Solar-powered drip irrigation can be installed in most gardens using a small solar system, readily available irrigation materials, and minimal tools. If you already have a home solar system, it can be tapped into without installing a dedicated system. And the installation of an average drip irrigati Contact online >>
Solar-powered drip irrigation can be installed in most gardens using a small solar system, readily available irrigation materials, and minimal tools. If you already have a home solar system, it can be tapped into without installing a dedicated system. And the installation of an average drip irrigation system is well within the abilities of most DIY enthusiasts.
Drip irrigation (micro-irrigation) is a system that applies a small, controlled flow of water directly to a plant’s root zone. It is an extremely efficient way to irrigate plants of all types in most gardens and climatic zones. The main benefits of drip irrigation are minimal water loss, minimized fertilizer leaching, and reduced foliage wetting.
In a solar-powered drip irrigation system, all the powered components draw their energy from a modest, dedicated solar power system. This would typically consist of a single solar panel, a charge controller, and a battery depending on the specifics.
In most cases, the need for a solar power source would indicate a lack of a municipal water supply. So a solar-powered pump would move water through a filter and a pressure reducer into the drip system. The drip system would consist of main feeder lines, sub-feed lines (if necessary), and drip tubes.
The main lines feed the water to strategic central points. The sub-feed lines then divert to the individual beds. Dripper irrigation tubing then feeds the water to individual plant positions. Drip irrigation tubing is terminated with various fittings that slowly deliver water to the plants’ root area.
Drip tube fittings are calibrated to deliver fairly precise amounts of water to the plant avoiding over or under-watering. The watering time is usually controlled by a timer, so exact irrigation control is possible.
Drip, or micro-irrigation, uses a slow trickle of water to wet the soil in a focused area around the plant. The process involves pumping water through irrigation tubing that terminates at the base of individual plants. Unlike sprinkler irrigation, drip irrigation systems deliver moisture that targets the plants’ roots specifically. This prevents water runoff and almost eliminates evaporation losses even in sweltering weather.
A slower flow will penetrate deeper into the soil in a narrow area for any given water volume. A faster flow penetrates less but covers a wider area. This allows for fine control of water available for plants with differing root structures, as illustrated below.
Additional benefits are the absence of water on the plant foliage common with misting or spray irrigation. This, in turn, reduces the scorching of some plant leaves and the possibility of fungal growth.
And because the area immediately adjacent to the plant receives no water, weed growth is discouraged. This reduces competition pressure and encourages growth and health in the targeted plant.
Liquid fertilizers can be injected directly into the irrigation tubing, meaning less fertilizer is used in a more precise dispersion. Dripper irrigation also prevents excess fertilizer from leaching into groundwater sources. And sloping areas are also easier to irrigate due to the absence of flooding runoff.
In short, drip irrigation is highly effective, efficient and cuts back significantly on cost and labor. When compared to sprinkler irrigation, there are some drawbacks to dripper irrigation, though.
Here’s a list of the pros and cons of dripper irrigation systems.
Installing a DIY solar power drip irrigation system may seem daunting because of all the detail and moving parts. In reality, though, it’s not that complex at all.
To demonstrate, we’ll walk you through a step-by-step guide to planning and installing a mid-sized vegetable garden drip irrigation system. The drip irrigation system is solar-powered and located in a climate zone where drip systems excel.
This solar drip irrigation model is going to be complex. Far more complex, in fact, than it would typically need to be. There’s an excellent reason for this philosophy, though.
We will try to include as many different solar power and drip irrigation techniques, equipment, and parts. We will also include garden techniques and plant types that may not be obvious choices for many.
While we could have used a straightforward model, although complex, this example should serve two purposes. Firstly, it’ll be a good example of the wealth of potential solar power and drip irrigation systems. And secondly, it’ll hopefully be a valuable guide on how to implement solar drip irrigation anywhere.
So, bear with us and remember this. Nothing in our little drip irrigation garden is stuck in stone. All equipment, dimensions, parts, and techniques we have included are strictly examples only.
Ideally, the target area would experience temperatures from extreme lows of 36°F and extreme highs of 95°F. In addition, the area would experience a rainfall average ranging from lows of 0.1 inches to 3 inches.
Although they may seem extreme, the reasoning behind this choice of a geographic location and conditions is simple. These are some of the most challenging irrigation and gardening conditions possible. They are also the exact conditions where solar power and dripper irrigation come into their own.
We have worked on a voluntary off-grid design philosophy for the model’s water and power requirements. To clarify, while there is access to municipal power and water, we choose to use solar power and well water.
The reasoning behind this choice is the opportunity to demonstrate how low-cost, renewable resources can suffice in this environment. In addition, the model will show how municipal grid supplies can be tapped into the system to serve as backups.
We’ve chosen a garden plot of 40′ x 25′ for a total area of 1,000 ft². It is typical of the size of the garden that would grace the properties of smallholdings and off-grid homesteads. In truth, the beauty of drip irrigation is the way garden dimensions can be scaled up or down with ease.
This is a basic layout diagram of the garden showing the main features.
Our dripper irrigation model will be based exclusively on vegetable crop plants, herbs, and fruit trees rather than ornamental varieties.
The crops we’ve chosen are:
The beds we have chosen are representative of this sort of garden and are:
To work out the specifications for this system, we’ll start at the drip point end and work our way back. This is essential because the number of drip points will dictate the water delivery requirements of the system. This, in turn, will define the pump size and ultimately the solar system specifics. So the main logical progression points in planning the system are as follows:
Now, let’s consider each of these main points in detail according to our overall model specifications.
Our garden model consists of 9 separate “zones.” The bed types are outlined above, with several beds lying fallow. The plant distribution is illustrated below.
The types and bed layouts of the different vegetables in this model have been chosen for the following reasons.
About Solar powered drip irrigation system
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