The simplest drip irrigation with your own hands. Do-it-yourself drip irrigation: types, diagrams, instructions. Underground drip irrigation

Drip irrigation was not invented by agronomists out of a good life; it was first used in very arid and precipitation-poor areas of Israel. Today these are complex, expensive, fully automated and multifunctional systems that make it possible to grow agricultural products on very poor soils. Moreover, due to the competent use of the latest agricultural technology, it is possible to obtain very high yields.

Not everyone can afford to buy and install such a system, and not everyone needs it. Drip irrigation can only bring economic profit to specialized farms; ordinary summer residents cannot recoup the costs. The solution is to do drip irrigation yourself. It may not perform many of the functions that industrial designs have, but the work will be cheap. And the system will cope with the main tasks of watering normally. True, under one condition - you will have to control the watering parameters yourself.

Before you start constructing drip irrigation, you need to decide on its concept. It can be stationary for perennial plants and mobile for annual plants. Each has its own disadvantages and advantages; the final choice should be made consciously.

1. Draw a sketch of the greenhouse indicating the dimensions of the structure, the size and location of the beds.

   

2. Select hose type. For water supply and preliminary wiring, it is better to use rigid plastic pipelines. Fittings and pipeline fittings will be attached to them. Laying out the beds is done with flexible hoses (for a mobile version) or rigid ones (for a stationary one).

   

3. Consider the placement of water containers, their volume, filling method, piping layout and location of fittings. The volume of water containers is selected taking into account the size of the greenhouse, but practice shows that in any case you should always have at least 100 liters in stock. If possible, you can collect water from the gutters of buildings on your summer cottage. Rainwater is the most beneficial for plants; its chemical composition and temperature meet physiological needs. True, there is one limitation - the height difference between the lower level of the container and the beds must be at least a meter. Otherwise, too little water pressure will significantly complicate the watering process. To guarantee, it is advisable to simultaneously ensure that the containers are filled from other independent sources.

   

4. Calculate the required quantity and range of spare parts. Separately flexible hoses and pipes, their diameter and length, number of shut-off valves and specific installation locations. You immediately need to have connecting elements, tees and plugs. If you plan to do basic automation in the future, it is recommended to purchase sensors and control units.

   

5. Prepare the necessary tools. To create drip irrigation from scrap materials, the use of special equipment and devices is not required; an ordinary set of tools available to every summer resident will do.

If everything is thought out and prepared, then you can begin to build the system.

Instructions for making the simplest drip irrigation

For example, we will take the simplest option - drip irrigation individually for each plant using a flexible hose.

Step 1. Installation of water storage tanks. For these purposes, you can use plastic cans or barrels from various building materials. If the capacity of one is insufficient, then you need to connect several in series so that the total amount of water is at least 100 liters.

The containers are connected at a distance of ≈ 5 cm above the bottom. This is necessary to prevent dirt from getting into the hoses. To guarantee, you can install a special filter for water purification at the common outlet. Containers must be raised above ground level by more than one meter. The best option is to fill them with rainwater; drainpipes can be connected for these purposes.

Step 2. Installation of hoses and pipelines. Make a preliminary routing of the hoses, estimate the location of the droppers.

Practical advice. It is impossible to foresee all options for the future. In this regard, we strongly recommend that the length of the hose and the number of holes be kept in excess. If they are not needed, they can be turned off, and as soon as the need arises, the “power” of drip irrigation increases without any problems.

Step 3. Install taps and wiring. The number of taps and additional equipment depends on the specific characteristics of drip irrigation. But all of them must ensure full functionality of the system, uninterrupted operation and ease of management. Practitioners strongly advise using the simplest taps; they are easy to maintain and unpretentious in operation.

Step 4. Make IVs. There are several options to solve the problem.

1. First. Buy a ready-made sleeve in the store. It has calibrated holes and can be laid in any place. In greenhouses, such a sleeve can serve for at least ten years; in the open air, due to the influence of hard ultraviolet rays, the service life is reduced to two years.
2. The second method is to make holes with a small, highly heated nail. The distance between the holes is selected in accordance with the agricultural growing technology used in the greenhouses. The advantages of this method are simplicity and speed of execution. Disadvantages - plants in the beds need to be planted in even rows.
3. Third way. Make the holes mobile. To do this, additional small-diameter “antennae” bends are inserted into the main hose at certain distances. The length of the branches is approximately 20-30 cm on each side, the diameter is 3–4 mm. To make them, you can use any plastic or rubber flexible hoses.

How are bends made?? You need to drill a through hole in the central hose, the diameter of which is 1-2 mm smaller than the diameter of the outlet hose.

Important. The holes should have as smooth edges as possible; for drilling, use only a sharp drill, reduce the number of revolutions of the chuck.

