This article was specifically written for plotholders on my allotment site. I thought aspects of it could be used generally.
The Secrets of Drip Irrigation Revealed.
The reason for writing this article was to dispel some of
the myths that seem to hath developed on the allotment site. Such as the system
wastes a large amount of water
A few years ago I was asked by Andrew Brown who had been
responsible for the construction and ongoing maintenance of the raised beds to
lay drip irrigation. His thinking was that it would ease the strain of lifting
watering cans and it would conserve water He was aware of my past history of living on a
Kibbutz in Israel. I spent many years working in agriculture where we used drip
irrigation extensively. I had been involved in the extensive testing of drip
irrigation. Researchers from Tel Aviv University used one of our younger
orchards. A variety of different irrigation system were laid such as ; landscape
sprinklers, micro sprinklers and drip irriation etc., In all the final results
where harvest, water conservation and health of the trees the drip irrigation
proved a resounding success. Towards the end of the article I will add some
comments about the system on the raised beds.
I will now a section from Wikipedia which provides some historical background;
‘
Drip irrigation in New Mexico vineyard, 2002
Primitive drip irrigation has been used since
ancient times. Fan Sheng-Chih Shu, written in China during the
first century BCE,
describes the use of buried, unglazed clay pots filled with water as a means of
irrigation.[1] Modern drip irrigation began its development in Germany in 1860
when researchers began experimenting with subsurface irrigation using clay pipe
to create combination irrigation and drainage systems.[2] Research was later expanded in the 1920s to
include the application of perforated pipe systems.[3] The usage of plastic to hold and distribute water
in drip irrigation was later developed in Australia by
Hannis Thill.[4]
Usage of a plastic emitter in drip irrigation was
developed in Israel
by Simcha
Blass and his son Yeshayahu.[5] Instead of releasing water through tiny holes
easily blocked by tiny particles, water was released through larger and longer
passageways by using velocity to slow water inside a plastic emitter. The first
experimental system of this type was established in 1959 by Blass who partnered
later (1964) with Kibbutz Hatzerim to create an irrigation company called Netafim.
Together they developed and patented the first practical surface drip
irrigation’
(This is a quote from Start Up Israel)
‘Netafim’s roots come (my addition) from
the work done in the Negev by inventor Simcha Blass and the early models of
drip irrigation devices manufactured at Kibbutz Hatzerim in the mid-1960s. In
1967, the company had its first sales to farms in Israel, and it began
exporting not long afterwards. The site lists the different milestones and
innovations in the drip irrigation business (1979, first drip irrigation system
for sugar cane; 1985, first system for cotton), and describes some of the
company’s major projects around the world, in places as diverse and far-flung
as Peru, Senegal, and Russia, among others.’
Israel water engineers have also worked
extensively in Africa this has included visits by African Farmers to Israel to
study farming methods. I encountered such a group while on a visit to Israel
two years ago.
The method: Each transmitter has a
series of chambers which break down the amount of water emitted by each
individual dripper. Each emitter will give
out exactly the same amount to the nearby plant. First of all the water will sink
straight down and then spread outward in ever widening circles.
Added extras can be added to the system
such as fertilizer tanks, filters, pressure valves.
When I laid the system on the raised
beds I encountered an unexpected problem a huge build up pressure causing the
pipes to burst. This can be countered by installing pressure valve on all of
the pipes. This would have meant an extra rather expensive outlay. We went for
the cheaper option which are clips. This has not always proved full proof as
sometimes they become loose. I also used, at Andrew’s bequest, cheaper pipes and connections leading to the taps.
This too can sometimes be the sources of sudden disconnection as a result of expanding
pipes during hot weather. I also installed a system at a school, where I work
voluntarily, using more solid connections. The problems are far and few
between. They also have an automatic timer which switches on the system.
What those using the system on the
raised beds need to remember. Only give a quarter turn when turning the system
on. The water will not come out immediately. The pipes need to fill up. Please
disconnect the tap immediately after use. Please do not bend the pipes. If
there is a problem I am onsite most days or email me on:
I hope the article was helpful.
article that appeared in the grapevine (Gordon Road Allotment Magazine)
The secrets of Drip Irrigation Revealed by Eric Hess
The reason for writing this article is to dispel some of the myths about the drip irrigation system on the allotment site, in particular the erroneous belief that it wastes a large amount of water. The reality is quite the opposite.
