Arrangement of automatic irrigation in a greenhouse: types of systems and their installation do it yourself

During operation of the irrigation system, automatic water supply will be carried out using the controller. At the signal of the controller, the electromechanical valve opens, and under a pressure of 0.2 atmosphere, a stream of water passes through the central line of drip tapes, fed directly under the root of each plant. Instead of drip tapes, the system can be equipped with hoses and droppers.

After installing the drip system, significant water savings are noted, on average, its consumption is reduced by 30%. In a greenhouse equipped with a drip irrigation system, the incidence of tomatoes, strawberries, and cucumbers is significantly reduced. The reason is optimal soil moisture. For a greenhouse in the country, drip irrigation is a good solution.

System assembly. The main stages of work

Making drip irrigation in the greenhouse with your own hands will not be difficult:

1For the installation of the system you will need a 100-200-liter barrel, which is raised to a height of about 1-2 meters. If there is a cover, openings for air intake are prepared in it. If there is no lid, it is better to cover the container with gauze.

2To insert a hose at the very bottom of the barrel, a hole is prepared with a tip valve installed in it.

3Each of the tubes or hoses is laid with a slight slope of 5 cm per meter of length. They are fixed on small pegs stuck in the ground.

4 Pipes that are too long should not be pulled - they will require very large tanks. It is much more profitable and more convenient to use several systems independent from each other.

5 PVC pipes are cut with a hacksaw, a pipe cutter or a miter saw. To obtain tight joints, the cut angle must be accurate and equal to 90 degrees. Therefore, it is better to clamp the pipes in a vice.

6 Small 2 mm holes must be made in hoses or plastic pipes. In a simple drip irrigation system in a greenhouse, do-it-yourself droppers can be replaced with pieces of ordinary wire, through which drops of water will descend and be fed to the plant.

7 Holes in the hose can be made with an awl or nail held by pliers. In PVC pipes, it is more convenient to make them with a drill on a tree of small diameter.

8When using the pipeline in the form of finished tapes, they are neatly laid out over the site

Pulling and dragging them with a drag is strictly prohibited.

9 Pay attention to the marks on the tape in the form of colored lines. On this side are the sprinklers

The system must be laid with colored lines up.

10Next, with the help of a clamp, the main trunk hose is fixed. A plug in the form of a wooden cork is inserted into its outlet (spout) hole.

11When connecting taps, fittings (tees and adapters), a fum tape or tow will be required for perfect sealing of joints.

12 Before inserting the plug, the system must be flushed with plastic chips that enter the pipes when drilling.

13The final step is to check the system. After starting the water, it is necessary to ensure that the water flows to each dropper, including the last one in the garden. The soil near them should be moistened evenly

When installing drip irrigation, adapters, tees and droppers should be inserted with effort, tight enough. A building hairdryer will help simplify the process. Heated holes will expand when exposed to heat, and work will go faster.

How to make an autowatering system

The easiest way is to buy.Now you can buy such a system in any large gardening store, but sometimes such systems may not suit you for some reason, and you will regret the money spent. Therefore, more and more summer residents are wondering how to make automatic watering in the greenhouse with their own hands.

You can make your system from almost any material at hand, you just need to show imagination.

The easiest and most common way is to make bottle irrigation in a greenhouse. To do this, cut off the bottom of the bottle and gently stick it near the plant. Pour water through the neck. As the soil dries, the water from the bottle will moisten the earth. The result is an excellent drip irrigation system.

Rain

Water through sprayers (sprinkler heads) is supplied in small drops to plants from above.

There are two ways to install sprayers in the greenhouse:

1. on suspended structures above: shower version,
2. on the floor: fountain watering.

Advantages of technology:

• dust is washed off the leaves of plants
• the bushes are cooling
• the room also gets cooler.

There are also disadvantages:

• increased water consumption: a significant part of it remains on the leaves and then evaporates,
• lack of watering in high sun: water droplets, working like lenses, focus the sun's rays to a point and cause a burn on a sheet plate,
• not only cultivated plants, but also weeds are equally abundantly watered,
• high pressure in the water supply is required: in the absence of a centralized water supply, a pump is definitely necessary,
• in a greenhouse, where there is no such free movement of air, as in an open area, humidity increases greatly.