Prepare the antennae. Cut pieces approximately 50 cm long, bend them in half and cut a hole in one wall at the bend. The hole should not interfere with the strength of the hose, and its length should fit into the inner diameter of the central water conduit.

In boiling water, you should preheat the cut site of the central hose, this way you can make it much more flexible, which will make it easier to thread into the holes of the outlets.

Practical advice. In order to speed up the insertion process, you can use an ordinary self-tapping screw of the required diameter and length. Insert it into two holes on the large hose, tighten the thin one a little on the thread and, holding the head of the screw, pull it through the two holes. Next, you need to install the tendril in such a position that the hole made in the middle is inside the main hose. If all operations are performed correctly, the connection will be sealed. If some connections are “undermined,” it’s not a problem, let the beds be watered in these places as well.

The advantages of the “antennae” are quite significant. Firstly, you can always change their position taking into account the development of plants. Secondly, planting crops does not have to be in even rows. Practitioners advise using this particular method, even if it requires more time and effort.

Now the preparatory work is completed, you can connect the individual elements into a single system and put drip irrigation into action.

Drip irrigation for an open area

There are almost no differences in the manufacturing method, but there are several features related to operating conditions.

1. As a rule, open areas have a larger area than greenhouses. In this regard, it is necessary to significantly increase water storage tanks. Rainwater will not be enough; it is imperative to consider options with water supply from an external source.
2. Hoses and pipes will be exposed to the open air at all times. Plastic is most afraid of ultraviolet rays. This means that you need to purchase special modified resistant species. They are, of course, more expensive.
3. There is a possibility that during spring or autumn frosts, the water in the hoses and pipes will freeze. It is necessary to select plastics that can operate in a wide range of temperatures and at the same time maintain their declared physical characteristics. Such materials can significantly increase linear dimensions without losing physical strength; frozen water will not cause ruptures.

If the distances are very large, then you will have to connect a pump with a hydraulic accumulator to the drip irrigation system. It copes with its tasks perfectly, automatically turns on/off and maintains constant pressure in the pipelines.

For indoor flowers

There are situations when you have to leave home for several weeks, and there is no one to ask to look after the flowers. In such cases, you can quickly do the simplest drip irrigation for them. We offer an option for simultaneous watering of several flowers, and the device can be used repeatedly.

Step 1. Choose a suitable container for water. The volume is calculated taking into account the number of plants and irrigation operating time. This could be a plastic canister or bucket, large bottles of purchased water, etc.

Step 2. Install drippers in containers. The ideal solution is to use medical systems for these purposes. They are very cheap and can last for years. Droppers can be installed in two ways.

1. Simply insert them through the top hole of the storage container. The first drawback is that it is difficult to “start” the IV. You will have to draw in water with your mouth until the entire hose is filled, and then reduce the speed of its flow. Second drawback. There is a possibility of the hose falling out of the container. Attempts to fix it can completely block the conditional passage.
2. Make special holes at the bottom of the container and insert hoses into them. To do this, you need to carefully drill holes with a sharp drill; the diameter should be slightly smaller than the diameter of the dropper hose. Heat the end of the hose in boiling water until soft and insert tightly into the holes. To guarantee, after cooling, the joint can be additionally sealed with silicone or glue. It will take longer to make the dropper, but it will work automatically and very reliably.

Automatic watering system - dripper

By the way, with the help of such a simple device you can organize feeding of flowers.

Disadvantages of drip irrigation

Unfortunately, they exist, and they are quite significant. None of the manufacturers of drip irrigation systems mention the shortcomings, but competent agronomists know the dangers of inept use of modern technology.

Plants are complex biological species that have their own natural laws of development; no one can change them. One of the main parts of all plants is the root system. With its help, nutrition is provided from the soil; the more powerful the root system, the more nutrients the plant receives. Roots can develop and absorb nutrients only in moist soil; the size of the root system, depending on the type of plant, can be several meters in diameter and depth; for greenhouse plants these parameters range from 10–20 cm. This is an axiom.

Drip irrigation - disadvantages

What does drip irrigation do?

It moistens the soil in a very limited area. As a result, the root system is suppressed, and development in width and depth does not occur. And this significantly reduces its efficiency, the return of fertilizers decreases. You can apply any doses to the soil, but only those located near the dropper in moist soil will be beneficial. All others will be useless and will only harm the soil. The only way to minimize the disadvantages is to install 3-4 droppers near each plant. But this significantly complicates the system and requires more time and money to manufacture it.

Another problem is the abundance of watering. The soil should be wet to a depth of at least 10 cm; for this you will need to use drip irrigation for more than one hour. If the soil gets wet only a few centimeters, then the root system will not develop downwards, the consequences are obvious. The watering time can only be determined practically; before starting the system, preliminary measurements of the time and depth of water penetration should be carried out. The bottom line is that you shouldn’t rush to install drippers; there are more effective means of automatic watering.

