforated pipes or hoses;
• drainage (crushed stone, gravel, expanded clay);
• priming.

It is recommended to make perforated pipes yourself, since production ones have too large holes. The perforation diameter should be up to 20 mm, the step between them should be no more than 40 cm. Clogging of nozzles during underground irrigation is inevitable. A cheaper filtration option is nylon tights, while a professional approach uses geo-fabric.

The water storage tank is raised to a height sufficient to create high-quality water circulation. Depending on the length of the system, the approximate height of the tank placement is at least 2 meters.

Underground irrigation system for garden and vineyards

Orchards and vineyards that require constant watering are distinguished by a deep and powerful root system, going 1 meter or more deep. For hydration garden trees near them, pits are created by drilling. The recess is filled one-third with drainage (crushed stone, expanded clay).

A vertical pipe up to 5 cm in diameter is installed, with holes, a filter and a plug at the bottom. The size of the hole depends on the age of the plant and the size of the roots. For young trees it is possible to use a depth of up to 72 cm, for mature plants with a powerful root system - up to 1 meter.

Vertically installed pipes or hoses are combined into a single network by main pipelines coming out of the water storage tank or connected to the water supply. If installation is possible common system is missing, vertical pipes at the roots are filled with water manually. To avoid blockages upper part pipes are closed with a lid or plug.

Automation of subsurface irrigation

Connecting the system to a well pump or water supply, as well as installing a timer and controller, makes automation possible. The device allows you to set a program to independently turn on and off watering.

A plastic canister, bucket, and bottles with a volume of more than 50 liters serve as water storage. Medical infusion systems are used as watering hoses - cheap, durable and reliable devices. There are two options for arranging home drip irrigation:

1. 1. The systems are placed inside a storage tank with water through the top. The complexity of this option is starting the dropper, getting water inside the hose and adjusting the water supply.
2. 2. Drilling holes in the bottom of the storage tank and fixing the distribution hoses in them. Since the diameter of the outlets should be smaller than the diameter of the hoses, it is easier to insert the latter into the holes when heated hot water. After cooling, a tight connection is created, and the outlets are additionally sealed.

Making a home automatic watering system using the second option will take more time, but the result will be a reliable device that can be used not only to moisten the soil, but also to feed plants.

Now it’s not a problem to build a drip irrigation system for your dacha with your own hands without additional installation costs. You can purchase components for the drop in specialized chain or online stores, or use available materials and your ingenuity. The simplest option is to purchase a ready-made automated irrigation system, which you simply need to assemble.

The idea of ​​drip irrigation arose among farmers back in the last century; it was used to create irrigation systems for vegetable and melon crops in arid regions. Main goal Such irrigation is the delivery of life-giving moisture precisely to the root zone of a vegetable plant (tomato, pepper, eggplant), fruit trees, shrubs or under garden strawberry bushes.

The main element of the system is a water source, from which moisture is supplied to the desired part of the vegetable garden (garden) and drips into the ground in small portions. Water supply and shutdown can be carried out automatically, according to time, or upon reaching the desired level of soil moisture, or manually.

Transport communications (pipes, tape, hose) must approach each plant and deliver water directly to the roots. The pressure is created using a pump or due to height differences (the source is raised to a sufficient height).

Benefits of drip irrigation

A list of positive aspects of drip irrigation for those who still carry watering cans and hoses around the garden. First of all, this is a real saving of water, personal time and physical strength of the summer resident. This is already a big plus, especially if the water is not from a natural source, but from a paid water supply and the flow is controlled by a meter.

Reference

With properly organized watering, they save about 80% of water, completely satisfying the plants’ moisture needs.

Using the drop has a positive effect on plants:

• the soil is always moist, there is no excess or lack of moisture;
• optimal humidity in the root zone prevents fungal infections and improves immunity;
• no sunburn;
• The system allows you to combine watering with root feeding with fertilizers.

During the hot season, greenhouse owners are especially happy about the drop. Drip irrigation plus mulch and good ventilation provide comfortable conditions for plants and make life much easier for summer residents.

How to make drip irrigation with your own hands without high costs

In order to save the family budget, having a minimum set of tools at the dacha, many people do drip irrigation with their own hands from available materials. Homemade designs improve the quality of irrigation.