The main disadvantage of rain watering in a greenhouse is its high humidity. Only some plants like this microclimate, for example, cucumbers. Tomatoes in such conditions suffer from late blight.

Drip

So-called drip tapes are laid along the beds on low supports or directly on the ground - flat hoses with emitters or other water supply devices. Through them, the liquid is gradually supplied to the bases of the plant stems.

Drop watering has become quite popular due to the following advantages:

• maintaining moderate humidity in the greenhouse,
• profitability: water is supplied strictly to the destination, therefore it is consumed in a minimum amount,
• reduction of labor costs for weeding: weeds do not receive moisture,
• the possibility of fertilizer in dissolved form along with watering: compared to dry top dressing, it is a safer and digestible form.

Water with drip irrigation is supplied by gravity from a tank installed at a level of 1.5 m: high pressure is not required.

Subsoil

A kind of drip irrigation in which pipes are buried in the ground.

For the greenhouse, this is the best way to supply water, since two more are added to all the advantages of the above-ground analog:

1. the soil surface is not moistened and therefore dry crust does not form on it,
2. watering does not affect humidity in the greenhouse at all.

But there are drawbacks due to which subsoil irrigation is still inferior to drip in prevalence:

• installation complexity: you have to dig channels,
• low reliability: holes are often clogged,

It is possible to control the operability of such a system and the result of its functioning only indirectly - according to the state of the plants.

Design

The irrigation system in the greenhouse consists of the following components:

1. filter. Without it, the small holes of the watering devices will quickly become clogged with dirt,
2. piping or hose system for delivering water to irrigation devices. To combine pipes into an extensive network, tees, corners (bends), couplings, etc., are required.
3. control valves.It’s important not to confuse it with a shut-off valve: the latter can only work in a fully open or completely closed form and is not intended to regulate the pressure (in this mode it wears out quickly),
4. watering devices. These are sprinkler heads and drip tapes. The latter is equipped with an adapter for connecting to a pipe (start-connector) with or without a stopcock,
5. the main element of autowatering is an electronic controller that controls the system,
6. buffer capacity.

The presence of a buffer tank is desirable, even if a centralized water supply is connected to the site, the arguments are as follows:

• in the tank, water before irrigation works heats up to a temperature comfortable for the plants. Watering with cold liquid directly from a water supply system or a well will lead to a disease of vegetation,
• a supply of water is useful in case of a shutdown of the pipeline or during the repair of a well pump,
• it is possible to collect rainwater by connecting gutters on the roofs of the greenhouse and nearby buildings with the tank.

Features of electronic auto-irrigation

In an automatic water supply system with an electronic controller, taps with a normally closed solenoid valve are used. When the time for watering comes, the controller through the built-in switches supplies current to the solenoid coil, and the tap opens, delivering water to the watering devices.

The simplest models of controllers are equipped with a timer and include watering at a time set by the user.

More complex are equipped with sensors:

• soil moisture: thanks to it, the irrigation system is switched on only when it is really necessary,
• rain: blocks the system in inclement weather,
• water temperature in the buffer tank: excludes watering plants with cold water,
• water level: after emptying the buffer tank, it forces the controller to turn on the pump or open the water tap to recruit a new portion.

Equipped with “smart” auto-irrigation sensors, it selects the optimal irrigation mode and minimizes user involvement. The most sophisticated controllers for automatic water supply to plants are equipped with a GSM module. It allows you to control the system from a smartphone and transmit messages to the user about its status and emergency situations.

How to install?

We will consider installation by the example of the Aqua Dusia Start autowatering system:

1. having drawn up a plan of the greenhouse, they calculate the length of drip tapes and main pipes (hoses), connecting elements, plugs, etc. According to the drawn up specification, they purchase a kit,
2. at a height of 10-40 cm a barrel is installed,
3. The supplied float valve crashes into the wall, then a water supply is connected to it.
4. at the bottom of the barrel install the pump from the kit. The hose from it is thrown over the edge of the tank. It is not necessary to cut out the drain hole in the barrel: the pump will pump a portion of water at the command of the controller, it will jump over the edge of the barrel and then go by gravity. At the controller’s shutdown command, the pump delivers air to the system, and the water jet is interrupted. It is not necessary to bring power to the equipment - it works on batteries,
5. the controller is mounted at the barrel and connected to the pump,
6. on the ground or on the supports (will last longer) lay the main hose and connect it to the pipe from the pumping device.

