When using drip line irrigation, your results depend on doing it right.
Let’s take a look at number of reasons why drip line irrigation can be ineffective because of user error.
• Too few emitters: The key point of drip irrigation is to ensure that the root zone of the plant is adequately watered. A common mistake is to use fewer emitters than what is necessary to efficiently water the plant. When you have large plants it is important to make sure that you have enough emitters.
You should also avoid a situation where a large plant (tree) is depending on a single emitter for its water supply. If for some reason the emitter becomes clogged or otherwise dysfunctional, the plant will die. It is a good practice to water all plants from at least two sources.
• Poor placement: Another common error is placing the emitters too close to or too far from the plant. The emitters should be evenly spaced and kept at least six inches from the base of the plant.
• Subpar filtration: Not using a filter or using the wrong drip system filter is another common mistake. A 155 mesh to 200 mesh filter should be used.
• Incorrect Pressure: In order for a drip irrigation system to work properly the right water pressure is essential. Most pressure compensating emitters can operate at a range of 20-50 PSI, but typically work best at 30 PSI. An excessive number of emitters, an extremely long run of drip tubing, or a combination of both can cause the pressure in the line to drop below what is needed to allow the emitters to function properly.
If you give attention to these areas of concern you should see much better results.
Have questions about drip line irrigation? Contact the experts at W. P. Law, Inc. and we will help you get the answers you need to have the best crop or landscape ever.
