Currently, plant care and irrigation in agricultural cultivation have been greatly improved thanks to automatic and smart irrigation technology. Thanks to them, time, effort and money are reduced and the quality of life and work is improved. This article how to deploy and install them!
What is a smart watering system?
A smart watering system is a system that includes devices installed to water the garden and they have the ability to turn on and off automatically over time, adjusting the amount of water. In addition, they can also be integrated with a number of other smart features. This is advanced technology, helping users save maximum electricity and water resources.
Types of Irrigation Methods
These are the 5 most common types of irrigation systems.,
Drip irrigation system
Drip irrigation is an irrigation method in which water droplets are delivered directly to or near plant roots at a very low flow rate. Drip irrigation systems consist of a network of tubes with small holes or emitters. It is used in orchards, vineyards and high-value vegetables.
Advantages include:
- Uses 30–50% less water than other systems
- Prevent soil erosion and nutrient runoff
- The constant flow allows water to penetrate deep into the soil and down to plant roots
- Controls fungal growth
- Easy to modify
Sprinkler irrigation
Irrigation sprinklers resemble natural rainwater. The system is operated in a way that ensures uniform water supply. Overhead high-pressure sprinklers or water guns are used to distribute water from a central location in the field, usually by pumping.
Centre Pivot Irrigation
The water is spread across the land by a water sprayer that moves on wheeled towers in a 360 degree pattern or a circle that will move around the land and spray the water all over the land and it is really efficient and effective.
Surface irrigation
Water is evenly distributed across the ground thanks to gravity and does not require machinery to treat it. This includes a wide variety of irrigation methods where water is dispersed, what you need before introducing irrigation water into the basins is with a siphon tube, a ported tube. This system is best suited for areas with parallel slopes or flat surfaces and moderately fine-textured soils. This helps the surface have the water spread evenly across it as it moves down the basin.
Subsurface Irrigation
Water is delivered directly to the ground through buried pipes, tubes or drip tape. This method of irrigation helps plants more easily access the water they need. Its advantages are that it saves water lost to evaporation and improves crop yields by minimizing diseases and weeds.
Comparison between the major types of irrigation
| Type of irrigation | Surface | Sprinkler | Subsurface | Drip | Center pivot |
| Application | Flat areas, various crops | Landscaping, various crops | Horticulture, large-scale agriculture, landscaping | Horticulture, large-scale agriculture, landscaping | Large-scale agriculture |
| Water efficiency | Moderate | Moderate to high | Very high | Very high | High |
| Initial setup cost | Low | Moderate | Moderate to high | Moderate to high | High |
| Operating cost | Low | Moderate | Low | Low | Moderate |
| Nutrient management | Low precision | Moderate precision | High precision | Very high precision | High precision |
| Adaptability to different environments | Limited | Moderate | Limited | High | High |
| Potential for automation | Low | Moderate | High | High | High |
| Maintenance Requirements | Moderate | Moderate | Low | Moderate | Moderate |
How to install an automatic watering system
To install a smart watering system, a professional technical team may be needed. However, if you want to install a basic and simple system yourself, the information below may be helpful.
Accessories needed:
- Water pump (pressure booster): helps increase and stabilize the pressure of the water source.
- Water filter: Similar to outdoor aquarium water filters but they are simpler to help filter impurities, moss, dirt, and improve irrigation water quality
- Timer: used to set on/off timer
- Solenoid valve: Used to close and open the system’s water
- PE water pipes: carry water from the source to locations that need watering. Water pipes have different diameters,
- Watering heads: there are many types of watering heads to choose from, suitable for each type of irrigation system such as sprinkler, drip, or lawn watering…
- Connection accessories such as pipe connectors, pipe plugs, holes… to serve the connection and installation of irrigation systems.
Installation:
Before installing a simple and economical watering system, in addition to the necessary accessories, survey the garden design drawing or the location to be installed to accurately calculate the number of supplies needed for the system. . Then, perform the following steps:
- Step 1: Attach the pump
- Step 2: Behind the pump, attach a smart timer – Timer. The other end is attached to one end of the water line.
- Step 3: Run water pipes including 27mm pipes, 16mm pipes and 4mm pipes to areas that need watering. By branching pipes and using pipe connectors, you can create a system of pipe paths that help transport water from the main source, through different small branches and reach the plants.
- Step 4: On tube 16, punch holes in the places where you need to water the plants.
- Step 5: Attach the irrigation head to the position of the punched holes.
- Step 6: Seal the end of the main pipe with a plug.
- Step 7: Set the time on the Timer, test the system and edit the settings as desired.
Note
In order for the system to operate most effectively, avoiding the risk of clogging or any problems affecting the water supply to the plants, it is necessary to pay attention to the basic principles when installing.
Depth of water pipes: In the past, water pipes were often installed above the ground to facilitate repairs. However, with increasingly high aesthetic requirements and guaranteed system quality, automatic irrigation systems are now often installed underground. In addition to aesthetics, underground installation helps increase garden area.
However, water pipes need to be of appropriate depth to facilitate repairs when they arise, while also ensuring good water pressure. The recommended depth is 400mm from the soil surface.
The photo illustrates how the drip irrigation system works
Water pipe size: The diameter and length of the pipe must match each other and match the specifications, the pump pressure ensures the spraying ability of the sprinkler head while still being economical.
Design and installation of irrigation heads: If the irrigation head is installed on one side, it will easily lead to an unbalanced moisture level in the area: an area that is too wet and an area that is too arid. The necessary solution for the whole garden to be sprayed evenly is to design and install a symmetrical spray nozzle. In addition, the irrigation radius needs to be such that the water jets are sprayed evenly, ensuring the entire crop area is developed evenly. Otherwise, after a certain period of time, green patches and dry patches will occur.
Check sprinklers and filters: Periodically check sprinklers and filters to avoid equipment being clogged, causing water stagnation, impurities (sand, moss, dirt) and not providing water to plants. enough.
Watering frequency: Do not over-water, leading to excess water and waterlogging of plants. Soil that is too wet also prevents plant roots from absorbing oxygen available in the soil. Above all, it also goes against the water saving criteria of smart systems.
