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Published byJimmy Teed Modified over 9 years ago
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Irrigation Savings: Tips for Water Conservation Melissa Baum Haley Michael D. Dukes Agricultural & Biological Engineering University of Florida
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Keys in Irrigation Savings Efficiency Uniformity Design Scheduling Equipment Maintenance
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What is Irrigation Efficiency? W s is the irrigated water stored in the root zone W d is the water delivered to the area being irrigated
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Uniformity of Water Distribution
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Uniformity vs. Efficiency Root Zone Soil Below Root Zone
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Uniform -- Efficient Non-uniformity (100% uniformity not practical) Adequate irrigation
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Non-uniform -- Inefficient Under irrigated
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Non-uniform -- Inefficient Over irrigation
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Uniform -- Inefficient
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Head-to-Head Coverage Important for uniformity Reduces weed invasion
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Head-to-Head Coverage Due to water overlap, more uniform depth of distribution occurs
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How to Test Uniformity Catch-can Method
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Other Design Issues Pipe size Pressure Brand
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Zones Landscape zones can be turned off or greatly reduced once established Zone turf areas and bedding separately because of run time differences – precipitation rate Rotor, Spray, and Microirrigation heads zoned separately because of pressure Rotors – 60 psi Spray – 30 psi Micro – <30 psi
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Microirrigation Works well in bedded areas Irrigates 50% less area Types: Micro-Spray heads Drip Tubing
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Microirrigation
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Flow Rate and Precipitation Rate Spray heads 0.1 – 1 gpm = 1.5 – 8 in/hr Rotary heads 1 – 8 gpm = 0.3 – 2 in/hr Microirrigation (Drip) 0.05 – 0.5 gpm = 0.3 – 1.6 in/hr* * irrigates 50% less area
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Effects of Evapotranspiration Irrigate in early morning Irrigate when wind is low Greatly reduce run times during winter when grass is dormant
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Average Spring/Summer Run Times (2 times / wk) Spray heads 15-30 minutes Rotary heads 35-60 minutes Microirrigation (Drip) 35-60 minutes Some controllers allow for multiple programs
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Rain Sensor – Auto Shutoff Often the controller is set to run automatically No need to water during a rain storm Must be adjusted: how much rain will shut off the system Check that it works
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Controller Battery Backup Protects controller settings during power outages Without, the controller resets itself Many reset to water everyday for 10 minutes on every zone
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Backflow Prevention Acts as a check valve to prevent water from re-entering system Prevents contamination of the potable drinking water supply Will cause some pressure loss to system
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Pressure Regulators Regulates the amount of pressure entering system or zone All homes do not have the same initial water pressure Different zones require different pressures
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Maintenance Examine the system: Are the heads adjusted correctly? Are the heads clogged? Are any heads broken? What is being watered? Do the heads rise above grass height, ground cover, and shrubs?
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Broken Sprinkler Head
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What to Water
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Pop-up Height and Risers
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Irrigation Systems Must be a system approach All aspects are interrelated Efficiency Uniformity Design Scheduling Equipment Maintenance
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Questions?
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