Drip tapes laid along the beds are connected to the highway.

How to do it yourself?

Not every gardener is willing to spend money on the purchase of a factory-made automatic watering system. Many try to build something like this on their own.

Here are some suggestions:

1. irrigation method selection. The drip irrigation is recognized as optimal: it is somewhat inferior to the subsoil in quality indicators (increases humidity, forms a crust on the surface), but it is easy to install and easy to control,
2. Control block. Timers and controllers are available separately. The kit includes a solenoid valve, embedded in a homemade irrigation system. By the number of channels, two varieties of the above devices are distinguished - single and multi-channel. The former support one standard irrigation function, the latter serve several zones, with the ability to set their own irrigation regime for each of them,
3. filter. There are three types of devices for rough water purification: filling (sand), mesh (the working element is made in the form of a glass, in which trash is trapped) and disk. The latter is a package of polymer disks with grooves that form a spatial mesh structure during compression. Water moves through the packet in a spiral. In comparison with a mesh filter, the disc filter is easier to clean, more effectively retains long thin fibers and is not destroyed by salts dissolved in water,
4. pipes. It is impractical to use steel: there are no high pressure and temperature in the irrigation system. Usually choose plastic pipes for their low cost and low weight. In addition, they are easy to handle and connect, and are not subject to corrosion. Deposits do not accumulate on the walls. The elasticity of polymer pipes eliminates their destruction when water freezes (this statement applies equally to polyethylene and polypropylene products).

When used as a hose line, a version with opaque walls is used. Otherwise, the water in it will bloom.

It is best to use plastic pipes

To supply water to drip tapes by gravity, the container is installed at a height of 100-150 cm. Protection from direct sunlight is required - this eliminates the flowering of water. To prevent the pipes from becoming clogged by sediment accumulated in the tank, the drain valve is installed not at the very bottom, but at a certain distance from it.

To drain the sludge, it is advisable to provide a separate crane at the lowest point. If there is a water supply system, the tank is equipped with a float valve and water supply is connected to it. When using a well or a well, a pump is used controlled by a flow sensor or pressure switch installed in the pipe.

The best drip tapes are emitter, there are two types:

1. with compensated droppers: consumption does not depend on the length of the tape,
2. with uncompensated: water consumption is directly dependent on the length of the tape.

Slotted are cheaper, but if there is pollution in the water, they quickly become clogged. The tape will last the longer, the greater its thickness. The latter varies from 5 to 15 mm.

Expensive drip tapes can be replaced with ordinary garden hoses with self-tapping screws screwed into them. Unscrewing or screwing the hardware, adjust the intensity of the water supply. It is possible to organize partially automated watering with virtually no costs, using plastic bottles.

Two options are practiced:

1. in the bottle cap with a volume of 1.5 or 2 liters with a heated nail, make several holes, then put gauze or cloth (filter) in it and screw it on the neck,
2. cut the bottom, but not to the end, but leave a small jumper. It turns into a cover to protect the interior from dirt.

Homemade plastic bottle greenhouse irrigation system

Each bush carefully, in order not to damage the roots, instill such a bottle at an angle of 45 degrees to the horizon with the neck down to a depth of 10-15 cm. Along the beds of carrots, onions, lettuce and other crops growing in rows, the bottles are installed every 15 cm.

Having opened the bottom-cap, the bottle is filled with water, which is then supplied to the roots in a drop-wise manner for several days. The filling process can be simplified by laying a pipe with a branch for each bottle (you will need the appropriate number of tees).The device will be more reliable if the cover with holes is replaced with a garden dropper - it is less prone to clogging.

Related videos

How to arrange automatic watering in the greenhouse with your own hands:

To organize a functional irrigation system that works with minimal participation of the owner or without it at all is quite simple today. To do this, it is not necessary to spend money on a factory-made kit - you can, as described, collect watering from improvised materials and equip it with an inexpensive timer.

The option with the controller will cost a little more, but it will analyze the soil moisture and water the area as necessary.

