Home Drip Irrigation Systems are very necessary today, because thanks to this form of irrigation you can save water and at the same time keep plants, flowers, orchards or gardens in perfect condition, without wasting a single drop of water. , ensuring that they are always hydrated. Here we present several alternatives that you can do at home and you will see the results. Continue reading!
Home Drip Irrigation System
This irrigation system is extremely beneficial, both for the savings in water consumption and for the plants, since this prevents the plant from becoming waterlogged, which is harmful to most species. Home drip irrigation allows water to be conducted through emitters that pour small volumes of liquid periodically, preventing plants from suffering from water stress since the substrate will remain moist without wasting a single drop of water.
It must be taken into account that the scarcity of water today represents one of the main challenges of the century in the world, since during the last decades the consumption and use of water has grown exponentially, thanks to the growth of the population, the industries, livestock and agriculture. These factors exert an unprecedented water impact. In addition to the increase in global temperature, evaporation is accelerated, increasing the greenhouse effect.
Drip irrigation is an effective and efficient way to keep plants well hydrated. You can do this with reusable materials, which benefits the recycling system and directly collaborating with the care of the environment. For these reasons, a localized and ecologically friendly form of irrigation with the substrate is essential, which keeps it at an acceptable humidity level and at the same time reduces evaporation levels.
How to preserve water during irrigation?
There are many areas where water is totally scarce, which makes it necessary to save and preserve this element, which becomes more scarce every day. For this reason, techniques and strategies should be applied that help to use it rationally, in addition to the fact that excessive use can end up damaging the plants.
Among the suggestions to make excellent use of the natural resource and contribute to its preservation, you can use buckets to collect rainwater or wastewater, it is a way to save water during irrigation. It is also advisable to design the garden so that you can water the areas independently depending on the frequency and need of each group. Always try to choose mostly native species or those that are highly resistant to drought.
It should be ensured that the plants are not exposed to strong winds as this tends to dry out their leaves and that the soil does not heat up. Drip irrigation systems should be used to keep them always hydrated. Placing padding around them to prevent evaporation is an option. Give space between watering and watering so that the roots get stronger. If there is grass, try to make them small spaces, as they are large consumers of water.
Types of Home Drip Irrigation
All home drip irrigation systems must take into account certain characteristics such as the type of soil, the crop, if it is a garden, the distance between plants, types and size of plant, as well as their requirements. The latter will be determined by the degree of resistance, the need for irrigation of the plant, as well as its location, that is, if it is in pots or in the garden. Here we present several options to develop your own homemade irrigation system.
Drip Irrigation with Plastic Bottles
An irrigation system with plastic bottles, collaborates with the conservation of the environment, in this way the principle of recycling is applied and on the other hand, it contributes to the saving, recycled and rational use of water for the benefit of the environment.
First option
To build a system with bottles, for small plants that do not demand large amounts of water, you can use half-liter containers or a little more, make some holes with a pin in the lid or in the base (for a more abundant flow). This lasts a certain time, so it requires constant observation. To prevent the water outlet from being obstructed, it is recommended that the container be at a certain distance from the substrate.
Second option
Another way to use plastic bottles is to cut the bottom of the bottle and make small holes in the cap, then bury the bottle by the spout, fill with water and let gravity do its best work. This option is highly recommended for those people who tend not to constantly remember to water their plants or who often travel.
Third option
You can also use this option with a drip hose that allows you to regulate the flow of water. Place one end of the hose inside the plastic container and the other end in the pot in this way the irrigation will start in a controlled way. In any of the cases, a kind of support must be painted to help prevent animals from tipping over due to the action of the wind, or simply because the water level stops, and thus lose all the effort made.
When you don't want the spout of the bottle to rub or to be buried, you can insert a bottle by the side of the spout inside a slightly smaller cylinder, in this way the bottle will be left with the content suspended in the air and dripping gradually.
fourth option
Another way to use plastic containers for an irrigation system is to make a hole deep enough for the entire container to enter, and as close to the plant as possible, where you can see the roots. It is advisable to cut the upper part of the container (optional) to fill it easily. Several holes are made with a pin and it is buried, leaving the upper part free, if it is possible that it protrudes a few centimeters from the ground. The container is filled with water and here the system begins to work.
Solar Drip Irrigation
This is another very simple way to control the watering of plants, since it must be understood that fresh water is becoming an increasingly scarce resource on our planet. There are several ways to use drip irrigation and the system based on sunlight comes to change certain paradigms, it is a system with little maintenance and low costs. This irrigation system guarantees the necessary amount of water avoiding the evaporation process.
