Category: Agricultural

Adequate irrigation is essential for the healthy development of the trees and fruit in any orchard.

But care is needed because relatively small changes in irrigation patterns can lead to significant variations in the amount and quality of fruit produced.

A number of variable factors can make it difficult to gauge just how much irrigation trees are likely to need, particularly at the beginning of the annual growing season each spring.

The Danger of Excessive Irrigation

Trees require less water than many people assume during this time of year, and the appearance of dryness on the top of the surrounding soil, or in surface plants and grass, is not necessarily an accurate indication of moisture levels at tree root depth.

So it is easy to over-water at this time, which can retard the growth of the trees developing feeder roots or even lead to them rotting. It may also leach vital nutrients from the soil.

The Three Key Metrics You Need to Know

There are three measurements of which you need to be aware to ensure that your trees get enough, but not too much, water —

• the amount of water your system is delivering
• the amount of that moisture which is retained by the soil
• the rate at which the trees are using water

The water delivered by your system should be relatively simple to control. But the amount of moisture retained in the ground may vary considerably; sandy and rocky soils absorbing much less than heavier loams and clays.

The rate of water usage by trees depends mainly on their size and can be roughly calculated according to height, width and amount of leaf cover.

But water uptake also varies according to regional and climatic differences in hours of daylight and sunshine, temperature, humidity and wind.

Trees also use water more slowly in spring than in the later growing months. As a rule of thumb, an amount of water which lasts a tree for 14 days in April will last for six days in May and just three in July.

Accurate Moisture Measurement

There are a variety of moisture sensors available on the market today. Accurate moisture measurement is critical to determining the best irrigation schedule for your orchard crops. By knowing what the moisture level in the soil actually is, you can adjust your irrigation schedule to have the right amount of water available to the tree when it is needed the most.

Contact Us

At W P Law Inc we’ve been helping South Carolina farmers and orchard owners to understand and resolve irrigation issues on properties of all types and sizes since 1970.

Stop by one of our locations any time, click here to drop us an e-mail or call 800-476-4515 toll free and we’ll be glad to talk with you.

Pump applications will always vary depending on where the pump systems are to be used, material to be pumped, and type of project at hand. If you are about to undertake a certain project and are not sure whether to use standard pump systems or custom fabricated pump systems, go through these few reasons why the latter is a better option:

1. Fits your specific operation perfectly

One of the greatest benefits of customization in any industry is the development/creation of systems that meet the specifications of the owner. With a custom fabricated pump station, your pumping system will be tailor made to perform operations that are specifically targeted to your project’s goals. All you need is to consult a professional and experienced pump fabrication expert to develop a pump station for you according to your specifications.

2. Saves you money in the long-run

A custom fabricated pump station leaves room for expansion in case your operations grow in the future. This saves you money in the long-run as upgrading the system will be easy and swift. It also saves you money by ensuring that your operations are streamlined from the word go.

3. Maintenance on such systems is easy

It’s easy to maintain a custom fabricated pump station especially when it’s the fabricator or installer offering the required routine maintenance services. The fabricator understands the system inside out, making it easy for them to identify where an emergency problem is and how to solve it fast. Most manufacturers also offer maintenance services at a reduced price for a certain period to guarantee the quality of their work.

A custom fabricated pump station is definitely the better option in many projects. However, it’s always smart to consider professional advice on the best option depending on the type of project at hand.

There are many different types of irrigation systems, each intended for different purposes. One popular type is the traveler irrigation system, which utilizes a large sprinkler mounted to a cart with wheels. This sprinkler is commonly referred to as a “big gun.” The sprinkler sprays water in a radius of up to 250 feet. The sprinkler must be moved to irrigate the field. Here are two reasons why traveler irrigation systems are your secret weapon.

1. Traveler Irrigation Systems Get the Job Done Fast

The main advantage of traveler irrigation systems is that they can get the job done quickly and efficiently. The sprinkler of a traveler irrigation system typically can spray water in a radius of 80 feet to 250 feet. This makes the traveler irrigation system ideal for fields that are very large and need to be irrigated frequently.

2. Traveler Irrigation Systems Are Versatile

Another reason traveler irrigation systems may be your secret weapon is that these systems are very versatile. If you own a property that is rectangular in shape, such as an athletic field, traveling irrigators are a great option. Traveler irrigation systems can also be ideal if you need to apply a small amount of water in a relatively short period of time. Depending on the type of traveler irrigation system, they can be relatively easy to shift around a property, making them ideal for properties that are oddly shaped.

If you need an effective and versatile irrigation system, you should consider a traveler irrigation system. For more information about the many advantages of traveler irrigation systems, don’t hesitate to contact us here at WP Law.