A water source with a volume of at least 100 liters will be required. Canisters and plastic barrels are suitable for this purpose. An important point is the installation height of the container, it should be at least 1 m, and preferably 1.5-2 m.

Important!

The water pressure in the system will depend on the height at which the barrel is located.

It is practical to place the container under the drain. This arrangement has two advantages: the consumption of tap water is reduced, and rain water contains ammonium and iron that are useful for garden crops. Water is supplied under bushes, trees, and into the greenhouse onto the ridges using garden hoses.

You need to cut the hose and make holes in it after the exact irrigation diagram has been drawn. It is necessary to make allowances - cut segments of a slightly longer length than indicated in the diagram. Lay out the resulting pieces according to the drawing, connect them, and install taps in the right places. In the designated places, use a hot nail or drill to make holes for water supply.

Drip irrigation system options

For those who like to do everything with their own hands, there is a choice different ways production of country drip irrigation. One option is to purchase from a gardening store:

• hose for supplying water to the greenhouse (on the ridge);
• ribbons of the required length;
• cranes;
• fittings.

There are ready-made kits on sale that contain everything you need (tape, hoses, tap, tee, couplers) and assembly instructions, but you can quickly make a simple structure for watering using the advice of folk craftsmen.

Traditional design

In country houses and dachas, the classic irrigation scheme is in use, consisting of a barrel (water source) and a branched water supply system consisting of pipes (hoses), plugs, special hoses (tapes), start connectors, tees and taps.

The pipes serve as a main water conduit; through them, water flows to the plants in the garden beds or to the greenhouse. Water is supplied to the plants through special hoses, into which droppers are mounted, when choosing which they look at the characteristics:

• productivity (l/hour);
• the interval between droppers for hoses is 0.2-1.5 m, for tapes 0.15-0.3 m;
• wall thickness of the tape (hose).

Reference

The optimal hose performance is 1.2-4 l/hour.

Hoses with thick walls of 20 mm or more are more expensive, but have a longer service life than thin-walled ones. The thickness of drip tapes is less (0.12-0.4 mm), they have an oval shape, and come in two types: seamless, glued. The allowed length of the irrigation hose is 250 m with a tape diameter of 16 mm and 450 m if the diameter is 22 mm.

Polypropylene pipes are laid from the source to the irrigation hoses from a hose or tape, and fittings are used to connect the structure. To disconnect the irrigation zone from the source, taps are installed in the system, they are placed after the tees so that debris does not clog the holes of the tape, and a filter is installed on any source.

DIY drip irrigation from plastic bottles

Over the winter it is easy to accumulate a large number of plastic bottles with a volume of 1.5 to 2 liters. In the spring they will come in handy in the garden; with their help you can build a simple structure for delivering water to the root system. We are preparing the tool; for the job we need a drill and a two-piece drill (2 mm).

Reference

The volume of liquid poured into the bottle is enough for 3 days. For summer residents who occasionally come to the countryside, the design will help organize regular watering of moisture-loving crops (cucumbers, peppers) in the greenhouse and in the open ground.

Stages of making a bottle drop:

• holes are drilled in the tire;
• the bottom of the container is cut, but not completely;
• near a bush (tomato, pepper, strawberry) in the root area, dig a hole (no more than 15 cm);
• the bottle is placed in a recess, tilted at 45° to the horizon;
• pour water.

Instead of a tire with holes, you can use commercial watering pegs. They are put on the neck of the bottle and stuck in the right place. The bottle design is suitable for root feeding. Instead of water, liquid fertilizer is poured.

Watering using medical droppers

Inexpensive medical droppers are used in the manufacture of a simple watering system for a summer residence. You will also need a polyethylene pipe with a diameter of 25 mm and tools: a drill with a 4 mm drill and a thick sewing needle.

Using a needle in the flask from the dropper, they pick out the filter, and using a drill, drill the required number of holes in the pipe for the droppers. The pipes are laid out around the site, welded, and the source is equipped with a tap and filter.

Important!

To prevent dirt from the bottom of the barrel from entering the system, a hole for the tap is drilled at a height of 7 cm from the bottom of the container.

A filter for water purification is placed next to the tap, and a central line pipe is attached to it. One end of the dropper is inserted into the holes drilled in the pipes, the second end with a dispenser is attached to a peg and installed in the watering area. The water supply speed is controlled using clamps.

