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Watering your own in the greenhouse. Drip irrigation in a greenhouse: systems and reviews

Maintaining the required level of liquid in the greenhouse soil is a primary task for the gardener. Not only the harvest, but also the health of the plants, the complexity of the watering process and much more depend on how exactly it is solved.

This article will give a brief overview of automatic watering systems for greenhouses, the advantages and disadvantages of each type. Recommendations are provided for constructing a drip irrigation system for greenhouses with your own hands: a set of materials, placement features, recommendations for use.

Types of automatic watering systems

At the moment, three types of automatic watering are most widely practiced in private and commercial greenhouses:

Rainy;
Subsoil;
Drip.

Each of these types has its own technical and operational features. The advantages and disadvantages of these systems need to be considered in more detail.

Automatic watering in a greenhouse using a moving irrigation ramp

Sprinkling

Irrigation by sprinkling can occur both from above and from below. However, for greenhouses, the most optimal positioning of the piping system is top. This type of irrigation is characterized by a small number of pipes that require fairly strong pressure. The sprayers themselves can be permanently fixed or rotating, which, despite the complexity of the device, ensure a more uniform distribution of moisture over the area of the greenhouse. In the latter case, fewer watering points are needed, but this method can damage young shoots of plants.

Do-it-yourself automatic sprinkler irrigation device in a greenhouse, in the photo there is a system with rotary rotating nozzles

The sprinkler irrigation method has certain disadvantages:
Moisture that gets on the leaves can cause burns on a clear sunny day;
The labor intensity of the process increases significantly; after watering, it is necessary to shake off the moisture from each plant;
Branched systems require very high water pressure, which leads to the need to purchase expensive high-quality pipes and carry out careful installation;
Inefficient use of water, some of which evaporates and does not reach the root system of plants;
It becomes impossible to use the irrigation system to add fertilizer to the soil.

Stationary sprinkler system for automatic watering in a polycarbonate greenhouse

Aerosol irrigation system in a greenhouse (deluge)

This type of irrigation system is a type of sprinkler system. It requires an even more powerful engine, since the water delivered through the pipes is pushed through small-diameter nozzles equipped with sprayers. The pressure in the pipeline can range from 30 to 50 bar.

Aerosol (fog) irrigation of a greenhouse

To install aerosol self-watering in a greenhouse with your own hands, deluge sprayers are often used, which are used in automatic fire extinguishing systems.

Deluge nozzle and the result of its operation

An aerosol irrigation system for a greenhouse is quite specialized. It is used primarily in the cultivation of orchids and other tropical plants that grow in moist rain forests. Can be used when growing seedlings in the ground. Its main advantages are:

Cooling the greenhouse – reducing the heat load on the seedlings;
Significant water savings;
Preventing the formation of a hard “crust” on the soil surface, preventing soil aeration;
More uniform distribution of moisture throughout the greenhouse;
Possibility of quick and complete disinfection of the greenhouse and plants.

Subsoil irrigation system

Such an irrigation system is the most labor-intensive to set up; in addition, it requires constant monitoring and significant knowledge in land reclamation.

Do-it-yourself subsurface watering device in a greenhouse, photo of placement of a perforated pipe on a geotextile lining

However, this method has a lot of advantages:

Low water consumption;
The soil is aerated - it is saturated with air microbubbles;
The atmospheric humidity in the greenhouse remains stable and at a fairly low level. This has a positive effect on the prevention of diseases associated with rot.

There are less labor-intensive hybrid methods for subsurface irrigation using plastic bottles.

Simple schemes for underground irrigation

Drip irrigation system

At the moment it is considered the most progressive. The main advantages are:

There is no need for strong water pressure;
Ease of fertilizing;
Water is delivered “targeted” to the root system of cultivated plants, which reduces the number of weeds on the site;
A crust does not form on the soil, and there is no need for frequent loosening.

Do-it-yourself drip irrigation device in a greenhouse; video shows the installation process using improvised means:

Installation of a drip irrigation system in a greenhouse with your own hands, in the photo the use of corrugated pipes

Installation of a drip irrigation system in a greenhouse

Parts for creating a micro-drip irrigation system

Installing drip irrigation in a greenhouse with your own hands does not require any special skills. For installation you will need the following materials:

Hoses – a polymer product with a thickness of 8 mm is quite sufficient. This length is enough to organize irrigation at a distance of 25 m from the connection point;
Various fittings - angles, tees, crosses, plugs. All these parts have cones at the connections and are easily connected to the hoses without the use of special tools. At the same time, they can withstand pressure up to 3 atm;
Devices that reduce pressure: anti-drainage valves, reducers, mini taps. Relieve the pressure in the pipes to 2 m 1.4 atm. Used to equalize pressure and more evenly distribute water in the system.
Tips for delivering water from the main hose directly to the roots of the plant. There are simple ones, for watering one point, and labyrinthine ones, capable of evenly distributing water in 3-5 directions.