Automatic watering - photo

Video - Drip irrigation with flexible hoses

Installing an irrigation system in your dacha or garden is one of the main factors in obtaining a good harvest. The most effective method of watering is a point-dose system of moisture supply at the root of each plant bush. Gardeners with unlimited finances buy industrial irrigation systems, and savvy craftsmen make drip irrigation with their own hands from improvised means.

How to make drip irrigation using improvised materials with your own hands

Containers made of dark plastic, which are available in abundance in the summer on any personal plot, are a suitable material for constructing a simple drip irrigation system with your own hands.

Option #1

We dig a small hole between the beds and install a 1- or 2-liter hole there. We make holes in the plug located at the top for air access. We pierce thin holes on the sides of the container in a checkerboard pattern to allow moisture to flow from the bottle to the roots of nearby plants.

For plants located a little further from the bottle, water can be provided through additional tubes inserted into the holes of the bottle.

Option No. 2

We install supports on both sides above the bed. A beam is placed on the supports, from which bottles of water are hung. Small holes are pierced in the lids to drain water from containers laid horizontally on the beam. Another way: bottles are hung vertically down. The necessary water will flow to the roots through thin holes made in the lid or through cleaned used pen refills inserted into containers with the writing tip removed.

Before use, bottles are cleared of labels, thoroughly washed and dried.

Option No. 3

A little patience and skill are required to set up a do-it-yourself drip irrigation system using medical droppers.

To do this you will need:

• hoses made of rubber or pipes made of polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride;
• connecting adapters, fittings, tees, end caps;
• used medical droppers.

To assemble an irrigation system according to a pre-designed scheme:

• hoses (pipes) are laid out;
• through adapters they are connected to each other and to the source of water.
• We put caps around the edges.
• In the hoses (pipes) opposite each plant, using an awl, we make small holes into which we tightly insert the plastic ends of the droppers. Use the wheel to adjust the water pressure.

Before use and each subsequent season, the entire system must be thoroughly flushed. The thin openings of the irrigation system can gradually become clogged. It is recommended to install a fine filter when entering water.

Summer residents have learned to make homemade filters with their own hands using pieces of nylon socks or tights. An empty plastic container in which medications were stored can be used to make a filter. Connecting tubes are tightly attached to it and inserted at the entrance to the irrigation system. Nylon elements are inserted into a plastic jar, which is tightly screwed on with a lid. It is recommended to use filters with mesh sizes three times smaller than the openings of the droppers used.

DIY drip hose

If a homemade drip irrigation system is constructed with a conductive hose laid out on the ground or placed on a support, its functions can be performed by:

• ordinary single-layer or multi-layer rubber hose;
• hose made of polyvinyl chloride;
• silicone hose.

When you plan to bury the water supply system into the soil, it is safer to build it from plastic or polypropylene pipes. Such a conductive hose will be less susceptible to corrosion and temperature changes.

In any case, the conductive hose must be suitable for making holes in it for inserting medical or other types of droppers with tips and not allow water to pass through in places not intended for irrigation.

Homemade drip irrigation system

Drip tapes are popular among gardeners. They are also made by hand. The tape drip irrigation system consists of:

• main pipeline;
• main distribution pipes;
• tapes made of plastic with holes located at equal distances from each other or perforated hose tapes.

The optimal choice of material for making wiring is polyethylene pipes for irrigation. It is convenient to install dispensing connectors, tees, reducers, valve and ball valves, and other connecting elements with a water intake source and drip tapes on them. After preliminary cleaning and checking the pipe layout, plugs are placed along their edges. Drip tapes are attached to distribution pipes using starting fittings and adapters. During the preliminary test, the operation of each dropper is checked. In case of clogging, mechanical cleaning is carried out. Drip tape or seamless tubes are buried at a shallow depth of 2 to 3 centimeters to prevent watered roots from penetrating the system.

A typical do-it-yourself drip irrigation scheme looks like this:

Instead of drip tapes, seamless PVC tubes with emitters are used for homemade drip irrigation.

A volumetric filling plastic tank is used as a water source, installed at a two-meter height to ensure the required water pressure in the system. The water supply is calculated based on the usable area occupied by the beds, soil type, number of plants and moisture requirements (from 0.8 to 1.5 l/hour). Soft rain or melt water is preferable for irrigation compared to tap water. It is more beneficial for plants when its temperature is identical to the temperature of the air and soil.

Fighting pipe blockages

To simultaneously feed vegetables, it is often added to the water. It should be remembered that to prevent them from clogging the conductive hoses, it is necessary to use only special soluble fertilizers.

