Greenhouse Management

3 Basic Types Sub-Irrigation Overhead Irrigation Drip Irrigation

Sub-Irrigation Systems

Capillary Matting Non-woven fibers Re-usable Stores water & nutrients Indoor or outdoor use Soluble salt issues

Capillary Matting IHP Capillary Matting (clean) IHP Capillary Matting covered with P17 tissue Removing P17 tissue

Capillary Matting A distribution system is used to wet the mat

Ebb & Flow (Flood) Benches Pots placed in tray Trays are flooded Excess fertilizer solution drains back into reservoir Soluble salt issues Econojet 4x4 Ebb & Flow Bench

Ebb & Flow (Flood) Benches Ebb & Flow Benches at DeJongs, Pella, IA

Flood Floor Irrigation Plants grown on the floor Floor is flooded with a fertilizer solution Plants absorb water and nutrients Unused fertilizer solution is recycled Soluble salt issues

Flood Floor Irrigation Flood Floor Irrigation at Willoway Nurseries

Flood Floor Irrigation Flood Floor Irrigation at DeJongs

Overhead Irrigation

Hand Watering Still the preferred method of many growers Never as easy as it looks Difficult to apply water uniformly Problems with wet foliage

Water Breakers

Handles & Shut-offs

Plastic Water Collectors Made from re-cycled plastic Pot sits on collector Collector directs water back towards pot

Side View of Collector

Overhead Boom Irrigation Computer controlled Precise application Interchangeable nozzles Can be programmed on a per crop basis Capability of applying fertilizers and pesticides Wet foliage

Fixed Overhead Irrigation Systems Many styles and manufacturers to choose from Nozzles interchangeable Nozzle output measured in GPM at a specified pressure

Dramm Nifty Nozzle Flow Rates Nifty Nozzle Flow Rate in Gallons Per Minute ITEMCOLORSIZE15 PSI22 PSI29 PSI36 PSI 360NN-BRBrown1.75 mm NN-GNGreen2.00 mm NN-GRGrey2.25 mm NN-BLBlue2.50 mm NN-RDRed2.75 mm NN-OROrange3.00 mm

Fixed Overhead Irrigation Systems Dramm JetRain Nozzles

ECHO System For hanging baskets Baskets hang from hooks on a cable system Irrigating nozzles remain in a fixed position Baskets are brought to the nozzles

ECHO System

Drip Systems

Spaghetti Tubes with Emitter Supply line with “punched in” spaghetti tubes Fertilizer solution applied to the surface of the growing medium Foliage remains dry

Spaghetti Tubes with Emitter

Dribble Ring Emitter

The End