Drip irrigation from polypropylene pipes

Polypropylene pipes serve for many years, they do not rust and are easily connected to each other by welding. In addition to pipes you need to have:

• a barrel of 100 liters or more;
• valve (ball);
• water filter;
• tees;
• taps.

First, a diagram is drawn indicating the exact dimensions and designation of watering points. Calculate the total length of the pipes and the number of bends. The storage tank is raised to a height of 1.5-2 m, a tap is inserted into its lower part, and a distance of 7-10 cm is removed from the bottom. A 100-liter capacity is enough to provide humidity for 50 m² of garden.

One end of the central line is connected to a container (filter), a plug is attached to the second, and each outlet must end with a plug. Holes are drilled in pipes (branches). When all the parts are assembled, fill the container, open the tap and check whether water flows to the ridges.

Underground drip irrigation

Underground irrigation reduces moisture evaporation, which means it reduces the amount of water used. It takes less time to fight weeds; they do not grow in the absence of surface watering. A big advantage of underground irrigation is the absence of crust; the soil on the surface is always loose, which ensures good access of oxygen to the roots.

It is good to have an underground drip irrigation system in a greenhouse: communications do not take up useful space, air and soil humidity are normal, oxygen starvation absent in plants.

Required Tools

First of all, you need a shovel. We'll have to dig trenches since all communications will be underground. The tools you need are a drill and scissors. Holes are drilled in the pipes with a drill, and the plastic film is cut with scissors. Pipes for underground irrigation are made of polypropylene; to connect them, you will need a basic set of tools:

• soldering iron;
• steel knife;
• hacksaw;
• pencil and tape measure.

Simple soldering irons for propylene are not expensive, but you don’t have to purchase them; you can rent them for a short period of time.

Manufacturing and installation process

First, they draw a diagram and take measurements, determining the required length of pipes. Polyethylene pipes with a diameter of 20 to 40 mm are suitable for underground irrigation. Holes with a diameter of 2-3 mm are drilled with the required pitch of 20-40 cm, using a drill.

Important!

You need to install a filter on the water container to purify the water.

The trenches are dug to the depth of the roots according to the developed scheme, the distance between the trenches is maintained at 40-90 cm and installation begins:

• strips of polyethylene are laid on the bottom and walls;
• a layer of crushed stone is poured on top of the polyethylene, its thickness is at least 4 cm;
• pipes are laid on the drainage layer;
• the pipes are soldered, covered with geotextiles, covered with gravel and soil.

The water container is raised above the ground so that the height difference provides pressure in the system. The main line is connected to the source with a flexible hose through a filter.

If you don't want to work with your hands

Busy people do not have time to make homemade structures and independently select components for irrigation; they prefer to buy ready-made systems. Industrial irrigation systems are popular among summer residents:

• AquaDusya, AquaDusya Water Tap, AquaDusya automatic;
• Water strider;
• irrigation systems from Gardena;
• Dewdrop;
• Harvest;
• PDA 24K.

Choosing a drip irrigation system

For summer residents who rarely come to their dacha, Water Strider, AquaDusya Automatic, and KPK 24K are suitable. These systems are equipped with automation, the watering mode is set, and greenhouses and garden beds are watered when the owner is not at the dacha or is busy with other things.

There are sets Rosinka, KPK 24, Harvest, Gardena without automation, which manually regulate the volume of water supply and connection (disconnection). Majority industrial systems drip irrigation systems are designed to supply water from a barrel. The AquaDusya Water Tap and Gardena sets can work from the water supply and from the pumping station.

Reference

If there is no power supply at the dacha, they purchase kits in which the automation is powered by batteries.

When purchasing, evaluate the system performance and your needs:

• irrigation area;
• number of beds;
• type of vegetable crops.

Each vegetable or garden crop requires a certain amount of water per watering.

Installation of the system in a greenhouse or vegetable garden

Installation begins with the installation and equipment of the water tank. They make an insertion of a tap to connect to the water supply and a tap to connect to the main pipe going to the watering site. The tank is placed on a support.

First connect the filter, then the automation (timer, controller). To extend their service life, it is recommended to place them in plastic technological boxes that protect the automation from rain and dust.

