Mini sprinklers in Kenya by Grekkon Limited are supplied and installed in 3 vesrions
A butterfly mini sprinkler on a chives farm
- Butterfly sprinklers. Butterfly sprinklers are for small garden irrigation. These light small sprinklers work on tender vegetables such as vegetable seedlings in nurseries or flowers. Or in garden lawns. They are perfect for cropseasily damaged by large overhead water droplets. Butterfly sprinklers provide low precipitation which allows for longer watering time with low run-off. Our plastic butterfly sprinklers have UV-treatment; this preserves them for long without UV degradation
Butterfly sprinklers work when positioned upright, or upside down. Upright when they’re standing on the ground for normal irrigation. Upside down when set in a greenhouse, or open field crop to provide humidity to a mature crop or seedlings. This upside down placement is also for keeping plant foliage moist, or for overhead irrigation. They irrigate at 360 degrees, and the angle of rotation cannot be adjusted. They have one spray jet
They deliver irrigation water through a 1/2″ tubing to a nozzle attached to risers. They have small sized droplets with good uniformity of coverage, and lower precipitation rate.
2. Impact sprinklers. An impact sprinkler is a type of irrigation sprinkler in which the sprinkler head, driven in a circular motion by the force of the outgoing water, pivots on a bearing on top of its threaded attachment nut. A plastic impact sprinkler is an overhead irrigation accessory that waters crop under moderate to high pressure. The moderate pressure power force is by gravity, and the higher pressure is from a water pump. Impact sprinklers will have one to three spay jets depending on the inlet size. The hace pins at the back to adjust the angle of spray which ranges from 5 to 360 degrees
A 3/4″ inlet plastic impact sprinkler
3. Meganet sprinklers. These are rotating mini sprinklers that pop up and down as they rotate, which makes them distictively different from the other 2 types. They have two spray jets, and the degree of spray cannot be adjusted
The video below shows operating mega net sprinklers installaed by Grekkon Limited in Othaya area, Nyeri county
Mini sprinklers in Kenya specifications
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Butterfly sprinklers
PRESSURE IN METERS
| FLOW RATE IN LITERS PER HOUR
| RADIUS IN M |
| 0.5 | 192
| 3.5
|
| 1 | 276 | 4.5 |
| 1.5 | 336 | 4.9 |
| 2 | 384 | 5 |
| 2.5 | 432 | 5 |
| 3 | 474 | 5 |
Grekkon Limited’s butterfly sprinklers in Kenya cost is Kes 100 a piece.
2. Impact sprinklers
| Inlet Diameter | Max Spray Diameter | Min Head (Pressure Rating) | Max Flow Rate | Price in Kes |
| 1/2″ | 18M | 25M | 2M3/ Hr | 500 |
| 3/4″ | 20M | 30M | 4M3/ Hr | 1,000 |
| 1″ | 30M | 30M | 6M3/ Hr | 1,850 |
Because of their short irrigation diameter and low water discharge volume, mini sprinklers are designed for small to medium sized farms and lawns. They work best on short crops. During installation, PVC, HDPE, delivery, or metallic GI pipes drive water to the sprinkler. The choice between a plastic and a metallic mini sprinkler is on the farmer’s budget. The latter has a longer usable lifespan, is less susceptible to damage but costs more. Plastic versions are easier to handle, carry and operate. They cost less but are easily damaged and so have a shorter usable lifespan.However, they are the most commonly used types
A metallic (brass) impact sprinkler
Difference Between Mini and Micro Sprinklers
i. Sprinkler size. Mini sprinklers are larger in size. A 3/4″ impact sprinkler is 3x the size of a micro sprinkler
ii. Area of coverage. The maximum irrigation radius for a micro sprinkler is 2M. This is 15x less than the maximum area achived with a mini sprinkler
iii. Number of nozzles. Micro sprinkler like butterfly sprinklers have only 1 spray jet
iv. Volume of water. The maximum flux in a micro sprinkler is 40 litres per hour. Mini sprinklers provide 12x more over the same time frame
v. Material. Some impact sprinklers are metallic. All micro sprinklers are plastic
vi. Positioning. Due to its small area of coverage, a micro sprinkler is located at the root area of the target crop
vii. Target crops. Mini sprinklers work on multiple crop types. However, micro sprinklers are commonly installed in orchards
How to space mini sprinklers
Micro sprinklers placement is in such a manner that the sprays overlap. If for instance the irrigation diameter is radius is 2 -.2.5M, the distance between micro sprinklers will be 1.5.2M. This ensures that there are no dry spots in between. An overlap ensures full coverage particularly for lawns, hedges or very closely spaced crops.
How to use it mini sprinklers in Kenya
Irrigate for 30 to 40 minutes to achieve sufficient wetness before moving the sprinklers to another section of the garden. They spray under gravity pressure, if one is irrigating with a few units. This makes them easy to work with in many locations where a water pump is not available.
During irrigation, consider crops that are not susceptible to foliage fungal infections as a result of wetness on their leaves. Drip irrigate for tomato, peppers, potato, chili and other solanaceous crops. This is to avoid excess moisture on their leaves. For the reason that they quickly succumb to leaf fungal infections as a result of wetness. Certain bean types, snow-peas, and mangetout too will easily get leaf fungal infections under sprinklers.
Common food crops such as; onion, cabbage, grass and legume pastures. Others are; garlic, carrot, maize, lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, watermelon, orchards, forestry crops.
Grekkon Limited’s irrigation technicians and agronomists provide guidance on system use and crop selection for this irrigation system