System installation

Installation of drip irrigation from the water supply system consists of several stages:

1. Install a central pipe or hose.
2. Using fittings, lines of drip tapes are mounted.
3. Turn off the water supply to the water supply.
4. Through the drain, the water supply and the hose of the irrigation system are connected.
5. Set a timer and check valve (optional).
6. Install the filter.
7. Connect automation.

Installation of the simplest system provides for the presence of a water tank located at a height of 1-1.5 m. A 200-liter barrel is usually used. If it is not possible to install it on a hill, a pump is connected to provide pressure in the line.

Do-it-yourself drip irrigation system for a greenhouse is easy to do

It is important to design it correctly, choose the necessary equipment and assemble it into a single design

Biological basis of irrigation ↑

Its essence is that watering is carried out with droplets of water, it falls directly into the root zone of each individual plant. Do not be afraid that not all plant roots will be in the wet zone. With such irrigation, not a moistened cone is formed, but a large sphere.

The system gives huge advantages: water, labor resources are saved, the yield is increased. Weeds disappear, which simply do not get water, there is no soil erosion. Diseases spreading due to moisture on the leaves of plants (for example, late blight) disappear with drip irrigation. Now we can expect an increase in yield by 70 percent.

Allows you to grow vegetables with minimal water consumption

Efficiency is evidenced by the fact that in Israel watering crops of open and protected soil is exclusively such. Moreover, tiny Israel with a quarter of the Rostov region feeds its 8 million inhabitants, being a large agricultural exporter.

Calculation of water volume and duration of irrigation

For the manufacture of homemade drip irrigation, you should first draw up a plan indicating the length of the beds and the location of plants on it. Next, a drip irrigation scheme is outlined, where the location of each of the pipelines and the container for collecting water (barrels) is indicated.

A detailed plan of the system is needed not only to determine the total length of the pipes, but also the number of droppers, as well as adapters, tees and other details.

For cucumbers, 2 liters of water per bush is considered the norm

Next, you need to calculate the consumed volume of water, that is, the size of the required capacity (barrels). For example, for laying a pipeline 10 m long with a distance between droppers (nozzles) of 30 cm, 34 pieces will be needed. If each of them "gives out" 5 l / h, then 34 droppers will let 170 l pass through itself.

If the length of the system is greater, then you need too much capacity. Therefore, it is better to split the drip system into two or use a constant source of water.

You can use drip irrigation for any type of planting. Only the scale and type of equipment is changing. In addition to greenhouse plants, it can be used to water vegetables and fruits in the open ground, as well as flowers, trees and shrubs.

The water consumption for drip irrigation for such moisture-loving plants as cucumbers is 2 liters per bush, that is, several times less than the usual norm.Drip irrigation of tomatoes in a greenhouse with already formed fruits is made 1 time in 4 days.

Each plant will need 1.5 liters of water. Cabbage and potatoes will need 2.5 liters per day.
Thus, when water is supplied from a dropper of 3 l / hour, it will take a little less than an hour to irrigate cucumbers, tomatoes for about 30 minutes, cabbage and early potatoes for about an hour.

Pumps and filters

For irrigation you need settled water, therefore, a metal or plastic barrel performs not only a reserve function, accumulating water. In a barrel, water is heated to air temperature, when watering, this has a positive effect on plant health. A tap must be inserted into the bottom of the barrel. A tap is needed for emergency drainage of water and for conducting an audit: cleaning the tank of debris, rust, sediment. A pipe for supplying water is mounted in the upper part of the tank, a pipe supplying water to the greenhouse is located in its lower part.

There are certain criteria that you must adhere to when choosing a pump. Purchase a pump if it meets the requirements of:

it is easy to mount and dismantle,

• there is a soft start system,
• low noise
• case material is resistant to chemicals that make up fertilizer,
• optimum power
• possibility of automation.

Automated greenhouse irrigation systems must be equipped with high-quality filters for water purification. Reliable operation of irrigation systems will largely depend on the quality of the water used. Drip tapes quickly fail when using untreated water. For small greenhouses with a barrel as a drive, mesh filters are suitable.

Selection of materials for arranging irrigation

Greenhouses installed in summer cottages and garden plots usually have a standard length of 6-8 meters. For such small structures, drip tubes of a smaller diameter (8 mm) can be used. For such thin hoses, special fittings are available that facilitate the process of connecting the individual elements of a homemade drip irrigation system. If tubes for external droppers are used, then there is a need to purchase even thinner hoses with a diameter of only 3-5 mm. These tubes connect external droppers and tips through which water is supplied to the root system of each plant.