Start installing the irrigation system:

• a highway is laid between the beds (in the greenhouse);
• using fittings (angles, tees), make branches (branches) in the necessary places;
• holes are drilled in the main pipe;
• droppers or tapes for watering are inserted into the holes;
• tapes are laid in the watering zone, droppers are distributed in places for planting;
• fill the container with water;
• do a test run.

The automation is configured after assessing the quality of irrigation. The frequency and time of watering are set on the timer (controller).

How to automate the process, “smart drip irrigation” with your own hands

Smart automation (timer, controller, sensors) makes life easier for the summer resident. Installing a timer (electromechanical, electrical) on a water source allows water to be supplied and turned off automatically at specified time intervals.

In order for the timer to work, the pressure in the system is maintained using a pump; when choosing, evaluate the characteristics:

• power;
• noise produced during operation;
• resistance to chemical compounds.

That is, the motor must be powerful enough, not noisy and not react to fertilizer solutions. If the pressure level is unstable, install a pressure reducer.

Using the controller, a program is set that controls watering for several days. Automation uses sensors to analyze the following indicators:

• water pressure;
• soil moisture level;
• air temperature.

Controllers can be single-channel or multi-channel. In a branched drip irrigation system, you can install several single-channel timers.

Conclusion

It takes little time to assemble the irrigation system. There are no works of high complexity, so any man who knows how to use a drill can assemble it. The family budget will tell you which is better, a homemade drop from scrap materials, or a ready-made system of domestic or foreign production. In order not to waste time troubleshooting and repairing, you need to take accurate measurements, draw a diagram and carry out the installation correctly.

Installing an irrigation system in your dacha or garden is one of the main factors in obtaining a good harvest. Most in an efficient way Irrigation is a point-dosed system of moisture supply to the root of each plant bush. Gardeners with unlimited finances buy industrial irrigation systems, and savvy craftsmen make drip irrigation with their own hands from improvised means.

How to make drip irrigation using improvised materials with your own hands

Containers made of dark plastic, which are available in abundance in the summer on any personal plot - suitable material to build a simple do-it-yourself drip irrigation system.

Option #1

We dig a small hole between the beds and install a 1- or 2-liter hole there. We make holes in the plug located at the top for air access. We pierce thin holes on the sides of the container in a checkerboard pattern to allow moisture to flow from the bottle to the roots of nearby plants.

For plants located a little further from the bottle, water can be provided through additional tubes inserted into the holes of the bottle.

Option No. 2

We install supports on both sides above the bed. A beam is placed on the supports, from which bottles of water are hung. Small holes are pierced in the lids to drain water from containers laid horizontally on the beam. Another way: bottles are hung vertically down. The necessary water will flow to the roots through thin holes made in the lid or through cleaned used pen refills inserted into containers with the writing tip removed.

Before use, bottles are cleared of labels, thoroughly washed and dried.

Option No. 3

A little patience and skill are required to set up a do-it-yourself drip irrigation system using medical droppers.

To do this you will need:

• hoses made of rubber or pipes made of polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride;
• connecting adapters, fittings, tees, end caps;
• used medical droppers.

To assemble an irrigation system according to a pre-designed scheme:

• hoses (pipes) are laid out;
• through adapters they are connected to each other and to the source of water.
• We put caps around the edges.
• In the hoses (pipes) opposite each plant, using an awl, we make small holes into which we tightly insert the plastic ends of the droppers. Use the wheel to adjust the water pressure.

Before use and each subsequent season, the entire system must be thoroughly flushed. The thin openings of the irrigation system can gradually become clogged. It is recommended to install a fine filter when entering water.

Summer residents have learned to make homemade filters with their own hands using pieces of nylon socks or tights. An empty plastic container in which medications were stored can be used to make a filter. Connecting tubes are tightly attached to it and inserted at the entrance to the irrigation system. Nylon elements are inserted into a plastic jar, which is tightly screwed on with a lid. It is recommended to use filters with mesh sizes three times smaller than the openings of the droppers used.

DIY drip hose

If a homemade drip irrigation system is constructed with a conductive hose laid out on the ground or placed on a support, its functions can be performed by:

• ordinary single-layer or multi-layer rubber hose;
• hose made of polyvinyl chloride;
• silicone hose.