Installation features

Location of parts and ready-made assembly for drip irrigation in a greenhouse

Directly in the greenhouse, a diagram of the location of droppers and tubes is marked;
We mark the place of connection to the water source - where the container for drip irrigation will be located in the greenhouse;
We determine how much free space is needed to install the remaining equipment:
Controller with timer;
Filter.

Attention! The presence of a filter at the entrance to the system is mandatory. Without it, the pipeline and droppers will become clogged very quickly. And all parts will have to be thoroughly cleaned.

It is necessary to calculate the number of rows of tubes and droppers;
We redraw the diagram onto a sheet of paper with the obligatory indication of dimensions;
In convenient workshop conditions, cutting to size and assembly of the main structural elements are carried out;
Installation and connection are carried out directly on site, in the greenhouse.

Video tutorial on assembling the finished kit:

In conclusion, a few ready-made solutions

As you can see from the diagrams and photographs, the drip irrigation system has quite a lot of specific parts; in addition, it is quite difficult to make a controller for automatic watering yourself. Therefore, it is recommended to purchase a ready-made kit and assemble it yourself.

Complete set for drip irrigation

Some of the most popular sets of drip irrigation systems for greenhouses are:

AQUADUSYA - produced in Cherkassy, Ukraine. ZHUK is a Russian manufacturer company Cycle. Gardena is a German company producing garden tools and equipment.

The method has been used for industrial purposes since the sixties of the last century.

Thanks to the positive results that were noted after a short period of use, drip irrigation quickly spread and became popular in many countries around the world.

Benefits of drip irrigation

Each drain of water is accompanied by the accumulation of liquid in the container; this process is cyclical.

The distribution network refers to branched pipeline networks that have special openings - water outlets, which allow the irrigation process to be carried out simultaneously and evenly.

“Clip-36” differs from other devices in that it is characterized by a pulsed operating mode, has an increased flow area of water outlets, reduced clogging and increased ability to pass liquid.

The liquid passing through the water outlet is characterized not by a constant, but by a pulse mode, which is accompanied by the release of small streams of water for 2 minutes.
At this stage, about 9 centers of the moistening process are formed, which help to evenly absorb water into the soil. This feature of irrigation allows the application of soluble fertilizers in combination with liquid.

Pulse-local irrigation is characterized by low intensity and duration of impact on the soil, which allows maintaining soil moisture at 85%. This fact of moisture is optimal for plants.

The processes that occur in the soil do not cause stress to plants and are not destructive to the soil structure.

The main advantage of the drip irrigation system for Klip-36 is that it is not equipped with moving and rubbing parts, for example, valves, drives and other mechanisms.

Since there is no electronics involved, long-term and reliable operation of the system is ensured.

"Signor Tomato"

"Signor Tomato" is used as an automatic irrigation device. The system is completely automated due to the presence of a battery included in the kit and powered by solar rays.

Did you know? The first solar cells were created in 1954 by Bell Laboratories. Thanks to such batteries, it was possible to obtain electric current, which became the impetus for the active introduction of these elements as environmental energy sources.

Today the system is considered the most optimal and modern, unlike other systems.

It is worth noting that it is worth automating the irrigation process only if you have a constant source of liquid supply.

Therefore, after weighing all the pros and cons, you should decide to automate the irrigation process based on personal preferences and capabilities.

It is worth considering that automating the process will require the purchase of additional elements for the drip irrigation system, which will increase the cost of the device, but at the same time simplify the process of caring for plants.

How to make automatic watering

In order to automate a self-installed drip irrigation system, you need to purchase a controller that allows you to open the liquid supply to the installed pipeline.

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Allows for timely ripening of agricultural crops. This is possible thanks to optimal temperature conditions, normal lighting and proper watering. In this case, it makes sense to build drip irrigation in the greenhouse with your own hands. This device saves time and labor resources. Full watering is essential when growing plants in greenhouses. After all, evaporation in such a space occurs much more intensely than in natural conditions. Let's find out what are the advantages of drip irrigation, as well as how to organize it at home.

Drip irrigation inside the greenhouse allows you to provide each plant with an optimal level of humidity

Let's figure out how to make drip irrigation. In this case, it is advisable to perform automated irrigation. When deciding how to properly water, you need to take into account that different crops require different amounts of water.

The photo shows spot irrigation, including drip lines that extend along all lines of the beds. Similar lines are made using a plastic pipe or drip tape with holes. At the end of such lines, plugs or flush valves are attached.

You also need to decide whether a special filter is needed. The water supply is regulated using a reducer and a valve.

How to assemble irrigation structures also depends on the required volume of the irrigation tank. To correctly calculate the capacity, you need to multiply the area of the site by 20 liters. This is the amount needed to moisten one square meter.

How much to water depends on what crops are being irrigated. For example, cucumbers and tomatoes require completely different conditions. High air humidity is harmful for tomatoes, as such vegetables become infected with fungal and bacterial diseases. Therefore, dry air is maintained in greenhouses, to ensure which ventilation is often arranged. But for cucumbers you need to create a high level of soil and air humidity. If there is a lack of moisture, the leaves can quickly begin to wither.

