Container Plant Irrigation Considerations Tom Yeager Department of Environmental Horticulture

Apply Irrigation Uniformly as the Amount Needed Application Amount Distribution Uniformity

What impacts the uniformity of delivery? Overhead sprinkler

Design: spacing

Take into account slope 2.31 ft = 1 psi Design: pressure

Pressure loss due to friction for 100 ft Sch. 40 PVC pipe Design: pressure Pipe Size (inch) Flow (GPM) Press. Loss (PSI)

Remove obstructions inside and in front of emitters Maintenance

Monitor uniformity and application amount

Calculation for Uniformity = 166 =41 4 Distribution Uniformity Overall average (ml) Low quarter average (ml) = 0.80= 80% DU =

Convert Volume to Application Depth Average volume applied = = 0.9 cm Cup area =3.14 x = 57 cm 2 51 ml or cm 3 = 0.4 inch 2.54 cm/ inch 0.9 cm

= 0.4 inch 51 ml or cm 3 57 cm 2 51 cm 3 57 cm 2

Determine distribution of water over the area Amount applied per duration of irrigation Application Amount Distribution Uniformity Summary

Match Water Demand with Application Amount Overhead sprinkler

Are there differences in water demand? Species

Salmons Nursery, FL Podocarpus0.33 Rhaphiolepis0.35 Rosa0.38 Loropetalum0.39 Ilex0.44 Rhododendron0.47 Viburnum Saunders Nursery, VA Rhododendron0.32 Spiraea0.33 Weigela0.35 Hydrangea0.38 Gardenia0.39 Berberis Plant water demand or loss (inch/container) July August 3- gal

Can you manage for the species differences? Are there differences in water demand?

Calculation for Uniformity Overall average (inch) Low quarter average (inch) Distribution Uniformity = 0.65= 65% DU = – 0.14 = 0.26 Overall Average – variation between species = number to exceed so sprinkler variation does not overcome species variation

Are there differences in water demand? Species Spacing

Spacing (inch) Water loss (inch) Container Water Loss for 3-gal Ligustrum Spacing (inch) Water loss (inch) June July Million and Yeager, SNA 2013

Spacing 0 inch 5.5 inch11 inch 16.5 inch % Cover Wt. loss (g) ( 30%)570 ( 45%)610 ( 50%) ETc (inch) Light interception per plant Temp.

Dwarf Yaupon 1-Gallon 2013

Are there differences in water demand? Species Spacing Size

Plant Water Demand Affected by Plant Size 1-gal Viburnum - spring planting Day Water loss (inch) Size index (cm)

Match Water Demand Overhead sprinkler With Application Amount Species Spacing Size

Capture Factor (CF) = Volume captured

Canopy Affects Capture of Irrigation and Rain

Match Water Demand Overhead sprinkler With Application Amount Species Spacing Size Capture Factor

How Do We Use This and Other Information? Match Water Demand with Application Amount

Thanks for Your Support! Center for Applied Nursery Research Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association Saunders Brothers Nursery Salmons Wholesale Nursery Southwest Florida Water Management District