Just like any other season when precipitation is sufficient, whether it’s in the form of rain, snow or ice, dormant warm season grasses will continue root growth and water and nutrient uptake although at a reduced rate caused by slowed metabolic activity. Cool season lawns and winter plantings of annuals to provide color have to have sufficient levels of moisture because they are actively growing. How do we accommodate these needs while preventing problems such as winterkill in turf or dead pansies due to lack of water?

Drought conditions: It is not uncommon to have long stretches of time between rain events during the winter months. After several weeks have passed without rain, applying water once a week will be enough to keep your sod hydrated until natural precipitation occurs. If using an irrigation system be sure the watering cycle starts later in the day to prevent dangerous ice buildup on hard surfaces such as roads and walkways.

Extreme cold fronts: During the winter months it is not uncommon to have cold, dry, and windy fronts move through. This, accompanied by rapid temperature drops during the day (or night) will cause the bark layer of shrubs and trees to split in effect girdling the plant. The same thing happens to the dormant turf. The soil will give up its moisture quickly in these conditions causing the grass to become “freeze dried.” The water that is in the grass plant at the cellular level freezes and expands destroying the tissues. This causes winterkill which shows up as what looks like large burned patches in the lawn during spring green up. Paying close attention to weather reports and irrigating before the arrival of the front, may help prevent or decrease the amount of winterkill observed later.

Plants that provide color: Annuals planted to provide color in the landscape this time of year are actively growing and require moisture. Isolating these areas of color with drip irrigation will apply water as needed for growing healthy plants while preventing over watering nearby dormant turf.

Fall can bring extreme temperatures, with blazing heat one day and chilly mornings on other days. This can be difficult on crops, especially those with shallow roots. Fall is prime season for plants to establish roots. The best way to promote root growth is with a good irrigation system.

Why Use a Drip Irrigation System in the Fall?

• Promote root growth: Especially with new plants such as winter vegetables and cover crops, root growth is essential for surviving the winter’s cold. Use the drip irrigation system to boost your crop for the fall.
• Save water: In the fall you don’t have to worry as much about water evaporation. With regular intervals of watering, you can maximize water usage on your land, keeping your crop growing well into the cold season.
• Adjust to the changing weather: On cooler days you can use less water and use more water on warmer days. Use a little mulch to help the water stay in the soil so you can have more time between water applications.
• Save money: When you use less water in the fall, not only are you conserving an important natural resource, but you are also saving on your water bill and increasing your overall profits.

A drip irrigation system can save you time and money. If you would like to know more how you can improve the water usage on your farm or small-scale garden, call us today.

Technology in irrigation is now helping farmers achieve more in the area of water conservation.

Here are 3 savvy ways to conserve water with an agricultural irrigation system.

Use of Sensors

The use of soil moisture sensors and local weather monitoring stations allow farmers to obtain real time data on plant growing conditions. This information allows farmers to implement irrigation scheduling programs that allow them to apply precisely the right amount of water at the right time to provide ideal growing conditions for their crop. As a result, farmers have realized a reduction in the consumption of water and fertilizer through this concept.

Precision Irrigation

Precision irrigation involves placing the water closer to the plant’s root zone. Using methods such as low pressure drops on center pivots or drip/micro irrigation are examples of this technology. Precision irrigation improves system efficiency by reducing water losses from wind drift and evaporation. There are additional benefits with drip irrigation such as reduced disease problems.

Irrigation Scheduling

Irrigation scheduling is the process of determining the best time to run an irrigation system and the duration. Several factors need to be considered when determining the best irrigation schedule. Most notably is the weekly water requirement of the crop that you are growing. The water requirement can change as the crop maturity changes. Crops that are in the early developmental stage typically do not require as much water as crops that are in the fruit production stage. Another factor to consider when developing an irrigation schedule is the current weather conditions. Has it rained recently or has soil moisture been depleted by a long dry spell? Other factors such as soil type and slope should also be considered. An effective irrigation schedule will take into account all of these factors and allow the farmer to determine how much water to apply and when to make the application.

For additional information about agricultural irrigation contact the experts at W.P. Law today. 

Every agricultural and landscaping terrain has its own unique characteristics. Drainage, varying terrain, access to water sources, distribution to each field, and providing a means to regulate and measure the flow can provide challenges which off-the-shelf solutions are not available. Here are three benefits of custom fabricated solutions to bring water wherever it is needed:

1. Innovative design solutions for equipment and components, whether you need to conserve water or have a unique landscape. Our designers use AutoCAD and other engineering technologies to design a system that gets water where you need it.

2. Advanced fabricating, assembly, and finishing of equipment specifically designed to maximize your irrigation efforts and help your landscape grow. The right irrigation equipment is specifically designed to enhance your soil conditions, grading and location.

3. Specialty welding of unusual piping configurations or to enhance current equipment. Custom irrigation systems for managed landscapes recognizes the fact that each landscape has different features from environmental conditions to water pressure and available flow. A customized solution for hard to irrigate landscapes often require one-of-a-kind solutions.