Here's how the drip irrigation design works:

the water passes through the filter. At the same time, it is cleaned of debris, large debris inclusions and dust;
since the container is located on a hill, the water flows by gravity into the main pipe and then through the hoses;
A valve is placed near each plant through which water penetrates into the soil.

For your information! To ensure better watering, you need to place the plants at a distance of 30 cm from each other.

Related article:

Types of irrigation: different systems

Now let’s figure out what the main types of drip irrigation are. Each system has certain disadvantages and advantages. Here are the main options:

For automatic watering with separate drippers, branches are supplied to each plant. In this case, the irrigation radius should be small, since such unfolding takes a lot of time. The main elements of such systems are microtubes through which liquid passes to the root system. For installation in a greenhouse, splitters, special valves and racks for fastening microtubes are used;

drip tapes They are used not only for plants, vegetable gardens, but also for trees. In this case, the sprinkler pipes are placed in parallel. Such irrigation methods do not have as long a service life as individual spray drippers. For automatic watering of fields, each tape has holes through which water flows. One edge is placed at the tank, and plugs are mounted on the second. This ensures that the liquid flows out against the desired roots.

Also, when choosing an irrigation system, you need to consider different types of hoses, types of sprinklers and sprinklers.

Drip irrigation: pros and cons of designs

There are different options for watering plants in open ground, but they are not always suitable for greenhouses.

The drip system has the following advantages:

increasing the yield of different crops;
water is distributed in certain dosages, which ensures the efficiency of this design;
you can create a fully automated process;
the threat of erosion of the soil layer is reduced;
resistance to different climatic conditions appears;
the possibility of uniform distribution of fertilizers is provided;
the quality of grown crops improves;
it becomes possible to water large areas at low pressure;
Ease of Management.

There are other important advantages. For example, saving water allows you to ultimately reduce the cost of the final product.A drip design set installed in reduces the consumption of water and fertilizers significantly. The optimal amount of moisture must be observed for some crops, especially tomatoes. You can buy different devices for dosing watering.

All the advantages and disadvantages of different irrigation options are presented in the table.

Table 1. Advantages and disadvantages of different irrigation options

Type of irrigation	pros	Minuses
Root	This is done using a simple watering can. At the same time, you can apply fertilizers.	The procedure is complicated because it requires a lot of time
Watering the beds	Watering is easy, since you just need to lay the hose, and the liquid will spread on its own.	Inconvenient when moving between trenches with plants.
Sprinkling	Uniform water supply process, as well as the ability to adjust the pressure.	Installation is too complicated. The formation of high humidity in the greenhouse, which can provoke the appearance of various diseases.
Drip method	You can regulate the water supply. Ease of use and water saving. The process distributes fertilizer evenly.	Complexity of installation and high cost of individual elements.

What does drip irrigation consist of: the main elements of the device

To build a drip structure yourself, you need to buy separate elements.

All parts are connected in series to each other:

disk filter;
main pipe;
a mechanism for enriching water with nutritional components;
drip tapes;
start connectors for connecting drip tapes;
splitters for drip tapes;
plugs for tapes.

Tape for drip irrigation: application features

A drip tape is a hose through which water moves. In this case, the liquid is purified using different filters. When determining which tape is better, you need to take into account certain characteristics. It is important to calculate the length of the drip tape, as well as the thickness of its walls. Operating conditions depend on these parameters. The distance between the tapes also matters. In this case, the best tape depends on the timing of plant ripening.

You need to know how to mount the tape yourself. A drip tape is installed on the pipe, which is tightened with a special nut. To install such a structure, fittings are used. It is with their help that branching is carried out.To perform strip irrigation, such a structure must be mounted so that the holes in it are placed on top.

Watering tape can be different. Here are the main types of drip tapes:

refers to outdated technologies labyrinth tape. A continuous labyrinth is formed along its entire length, through which water moves. This option can be purchased inexpensively;

You can watch a video about this technology:

slot tape more reliable than labyrinthine. There is also a labyrinthine channel inside it. In this case, it is necessary not only to decide how to lay this element, but also to apply a special filtration system;

According to reviews, emitter-type production is a modern solution. Irrigation is carried out using flat droppers. Emitter strip creates streams that move water.

To purchase such an element, you need to know how to lay it correctly and how much such tape costs. The drip system completely depends on the quality of this element. An important indicator is the price. The Tuboflex system deserves special attention; its cost varies between 2500-3000 rubles.

Start connectors for drip irrigation: how to use

To make functional drip irrigation you need to buy a starting connector. Installation for the tuboflex system is performed as follows. Using a marker, the surface of the main pipeline is marked for holes. At the same time, connectors and a starting valve are mounted to them. First, seals are placed in the holes, and then start connectors.

It is worth considering the principle of operation of the device with a tap. This connection diagram allows for manual adjustment. This is important if your greenhouse contains different crops with their own watering needs.