The micro-drip irrigation system, assembled from 8-mm tubes, includes a number of microfittings, among which are:

• full plungers
• tees
• corners
• stubs
• crosses
• minicranes
• fittings, providing the transition to threaded connections,
• anti-drainage valves.

Due to their conical shape, the fittings are easily inserted, ensuring the integrity of the system at pressures up to 3 atmospheres. To equalize the pressure to acceptable values ​​(0.8-2 atm), special gears are built into the system.

The main components that may be needed when self-assembling a drip irrigation system for plants grown in a greenhouse in a summer cottage

Water gets to the roots of plants through tips, which can be ordinary and labyrinth. The first is chosen when only one tip is supposed to be put on a dropper. The second option is necessary in the case when two or four tips are connected to the dropper through the splitters.

Drip irrigation system complete with gearbox necessary to control the pressure level of water coming from the water pipe

Ready Kits

A huge number of ready-made sets of automatic irrigation systems in the greenhouse are presented on the modern market. Thanks to this, each summer resident will be able to choose the most optimal option for himself. Ariston ready-made kits that are designed for one or more irrigation zones are very popular today.They can be installed in small greenhouses, which include 2 or 3 beds. This system is perfect for watering any vegetables and fruits. Most of the company's models differ in water consumption of 2-3 liters per hour.

Among the distinctive advantages of the products of this company:

• Lightweight and easy to use
• Reliability and durability of use,
• The ability to control the level of water consumption,
• The presence of a rain sensor,
• Water saving.

Hunter automatic irrigation systems are very popular on the domestic market, which include a large assortment of various irrigation equipment.

In particular, the company offers the following positions:

• Sprinklers - watering is carried out using ultra-advanced rotor and fan sprinklers,
• Nozzles - are made exclusively of high quality plastic, therefore they are characterized by high quality and durability,
• Valves - the manufacturer has developed many valves that allow you to work with different voltages.

Hunter has been specializing in the manufacture of high-quality nozzles and sprinklers for many years. The products of this company are known both for their impressive quality and reasonable price.

For greenhouses made of polycarbonate, it is best to choose rotary options that differ in a more complex device, but at the same time boast more coherent and stable operation. A distinctive feature of such Hunter auto-irrigation systems is that they can be adjusted to a predetermined radius of water supply, so that resource consumption can be controlled. Hunter controllers and sensors are high-end devices that are able to make the operation of the automatic irrigation system as reliable and efficient as possible. Thanks to this, the user can set various irrigation settings, including duration, rotation, etc.

The advantage of this automatic watering system is the presence of special sensors that ensure the sensitivity of the system to external conditions and start irrigation when too much dryness in the greenhouse. It is this function that makes the system completely independent of the owner and allows it to work in automatic mode. Hunter also offers non-volatile complex pumps that can operate in multiple modes. You can connect the irrigation system to both the water pipe and the barrel.

See how to arrange automatic watering in the greenhouse with your own hands in the next video.

Water supply: options

When automatic or manual operation of drip irrigation systems is selected, it is necessary to determine how the flow of fluid will occur. Almost never use food directly from the water supply or well, more often use barrels or even tanks.

When planning a network of pipelines, they focus on:

• the relief of the site where the greenhouse is located,
• soil conditions
• generally accepted standards for the proper organization of irrigation.

It is important to determine the choice of drip irrigation systems using natural pressure and equipped with pumps. In both cases we are talking about designs designed to irrigate a large area

If the water pressure is small, it will not be possible to water the beds longer than 10 m. And if the system is designed for a significant flow intensity, it turns out to be more complicated and is created only with the help of specialists.

The system of plastic bottles

The simplest version of the irrigation drip network can be assembled with your own hands from plastic bottles. The disadvantage of the system is the high speed of water supply. To adjust the flow of fluid is possible only by changing the radius of the holes. The main advantage is ease of manufacture, low cost of materials. To make do-it-yourself drip irrigation based on plastic bottles, you will need:

• suspension, support,
• rope,
• awl,
• plastic bottles.