The connection of the tank to the entrance to the irrigation system should be made slightly above the bottom. This will reduce the likelihood of pipes being clogged by debris settling at the bottom of the tank.

To prevent clogging of pipes by chemical impurities of iron, aluminum, magnesium, and phosphorus oxides that accumulate in hard water, acid additives are used. To prevent contamination by mucus and microorganisms, thorough washing with removal of plugs and chlorination of water are carried out periodically.

Upon completion of field work, we disassemble the irrigation system, thoroughly rinse and dry it in preparation for work next year.

Automated drip irrigation

Advanced masters learned how to set up drip irrigation automation using:

• minicomputer processor, solenoid valves, humidity, temperature, operating pressure level sensors, single- or multi-channel controllers;
• a timer installed on the water supply pump, with its help the time of supplying and turning off the water is regulated.

The minicomputer configures up to 12 individual water supply modes for each branch of the irrigation distribution across the site. The volume of water in the system is regulated taking into account the automatic analysis of incoming information from temperature and humidity sensors. Programmable controllers are installed at the entrance to the irrigation system after the valve and on the wiring in the places where drip tapes or special seamless pipes are connected. They automatically give a command to the installed solenoid valves to turn irrigation on and off.

Automatic drip irrigation systems significantly reduce the need for water use, time for monitoring and maintaining beds.

The main advantages of using a homemade drip system

Do-it-yourself drip irrigation using improvised means significantly saves money on purchasing the necessary materials and equipment. The second advantage is the quick possibility of replacing a damaged part of the system with a spare one: a craftsman who has built drip irrigation on his site will quickly see its weak points and repair them using available spare materials (or purchase them at already familiar places of sale).

General advantages of homemade drip irrigation:

1. Beneficial effect on plants. Moisture enters precisely under the roots, without clogging the soil or creating a crust. Overmoistening is eliminated, the roots breathe intensively throughout the entire cycle of growth and ripening of vegetables and berries. Plants are not injured, unlike when a significant flow of water hits them from above during sprinkling.
2. Significant savings in water consumption, reduction in wear and contamination of the irrigation system with impurities and slime.
3. Crop losses from pests and diseases are reduced. Fungicides, insecticides, and other protective agents applied to leaves during treatment are not washed off with running water during watering.
4. Drip tapes are conveniently located even in areas with uneven terrain; the formation of puddles in some places and drought in other beds is not allowed.
5. Weeds grow less because they do not receive water. In the places where they grow, the soil remains dry.

A uniform, targeted supply of water to the roots at a temperature close to the soil temperature ensures stable yields in the beds.

Have patience and skill, make your own drip system in your garden. Save labor costs and water consumption in the future, and enjoy a good harvest!

The problem of quality watering is acute not only in dry times. Sprinklers that are common everywhere either moisten poorly or over-moisten the soil. And the percentage of moisture evaporation from the surface is very high. An alternative method is drip irrigation from a dropper.

The problem of quality watering is acute not only in dry times. Sprinklers that are common everywhere either moisten poorly or over-moisten the soil. And the percentage of moisture evaporation from the surface is very high. An alternative method is drip irrigation from a dropper. You can build an excellent irrigation system with your own hands using a minimum of starting materials.

How to do watering yourself

What is the essence of such irrigation?

Not everyone can afford an automatic system, although the garden accessories market provides summer residents with a huge choice. In addition, spending significant amounts of money on an irrigation device, the operation of which does not take the longest period of the year, is not very justified. It is much better to be smart and assemble everything yourself.

The essence of drip irrigation using a regular dropper is simple, and it can already be traced from the name. Moisture arrives drop by drop to the plant, directly to the root system area. The percentage of evaporation is reduced, each crop is provided with the amount of water necessary for a bountiful harvest - these are already very serious arguments in favor of such an irrigation system. But the main thing is that throughout the summer the summer resident will need a minimum of effort in this matter.

Drip irrigation from medical droppers will have a similar operating principle to other types of drip irrigation made independently.

Water supply can equally be carried out both from a storage barrel with settled heated liquid, and directly from the water supply.

“She’s cold!” - the experienced summer resident will be indignant. But here it is taken into account that watering with droppers lasts for 4-5 hours. This is its essence: a gradual supply of moisture, which is completely absorbed by the roots. During this period, even the coldest water has time to warm up, but the following rule must be observed: irrigation is carried out only 2 hours after sunrise and no more than 2 hours after sunset.

Irrigation equipment

So, you will need to purchase or find the following components:

• A container of suitable capacity;

• Plastic pipe. Preferably made of low-pressure plastic, it will last longer;

• Medical droppers according to the number of bushes;

• The simplest filter;

• Tap;

• Corners;

• Plugs;

• Locksmith tools.