Irrigation drippers: manufacturing technology

For drip irrigation, you can build a structure with your own hands. You can see how to do this in the video below:

This can be a collapsible and compensated model, as well as an adjustable design with water supply control. The dripper irrigation system ensures uniform pressure on different parts of the hose. This ensures uniform watering of the plants.

You can use medical IVs. Watering indoor plants can be done from a plastic bottle.To make drippers in greenhouses, you first need to install a container and fill it with water.It is also necessary to install a hose and. It is important to calculate how much water you will need. For a tomato bush, 1.5 liters per day is enough, and for cucumbers – 2 liters.The dropper can be made in the form of a tape. This option is suitable if watering is designed for different crops. For example, for flowers and vegetables.

Before installing droppers, it is necessary to make some calculations. If external compensated drippers are installed, then to determine the water flow, the soil is checked for depth after an hour. The price of the structure also depends on this indicator.

Types of drip irrigation: prices and purchase features

A drip irrigation system is a durable and reliable option. Operational periods can exceed 10 years. To equip a strip structure for greenhouses, a watering strip is used, which has many holes, as well as a wall thickness of up to 200 microns. Such a hose is attached at one end to the water supply, and a plug is placed at the other end. When water penetrates, liquid comes out of the holes.

When deciding which system to choose, you need to take into account that the irrigation supply cannot be regulated. This option differs from spot irrigation, since it will not be possible to provide irrigation to individual points.

The automatic mechanism is most often combined with a hydraulic valve. In this case, a controller with a timer is used, with which you can even set the exact watering time.Knowing how such a system works, you can use the same principle to install self-watering systems with your own hands.

Let's look at the best irrigation systems that have an automatic machine. To determine which option is better, you need to consider them all:

watering with sprinklers. This kit allows you to provide an irrigation radius of up to 20 meters. In this case, polypropylene pipes are used. Sometimes polycarbonate structures are used. This irrigation design increases soil and air moisture;

used for sprinkling special drum devices. They are mobile devices. Watering of plants is carried out over an area of 20 square meters;

used for large areas wide grip systems;

Suitable for several greenhouses micro-sprinkling. Watering can be done from a barrel. In this case, a special flexible hose is used.

With proper calculations, a homemade watering device will provide high-quality spot watering. In this case, water consumption can be minimal.Where you can purchase such structures depends on the characteristics of irrigation. Our review of individual models will help you choose the best option.

Table 2. Average cost of drip irrigation

Drip irrigation for the Zhuk greenhouse: characteristics

This system is known for its functionality and efficiency. You can use a greenhouse or greenhouse kit. A similar watering kit can be used for a greenhouse or an open area.You can buy a similar design from the company LLC "Cycla" , which produces it.

Installation of the greenhouse option involves processing 60 plants. With its help you can process a room with an area of about 18 sq.m.The barrel model will cost about 1.8 thousand rubles, and the version for water supply will cost 2.5.Installation of a greenhouse structure can be carried out in various ways. You can use the automatic option with a timer.

Drip irrigation AquaDusya: device parameters

The AquaDusya system is designed for 50-60 plants. You can purchase an automatic start option or a model without automation. There is also a semi-automatic mechanism. The advantages of such equipment include the ability to operate on batteries and small design dimensions. You can install the machine and other variations yourself. At the same time, the Start design can provide high-quality watering without the presence of people. There is an option for connecting not only to the water supply, but also from a barrel. The price will depend on this.

Drip irrigation in greenhouses: user reviews

When choosing which watering is best for a greenhouse, it is worth studying all the options and reviews. Manufacturer ratings will help you choose the best option.

Review, Zhuk system

Vladimir, Ryazan:“The advantages of the equipment include high-quality materials and assembly. The kit includes a water strider, filter and timer. You can water from a barrel. One of the minuses I would like to note is that the water meter tube in the package is so bent that it never straightens completely. But overall, the design is wonderful. It works like clockwork.”

Review by Gardena

Alexander, Penza:“I have been using the gardena drip irrigation model for several years. The design is made with high quality. Good watering area at normal pressure. Don't forget to clean the injectors regularly. You also need to insert a mechanical filter and drain the water in a timely manner.”

Review by AquaDusya

Alina, Krasnodar:“Last year, my husband bought an automatic Aquadusia system. We purchased a kit for greenhouses. At first we wanted to choose a German watering design, but the domestic version also does a good job and at the same time has a lower cost. Installation of the structure was not difficult. The area of our greenhouse is 40 square meters, and next to it there is a tank of 50 liters. The droppers are evenly distributed over the greenhouse area. My husband and I were pleased with this system. As a result, we received a rich harvest.”

DIY drip irrigation system for a greenhouse

Drip irrigation allows for good treatment of the root system. Such a device for a greenhouse allows you to preserve the beneficial qualities of the soil layer as much as possible.

Since automatic equipment is quite expensive, it is better to figure out how to make homemade watering.The organization of such a structure is not so difficult. Water passes through the capillary path and enters each plant root system.