When you plan to bury the water supply system into the soil, it is safer to build it from plastic or polypropylene pipes. Such a conductive hose will be less susceptible to corrosion and temperature changes.

In any case, the conductive hose must be suitable for making holes in it for inserting medical or other types of droppers with tips and not allow water to pass through in places not intended for irrigation.

Homemade drip irrigation system

Drip tapes are popular among gardeners. They are also made by hand. The tape drip irrigation system consists of:

• main pipeline;
• main distribution pipes;
• tapes made of plastic with holes located at equal distances from each other or perforated hose tapes.

The optimal choice of material for making wiring is polyethylene pipes for irrigation. It is convenient to install dispensing connectors, tees, reducers, valve and ball valves, and other connecting elements with a water intake source and drip tapes on them. After preliminary cleaning and checking the pipe layout, plugs are placed along their edges. Drip tapes are attached to distribution pipes using starting fittings and adapters. During the preliminary test, the operation of each dropper is checked. In case of clogging, mechanical cleaning is carried out. Drip tape or seamless tubes are buried at a shallow depth of 2 to 3 centimeters to prevent watered roots from penetrating the system.

A typical do-it-yourself drip irrigation scheme looks like this:

Instead of drip tapes, seamless PVC tubes with emitters are used for homemade drip irrigation.

A volumetric filling plastic tank is used as a water source, installed at a two-meter height to ensure the required water pressure in the system. The water supply is calculated based on the usable area occupied by the beds, soil type, number of plants and moisture requirements (from 0.8 to 1.5 l/hour). Soft rain or melt water is preferable for irrigation compared to tap water. It is more beneficial for plants when its temperature is identical to the temperature of the air and soil.

Fighting pipe blockages

To simultaneously feed vegetables, it is often added to the water. It should be remembered that to prevent them from clogging the conductive hoses, it is necessary to use only special soluble fertilizers.

The connection of the tank to the entrance to the irrigation system should be made slightly above the bottom. This will reduce the likelihood of pipes being clogged by debris settling at the bottom of the tank.

To prevent clogging of pipes by chemical impurities of iron, aluminum, magnesium, and phosphorus oxides that accumulate in hard water, acid additives are used. To prevent contamination by mucus and microorganisms, thorough washing with removal of plugs and chlorination of water are carried out periodically.

Upon completion of field work, we disassemble the irrigation system, thoroughly rinse and dry it in preparation for work next year.

Automated drip irrigation

Advanced masters learned how to set up drip irrigation automation using:

• minicomputer processor, solenoid valves, humidity, temperature, operating pressure level sensors, single- or multi-channel controllers;
• a timer installed on the water supply pump, with its help the time for supplying and turning off the water is regulated.

The minicomputer configures up to 12 individual water supply modes for each branch of the irrigation distribution across the site. The volume of water in the system is regulated taking into account the automatic analysis of incoming information from temperature and humidity sensors. Programmable controllers are installed at the entrance to the irrigation system after the valve and on the wiring in the places where drip tapes or special seamless pipes are connected. They automatically give a command to the installed solenoid valves to turn irrigation on and off.

Automatic drip irrigation systems significantly reduce the need for water use, time for monitoring and maintaining beds.

The main advantages of using a homemade drip system

Do-it-yourself drip irrigation from improvised means significantly saves financial resources for the purchase necessary materials and equipment. The second advantage is the quick possibility of replacing a damaged part of the system with a spare one: a craftsman who has built drip irrigation on his site will quickly see its weak points and repair them using available spare materials (or purchase them at already familiar retail outlets).

General advantages of homemade drip irrigation:

1. Beneficial effect on plants. Moisture enters precisely under the roots, without clogging the soil or creating a crust. Overmoistening is eliminated, the roots breathe intensively throughout the entire cycle of growth and ripening of vegetables and berries. Plants are not injured, unlike when a significant flow of water hits them from above during sprinkling.
2. Significant savings in water consumption, reduction in wear and contamination of the irrigation system with impurities and slime.
3. Crop losses from pests and diseases are reduced. Fungicides, insecticides, and other protective agents applied to leaves during treatment are not washed off with running water during watering.
4. Drip tapes are conveniently located even in areas with uneven terrain; the formation of puddles in some places and drought in other beds is not allowed.
5. Weeds grow less because they do not receive water. In the places where they grow, the soil remains dry.

