Rain Hose Installation In Kenya

Rain hose installation in Kenya by Grekkon Limited is a step by step process that is uncomplicated, and quicker that that of drip irrigation installation. Rain hose pipes work under moderate gravity pressure (from 6M or 0.6bar), and with high volume water pumps. The discharge rate of the water pump is from 40 cubic litres per hour. These water pumps are surface solar, electric, petrol or diesel powered  

Steps of rain hose installation in Kenya

Step 1. Farm survey. This identifes the following

• farm layout and dimensions. This will guide on the main line, sub main line, and rain hose pipes sizes. The larger the field, the larger the pipes needed
• topography; the gradient and direction of slope. The main line or sub main line will lie along the slope, the rain hose pipe will be against the slope

  Step 2. identification of the water source

• what is the water volume and is it sufficient for the target acreage?
• how is the water quality? Does it have particles that are likely to impede the smooth flow of irrigation water? Will it damage the water pump?
• what is the distance from the water source to the farm? What is the land gradient? The volume of water required, and the slope determine the size of the water pump used

Step 3. water pump selection, and set up

• energy source. Will it be a fossil fuel, solar or electric powered water pump?
• the flow rate and the head (pressure rating) will be determined by the water volume required
• set up the water pump
• connect the water to the main line once the latter is laid

Step 4. pipe laying

• Connect the  PVC or  (HDPE) main line to the water pump or high tank. This pipe evacuates water from the source to the farm and is the largest in diameter. The larger the pipe diameter, the more the water it delivers. .
• Join the HDPE or PVC sub-main line to the main line. The sub-main line is smaller in diameter, and so carries less water. It is joined to the main line through PVC or HDPE accessories such as; tees, elbows, saddle clamps, adaptors or valve sockets
• Connect the rain pipe to the sub-main line or the main line where a sub-main line does not exist. This is done with a rain hose connector or a saddle clamp
• Spread the rain hose along the length, and close the terminal end with an end cap
• Connect one rain pipe to another with a connector 
  

   Rain hose fittings from left to right: end cap, connector, rubber, and ball valve

    A drilling tool is the only tool used when installing a rain hose kit. This is to create an opening on the main or sub-main line to insert the rain pipe ball valve

  Rain hose installation in Kenya

  Components of a rain hose irrigation kit?

  1. End-caps. They close the end of the pipe to prevent further water flow 2. Starter off-takes. They connect the rain pipe to the PVC or HDPE main line that supplies water to the rain hose from a water pump or highly elevated water tank 3. Pipe connectors. To connect one rain hose pipe to another 4. Mini valves. To control water flow to the rain hose pipe

  The diameter of the pipe are; 25mm, 32mm, 40mm and 50mm. A grower chooses the preferred size based on crop water needs and area of irrigation. For instance, a farmer with 1 acre of the crop will comfortably water with the volume delivered through a 32mm rain hose pipe.

  Another grower with 5 acres will better irrigate with a 50mm rain hose pipe. An acre of crop uses 1,000 meters of 25mm,  800 meters of 32mm rain hose pipes, 600M of 40mm pipes, and 400M of 50mm pipes

  Rain hose installation in Kenya

  Rain hose irrigation system requirements

  • The system requires a pressure head of 30M, and above
  • When using a water pump to power the rain hose irrigation kit, the discharge rate should be from 45 cubic litres per hour
  • The rate of water discharge is determined by the diameter size, and number of pores on the rain pipe. For instance, a rain pipe with 5 holes per cluster discharges less water than the one with 7 holes in a cluster
  • It irrigates in opposite directions at a radius of 3M for the 32mm pipe, 5M for the 40mm pipe, and 7M for the 50mm pipe
  • The vertical height of this water jet is 1M

  Rain Hose Versus Drip Irrigation

  1. Rain pipes irrigate in an overhead fashion, drip lines irrigate to the root zone
  2. Drip tapes are water efficient, rain hose kits require large water volume
  3. Rain pipes have a higher pressure requirement than drip pipes
  4. Drip lines have emitters, while rain hose kits have pores done with nano technology
  5. The discharge rate for drip lines is 1.2 to 4 litres per hour per emitter, while the rain hose pore’s is from 7 litres per hour per emitter
  6. The cost of a drip kit installation per acre is from Kes 100,000, while the rain hose is from Kes 75,000
  7. The rain hose pipe’s minimum diameter is 25mm/ 3/4″, while drip tape’s is 8mm

  Advantages Of A Rain Hose

  • water saving and cost effective
  • It is easy to install, use and maintain
  • Ran hose nanotechnology punched holes are less prone to clogging
  • It is used in a broad range of crops
  • Rain hose pipes are light and easy to move about
  • It irrigates uniformly
  • It works under both low gravity and high water pump pressure

  Rain hose installation in Kenya

  Rain hose irrigation system is for the following areas and on these crops

  1. Crop nurseries; vegetables, fruit trees, forestry
  2. Short vegetable crops (knee-high and below); cabbage, lettuce, broccoli, kales, spinach, collards, broad beans, carrot, strawberry, and others
  3. Pasture; grass and legumes

  When choosing the crop to irrigate using this method, consider its susceptibility to foliage fungal infections predisposed by leaf surface wetness. Tomato, potato, peppers, peas, green beans, and chili easily succumb to foliage fungal infections when overhead or a rain hose system is used for a long time

   
  

   Pasture irrigation with a rain hose

                     

Rain hose installation in Kenya

FAQs

a. What is the difference between a rain hose irrigation system and a sprinkler system?

• The technology. The rain pipe irrigation system is designed using nano technology
• The mode of spray. A sprinkler sprays its water in one direction, a rain hose pipe sprays in 3 directions (vertically, horizontally, and diagonally)
• Placement. A sprinkler is placed upright on the surface or sub-surface (for pop up sprinklers). A rain hose is laid on the ground

b.  What is the pressure in a rain pipe?

The minimum operating pressure is 30M head / 3 bars

c. What is the spacing for rain hose irrigation?

The distance from one rain pipe to another is from 1.5M depending on the operating pressure, and pipe diameter

Grekkon limited is the largest supplier and installer of rain hose irrigation systems in Kenya, and in the east and central Africa region

Trench where the poly vinyl chloride (PVC) main line will be laid. This is not necessary for the high density polyethylene (HDPE) which are surface pipes.  PVC pipes are sub-surface pipes because they have no UV-treatment, and will thus degrade easily under the sun. HDPE pipes have UV treatment and will be surface pipes