Making your own drip irrigation

The barrel is placed on a small platform. Elevation will help provide the necessary pressure so that water can reach remote areas with drips. A tap is mounted to it, cutting it several centimeters above the bottom.

One of the main expense items will be the filter. Compared to conventional drip tapes, it is much easier to identify blockages in medical systems. In addition, if clean liquid drawn from a water supply is used for irrigation, then the need for this part may disappear completely. It will be enough just to cover the container from above, and this will help prevent debris from getting into the water. In other cases, when you cannot do without a filter, purchase the most inexpensive model.

After installing the crane, the HDPE angle is installed, which is secured using a coupling. A piece of hose is put on the free side, and another HDPE corner is attached to the second end of the pipe, which is connected to the main hose. If there are several beds, use a splitter to distribute the water to several sides. This way you can irrigate the entire area at once. The larger the water distribution area and the number of pipes, the higher you try to raise the water container.

When the hoses are laid out, you can begin to connect the medical dropper tubes to them. Since holes are needed of a certain size, a drill of the required diameter is carefully selected. It is successfully replaced with a hot nail. Size is also important in this case. To avoid mistakes, you can immediately mark the hose and make the required number of holes through certain sections.

After connecting, the needle is placed near the stem of the plant, and the system wheel is opened all the way, repeating this with each specimen. This is necessary to check the functionality of drip irrigation. Once the first test run is completed, all wheels are adjusted to the desired level. So, for moisture-loving plants it makes sense to supply more moisture, and for other crops it makes sense to slightly reduce its amount. This individual approach to watering is one of the most important advantages of an irrigation system made from medical droppers.

Other methods of arranging irrigation from drippers

It was also said above that you can arrange drip irrigation with your own hands from medical droppers and directly from the water supply. In this case, the work required to create irrigation is much less. All actions are similar, except for one thing - you can connect the system by simply connecting a hose to the water supply.

It is worth noting that this method of irrigation is acceptable even for those water pipelines where there is too much pressure. The pressure can be easily adjusted. It is enough to wait until the liquid reaches the most remote area and the droppers start working, after which you can turn the valve and shut off more than half the water supply.

Some people prefer to do drip irrigation from medical droppers a little differently. Summer residents build stands or simply install sticks in the ground with a nail driven into the top, about 1.5 meters in size.

In this case, the entire medical system is used, and the plastic bag is hung on an improvised hook. From the outside, the abundance of such structures looks interesting and unusual.

If we touch on the disadvantages of such an irrigation system, then they can rightly include the labor-intensive filling of plastic bags, especially if there are many of them. If the dropper is connected to the main pipe, this problem will not arise, but it will be replaced by the possibility of clogging. It can also be solved quite simply by installing a filter. The only negative that cannot be neutralized is the price of medical systems. For a large area, it is expensive to supply a drip to each crop; it is more rational to use a similar irrigation method for small gardens or if you already have systems.

The video will tell you in detail how to organize drip irrigation from medical droppers, and together with the information from the article, there should be no operational difficulties.

published If you have any questions on this topic, ask them to the experts and readers of our project.

All gardeners know how important watering the garden is. However, watering a garden is a rather labor-intensive process; for this reason, today gardeners and summer residents are interested in how to make drip irrigation.

After all, by assembling a drip irrigation system with your own hands, you can simultaneously solve several problems, save money, time, and get an excellent harvest from your plot. Because the drip irrigation system evenly distributes moisture and fertilizer throughout the entire garden plot.

In our industrial age, there are several completely different drip irrigation designs.

Device for giving

Most summer residents are interested in the question of how to organize drip irrigation with their own hands? Having decided to assemble a drip irrigation structure with your own hands, you need to take into account some nuances, and above all those relating to water resource reserves, because there should be enough water to charge the siphon.

In this situation, a siphon can be an arc-shaped pipe installed vertically, with one end connected to a tank filled with water, and the other end connected to a pipeline.

Moreover, the siphon must have a height corresponding to the volume of liquid in the tank.

The design of irrigation for a dacha looks like this: water from the tank flows into watering hoses, in which holes of a certain diameter are cut to spray water resources. This irrigation design can take a variety of forms.

As an example, we can consider watering shrubs, for which a ring irrigation structure is created, and a rectangular irrigation system from a standard pipeline is excellent for vegetable plantings.

Watering is regulated using a special system, which includes a rain valve, several springs, a lever, a pusher, and a tank lid.

The valve will operate if a recess is created on the tank lid for rain, which acts as a weight. The rain catch valve works on the same principle as the toilet cistern flush system.

When creating the actual design of drip irrigation, it is necessary to take into account certain features of planting and development of the roots of seedlings for each specific type of planting. Because the speed of liquid movement depends primarily on the exact depth at which the roots of the planted plants are located.

