Taking the Mystery Out of Micro-irrigation Jack Tichenor, Water Conserv. Agent Manatee County /University of Florida Extension Service (941) 722-4524 [email_address] http://manatee.ifas.ufl.edu/water.htm

3 Basic Ways to Irrigate Landscapes 1. Sprayers 3. Micro 2. Rotors

Shrub bed zone Grass zone Ideal site for micro-irrigation Use sprayers or rotors Jack Tichenor

Water Use Zones Separate irrigation zones into categories: Flowers, shrubs or trees in mulched beds Grass

Flowers, shrubs or trees in mulched beds

Grass

Separate Zones-Grass and Shrubs Depending upon the location, variety, etc; Most grass needs 20 to 35 inches of irrigation water per year. Most woody plants in mulched areas require approximately 10 inches of irrigation per year. (in addition to our 50+ inches rain per year) UF Bulletin 320, 1993 Jack Tichenor Why?

Depending upon the location, variety, etc; Most grass needs 20 to 35 inches of irrigation water per year.

Most woody plants in mulched areas require approximately 10 inches of irrigation per year.

Micro-Irrigation Applying small quantities of water directly to the plant root zone in the form of drops, tiny streams or miniature sprays while leaving unplanted spaces dry. Max. emitter flow rate is 30 gallons per hour.

Applying small quantities of water directly to the plant root zone in the form of drops, tiny streams or miniature sprays while leaving unplanted spaces dry. Max. emitter flow rate is 30 gallons per hour.

Best for shrub / flower beds. Easy to install and change. Can connect to hose,faucet or permanent. Use as “nurse” system on new plantings . Micro-Irrigation (also known as low-volume or drip)

Best for shrub / flower beds.

Easy to install and change.

Can connect to hose,faucet or permanent.

Use as “nurse” system on new plantings .

Distribution Tubing Water is brought to plants at low flow rates by plastic tubing

Poly Pipe – (Polyethylene) A flexible, low cost, plastic tubing widely used in micro-irrigation. Carbon-black is added to resin for UV light resistance.

A flexible, low cost, plastic tubing widely used in micro-irrigation. Carbon-black is added to resin for UV light resistance.

Tubing Max. Flow Rates (From Rainbird’s Low Volume Irrigation Design Manual pg. 67) *Assume no barb friction loss or elevation change. 4.8 PSI 13.5 GPM 810 GPH 1” 6.3 PSI 8.3 GPM (498 GPH) 3/4” 8.8 PSI 4.7 GPM (282 GPH) 1/2” PSI Loss per 100 ft.* Max. Flow GPM (GPH) Poly Distribution Pipe Size

4 Types of Micro-Irrigation Micro-Sprayers Drippers “ Shrubblers” Drip Tubing Jack Tichenor

Micro-Sprayer/Sprinklers Interchangeable emitters. Install on stake or riser. Wets larger surface area, mass plantings, plant groups. Easier to see operating. Wets foliage.

Interchangeable emitters.

Install on stake or riser.

Wets larger surface area, mass plantings, plant groups.

Easier to see operating.

Wets foliage.

Jack Tichenor

Distribution tubing “ Spaghetti” tubing Support stake Emitter Jack Tichenor

Shrubblers On short stake - sprays close to ground. Solid spray or rays in 180 or 360 pattern. Can be adjusted or shut off. Establish and maintain larger plants.

On short stake - sprays close to ground.

Solid spray or rays in 180 or 360 pattern.

Can be adjusted or shut off.

Establish and maintain larger plants.

Jack Tichenor

Distribution tubing “ Spaghetti” tubing Shrubbler & stake Jack Tichenor

Drippers Apply water directly to soil. Attach to dist. tubing or to “spaghetti tubing”. For widely spaced plants or pots. Made in flow rates of ½ gph up to 24 gph. Spaghetti tubes

Apply water directly to soil.

Attach to dist. tubing or to “spaghetti tubing”.

For widely spaced plants or pots.

Made in flow rates of ½ gph up to 24 gph.

Drippers Jack Tichenor

Jack Tichenor

Drip Tubing Emitters are factory installed inside tubing. Emitters are pressure compensating. Fewer parts & pieces. Generally out of sight. Dry foliage. Creates a row of wet circles. Jack Tichenor

Emitters are factory installed inside tubing.

Emitters are pressure compensating.

Fewer parts & pieces.

Generally out of sight.

Dry foliage.

Creates a row of

wet circles.

Drip Tubing Emitters

Circular pattern

PVC header to drip tubing

Drip Tubing Maximum Length* For Rainbird Xeri-Flex, 0.9GPH drippers @ 12” * Varies with spacing, flow rates & with manufacturer. Check product performance. 322 60 292 50 244 40 182 30 94 20 Max. Length in Feet Inlet Pressure in PSI

“ Portable” Micro System Timer/valve (optional) Backflow preventer Filter (optional) Tubing adapter Elbow or Tee Distribution tubing Emitter (sprayer) Closure Faucet connection Available in stores as a starter kit. Press. reg. (opt.) Jack Tichenor

“ Permanent” Micro System Valve box Isolation valve Filter Zone Valve Pressure regulator

Water Filter Removes particles to minimize clogging . Choose filter mesh based upon emitter size 120 mesh 1 GPH & up 150 mesh 0.6 to 0.9 GPH 200 mesh 0.5 GPH Filter Mesh Emitter Size

Pressure Regulator 1.Reduces incoming water pressure to help prevent rupturing plastic tubing & fittings. 2.Provides usable pressure range for emitters. Available in various pressures; 15, 20, 25 , 30, 40 PSI

PE or PVC pipe to micro zone Permanent System Jack Tichenor

PE piping from “stub up” to drip emitters Permanent System

1 FT TIMES 1 = 1 GAL/WEEK 2 FT TIMES 2 = 4 GAL/WEEK Plant diameter How much to apply?

1 FT x 1 = 1 gal/week 2 FT x 2 = 4 gal/week Dripper or bubbler installation .5gph . 5gph 1 gph 1 gph 1 gph 1 gph

Soil Moisture Content

Building Materials Store

Sources for Further Information: Manufacturer Websites: http://www.antelco.com http://www.digcorp.com http://www/mrdrip.com http://www.mrlandscaper.com http://www.rainbird.com http://www.toro.com http://www.watermatters.org Water Restrictions : Extension Publications: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/MENU_AE:IRR http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/MENU_EP Jack Tichenor

Questions?