Installation is carried out using staples, self-tapping screws, plugs, adjustable wrenches, and pipe cutting scissors.To create high-quality self-watering, you need to find medical droppers, a connector, nozzles, drip tapes, pipes and switch taps. A modern watering system involves the use of a timer. It is better to choose elements made of plastic, which, unlike metal, do not rust or clog.

If you don’t know how to install the structure yourself, then start with a plan in a greenhouse or greenhouse. Variants of such layouts can be seen in the photo. The diagram must contain all important parameters. The source of water must be identified. When organizing drip irrigation, you need to mark the container to which the pipeline will be connected. In this case, spot watering can be performed without your participation.

If micro-irrigation is installed, a filter system will be required. Such a device may be located between the water source and the desired main line. The point version is used for tomato seedlings. Since in this case, excessive hydration is very harmful. For tomatoes, subsoil irrigation is also used.

The hose can be connected to the main pipeline using special fittings. The filter is most often mounted in the supply pipe.

Installation of drip irrigation

When deciding how to organize irrigation in a greenhouse, it is necessary to draw a drawing of the system. The diagram is drawn up after taking the necessary measurements, taking into account the scale.

How to properly build a drip irrigation system depends on the calculations made. Here's what you need to calculate:

total length of drip tape;
number of start connectors;
number of T- and L-shaped splitters;
number of fittings and plugs.

Organization of the structure after calculations involves an increase in the number of consumables and drip tape by approximately 15%. Also, after calculations, a barrel for irrigation is selected.

To determine how to install irrigation elements, you need to note where crops with different water needs will be placed. In this case, the installation must be carried out in separate zones.

Now let's look at the step-by-step installation of the irrigation structure. For manufacturing you will need a liquid reservoir, a main pipe, medical droppers, filters, fittings, plugs and a ball valve. It is better if the water container is at a certain height, for example 2-2.5 meters. In this case, you need to take care of the stand.

Table 3. Installation of drip irrigation

Image	Installation stages
	It is necessary to make holes for water outlet in the container. First, a hole is made to install the ball valve. This element is mounted using a coupling and seal.
	Holes should be made in the hoses where droppers can be placed.
	A hose is connected to the tap. This can be done using branch fittings.
	Branches from hoses are laid between the rows.
	It is necessary to install plugs at the end of the main pipes to prevent water from spreading.
	Remove the needles from the droppers and leave the rubber tips.
	The tips are inserted into the holes made in the hoses.
	The tips of the drip parts are stuck into the soil next to the plants.
	Then you need to open the tap and check how the structure works. Using the control wheel, you can control the flow of liquid into the soil.

Main pipe for drip irrigation

A main pipeline is made in the greenhouse, which supplies water from the source to the start connectors. Before choosing which pipe is better, you need to calculate the length of all pipes.

It is better to use polyethylene pipes as the main pipe. It is necessary to determine what diameter is needed for such highways. For example, a HDPE pipe should have a diameter of 32 mm. A smaller diameter is not suitable, since a 16 mm hole is drilled in the pipes for the start connectors. Used for drilling. How to make such a structure with your own hands depends on the materials.

You can also use structures made of PVC pipes, polypropylene pipes or metal-plastic pipes. All such options have good contact with water and do not interact with the chemical components of fertilizers.

When choosing a dacha option, an important parameter is the price.Tees are installed in the outlet areas of the lines, and a drip hose or tape is connected to their lateral flow. Sometimes a leaking hose is selected.

These elements are attached to pipe fittings using metal clamps. A tap is installed on each distribution line, with which you can turn off the lines.If you don’t want to choose individual elements from plastic pipes, then you can purchase ready-made kits that can be used for summer watering.

Venturi injector

To apply fertilizers, a special fertigation unit is used, also called a Venturi injector. You can buy a similar fertilizer device or make it yourself. The operating principle of this mechanism is to mix water with fertilizers. Installation of such a design is necessary for the gradual supply of fertilizers into the main pipe. This feeding unit consists of a hose, filter and injector.

To decide how to choose such a device, you need to know its characteristics. To install a drip irrigation structure, preliminary calculations are required. In this case, the device diagram is taken into account.

Features of the installation of such a design can be seen in the video below:

To make a homemade mechanism, you must meet the following conditions:

direction of fluid movement. The purchased version of the injector has an arrow indicating the correct direction;
moved flow through the injector;
inlet pressure indicator, as well as the difference between outlet and inlet.

Most often, such injectors are made with. They are made from plastic that is resistant to various chemical fertilizers. Special adjustment allows you to reduce water consumption at the inlet, as well as turn off part of the irrigation system. There are different options for such designs, for example, 1 inch or 2 inches.

Filter for drip irrigation

Different types of filters are mounted on the pipe after the feeding unit and before the start connectors. You can see how to install and connect such a structure with your own hands in the video:

Installation is carried out taking into account the direction of water flow. It is important for the system how the filter element will be installed.To install filters in the main pipe, special couplings with adapters are used.

When deciding which filter to choose, you need to understand their purpose. They are designed to protect against damage and blockages of certain elements. If there is no filtration system, the garden hose, dispenser or pump will clog faster. In order not to waste time thinking about how to clean such parts, it is better to take care of the filters.