So, the deeper the roots go into the ground, the slower the flow of moisture. And plants with shallow roots are more susceptible to drought.

However, the roots of most green spaces are located at a depth not exceeding 20-25 cm, so drip irrigation in a greenhouse requires the use of less water, unlike fruit trees.

Automatic design

The automated design of drip irrigation is convenient in that it allows you to water every day, at a specified hour, without your presence. The fact is that this system will automatically turn on and off at the right time.

How to make drip irrigation for your dacha automatic?

Creating the design of an automatic drip irrigation system must begin with the fact that the pump must be connected to a hose, in which through holes must first be made. Water will flow freely through these holes.

The gap between the holes should be 30-35 cm. Next, the hose must be routed throughout the entire area. When setting the start time for irrigation, you need to take into account such a parameter as pump power.

The drip irrigation system is ideal for the lawn, because the roots of the grass are usually located at a depth of no more than 15 cm. Moreover, in the summer, the lawn simply needs regular watering, otherwise you risk, at a minimum, losing the attractiveness of the lawn, and otherwise it can lead to complete lawn loss.

Note!

Considering the financial cost of planting new grass, automatic watering seems quite justified.

However, when organizing an automated design, as in the photo of drip irrigation, it is necessary to take into account some design features.

Thus, there are cases when there is excess water in the nearest area, but no water has arrived in the farthest area. In addition, there are situations when powerful water pressure, when pumped, leads to waterlogging.

A special dispenser, purchased at any gardening center or assembled with your own hands from a plastic bottle, can solve this issue.

A so-called drip irrigation from bottles is formed, the effect of which is similar to the operation of a toilet flush barrel.

Note!

This design element will provide you with the rate of liquid flow into each bed, and individually to each root of the seedling.

In the automatic irrigation design, the leading place is given to the dripper mounted on the pipeline system. It is through this device that the liquid is supplied directly to the root system.

If, when assembling an automated irrigation structure, you decide to save a little on costs, then it is acceptable to replace the droppers with plastic parts from the medical system kit.

However, the best option is ready-made drippers with a mechanism for regulating water pressure, which are available for sale in specialized stores.

DIY drip irrigation photo

Note!

Now it’s not a problem to build a drip irrigation system for your dacha with your own hands without additional installation costs. You can purchase components for the drop in specialized chain or online stores, or use available materials and your ingenuity. The simplest option is to purchase a ready-made automated irrigation system, which you simply need to assemble.

The idea of ​​drip irrigation arose among farmers back in the last century; it was used to create irrigation systems for vegetable and melon crops in arid regions. The main goal of such irrigation is to deliver life-giving moisture precisely to the root zone of a vegetable plant (tomato, pepper, eggplant), fruit trees, shrubs or under garden strawberry bushes.

The main element of the system is a water source, from which moisture is supplied to the desired part of the vegetable garden (garden) and drips into the ground in small portions. Water supply and shutdown can be carried out automatically, according to time, or upon reaching the desired level of soil moisture, or manually.

Transport communications (pipes, tape, hose) must approach each plant and deliver water directly to the roots. The pressure is created using a pump or due to height differences (the source is raised to a sufficient height).

Benefits of drip irrigation

A list of the positive aspects of drip irrigation for those who still carry watering cans and hoses around the garden. First of all, this is a real saving of water, personal time and physical strength of the summer resident. This is already a big plus, especially if the water is not from a natural source, but from a paid water supply and the flow is controlled by a meter.

Reference

With properly organized watering, they save about 80% of water, completely satisfying the plants' moisture needs.

Using the drop has a positive effect on plants:

• the soil is always moist, there is no excess or lack of moisture;
• optimal humidity in the root zone prevents fungal infections and improves immunity;
• no sunburn;
• The system allows you to combine watering with root feeding with fertilizers.

During the hot season, greenhouse owners are especially happy about the drop. Drip irrigation plus mulch and good ventilation provide comfortable conditions for plants and make life much easier for summer residents.

How to make drip irrigation with your own hands without high costs

In order to save the family budget, having a minimum set of tools at the dacha, many people do drip irrigation with their own hands from available materials. Homemade designs improve the quality of irrigation.

A water source with a volume of at least 100 liters will be required. Canisters and plastic barrels are suitable for this purpose. An important point is the installation height of the container, it should be at least 1 m, and preferably 1.5-2 m.

Important!

The water pressure in the system will depend on the height at which the barrel is located.

It is practical to place the container under the drain. This arrangement has two advantages: the consumption of tap water is reduced, and rain water contains ammonium and iron that are useful for garden crops. Water is supplied under bushes, trees, and into the greenhouse onto the ridges using garden hoses.

