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Drip Irrigation For
Mid-America
Mark Burgess, C.I.D.
Bootheel Irrigation Conference December 15, 2003
Drip Irrigation
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A method of uniformly delivering water
and nutrients to a plant’s root zone in
the precise amounts in order to meet
plant needs
Sub-Surface Drip
Irrigation (SDI)
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A low pressure irrigation system
that uses polyethylene driplines
that are permanently buried below
the soil surface, placing water
directly into the root area of a
crop.
Benefits of Drip Irrigation
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Crop yield and quality increase
Improved field access during cultural operations such
as cultivation, spraying, or harvesting
Uniform delivery of water, chemicals and fertilizers
– Water usage reduced by irrigating only the root zone
– Lower pumping requirement and energy costs
– Less percolation of chemicals and fertilizers
into the groundwater
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Controlled Wetted Area
– Reduced disease and weed growth
– Allows more saline water to be used
for irrigation
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Irrigate small or irregularly shaped fields
Benefits of SDI
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Same as those of
drip
Reduced irrigation
labor costs over
Center Pivot (CP)
Considered a
permanent system
Things To Consider
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Water Availability
Water Quality
Crop Needs
Field Conditions (soil, topography,
dimensions, row configuration, and etc)
Expectations (Lifetime of system, costs,
uniformity, and etc.)
Availability of technical assistance
Maintenance
System Components
1. System controller (If automated)
2. Pump
3. Back flow prevention valve
4. Fertilizer injector/tank
5. Filter tanks
6. Butterfly valve or ball valve
7. Pressure gauges
8. Mainline control valve
9. Mainline
10. Flow meter
11. Air vents at high points, after
valves and at ends of lines
12. Pressure relief valve
13. Field control valve
14. Submain secondary filters
15. Pre-set pressure regulator
16. Submain
17. Lateral hookups
18. Laterals
19. Flushing manifolds
20. Flush valves
Next Step
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Design
Installation
Flush system
Take benchmark
flow rates and
pressures
Drip System Maintenance Checks
What to Check
Pump Flow Rate per
Zone and Pressures
Frequency
Weekly
Compared to What
Design or Benchmark
Flow Rate and Pressures
What to Look For
High flow and /or Low Pressure
Possible Causes
Leaks in Pipelines
Leaks in Laterals
Open Flush Valves
Open End of Lateral
Low Flow and/or High Pressure
Closed Zone Valves
Pipeline Obstruction
Tape clogging
Pump Problems
Well Problems
Filter Problems
Filter becoming clogged
Obstruction in Filter
Pressure Differential
Across Filter
Every Irrigation
Manufacturer
Specifications
Exceeds or is close to maximum
allowable
Operating Pressures at
Ends of Laterals
Monthly, unless other
checks indicate possible
clogging
Benchmark Pressures
High end pressure
Possible clogging
High system pressure
Low end pressure
Obstruction in Tape
Broken Lateral
Leaks in Lateral
Low system pressure
Broken Pipeline
Hole in filter screen
Tear in Filter mesh
Particles smaller than screen
Filter Problem
Chemical/Fertilizer precipitation
Water at Lateral ends &
Flush Valves
Bi-Weekly
Water Source
Particles in Water
Other debris
Algae Growth
Bacterial growth
Overall Pump Station
Weekly
Overall System
Weekly
Leaks, breaks, engine
reservoir levels, tank
levels
System at Start up
Discoloration @ outlets or ends of
laterals
Indicates possible build up of
minerals, fertilizer, algae, and/or
bacterial slime
Common Problems
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Filtration
Leaks
Clogging
Filtration
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Filter Needs Cleaning
Damaged Screen or
Disc’s
Flush Valves Not
working
Tank Failure
Bad Gaskets and/or
Seals
Leaks
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Broken Mains or
Submains
Damaged
Laterals
Loose
Connections
Clogging
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Biological
Chemical/Mineral
Sand and/or
Sediment
Root Intrusion
Maintenance
Injection
Georgia Example
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GA – 7 year rotation
corn/peanuts
Row spacing – 32”
Tape spacing – 64”
Soil – Sandy clay
Tape depth – 9”
No till
Tape – 15 mil 12 in. outlet
Tape flow – 24 gph/100 ft
Corn – 240 bu/ac
Peanuts – 6,000- 6,500 lb/ac
Kansas Example
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Crop - Corn
Row spacing – 32”
Tape spacing – 40”
Soil – Loessial, silt, loam
Tape depth – 16” – 18 ‘
Ridge Till, conventional
Tape – 15 mil 12 in. outlet
Tape flow – 15 gph/100 ft
Corn – 210 bu/ac
THANK YOU