The cartridge depends on the filtration option. It is the main filter element. It is he who determines the design option: sand, gravel or cyclone.There are stations that combine deep and coarse cleaning. You can make a homemade version.

Automatic watering in a greenhouse

You can install an autonomous drip option for watering the beds with your own hands. An automated system can function without your participation. To create auto irrigation, you need to purchase a water container, for example, for watering from a barrel, a timer, a controller, a hose and a pressure regulator. Automation can be purchased.

Full automation implies uninterrupted water supply. The water reservoir is located at a distance of 0.5 m from ground level. A pipeline is connected to it, which goes to the fertigation unit. An important component of automatic watering is a special controller.

Drip irrigation materials

To decide how to make a drip irrigation system with your own hands, you need to select suitable materials. To organize watering in a greenhouse, you will need the following materials and tools:

HDPE pipes with a diameter of 40 mm;
pipe plugs and valve for the greenhouse;
filtration equipment;
container, water tank;
nozzles and other control fittings;
shut-off valve kits;
watering tapes;
Here's what you need from tools - drills, drill, rubber seals, awl, silicone sealant.

The design of drip irrigation can not only be purchased, but also constructed from scrap materials. Here are some design options:

drip irrigation with medical droppers. You will also need hoses and adapters with connections. How to equip such structures depends on water consumption. If there is a water supply system on the territory, then the channels are connected to it, and if it is net, then the water is supplied from a barrel by gravity;

you can make a high-quality irrigation system from plastic bottles. Holes are made in the walls of the container. Water passes to the root system through bottles;
Spot watering of plants is often used. This option may contain an injector.

It is better to place such structures under covering material. Drip irrigation may or may not have a pump.

Article

The irrigation system in greenhouses largely depends on the dimensions and purpose of such structures. There are private greenhouses, and there are also industrial greenhouses, which have massive transparent structures designed for mass production of certain crops. Both of them actively use the following types of irrigation: drip, above-ground and air sprinkling, subsurface.

Drip irrigation supplies water only to plant roots, is the most popular method. Such irrigation of plants is carried out in doses. This means that they will only receive the amount of water they need. This is the advantage of automating drip irrigation.

A drip system is a pipe equipped with simple and compensating droppers. Products of the second type are designed to automatically equalize unstable pressure in the water pipeline. Most often it occurs in unpaved areas that have different levels. On slopes, such systems are placed across the unevenness.

Drip irrigation makes it possible to supply certain beds with water. Special cranes help him in this process. This function is important for the competent cultivation of different crops located in the same territory. In addition, drip irrigation in a greenhouse reduces the risk of diseases in plants and prevents the appearance of weeds.

Sprinkler system makes it possible to distribute water in any direction and angle of inclination. This is useful if greenhouse plants are not the same height. The principle of sprinkling is simple: water is supplied through a hose to a nozzle, which sprays it over the greenhouse area. An unpleasant aspect of this watering is that a considerable number of drops fall on the leaves of the plants. And this is not at all useful for them.

There are two types of automatic irrigation in a greenhouse using the sprinkling method:

Above ground irrigation. It provides for underground laying of main pipes. Above-ground sprinkling is unpretentious in terms of water quality, but also requires good water pressure. If there is insufficient pressure in the line, installing an additional pump will help. The disadvantage of this system is obvious: on pipes hidden in the ground, it takes longer to look for an emergency area in the event of any breakdown.
Air sprinkling. In this case, the pipes are attached to the upper elements of the greenhouse frame. Installation and operation of such a system is much simpler. Air sprinkling requires filters, clean water, and good and constant pressure. Water cannot be taken from a river or lake for such irrigation.

Subsoil irrigation functionally similar to drip irrigation, but there are differences. It delivers water through pipes running at great depths. This is required for targeted moistening of plant roots without the formation of a dried crust on top of the bed, which forces the soil to be loosened more often. The underground supply of water to plants is very economical, in contrast to the drip system, in which a significant part of the water evaporates.

Subsoil irrigation is a system of holes around plants. The flow of water into each such hole ensures the vital activity of the roots of the plant crop.

Automatic irrigation is more common in industrial greenhouses. Their irrigation system, which operates automatically, is a structure of pipelines and pumps. Sprinkling works in a similar way.

In addition to the size and purpose of the greenhouse, the choice of irrigation method depends on the source of water supply located on the farm’s territory. There are three types of such sources:

Centralized water supply main. Connecting irrigation to the central highway involves obtaining many documented permits. You will need to provide a pipe insertion diagram and make a well for special equipment - a water meter and pumps.
Well. Practical and has long been used for suburban areas. It is dug and equipped when there is no possibility of connecting to a centralized water supply or drilling a well. The depth of the well largely depends on the occurrence of groundwater. The soil itself is also important in terms of water quality. For example, if the bottom of the well is sandy, there will be no need to fill it with crushed stone. These materials themselves are natural water filters. Well water is pumped into a container using an electric pump. There is a large selection of this equipment. The criteria for it are the width and depth of the well. Supplying a greenhouse with well water is attractive because if there is no electricity on the site, it can be collected with a bucket.
Artesian well. Taking water from a well is a modern and profitable way. It can be used on any soil. The water from the well is distinguished by crystal purity, because it comes from the depths of the earth, undergoing repeated natural filtration. Unlike a well, you cannot get water from it without a pump. Therefore, in many areas, storage water tanks are installed in case of breakdown of pumping equipment or lack of electricity necessary for its operation.