Plastic Bottle Irrigation System

The irrigation network is done as follows:

1. Holes in the bottle caps and sides near the bottom are made with a hot awl. The bottom is cut above the holes.
2. Supports are set above the beds.
3. Bottles are suspended at a small distance (4-6 cm) from the plants, filled with liquid.

Automatic drip irrigation from a barrel

The scheme of the drip irrigation system for the greenhouse differs from the previous one by the possibility of more flexible settings, connecting additional valves equipped with sensors, timers. The pluses of the option include full saturation of the soil with moisture, the quality of the water entering the plants. The disadvantage of the irrigation network is the difficulty of self-installation. For installation you will need:

• storage tank,
• tee,
• drip labyrinth tape,
• drip tape cap
• valve valve
• polycarbonate pipes,
• filter,
• gaskets
• start connectors.

Barrel auto-irrigation system

The irrigation network is done according to the scheme:

1. The tank is mounted on a fixed support.
2. Three holes are made in the walls of the tank, where cranes are installed using seals.
3. Pipes are connected to the middle tap through a filter.
4. A network of pipes is laid against the wall of the greenhouse, across the beds, in both directions through a tee.
5. Through the start connectors, a drip tape is connected to the pipes, which is laid along the beds at the roots of the plants.
6. Outlets of pipes and drip tape are closed with plugs.

When to water

Watering time for tomatoes grown in greenhouse conditions directly depends on weather conditions and on the design features of the greenhouse. As a rule, if the weather is dry and warm, then you can water the tomatoes at any time, except at night. But in this case, in the daytime, you need to pour water very carefully under the root so that it does not fall on the surface of the foliage, since the sun's rays in this case can leave burns on the leaf plates.

Experienced gardeners recommend starting watering in the afternoon, since by this time the water in the barrel has time to warm up well, because it cools down during the night.

Please note that you can not water the bushes in the late evening or at night, because the greenhouse is tightly closed at night and therefore the air humidity rises very much, which is detrimental to tomatoes. If you decide to water the tomatoes in the evening, then ventilate the greenhouse well to remove excess moisture from it.

If you decide to water the tomatoes in the evening, then ventilate the greenhouse well to remove excess moisture from it.

If the weather is cool and damp, then watering is carried out before lunch, in which case the structure will be well ventilated until evening.

Criterias of choice

There are several main types of automatic irrigation systems on the modern market, and the choice of a particular mechanism usually depends on the design of the greenhouse itself and the requirements of the crops grown in it.

Types, device, advantages and disadvantages of each possible option are presented in the following table.

It is difficult to say exactly which of the presented options is best, therefore, when choosing a specific type of irrigation system, each summer resident should be based on the characteristics of the crops grown and the microclimate in the greenhouse.

You will also be interested to learn how to make warm beds in the greenhouse with your own hands.

For example, sprinkling is perfect for industrial buildings with a large area, especially if you take care of the possibility of moving the irrigation system directly under the roof.
Sprinkling
For small private greenhouses, a drip irrigation system, which supplies moisture directly to the root system of each plant, is considered a more suitable option.

Cucumbers, tomatoes and peppers do not respond well to waterlogging, and there is an opportunity to avoid waterlogging and the development of putrefactive processes on the aerial parts of crops.

Important! When arranging a drip irrigation system, it is worthwhile to install a filter on the tank with water, especially if the liquid is supplied in the area from rivers or lakes, without thorough cleaning (process water).

Watering Rules

: using drip tape, sprinkling, or the soil system. After all, all these modern irrigation techniques will not work competently if you neglect the rules of water supply.

• Try not to use cold water in the greenhouse. Ideally, let the liquid settle and heat up with sunlight.
• Watering is necessary evenly. A portion of the drops should be completely absorbed, then watering should be continued.
• To keep water in the ground, the wells with crops must be covered with straw, which will not allow water to evaporate for a rather long amount of time.
• To prevent the ground from being too wet, you should check to see if it is actually dry before watering. To do this simply with a metal pin. It must be stuck in the soil next to the plant to a shallow depth. The land adhering to it will say that there is no need to water it yet.
• The composition of the water must be of high quality. Use a filter to clean. This is especially true when sprinkling and watering with drops.