To make this irrigation system, plastic bottles with lids are needed, some larger than others. For example: one of 5 liters and others of 1 liter. It must be cut, the large one at the base and the small one in half to make use of the lower part of it. The part of the small bottle is placed on the earth filled with water and on it the part of the large bottle is to be placed. This allows the water to be charged by pouring the liquid through the mouth or cap of the large bottle.
It is advisable to place hay, straw or dry leaves around the plant. The operation of this system is very similar to solar stills that end up evaporating the water and it falls in liquid form where it is required. Becoming a constant cycle, in which the condensed water slides down the walls and falls on the ground, performing the irrigation function. In this way the water cycle is carried out on a small scale.
The advantage of this system lies in the strict use of the necessary amount of water, and the plastic helps to maintain the water cycle without losing a single drop. Dry leaves, straw or hay help keep moisture in the soil. This can be done externally or underground.
Cordon Drip Irrigation
This is another effective irrigation system, which does not require investment, just using a few cords and a plastic container is enough. This system can be used when there is not enough space or the necessary conditions to use the evaporation or drip methods.
To put this type of system into operation, we proceed to cut cords that can have one end inside the container with water and the other end of the cord can reach the ground. In this way, the rope will function as a water conductor, always keeping the substrate moist without wasting a single drop of water. This is ideal for when you are going to be away for several days.
Drip Irrigation with Screws
To carry out this system, plastic bottles will be used to which a hole is made in the lid with a screw, this can be left there acting as a dispenser. The thickness of the hole is what will indicate the amount of water that will emanate and of course the time it will take to empty the container.
Drip Irrigation with Bucket
To have an exact control of how much water is being supplied to the plant, this system is ideal. Take a plastic bucket, a hose connector, a metal washer, a nut for the connector, a rubber washer, a meter of hose, a screw, two popcorn nuts, two washers, wire and a pickaxe. A hole is made in the bucket about 3 cm from the bottom, the metal washer and the rubber washer are placed on the outside.
The hose is connected to the connector and the screw with the popcorn is placed at the other end, this will allow the amount of water to be adjusted. We proceed to fill the bucket that must be placed on another bucket to gain height and thus the water can flow by gravity. When it is ready, a wire is placed to hold the hose, in this way we will have controlled the flow and amount of water necessary for the plants.
Drip Irrigation by Stake or Membrane
To develop this system, a plastic bottle that can be one and a half liters or one of two liters will be used. The bottom is cut off. In the upper part or mouth, the stake is placed and the dripping is regulated following the instructions of the equipment. It is introduced into the ground and the container is filled with the required water. This system can be used when you are going to be away for days without worrying about the plant drying out.
Drip Irrigation with Barrel and PVC pipes
This system is built from a plastic barrel, to which a job similar to that of the bucket is done. But instead of using a hose, the PCV tubes are arranged on the sides forming a "Y". We proceed to open small holes with screws that could function as dispensers. The key that is placed directly on the barrel is the one that will be in charge of adjusting the flow of water. This barrel can also be used as a rainwater collection tank.
Drip Irrigation with Adjustable Flow Rates
When you have different types of plants that require more or less moisture, this system is the most advisable. This will allow the plants to satisfy their need for water regardless of which one is closest. You just have to adapt the dropper to a plastic container and stick it in the ground. These drippers have up to eleven types of flow.
Alternatives to Home Drip Irrigation
Although it is true that the drip irrigation system is very useful, there are also other forms that can be used when you want the plants to achieve optimal development, in the best way and with the least amount of water possible. Here are some more sophisticated alternatives.
Sprinkler irrigation
This is one of the most widely used methods, but also one of the most expensive because of the tools it requires, sprinklers and pipes. This causes it to fall in the form of rain and focused the water on the crops or gardens. But keep in mind that not all plants tolerate being wet, this can help the proliferation of fungi and it is possible to reach waterlogging, causing water to be lost and end up harming the plant. There are two types: mobile and static, the latter are the most used.
Irrigation programmers
There are analog and digital order programmers. They allow programming the amount of water, form of irrigation and time. The latter usually contain more functions. Irrigation management is capable of establishing the form of irrigation for areas determined by the plants that compose it, as well as the amount of humidity that they merit for their proper development.