Note! In order to turn the watering process from work into pleasure, it can be automated. Then you will no longer have to carry buckets of water or stand for hours with a hose waiting for the soil to be saturated with water.

Installation of an irrigation system in a greenhouse

Before starting work on organizing irrigation in the greenhouse, you need to make a diagram and indicate on it the location of the elements of the selected system. In this case, you should take into account the number of rows of plants and the spacing between neighboring bushes.

Drip irrigation device

The main element of such a system is drip tape. Before installing it, you need to find a convenient place in the greenhouse and place a barrel or some other container with water on it, and to prevent the liquid from blooming, it should be protected from the sun.

After this, the pipe must be placed in a container so that its intake is slightly above the bottom. This is important, otherwise settling dirt will interfere with normal watering. To regulate the amount of water flowing into the system, it is recommended to install a tap.

The rest of the polyethylene pipe must be laid along the site. Holes should be made in the main against its beds and fittings should be installed, to which drip tapes should then be connected. Tape requires a plug. It can be made from a piece of the same material, rolled into a ring.

Before starting, the finished system should be checked for leaks and flushed. It would be a good idea to install a filter that guarantees good water quality.

In addition to the tape, water can be supplied via separate droppers. Then they will need additional hoses. The system is convenient for watering seedlings when water is supplied to one point.

The entire process can be fully automated using an electric pump. In this case, the drip tape will be capable of dispensing about 600 liters of water per hour. To collect it, you will need not a barrel, but a Eurocube, which goes on sale ready for installation. The cube is made from polymers. For strength, it is reinforced with a steel lattice. Such equipment, before drip irrigation in a greenhouse, should be checked for certificates.

Automatic sprinkling

The work will require 20 mm pipes, sprayers and ball valves. It is important to choose the right nozzles. Then a strong pressure of water will not be needed, since it will flow in small portions in the form of drops, and not crush the soil with a stream.

Many summer residents have a very popular sprinkling system called “snail”. Its principle of operation is simple: water enters a pipe located at a low height relative to the soil, and then is sprayed, covering the area.

Another watering option is called "ring". Holes are made in the hose, rolled into a circle of the required diameter, through which water is sprayed.

If it is not possible to make such devices yourself, watering the plants is carried out using a sprinkler machine, which works very effectively indoors and outdoors.

Subsoil irrigation

To implement it, you need to stock up on pipes with a diameter of 20-40 mm and make many two-millimeter holes in them. Instead of pipes, you can use a thick hose.

After this, the beds should be prepared. From them, it is necessary to remove the soil mixture (substrate) to a depth of 30 cm, cover the surface with crushed stone and cover it with plastic film. Such a layer will prevent water from washing away deep layers of soil.

Perforated pipes should be laid on the film at a distance of 50-90 cm relative to each other. On top they need to be covered with strips of polyethylene about 20 cm wide and covered with the substrate removed shortly before.

Basic rules for watering in a greenhouse

Any technique for watering plants, be it sprinkling, subsoil or drip irrigation, will not work correctly without following certain rules:

Do not use cold water for irrigation. It is advisable to let it sit and warm up a little in the sun.
Watering should be uniform. The moisture must have time to be absorbed by the soil, only then can the procedure be continued.
To retain water in the soil, the holes with plants need to be covered with straw. It will prevent moisture evaporation for a long time.
The soil moisture should be checked before watering. To do this, a metal pin should be inserted shallowly into the soil near the plant. The soil stuck to the rod indicates that it is too early to start watering.

How to water in a greenhouse - watch the video:

When thinking about how to water in a greenhouse, it is important to take into account its nuances and correctly calculate the required amount of water, measuring it with the area of the structure and the needs of the crops.

Ecology of consumption. Estate: A healthy root system of plants produces vigorous growth, and drip irrigation can greatly contribute to this. In a greenhouse, a drip irrigation system will allow you to grow strong and healthy seedlings. Let's talk about the features of using drip irrigation systems and about creating it yourself.

Water temperature

Most garden crops experience stress and slow growth due to the low temperature of irrigation water. Cold water has a particularly negative effect in hot weather; plant death is possible.

Since water flows slowly during drip irrigation and has time to pass through a fairly long labyrinth of thin tubes, it warms up well before entering the soil. This makes it possible not only to connect the drip irrigation system directly to the water supply, but even to use water from a well or borehole.

