Every gardener wants to get a good harvest in the greenhouse, having spent a minimum of funds and physical effort for this. This dream can be realized by automating the processes of lighting, irrigation, ventilation, heating of a closed structure. The drip irrigation systems, which can be purchased or made independently, allow satisfying the need of greenhouse plants for water, economically spending its supplies. Since the finished systems are sold at very high prices, many summer residents are trying to organize drip irrigation in the greenhouse with their own hands. At the same time, it is impossible to completely avoid the costs, because you have to purchase the necessary supplies individually or in a set. But the money spent quickly pays for itself by saving water that is delivered on time and precisely to the root zone of the plants grown. Moisture-free crops develop well and produce excellent crops.
To arrange drip irrigation in the greenhouse, it is necessary to provide a slow supply of water through the pipes to each plant from a container located at a small height. For this, a tank or barrel is placed next to the greenhouse structure, which is raised 1.5-2 meters above the ground. A system of rubber opaque tubes, the diameter of which is only 10-11 mm, is pulled from the tank under a slight slope.
A hole is made in the tube next to the plant and a two-millimeter-diameter nozzle is inserted into it through which water will flow to the root system. With the help of a dispenser, a tap or an automatic sensor, the flow of water heated in the barrel is controlled, which helps to prevent over-expenditure of water and excessive overmoistening of the soil.
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By the way, why drip irrigation? And here is why:
- By building a drip irrigation system for the greenhouse, you can protect the fruits and leaves of many vegetable crops from unwanted moisture.
- A crust does not form on the surface of the soil during such irrigation, so the roots can freely “breathe”.
- Spot watering does not allow weeds to grow, so it is possible to save power on weeding.
- The risk of damage to plants grown in the greenhouse, pathogens and fungal infections is reduced.
- The process of growing vegetables and flowers in a greenhouse takes place with the least amount of labor.
- Compliance with the recommended regimen and irrigation norms for each type of plant.
- Optimum water consumption. It is especially important for summer cottages experiencing difficulties with water supply.
Important! The disadvantages of drip irrigation, organized in the greenhouse with your own hands, include the need to control the filling of the tank with water in the absence of a centralized water supply, as well as the clogging of nozzles. The last drawback is easy to fix if you include a filter in the system, and close the container with a tight lid.
Selection of materials for arranging irrigation
Greenhouses installed in summer cottages and garden plots usually have a standard length of 6-8 meters. For such small structures, drip tubes of a smaller diameter (8 mm) can be used. For such thin hoses, special fittings are available that facilitate the process of connecting the individual elements of a homemade drip irrigation system. If tubes for external droppers are used, then there is a need to purchase even thinner hoses with a diameter of only 3-5 mm. These tubes connect external droppers and tips through which water is supplied to the root system of each plant.
Types of fittings
The micro-drip irrigation system, assembled from 8-mm tubes, includes a number of microfittings, among which are:
- barreled plungers;
- tees;
- corners;
- stubs;
- crosses;
- minicranes;
- fittings, providing the transition to threaded connections;
- anti-drainage valves.
Due to their conical shape, the fittings are easily inserted, ensuring the integrity of the system at pressures up to 3 atmospheres. To equalize the pressure to acceptable values (0.8-2 atm), special gears are built into the system.
The main components that may be needed when self-assembling a drip irrigation system for plants grown in a greenhouse in a summer cottage
Tip Types
Water gets to the roots of plants through tips, which can be ordinary and labyrinth. The first is chosen when only one tip is supposed to be put on a dropper. The second option is necessary in the case when two or four tips are connected to the dropper through the splitters.
Drip irrigation system complete with gearbox necessary to control the pressure level of water coming from the water pipe
Features of the installation of external droppers
Before you begin to assemble the drip irrigation system in the greenhouse, you need to plan plantings and draw a diagram, putting on it the length of the supply pipes and droppers connected to them. Then, according to the drawing, the required number of parts of the desired length is prepared, which are assembled into a single system using fittings. Additional equipment is also purchased, the list of which necessarily includes a filter and automation at the request of the gardener.