A uniform, targeted supply of water to the roots at a temperature close to the soil temperature ensures stable yields in the beds.

Have patience and skill, make your own drip system in your garden. Save labor costs and water consumption in the future, and enjoy a good harvest!

The main guarantee that there will be high yields of fruits, berries, vegetables and rapid growth flowers, we can safely call high-quality watering. Among the common irrigation options, one of the first places is a drip or spot irrigation system. Its main advantages include accessibility and cost-effectiveness.

Drip irrigation: convenient and beautiful

Plus, compared to traditional irrigation methods using hoses and sprayers, drip irrigation provides half the water consumption. Note that modern technologies make it possible to make the water supply system fully automated. To do this, simply enter the required time parameters and water supply period into the irrigation control unit program.

It is possible to set up drip irrigation in your garden with your own hands even without special knowledge. You just need to understand the principle of operation of the structure using the diagrams and photos of this article. Read also:

Types of drip irrigation

There are various drip irrigation systems, and among several options the three most popular are:

1. Drip hose. The basic component is a pipe with thick walls, most often polyethylene. Such pipes are designed for pressures of up to 3 atmospheres, which makes it possible to supply water over hundreds of meters. Emitters or droppers are located in the hose wall with the same period, designed for a specific water flow. As a rule, it ranges from 1 to 2 liters per hour. To install such a system, plastic fittings are used. It is also possible to dismantle the structure for the winter season.
2. Drip tape. A flexible tube with thin walls, the thickness of which is 0.12-0.6 mm, is connected directly to the main hose. Its internal diameter in most cases is 16 or 22 mm. Installation and assembly is carried out using fittings and connectors with standard sizes of 1/2 and 3/4 inches. Such belts can reach hundreds of meters in length and are capable of passing up to 500 liters per hour.
3. External micro-drippers with specific water flow. They can be nozzles and sprinklers of various models. They provide watering in the form of drops or micro-jets. Some designs provide adjustment of watering intensity. The location of the droppers is on the outside of the pipes or on tubular branches. It is also possible to install it on a regular hose, on which droppers with self-piercing fittings can be placed in the required places.

Drip irrigation by gravity without a pump

Supplying water under the influence of gravity without a pump is one of the options for drip irrigation. This system provides for a storage tank. It can be an ordinary barrel or another tank. The storage tank is filled with tap water or from a natural reservoir. Sometimes settled rainwater is used.

A feature of the drip irrigation system is that it can be clogged by living organisms and small vegetation of reservoirs and debris.

Thus, water from not any body of water will do, and the surface of the tank must be resistant to corrosion and destruction. A barrel made of plastic, synthetics or galvanized iron are the most suitable options for water intake containers. To prevent leaves or debris from getting into the barrel, it must have a lid.

The size of the barrel depends on the consumption of water resources. The volume must be sufficient to provide the necessary watering. According to consumption standards, cabbage requires 2.5 liters per day, potatoes - 2 liters, and a tomato bush - 1.5 liters. As a result, the owner of a summer house or garden needs to individually calculate the daily consumption, in accordance with the number of seedlings and trees. Knowledge of this data will also be useful when choosing an irrigation system.

Watering is carried out due to water pressure in a barrel raised above the ground

To ensure water pressure in the system of 0.1-0.2 atmospheres, the tank must be located at a height of 1-2 meters above the ground. It is important to monitor the purity of the water coming from the barrel. To prevent accumulated debris from entering the hose, the drain hole should be placed 100mm above the bottom of the tank. This design also requires a mesh or other filter. Irrigation systems with gravity flow are designed for low pressure, as a result of which only uncompensated drippers are suitable for them, since compensated ones maintain the pressure of the water flow constant at excess pressure.

If you plan to use herbicides and fertilizers, it is worthwhile to provide a separate fertigation unit in the system for diluting liquid forms of preparations. After each procedure, the irrigation system requires cleaning. To do this, it is necessary that the system is filled clean water, worked for several minutes. The filter also needs periodic cleaning. It must be done weekly.