A few years ago I was asked by Andrew
Brown, who had been responsible for the construction and ongoing maintenance of the raised beds, to lay drip irrigation. His thinking was that it would ease the strain of lifting watering cans for people with disabilities and it would conserve water as it reduces evaporation and deep drainage. He was aware of my past history of living on a Kibbutz in Israel where I spent many years in agriculture and drip irrigation extensively.
I was involved in the extensive testing of drip irrigation with researchers from Tel Aviv University who used one of our younger orchards. A variety of different sprinkler systems were laid such as: landscape sprinklers, micro sprinklers and drip irrigation. In all the final results, where harvest, water conservation and health of trees were tested the drip irrigation system proved a resounding success.
Drip irrigation works by allowing water to drip slowly to the roots of the plants. The water flows through a network of valves, pipes, tubing and emitters or drippers. The system has a series of chambers which break down the amount of water emitted by each individual dripper. Each dripper will give out the same amount of water to each plant.
First of all the water will sink straight down and then it will spread out in ever widening circles. Extras can be added to the system, such as fertilisers, tanks, filters and pressure valves.
On Gordon Road allotments
When I laid the system on the raised beds on the Gordon Road allotments, I encountered an unexpected problem: a huge build up of pressure in the pipes kept causing them to burst. I could have improved this by installing pressure valves on all the pipes, however, this would have meant an additional and rather expensive outlay , so we went for the cheaper option, which is clips. These have not always proved fool proof as they can sometimes become loose.
At Andrew’s request I also used cheaper piping and connections to the taps. This too can sometimes be the cause of a sudden disconnection as the pipes expand in hot weather.
If you have a raised bed on the allotments, please remember to give only a quarter turn to when putting the system on. The water will not come out immediately as the pipes need to fill up. Please disconnect the tap as soon as you have finished watering so that we do not waste water. Try not to bend the piping as this can distort them and prevents the flow of the water. If you have any problems I am onsite most days or you can email me for help at: arid.hess@outlook.com.
For more information on drip irrigation take a look a t : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/-Drip_irrigation.
article that appeared in the grapevine (Gordon Road Allotment Magazine)
The secrets of Drip Irrigation Revealed by Eric Hess
The reason for writing this article is to dispel some of the myths about the drip irrigation system on the allotment site, in particular the erroneous belief that it wastes a large amount of water. The reality is quite the opposite.
A few years ago I was asked by Andrew
Brown, who had been responsible for the construction and ongoing maintenance of the raised beds, to lay drip irrigation. His thinking was that it would ease the strain of lifting watering cans for people with disabilities and it would conserve water as it reduces evaporation and deep drainage. He was aware of my past history of living on a Kibbutz in Israel where I spent many years in agriculture and drip irrigation extensively.
I was involved in the extensive testing of drip irrigation with researchers from Tel Aviv University who used one of our younger orchards. A variety of different sprinkler systems were laid such as: landscape sprinklers, micro sprinklers and drip irrigation. In all the final results, where harvest, water conservation and health of trees were tested the drip irrigation system proved a resounding success.
Drip irrigation works by allowing water to drip slowly to the roots of the plants. The water flows through a network of valves, pipes, tubing and emitters or drippers. The system has a series of chambers which break down the amount of water emitted by each individual dripper. Each dripper will give out the same amount of water to each plant.
First of all the water will sink straight down and then it will spread out in ever widening circles. Extras can be added to the system, such as fertilisers, tanks, filters and pressure valves.
On Gordon Road allotments
When I laid the system on the raised beds on the Gordon Road allotments, I encountered an unexpected problem: a huge build up of pressure in the pipes kept causing them to burst. I could have improved this by installing pressure valves on all the pipes, however, this would have meant an additional and rather expensive outlay , so we went for the cheaper option, which is clips. These have not always proved fool proof as they can sometimes become loose.
At Andrew’s request I also used cheaper piping and connections to the taps. This too can sometimes be the cause of a sudden disconnection as the pipes expand in hot weather.
If you have a raised bed on the allotments, please remember to give only a quarter turn to when putting the system on. The water will not come out immediately as the pipes need to fill up. Please disconnect the tap as soon as you have finished watering so that we do not waste water. Try not to bend the piping as this can distort them and prevents the flow of the water. If you have any problems I am onsite most days or you can email me for help at: arid.hess@outlook.com.
For more information on drip irrigation take a look a t : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/-Drip_irrigation.
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