If drought-like conditions affected your crop yield last summer, you may decide to invest in agricultural equipment that will provide your vegetable garden with an adequate amount of water. A drip irrigation system will slowly release water. This type of system can be used for long, deep watering sessions.
The Principles Behind Using A Drip System
Intense water pressure or a flowing stream of water could be harmful to your crops. Many agricultural farmers rely upon drip systems. This type of system is adequate for use on a large parcel of commercial or residential land or even a small plot. A drip system releases water slowly. There is very little pressure running through a drip irrigation line.
Due to the lack of pressure and the slow release of water, plants will not be susceptible to damage. A powerful irrigation system could harm fragile leaves and stems. A powerful system should only be used for crops that are hardy and that have matured enough to withstand the force of the water. A drip system should be used for young seedlings and delicate plants.
Operation Variables And Drip Materials
A drip irrigation kit will contain information about the water output that the equipment will be responsible for. Guidelines may be provided that will help you pinpoint how long to leave the irrigation system turned on. Drip systems are designed to be used over the course of several hours.
The deep watering that a system will perform may require that you only use a drip system for a couple of days each week. The parts in a drip kit will include drip emitters, tubing, a backflow prevention device, control valves, and a pressure regulator. The parts will need to be attached together and may contain threading or hardware that is designed to connect adjacent materials.
Drip irrigation tubing can be installed underground. Underground emitters will provide the soil with direct access to the water that is released. It is also possible to leave the drip tubing aboveground. The drip emitters should be aimed toward the crops that will be watered.
The only parts of the system that will need to be manually operated are the control valves. These valves may adjust the water pressure or turn on or shut off some of the drip emitters. If drip tubing is being installed underground, the tube sections that are laid out inside of a trench can be covered with decorative mulch or soil.
Contact a local agricultural supplier to learn more about different types of irrigation equipment.