All About Drip Hoses

To feed a family with tasty, healthy, wholesome and safe food, it is not enough for a modern person to just go to a grocery store, on the shelves of which you can increasingly see low-quality goods. In the race for profit, agricultural companies forget about the quality of their products and use a large number of chemicals that improve the appearance of the product. Independent agrotechnical work not only makes it possible to grow environmentally friendly vegetables and fruits, but also requires a lot of time, knowledge and physical effort.

Drip irrigation is a universal irrigation system for agricultural areas, which is widely used by farmers and experienced summer residents. The main feature is the supply of water directly to the plant itself. The drip hose for plants is an integral and important part of this system. There are two ways to supply water.

• Overground - laying of hoses between rows of vegetables. Advantages - low price, ease of installation.
• Underground - water flow through pipes buried in the ground. Advantages - maximum use of water without water loss and evaporation. Disadvantages - the complexity of the system installation.

The advantages of such watering are obvious:

• rational use of water resources;
• increase in the amount of the crop;
• lack of an earthen crust;
• reduction in the number of weeding;
• the formation of a strong and powerful root system;
• the ability to combine watering and feeding;
• prevention of the development of erosion of the fertile soil layer;
• the possibility of using both for open areas and in greenhouses;
• prevention of swampy areas;
• an obstacle to the development and nutrition of weeds;
• minimal expenditure of physical strength and time;
• the ability to create an automatic irrigation system;
• prevention of the development of putrefactive processes of the root system.

Disadvantages:

• the need to install special filters;
• fragility of thin tapes;
• carrying out regular diagnostics and flushing of the entire water supply system;
• high cost of component parts.

The principle of operation is the independent flow of liquid from a source with water into the irrigation system. There are several ways to fill a sprinkler system. The easiest way to organize automatic watering is to connect special hoses with plugs at the end to the water tap. This method of irrigation is characterized by ease of use and installation, low price range and availability of the necessary parts. Experts also highlight a number of disadvantages:

• regular clogging of the system with plumbing waste;
• impossibility of regulating the temperature regime of water;
• limited irrigation area.

Experienced summer residents recommend filling the system using a special container, which is installed at a height of 150 cm. The watering tank can be filled with water of any origin.The most common sources are rivers, reservoirs, wells, wells, the city's water supply, and even sediment. Water from the water tank moves along the line into the pipes, which are laid along the beds and have small holes for irrigation. It is through these holes that water enters the root system.

In specialized stores you can see several types of drip hoses.

• PVC hoses - a classic type of rubber main watering equipment. Before connecting to the system, in these products, holes of the required diameter must be drilled into which the droppers are mounted. There are two types of droppers - uncompensated (depending on the pressure in the hose), compensated (evenly distribute the supplied fluid). Further, tubes with special racks are attached to the droppers. These stands and are a source of moisture for nearby plants. The disadvantage is low quality, fragility, handicraft production.
• Labyrinth tape - a specialized capillary hose, on the basis of which new drip systems were invented. The main feature is the presence of a labyrinth channel near the walls of the hose. The principle of operation is a collection of water into the labyrinth canal and its gradual release through the outer openings.

• Crevice tape - a new type of device, the principle of which is the flow of water into the soil through the water outlets. Feature - laying the labyrinth channel inside the hose along its entire length. Advantages - reliability, durability. Disadvantages - clogging of the system with debris.
• Emitter tape - an improved type of irrigation hoses, which consists of special emitter droppers. A feature of droppers is a flat shape, the presence of a winding structure of a water conduit and turbulent flows. Advantages - self-cleaning, high level of reliability, durability.

• Oozing hose (porous) - an innovative product made of polyvinyl chloride. The peculiarity is the presence on the surface of the product of a huge number of pores through which water easily passes. Advantages - ease of installation and operation, long period of operation, versatility.
• Sprinkler - a special hollow spray hose with small holes and nozzles on its entire surface. The incoming water, under the action of high pressure in the system, irrigates the earth using fine jets. Advantages - watering a large area. The disadvantage is the ingress of water on the stems and leaves, a large consumption of liquid.
• Corrugated - a special product, the surface of which is made in the form of a perforated corrugation. Advantages - durability, lack of twisting, resistance to mechanical damage.

A large number of modern manufacturers are engaged in the production of this group of goods. Novice summer residents should pay attention to the following brands that produce products of high quality and reliability - Kärcher, Gardena, Palisad, Belamos... The most favorable price-quality ratio is offered to the buyer by domestic Beetle and AquaDusya brands.

For the manufacture of drip irrigation hoses manufacturers use several types of material:

• rubber;
• PVC;
• silicone;
• thermoplastic elastomer.

Universal watering equipment that can withstand temperature drops from - 30 degrees to + 80 degrees.

Advantages:

• no need to dismantle after harvest;
• resistance to solar radiation;
• high level of density;
• resistance to the action of chemical fertilizers and drugs;
• pressure resistance up to 8 atmospheres.

They are used only during the warm season. Temperature range from - 5 degrees to + 30 degrees.

Advantages:

• connection directly to the water supply;
• affordable price range;
• high level of elasticity;
• high pressure resistance.

Products for the organization of temporary drip irrigation, which withstand the temperature range from - 20 to + 40 degrees.

Advantages:

• high level of elasticity and flexibility;
• high coefficient of thermal expansion;
• no bends and creases.

Disadvantages:

• low level of pressure and head;
• use for watering small areas.

A new type of product that can be used both in private household plots and on an industrial scale.

Advantages:

• long period of operation;
• the best resistance to temperature changes;
• the ability to use at any time of the year.

Before purchasing this product, novice gardeners should know all the intricacies of choosing a quality product that is suitable for the implementation of the tasks. When purchasing hoses for drip irrigation, it must be borne in mind that products consisting of two or more layers are better, more reliable and more durable than single-layer products.

The main parameters that affect the choice of goods are as follows.

• Length - the main indicator, which depends on the area of ​​the site, the level of atmospheric pressure and on the distance between the water conduit and the last point of the bed.
• Diameter - an important indicator that affects the amount of water flow in the system. The diameter of the hose depends on the pressure in the system. The lower the pressure in the line, the smaller the diameter you need to take the hose.
• Pressure - an indicator on which the period of operation of the system depends. Low pressure hoses can be damaged by high pressure. The pressure indicator should be 2 times the pressure in the network. Purchasing hoses with a higher pressure level is not financially feasible.
• Temperature Range - an intermediate indicator that must be taken into account during the winter period when storing products in unheated rooms.
• Spacing between slits - an important indicator for tape products. The spacing between the watering holes can vary from 10 cm to 40 cm and depends on the type of plant, planting density and soil type.
• Throughput level - an indicator that depends on the length of the beds, the type of crops, the type of soil and the climatic characteristics of the region.

Before starting the installation process and using the drip irrigation system, novice gardeners need to carefully study all the subtleties and features of this process. Installation and operation of a simple drip system consists of the following steps:

• laying the hose in the aisle;
• hose and fitting connection;
• fastening the fitting to the main water supply line;
• installation of a plug at the end of the hose;
• starting the system by opening the water tap.

The watering period depends on the characteristics and properties of the plants, as well as on the general temperature regime of the environment. To irrigate the next bed, turn off the water and move the hose. Experienced summer residents recommend using a more complex and at the same time convenient irrigation system, the installation process of which consists of the following stages:

• installation of a watering tank;
• connection of the water conduit;
• installation of valves and taps;
• installation of the highway;
• dividing the hose into the required sections;
• installation of drip hoses;
• laying of hoses on the site.

In the next video you will find instructions for installing the Vodomerka drip irrigation system.