Worm_Farmer

I got the new system up and running, check out the pics. In a few weeks I will update pictures of how well the plants are or are not doing. I found these guys when while looking for a new solution for in ground irrigation. I had good luck with my soaker hose last summer, but soaker hose has its only problems with pressure being one of them, and the fact I could not do a very long run with it.

First I had to dig trenches in between the banana plants, as you can see digging through all the roots was real fun.




Here they are installed and spraying.








I should have taken some more pictures of the tree spikes, they have a different spray pattern under ground and go straight down so they are a little different I have put them around all my fruit tress and some berry's.






I have cleaned up the pump area and got my timmer up and running now so I might need another picture. I also need to replace this pump with a bigger pump and add a 2nd water take. What I am doing here is collection my rain water, then pumping out to all my plants. When I do not have enough rain water I just fill the tank with city water with also is a good think because it will allow the chlorine to dissipate out. I am also using it to mix my fertilizer and spray right to the roots.

RobG7aChattTN

So is the big tank for adding liquid fertilizer, letting the chlorine dissipate, or is there no direct connection to plumbing and you just fill it with a hose. I'm just curious, thanks!

Richard

Just a heads-up:

A very system similar was tried in fruit and nut orchards in the California central valley. Everything was going pretty well for a about 5 years until there was a moderate windstorm. No trees on standard irrigation were lost but nearly every tree on the underground systems blew over -- a few thousand trees across a number of orchards. The root systems that developed were incredibly shallow because the roots all localized around the emitters.

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Worm_Farmer

Both!

Its 1st job is to collect rain water, when I do not have any rain water I will fill it with city water to let the chlorine dissipate. It is also a great way to mix my fertilizer up and measure how much I am mixing correctly. I want to add a 2nd take sometime so that I can hold more rain water.

Worm_Farmer

I see what you are saying and understand how this could be a problem. I thought the same thing that the roots would try to wrap around the sprinkler heads. When at full pressure 50psi + they are suppose to spray out 4 - 6ft under ground. Around the fruit tree's I put 3 of these spikes hoping to create a larger area of water around the tree's. I hope I do not run into this problem myself. I did notice that the water seems to seep down deep into the soil so maybe this will be an advantage, however once the plants are bigger this might not happen as much.

Richard

As for the remainder of your system: that's a job well done! I can really appreciate the effort that goes into fertigation infrastructure. It's really worth it.

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mksmth

Thats a pretty cool set up. Im getting tired of dragging a hose around. This gives me some ideas.

Thanks
Mike

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Dean W.

Very nice setup! I've been working on my drip irrigation system for the garden. I hooked it to a hose bib with a timer. The pressure is a little weak though. I'm not sure if I should have put on the pressure regulator suggested by the manufacturer.

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Dean W.

Thought I would ad a few photos here of my own.

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Worm_Farmer

I think with drip the biggest problem is to much pressure. I am not 100% sure on that.

With the system I installed my biggest problem is low pressure, I need a min of 50psi - 70psi. The 1st pump I purchased was only pushing out 20psi. My new pump can get up to 50psi.

Dean W.

Thanks, I think I have 80psi at the hose bib. I need to double check. But by time the water runs the length of what I'm watering it seems the pressure would lower. The manufacture recommends for my watering system no more than 220 GPH on one zone. I just hate to have to purchase another water timer and parts. It just gets a little pricey after awhile.

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