Rules for installation and maintenance of a drip irrigation system

The assembly of an irrigation system in a country house or garden should be done in a certain sequence, following a number of simple rules:

1. They begin to install the irrigation system from the water intake unit. Power can be supplied from a water supply, a reservoir, a well, a well or a special tank. When installing a water tank, you will need an outlet with an external thread and a faucet with a 3/4-inch internal thread.
2. If the water contains impurities and large particles, a mesh or disk filter must be provided.
3. Next, the mixing unit is installed. It saturates the water with chemicals and fertilizers or supplies nutrients. The fertigation unit is a reservoir where the appropriate preparations are diluted, which is connected to the irrigation system using a tube with a dispenser in the required place.
4. For the installation of the main pipeline, plastic pipes made of HDPE with a diameter starting from 32 mm or polypropylene pipes are used. In principle, any pipes that meet the requirements of the system are suitable.
5. The next stage is installation of the distribution network. Micropipes or watering drip tapes are laid out in irrigated areas.

During the installation process, fittings are required: connectors and fittings, tees and angles.

Fertilizer application in a drip irrigation system

When creating a drip irrigation system with your own hands, it is worth considering some nuances:

1. The main pipe should be laid at an angle of 90 degrees to the rows of beds. This will make it convenient to connect branches.
2. A plug installed at the end of the pipe of the pipeline itself will help to avoid contamination of the irrigation system. It must be removed during the cleaning of the irrigation line.
3. Having drilled holes in the pipe of the tape structure, the first thing you need to do is screw on the start - the corrector, on which to tightly put the tape. The tape itself must be plugged at the opposite end in order to achieve a tight seal and be able to wash and blow through its clogged areas. This can be done using a 1cm wide ring cut from the ribbon, which will fit tightly on its folded end.

Use of polypropylene pipes

Nothing prevents you from building drip irrigation with your own hands from polypropylene pipes. This option of drip irrigation from plastic pipes has many advantages. These pipes are strong, flexible and characterized by low density. Polypropylene pipes are quite resistant to hydraulic shocks and temperature changes.

Modern additives allow the walls of polypropylene pipes to remain undamaged under the influence of ultraviolet rays. The pipe is not damaged if the water in the system freezes, unless it is completely filled. In addition, installing drip irrigation from polypropylene pipes yourself will cost less than from HDPE, since the cost of components for welding is lower than prefabricated structures with threads.

Scheme of drip irrigation from polypropylene pipes

Pipes made from this material are suitable for creating a main pipeline and for a distribution network with drippers. In the latter case, holes can be drilled in the right places. The diameter is selected in practice with a fully installed system.

Of course, when working with plastic pipes there are also disadvantages:

1. Using a special soldering iron.
2. The system cannot be disassembled for winter or for cleaning.
3. Compared to HDPE, polypropylene pipes are less resistant to freezing of water in the structure. For this reason, the entire system must be purged with a compressor before winter.

Types of drip tapes

Since we have decided to build drip irrigation with our own hands in our country house or garden, we need to choose the right watering tape. The choice of type of belt device is determined by the specific conditions on your site. There are three main types of tapes:

• with a labyrinth;
• slot type;
• emitter

The type of drip tape is indicated on the marking

In the first case, there is a built-in element on the surface of the tube - a labyrinth. This structural feature makes it possible to slow down the water flow in the tape trunk and streamline the flow of water through the holes. Unfortunately, external location labyrinth leads to the fact that in the process of laying the tape there is a great danger of damaging it.

Holes in slot-type tapes for water to flow out are made using a laser at intervals of 20 to 100 cm. A labyrinth is built inside along its entire length to prevent turbulence in the movement of water. The tape must be installed with the labyrinth facing up. This helps water flow out evenly through the holes. This is the easiest option to organize watering, which does not require significant expenses. The only thing worth remembering when choosing a slot type is the need for high-quality filtration.

A distinctive feature of the emitter type is the presence of additional holes built into flat droppers that face inward. The idea is that the droppers are located on the inner, rather than the outer, surface of the wall, as a result of which turbulent movement of water occurs inside the tape. Thanks to it, the droppers self-clean.

Also, when choosing a tape, the wall thickness is important. If laying underground is planned, the thickness of the tape should be 0.2 mm. In the case of arranging drip irrigation on the surface of the ground, a tube with a thinner wall thickness is suitable.