Of course, in the latter case, the main role is played by the length of the line and the operating pressure in the system. Therefore, the system should first be tested; the outlet temperature should not be lower than 18 °C. If the water is not warm enough, a buffer tank of 100–150 liters can save you from installing a full-size tank. Raising the container 2-2.4 meters above the ground is the main problem in greenhouses, most of which are quite squat.

The problem is also solved by installing the cheapest and lowest-power instantaneous water heater. Otherwise, it is necessary to take care of the external installation of the tank and increasing its energy efficiency: lining it with a heat insulator, painting it black and, possibly, installing a heating element.

Soil aeration

Another important advantage of drip irrigation is that it does not soak the soil into liquid mud, so the roots have the opportunity to breathe, and they need this no less than the above-ground parts of the plant.

To make the effect more pronounced, the soil should be prepared in a special way. The top layer in which the seeds are planted is mixed with hygroscopic vermiculite or cereal husk. Loosening and stirring should be done after the soil has thoroughly dried.

However, even with such soil preparation, a continuous supply of “drops” should not be organized. The soil must dry out from time to time, so it is optimal to turn on the system 2-3 times a day at a strictly defined time, for which the system can be equipped with automatic control and shut-off valves.

If watering is carried out only once a day or less often, mulching will help maintain optimal soil moisture. More precisely, laying a layer of limp grass, hay or straw 7–10 cm thick on top of droppers or tapes.

Convenient laying of highways

There is one condition in the greenhouse that promotes faster and more technologically advanced installation of main pipes. We are talking about the roof: a frame is mounted a couple of meters above the ground, so why not use it to secure the pipes? In this case, the system would not have to be completely disassembled every year to dig up the soil, and the wiring along the frame allows the pipes to be fairly accurately aligned. Laying under the roof also contributes to more intense heating of the water.

At the exit from the tank, the pipe drops 40–60 cm for more convenient installation of the piping and collector, then rises again to the horizon, which is 10–15 cm below the bottom of the tank. HDPE pipe is well suited for laying the main distribution; it tolerates interseasonal temperature fluctuations well and ultraviolet.

When laying, it is recommended to focus on the passage paths and place the pipes strictly above them. Under the roof, the pipes are connected using standard press fittings; installation is possible even alone and from a stepladder.

Branches from the main are lowered by tubes of a smaller cross-section at the beginning of each bed, shut-off valves are mounted at the height of an outstretched hand. At ground level, the pipe passes into a horizontal collector through a tee or elbow. The edges of the pipes can be sealed with wooden plugs, holes are drilled in the walls and mortise taps for the tapes are installed.

If drippers are used for irrigation, a large-section main pipe stretches across the beds, branches from it go down to the soil and through an elbow pass into the lower main - a thin tube along the entire bed or each row of planting. Droppers are connected to this channel using crosses and tees.

Tapes or droppers

If you are familiar with the variety of drip irrigation systems, the question of choosing a type does not arise as such - it all depends on the crops being grown, the size of the greenhouse and the features of the system's layout.

If a greenhouse farm is focused on year-round cultivation of vegetable crops, preference is often given to larger and taller varieties with a planting distance of more than 1 meter. Droppers are ideal in this case, because it is quite difficult to find a tape of such a large pitch.

The benefits of drippers are especially pronounced when watering tree-like tomatoes and densely growing cucumbers. During the period of fruit ripening, these plants consume several times more water than at the planting stage. Tapes do not have such a throughput capacity; in addition, adjustable droppers can be installed, or they can be changed as the plants grow older.

Tapes are best suited for nursery greenhouses and growing bush plants. They have an optimal dropper pitch and are able to evenly moisten a large area. A well-known disadvantage of tapes is that their throughput must be adjusted manually, whereas with droppers it is strictly calibrated. Therefore, when using drip tapes, it is recommended to install valve valves instead of ball valves.

Hydraulic piping

A ball valve and a strainer are installed at the outlet of the tank. If fertilizing through irrigation water is planned, an automatic fertigation unit is installed immediately behind the tap. The same possibility is achieved by mixing the concentrate directly into the tank, but not all chemicals are harmless to its walls.

A cartridge filter of up to 50 microns is installed behind the fertilizer dispenser, which should trap undissolved fertilizers and small debris that can settle in the droppers. Afterwards, a distribution manifold is installed with ball valves and detachable threaded connections on the bends, from which the pipes are routed further throughout the greenhouse. Protection against air leaks and a check valve at the top are not required; the piping acts as a water seal. However, it is still necessary to equip the outlets from the main with check valves.

Operating modes and maintenance

Before planting, the system is tested on leveled ground. The intensity of watering is regulated by valves visually according to the size of the moistened areas, so that when the system is turned on, each bed receives the required amount of water.

The buffer tank is very convenient to work with. Its volume is reliably known, which means you can clearly control the amount of water, adjusted for the throughput of each line. A volume of 150–200 liters will be enough for daily watering of an average greenhouse.

In greenhouses with an area of more than 1 arena, the same tank can provide all plants with watering, but with automatic control. In such cases, the volume of the tank is spent on watering individual sections; switching is performed by controlled shut-off valves on the collector. published