You need to cut the hose and make holes in it after the exact irrigation diagram has been drawn. It is necessary to make allowances - cut segments of a slightly longer length than indicated in the diagram. Lay out the resulting pieces according to the drawing, connect them, and install taps in the right places. In the designated places, use a hot nail or drill to make holes for water supply.

Drip irrigation system options

For those who like to do everything with their own hands, there are different ways to choose from for making country drip irrigation. One option is to purchase from a gardening store:

• hose for supplying water to the greenhouse (on the ridge);
• ribbons of the required length;
• cranes;
• fittings.

There are ready-made kits on sale that contain everything you need (tape, hoses, tap, tee, couplers) and assembly instructions, but you can quickly make a simple design for watering using the advice of folk craftsmen.

Traditional design

In country houses and dachas, the classic irrigation scheme is in use, consisting of a barrel (water source) and a branched water supply system consisting of pipes (hoses), plugs, special hoses (tapes), start connectors, tees and taps.

The pipes serve as a main water conduit; through them, water flows to the plants in the garden beds or to the greenhouse. Water is supplied to the plants through special hoses, into which droppers are mounted, when choosing which they look at the characteristics:

• productivity (l/hour);
• the interval between droppers for hoses is 0.2-1.5 m, for tapes 0.15-0.3 m;
• wall thickness of the tape (hose).

Reference

The optimal hose performance is 1.2-4 l/hour.

Hoses with thick walls of 20 mm or more are more expensive, but have a longer service life than thin-walled ones. The thickness of drip tapes is less (0.12-0.4 mm), they have an oval shape, and come in two types: seamless, glued. The allowed length of the irrigation hose is 250 m with a tape diameter of 16 mm and 450 m if the diameter is 22 mm.

Polypropylene pipes are laid from the source to the irrigation hoses from a hose or tape, and fittings are used to connect the structure. To disconnect the irrigation zone from the source, taps are installed in the system, they are placed after the tees so that debris does not clog the holes of the tape, and a filter is installed on any source.

DIY drip irrigation from plastic bottles

Over the winter it is easy to accumulate a large number of plastic bottles with a volume of 1.5 to 2 liters. In the spring they will come in handy in the garden; with their help you can build a simple structure for delivering water to the root system. We are preparing the tool; for the job we need a drill and a two-piece drill (2 mm).

Reference

The volume of liquid poured into the bottle is enough for 3 days. For summer residents who occasionally come to the countryside, the design will help organize regular watering of moisture-loving crops (cucumbers, peppers) in the greenhouse and in the open ground.

Stages of making a bottle drop:

• holes are drilled in the tire;
• the bottom of the container is cut, but not completely;
• near a bush (tomato, pepper, strawberry) in the root area, dig a hole (no more than 15 cm);
• the bottle is placed in a recess, tilted at 45° to the horizon;
• pour water.

Instead of a tire with holes, you can use commercial watering pegs. They are put on the neck of the bottle and stuck in the right place. The bottle design is suitable for root feeding. Instead of water, liquid fertilizer is poured.

Watering using medical droppers

Inexpensive medical droppers are used in the manufacture of a simple watering system for a summer residence. You will also need a polyethylene pipe with a diameter of 25 mm and tools: a drill with a 4 mm drill and a thick sewing needle.

Using a needle in the flask from the dropper, they pick out the filter, and using a drill, drill the required number of holes in the pipe for the droppers. The pipes are laid out around the site, welded, and the source is equipped with a tap and filter.

Important!

To prevent dirt from the bottom of the barrel from entering the system, a hole for the tap is drilled at a height of 7 cm from the bottom of the container.

A filter for water purification is placed next to the tap, and a central line pipe is attached to it. One end of the dropper is inserted into the holes drilled in the pipes, the second end with a dispenser is attached to a peg and installed in the watering area. The water supply speed is controlled using clamps.

Drip irrigation from polypropylene pipes

Polypropylene pipes serve for many years, they do not rust and are easily connected to each other by welding. In addition to pipes you need to have:

• a barrel of 100 liters or more;
• valve (ball);
• water filter;
• tees;
• taps.

First, draw a diagram indicating the exact dimensions and designation of watering points. Calculate the total length of the pipes and the number of bends. The storage tank is raised to a height of 1.5-2 m, a tap is embedded in its lower part, and a distance of 7-10 cm is removed from the bottom. A 100-liter capacity is enough to provide humidity for 50 m² of garden.

One end of the central line is connected to a container (filter), a plug is attached to the second, and each outlet must end with a plug. Holes are drilled in pipes (branches). When all the parts are assembled, fill the container, open the tap and check whether water flows to the ridges.

Underground drip irrigation

Underground irrigation reduces moisture evaporation, which means it reduces the amount of water used. It takes less time to fight weeds; they do not grow in the absence of surface watering. A big advantage of underground irrigation is the absence of crust; the soil on the surface is always loose, which ensures good access of oxygen to the roots.