Self-installation of a drip system

Below is a diagram of how to independently assemble drip irrigation in your garden at home. An example would be equipping a plot of 150 m2 with irrigation with 10 rows of planted strawberries, the length of which is 12 meters.

For a homemade system you will need a drip tape 110-140m long. When emitters or perforations are located every 30 cm, the throughput of the system will be about 4 liters per hour. The approximate pressure without using a pump is 0.1 atmosphere, to maintain which the irrigation system tank must be placed 1 meter above the ground. It is impossible to create a water pressure of 1 atmosphere, since in this case it would be necessary to raise the water tank to a ten-meter height. As a result of insufficient pressure, the throughput drops three times - to 1.3 liters per hour. As a result, watering time triples.

Drip irrigation of strawberries is the right decision

A sequential scheme of actions for creating drip irrigation with your own hands:

1. Connect the tap to the tank fitting, and then install the filter.
2. Using a coupling, the distribution pipe is connected and laid perpendicular to the irrigation beds. If the area is less than 300m2, a 32mm pipe will do. The pipe itself must be laid parallel to the horizon, and the irrigation tapes must be laid with a slope. The end of the pipe on the opposite side of the section must be closed with a removable plug or a valve installed to facilitate preventive flushing.
3. Opposite the strawberry beds you need to drill a pipe, screw on fittings with gaskets or install taps. The latter will ensure separate shutdown of each irrigation branch if necessary. You can also connect pipes that were originally equipped with start connectors.
4. Lay emitter tapes along the entire strawberry bed. One end of the tube should be put on the fitting and the other should be plugged.
5. When using a common dripper for watering several bushes, you should attach minifold splitters in the form of tubes to it and place them near the roots of the plantings.

An example of a drip irrigation installation from a central water supply system

This capacity will last a long time

Before installing drip irrigation from the central water supply network, you should choose how the structure will be connected to the water supply. Direct connection to the valve or connection via a storage tank is possible.

The pressure in the municipal water supply is normally 4 atmospheres, but taking into account its surges and water hammer, this figure can range from 2 to 7.5. Considering the fact that for drip irrigation, tapes with low operating pressure (about 0.2-1.5 atmospheres) are usually used, in order to avoid rupture of the system due to strong water pressure, a reducer is installed between the tap and the central pipe, which reduces the pressure.

Another way to reduce the pressure to the required numbers is to use a storage tank that has a bypass valve. It is filled with water to a specifically set level, which is controlled by a valve, regulating the water supply. From there, water enters the system by gravity through a fitting at the bottom of the tank. If you create a watering system with your own hands, you can use a standard valve from a toilet tank as a bypass valve.

The filter in drip irrigation is a necessary element of the system

Step by step instructions one of simple options installation of drip irrigation in a country house or garden:

1. Assembling the filtration unit. It consists of 2 filters, namely: a dirt filter and a fine filter. The filters are connected to each other by a coupling, connectors are screwed onto them, after which the entire assembly is connected to the main hose.
2. A hose with a diameter of 20mm is laid along the central path. It must be cut near all beds, so a sequence of individual segments is formed.
3. The resulting pieces of hose must be connected to each other through tees with one 15mm outlet for further wiring.
4. Drip tapes are attached to the tees, which can be secured with metal clamps. The free ends of the tapes must be twisted and secured with plastic clamps, and the hose must be connected using a 20-15 adapter.

Installation of a drip system using a pump

The pump can be used in a drip irrigation system either to fill an irrigation tank or to increase the pressure in the system itself. In the first case, the scheme of work is almost no different from the above for watering from a water supply. In this case, you will need a water level sensor in the container, which will turn off the pump as it fills.

You can make the sensor yourself by connecting a limit switch to the valve from the toilet tank. However, turning on and off the pump will not occur simultaneously as a result of “bouncing” of the switch contacts, which can damage the pump. The control circuit will have to be supplemented with a timer, which is sold in an electrical goods store. All issues can be resolved simply if you purchase a ready-made pumping station.

In the absence of running water, watering is organized using a pump

If a pump is used to increase the pressure in a drip irrigation system with a large water flow, it is possible to use a reducer or special compensated drippers in conjunction with a pipeline that can withstand the pressure created by the pump. In this case, it is very important to choose a pump that will provide the necessary water flow with some reserve. Read also.