When learning how to install drip irrigation systems, a beginner starts by knowing the components. They are;
1. A water source; a water body (river lake, reservoir), borehole or water tank
2. Method of water evacuation; by gravity or machine pumping
3. Main water pipe
4. Sub-main water pipes
5. Drip lines; the pipes which deliver water to the crop directly
6. Fittings; accessories that join the pipes to the water source, to the filter, and to each other
7. Water filter; a sieving system that keeps away solid particles from the drip irrigation system
In this one acre drip irrigation system, the raised tanks are the water source to which the main line is attached. Notice the filter and gate valve
Steps:
An onion drip irrigation system installation by Grekkon Limited in Endarasha area, Nyeri county
Drip pipes irrigate through emitters on their surface. Emitters’ flow rate is liters per hour. Emitter spacing along the drip pipe is 10cm, 15cm, 20cm or 30cm. This according to the farmer’s crop, be it in the open field or greenhouse.
The emitter spacing, flow rate, and the water pump or gravity output determine;
This is standard when learning how to install drip irrigation kits for small farms, or systems for large ones
Calculate the amount of water for a 30m long drip line. With a flow rate of 1.5 liters per hour, and an emitter spacing of 15 cm
(30÷0.15) × 1.5 = 300 liters per hour
Assume the following
i. An acre of crop measuring 63.3M x 63.M
ii. There are 1M wide beds with working spaces of 0.3M between them
iii. Each bed is 20M long
iv. Each bed has 3 rows of drip lines
The number of beds are (63.3/1.3) 49. The total length of the drip lines is (49beds x 60M length x 3 drip lines per bed) 8,820M
The number of emitters are (8,820/ 0.15M) 58,800. In an hour, your water source will provide (58,800 emitters x 1.5L per hour flow rate) 88,200 liters of water
If you are pumping, then this will be the capacity of your water pump
This varies by crop. Larger crops utilise less drip lines per unit area, while smaller crops utilise more drip tape within the same space
The average planting bed size is 1M wide
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