It is good to have an underground drip irrigation system in a greenhouse: communications do not take up useful space, air and soil humidity are normal, and there is no oxygen starvation in plants.

Required Tools

First of all, you need a shovel. We'll have to dig trenches since all communications will be underground. The tools you need are a drill and scissors. Holes are drilled in the pipes with a drill, and the plastic film is cut with scissors. Pipes for underground irrigation are made of polypropylene; to connect them, you will need a basic set of tools:

• soldering iron;
• steel knife;
• hacksaw;
• pencil and tape measure.

Simple soldering irons for propylene are not expensive, but you don’t have to purchase them; you can rent them for a short period of time.

Manufacturing and installation process

First, they draw a diagram and take measurements, determining the required length of pipes. Polyethylene pipes with a diameter of 20 to 40 mm are suitable for underground irrigation. Holes with a diameter of 2-3 mm are drilled with the required pitch of 20-40 cm, using a drill.

Important!

You need to install a filter on the water container to purify the water.

The trenches are dug to the depth of the roots according to the developed scheme, the distance between the trenches is maintained at 40-90 cm and installation begins:

• strips of polyethylene are laid on the bottom and walls;
• a layer of crushed stone is poured on top of the polyethylene, its thickness is at least 4 cm;
• pipes are laid on the drainage layer;
• the pipes are soldered, covered with geotextiles, covered with gravel and soil.

The water container is raised above the ground so that the height difference provides pressure in the system. The main line is connected to the source with a flexible hose through a filter.

If you don't want to work with your hands

Busy people do not have time to make homemade structures and independently select components for irrigation; they prefer to buy ready-made systems. Industrial irrigation systems are popular among summer residents:

• AquaDusya, AquaDusya Water Tap, AquaDusya automatic;
• Water strider;
• irrigation systems from Gardena;
• Dewdrop;
• Harvest;
• PDA 24K.

Choosing a drip irrigation system

For summer residents who rarely come to their dacha, Water Strider, AquaDusya Automatic, and KPK 24K are suitable. These systems are equipped with automation, the watering mode is set, and greenhouses and garden beds are watered when the owner is not at the dacha or is busy with other things.

There are sets Rosinka, KPK 24, Harvest, Gardena without automation, which manually regulate the volume of water supply and connection (disconnection). Most industrial drip irrigation systems are designed to supply water from a barrel. The AquaDusya Water Tap and Gardena sets can operate from the water supply and from the pumping station.

Reference

If there is no power supply at the dacha, they purchase kits in which the automation is powered by batteries.

When purchasing, evaluate the system performance and your needs:

• irrigation area;
• number of beds;
• type of vegetable crops.

Each vegetable or garden crop requires a certain amount of water per watering.

Installation of the system in a greenhouse or vegetable garden

Installation begins with the installation and equipment of the water tank. They make an insertion of a tap to connect to the water supply and a tap to connect to the main pipe going to the watering site. The tank is placed on a support.

First connect the filter, then the automation (timer, controller). To extend their service life, it is recommended to place them in plastic technological boxes that protect the automation from rain and dust.

Start installing the irrigation system:

• a highway is laid between the beds (in the greenhouse);
• using fittings (angles, tees), make branches (branches) in the necessary places;
• holes are drilled in the main pipe;
• droppers or tapes for watering are inserted into the holes;
• tapes are laid in the watering zone, droppers are distributed in places for planting;
• fill the container with water;
• do a test run.

The automation is configured after assessing the quality of irrigation. The frequency and time of watering are set on the timer (controller).

How to automate the process, “smart drip irrigation” with your own hands

Smart automation (timer, controller, sensors) makes life easier for the summer resident. Installing a timer (electromechanical, electrical) on a water source allows water to be supplied and turned off automatically at specified time intervals.

In order for the timer to work, the pressure in the system is maintained using a pump; when choosing, evaluate the characteristics:

• power;
• noise produced during operation;
• resistance to chemical compounds.

That is, the motor must be powerful enough, not noisy and not react to fertilizer solutions. If the pressure level is unstable, install a pressure reducer.

Using the controller, a program is set that controls watering for several days. Automation uses sensors to analyze the following indicators:

• water pressure;
• soil moisture level;
• air temperature.

Controllers can be single-channel or multi-channel. In a branched drip irrigation system, you can install several single-channel timers.

Conclusion

It takes little time to assemble the irrigation system. There are no works of high complexity, so any man who knows how to use a drill can assemble it. The family budget will tell you which is better, a homemade drop from scrap materials, or a ready-made system of domestic or foreign production. In order not to waste time troubleshooting and repairing, you need to take accurate measurements, draw a diagram and carry out the installation correctly.