The layout of the drip irrigation system in the greenhouse. The storage tank is placed at an elevation to create the necessary pressure to supply water through the tube system
The drip irrigation system assembled in the greenhouse according to the scheme is connected to the water supply or storage tank using a special adapter fitting with a ¾ inch thread. This adapter is either immediately connected to the water pipe, or a filter is placed between them, or it is connected to a solenoid valve of an automation system.
Important! The tubes are cut in length so that the tip falls into the root zone of the plant.
Homemade irrigation installation option
Not every summer resident can afford to permanently live in his suburban area or come there every day to water the beds. Various home-made constructions are being invented, allowing to provide plants with water in the absence of the owners of the cottage.
An interesting version of the device for irrigation in the greenhouse in the country with your own hands is presented in the figure. The striking simplicity of the design, the availability of materials necessary for its assembly. At the same time, the summer resident will not incur large financial costs.
The scheme of a home-made installation, assembled with your own hands from improvised materials, for drip irrigation of greenhouse plants during the absence of a summer resident. Legend: 1 - a barrel with a valve for collecting water;
2 - capacity drive; 3 - funnel; 4 - base; 5 - bulk pipe.
Five-liter plastic canisters are used as storage tanks and funnels. The top of the canister is cut at an angle. The storage tank is installed at an angle, wrapping it with duct tape to a wooden plank. On the opposite side, a counterweight (P) is attached to this bar. The drive is rotated along the axis (0) between two stops (A and B), fixed on the base. A funnel is also mounted on the same base, the opening of which is connected to the pipe used for irrigation.
Water flowing from the barrel into the storage tank gradually fills it. As a result, the center of gravity of the drive shifts. When its mass exceeds the weight of the counterweight, it capsizes and water flows into the funnel, and then enters the pipe with holes laid next to the roots of the plants. The emptied drive returns to its original position under the action of the counterweight and the process of filling it with water is repeated. Using the valve, the volume of water supply to the storage tank from the barrel is regulated.
Important! The weight of the counterweight, the angle of inclination of the drive, the position of the axis is selected empirically. The operation of the entire installation is manually adjusted during a series of experimental irrigation.
Or maybe take a ready-made kit for assembly?
On sale there are inexpensive kits for drip irrigation devices that contain all the necessary elements for assembling the irrigation system with the exception of filters. Therefore, filters must be purchased separately. The main pipes are made of 25 mm polyethylene pipes, which are durable, lightweight, and not subject to corrosion. In addition, their walls are resistant to liquid fertilizers, which can be supplied to plants through the irrigation system. The installation process of the system is described in the instructions that apply to the kit.
A set of components for a drip irrigation device in a greenhouse with an approximate scheme of their location and a method of connecting the system to the water supply
14 mm holes are drilled in the thick walls of the main pipes, into which watering starters are inserted using rubber bands. Drip tapes of measured length are put on starters. The ends of the drip tapes are closed with plugs. For this, a five-centimeter piece is cut from each tape, which is then put on its twisted end. In order for the process of irrigation of the greenhouse to become automatic, it is necessary to install electric controllers powered by batteries. Maintenance of the assembled drip irrigation system is reduced to periodic cleaning of the filters.
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Drip irrigation of seedlings of cucumbers in the greenhouse allows you to save water, as well as the strength and time required to moisten the soil in each individual pot
According to the collected drip irrigation system, the same amount of water will be delivered to each plant. This should be taken into account when planting crops, selecting plants that differ in equal water consumption into groups. Otherwise, some crops will receive moisture in the optimal volume, while others will be in excess or, conversely, in shortage.
It is better to start collecting the drip irrigation system at the end of winter. Having made a planting plan, and having assembled the system in accordance with the prepared scheme, you can mount it in the greenhouse after transplanting. Using ready-made kits sold in specialized gardening stores, make a do-it-yourself drip irrigation system under the power of each summer resident. Thus, introducing new technologies for watering plants grown in a greenhouse, you can achieve good yields and reduce the amount of effort spent on caring for country plantings.