Multi-gate irrigation
In the case of this system, it is used only for large crops. This system is based on the conduction and distribution of irrigation water, through light pipes. With it you can achieve an efficiency of up to 70% than the rest of the traditional systems. It is easy to install, operate and maintain. With this system you can reuse the water. The initial investment is expensive due to the number of pipes, hydrants, elbows, tubes and valves. Its level of water savings stands at 28% and its productivity is around 35%.
Subterranean drainage irrigation
This form of irrigation makes it possible to optimize the use of water, especially in arid or semi-arid areas where this resource is very limited. The primary objective of this system is to keep the roots moist without flooding and for this, dripper pipes are placed that are buried in the ground at a certain depth, preventing water from rising to the surface. This form of irrigation is not as widely used as it tends to generate a certain lack of confidence in its usefulness, due to the fact that its operation is not observed. But despite this, underground irrigation has great potential benefits for the crop.
Thanks to this system the risk of fungal diseases is reduced, significantly reduces the growth of weeds. Being below the surface, the risk of pipe destruction is greatly reduced, since it is not exposed to the action of natural elements, mainly solar radiation.
Advantages of Drip Irrigation
There are several advantages of using the homemade drip irrigation system, among them we have that they are cheap, easy to do and support the recycling system. It has the possibility of being automated (when they are more sophisticated). Reduces expenses in terms of water consumption, as well as actively helping in the preservation of the vital liquid. With this system, the substrate is irrigated directly, thus avoiding evaporation, saving almost 50% of the water used in a common system.
Thanks to this type of system, the proliferation of diseases such as the fungus that is produced by the humidity in the leaves and flowers is avoided. It is also a way to prevent weeds from sprouting as it acts directly without creating the right environment for weeds to appear. With home drip irrigation, you don't need as much attention or time spent on plant maintenance. Likewise, the accumulation of mineral salts around the plants is avoided.
In addition to all these advantages, it is worth saying that the home drip irrigation system greatly benefits the development of high-quality fruits and flowers. It also allows water to be reused, since it is not required to be of high quality and purity.
Disadvantages of the Drip Irrigation System
Everything cannot be perfect, for this reason the homemade drip irrigation system also has some drawbacks. If sophisticated systems are to be used, a high budget is required, since materials such as pipes, adaptable irrigation heads, valves, programmers and emitters are needed. In the case of doing it with reusable materials, its main disadvantage is the obstruction and clogging that it may suffer, which requires constant revision of the system.
This type of inconvenience can lead to leaks that cause small floods that in turn end up damaging the plants. Another point is when the holes are covered thanks to the sedimentation of the water or by the swamp, which causes the irrigation to be obstructed, leaving the plant completely dry. In all cases, periodic reviews of any of the systems must be carried out to guarantee proper irrigation and therefore the development of the plants.
Recommendations
Every system requires constant observation and subsequent maintenance so that it can function properly, achieving the proposed objective. For this reason, home irrigation systems require maintenance from time to time, since the accumulation of mineral salts can cause the total or partial obstruction of the system. To avoid this situation, it is recommended to use vinegar or citric acid and in the case of a more sophisticated system use nitric acid, which should be used with caution and if possible by an expert.
For the home drip irrigation system to work perfectly, it is advisable to study the position in which it will be located, that is, how far away it should be placed, as well as the separation of one spillway from the other. In case the system is to irrigate trees, it is necessary to place two emitters when they are small and up to 6 for when they are large. However, when the intention is to water small plants, bushes, hedges, among others, it is recommended that each emitter be 50 centimeters away. So all plants can be benefited.
Learn to water your plants
In order for your plants to develop optimally, you can follow the following recommendations: make sure your humidity is uniform, if it is through a drip system it is much better. When you want to irrigate with plenty of water, try to wet the substrate well and that it has good drainage.
It should be tried that the day of irrigation is carried out at dawn but preferably at dusk in this way the plant will not burn and evaporation is avoided. You have to be careful and try not to wet the leaves or flowers, this way you will avoid the proliferation of fungi or other typical diseases associated with humidity.
Each plant has a different need for water, hence the importance of knowing its characteristics. Some plants, such as bulbous plants, cannot be watered directly on the bulb but rather around it. Implementing drip irrigation is the most recommended to keep the plants with the perfect humidity without wasting the vital liquid. Always use quality soil with plenty of clay, which allows good drainage.
Learn much more about Home Drip Irrigation Systems by watching the following video:
If you want to know more about the environment, I recommend you follow these links: