370 likes | 1.05k Views
Drip irrigation for beginners. Clifton A. Slade, Slade Farms. Effective and Efficient Irrigation: Selecting the Right System. Clifton A. Slade, Slade Farms Michael Pippen Friday, Jan. 25, 2013. Pop Slade says “There’s enough ways for everybody to have a way”. Objectives.
E N D
Drip irrigation for beginners Clifton A. Slade, Slade Farms
Effective and Efficient Irrigation: Selecting the Right System Clifton A. Slade, Slade Farms Michael Pippen Friday, Jan. 25, 2013
Pop Slade says “There’s enough ways for everybody to have a way”
Objectives • Using drip irrigation and plastic mulch to manage soils and fertilizers • Designing, installing, and running a drip irrigation system for fertilizing with minimum investment • Tips about soils, fertilizers, and drip irrigation
Feet of Row Per Acre(1Acre = 43,560 sqft) 36 Inch Row – 14,520 = 1 Acre
Irrigation Planning + Fertility Management = Dependable Yields
Surry County, Virginia and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Surry, VA Oklahoma City, OK
WHY PLASTICULTURE • Early Production • Quality • Increased Yields
Irrigation Factors Factors to consider before applying drip-irrigation systems: • Surface Water • Well Water • Nutrient Content in Water • Soil Quality
Irrigation Tip • Water should be tested by a lab for ph and nutrient content.
Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations for 2012 http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/456/456-420/456-420.html
Advantages • Uses less water and fertilizer than with sprinkle or surface irrigation systems • Lower energy and equipment cost than overhead equipment • Once in place, it requires very little labor to manage and operate • Disease and insect damage on the crop is reduced because the leaves do not get wet
Disadvantages • *****Need to water on rainy days***** • Drip tubing can be damaged by insects, rodents, and laborers • Cost of pressure regulators and filtration equipment • Can not use the system for frost control
Hours Required to Apply 1 Inch of Water to Mulched Area (gph/100ft) (gph/100ft) (gpm/100 ft) (gpm/100 ft) 2.0 2.0 2.5 2.5 3.0 3.0 3.5 3.5 4.0 4.0 8 8 0.13 0.13 15.5 15.5 19.5 19.5 23.5 23.5 27.0 27.0 31.0 31.0 10 10 0.17 0.17 12.5 12.5 16.5 16.5 18.5 18.5 22.0 22.0 25.0 25.0 12 12 0.20 0.20 10.5 10.5 13.0 13.0 15.5 15.5 18.0 18.0 21.0 21.0 16 16 0.27 0.27 8.0 8.0 10.0 10.0 11.5 11.5 13.5 13.5 15.5 15.5 18 18 0.30 0.30 7.0 7.0 8.5 8.5 10.5 10.5 12.0 12.0 14.0 14.0 20 20 0.33 0.33 6.0 6.0 8.0 8.0 9.5 9.5 11.0 11.0 12.5 12.5 24 24 0.40 0.40 5.0 5.0 6.5 6.5 8.0 8.0 9.0 9.0 10.5 10.5 30 30 0.50 0.50 4.0 4.0 5.0 5.0 6.0 6.0 7.0 7.0 8.5 8.5 36 36 0.60 0.60 3.5 3.5 4.5 4.5 5.0 5.0 6.0 6.0 7.0 7.0 40 40 0.67 0.67 3.0 3.0 4.0 4.0 4.5 4.5 5.5 5.5 6.0 6.0 42 42 0.70 0.70 3.0 3.0 4.0 4.0 4.5 4.5 5.0 5.0 6.0 6.0 48 48 0.80 0.80 2.5 2.5 3.0 3.0 4.0 4.0 4.5 4.5 5.0 5.0 50 50 0.83 0.83 2.5 2.5 3.0 3.0 4.0 4.0 4.5 4.5 5.0 5.0 54 54 0.90 0.90 2.5 2.5 3.0 3.0 3.5 3.5 4.0 4.0 4.5 4.5 60 60 1.00 1.00 2.0 2.0 2.5 2.5 3.0 3.0 3.5 3.5 4.0 4.0 Trickle Tube Flow Rate Mulched Width (ft)
Contact Information Clifton A Slade 1111 Mt Ray Dr. Surry, VA 23883 cslade@vt.edu
Questions or Comments? Thank You
Come to see us! “The farm gate hangs on welcome hinges” - Pop Slade