By using auto-irrigation, which seems more efficient and suitable for your crops, you can achieve amazingly high yields. The main thing is to take into account all the nuances, to calculate the amount of water required for the greenhouse in proportion to the need of plants and the area of ​​construction.

Types of drip irrigation systems

The drip irrigation system can be designed independently from individual components or use a turnkey solution from manufacturers of garden equipment. In any case, you need to know what types of systems exist, how they function and are automated. From ready-made solutions, several types of structures are distinguished.

T-tape

Itself is inexpensive and simple. It is a complex of thin hoses that feed water to plants.The disadvantage of the system is the need for an additional filter, otherwise the tubes will soon be filled with debris and impurities. The factory filter proposed by the manufacturers of the system costs almost as much as it does. But the summer residents found a way out: they replace it with inexpensive and affordable devices:

• 5 micron osmotic filter (100-120 rubles),
• a plastic bottle filled with sand, capron and sintepon ribbons (free of charge).

With PVC hose

Structurally, such a system is a thick hose laid between the beds, from which thin droppers extend from both sides. This is a cost-effective and reliable solution with a long service life.

The only drawback of such systems is the significant consumption of water to fill all its components: hoses and droppers.

Labyrinth Tape

In the device systems of this type, drip tapes are used, inside which there are partitions that form a kind of maze. This provides two important benefits:

1. pressure equalization
2. water supply in drops, not jets.

The average liquid flow rate is 2-4 l / h. The device of such a system is simple. It will be required:

• a tank installed at a height of 100-150 cm or a central water supply with a pressure of not more than 2 atmospheres,
• plastic fittings for wiring,
• clamps for fixing to pegs and other supports,
• ball valve that opens and closes the water supply.

All elements, except capacity, are included in the system. It provides stable watering of plants without electricity and additional equipment to stabilize the pressure.

Automated Systems

The simplest automatic drip irrigation systems consist of several elements:

• water tank
• pump,
• hoses (water hoses),
• emitter, labyrinth or slotted droplet tapes with a diameter of 22 or 16 mm,
• filter.

More complex are complemented by:

• sensors
• a timer
• controller
• heating elements.

Knowing the device of an automatic drip irrigation system, it can be assembled independently from improvised materials and factory components. To do this, you need to get acquainted with the best offers of garden equipment manufacturers.

What do you need for the device of automatic irrigation in the greenhouse with your own hands?

Scheme of autonomous irrigation of the greenhouse.

To set up an autowatering system, you need a minimal set of tools:

• water tank of suitable volume,
• copper or vinyl hoses,
• traffic jams,
• flexible hoses
• filter,
• awl,
• nuts
• gaskets.

Having created such an irrigation system, you will get the opportunity:

• carry out a slow water supply directly to the root layer of flowers or cultivated plants, while flowers and plants will absorb up to 95-97% of the moisture obtained,
• provide plants with moisture at the right time and in the quantity they need,
• to establish a water supply with the necessary fertilizers for plants, the consumption of which with this method of organization is reduced by 50%,
• to create the most favorable phytosanitary conditions during watering and reduce the likelihood of developing diseases due to the fact that the leaves and other vegetative organs of plants remain dry,
• create in the greenhouse an effective fight against various diseases of cultivated plants and soil pests by introducing systemic drugs at the same time as irrigation water,
• provide protection against washing off of preparations and other plant protection products, as is usually the case when sprinkling,
• to prevent the spread of weeds and to limit their development between rows by local application of water and fertilizers,
• Harvest and care for plants at any suitable time.

Scheme drip irrigation of the greenhouse.

First of all, you need to prepare a suitable source for water supply.As such a source, a barrel raised to a suitable height, a well or a well, and a water supply can be used. You must know that for frequent drip irrigation in greenhouses, in no case should you use water from various open reservoirs. The reason is that the algae that are in the water will instantly block the droppers.

For the device in the greenhouse you need a special tape. It is a thin-walled tube, which after filling with water takes a round shape. Droppers are arranged at the same distance inside this tape (the distance for watering tomatoes is 30 cm, for watering beets, cucumbers and carrots - 15 cm, for watering flowers the gap can be any).

Prepare a disk filter. It is needed in order to extend the life of the drip tape. The cost of such a filter corresponds to the price of several tens of meters of drip tape, so you decide: periodically buy a new filter or replace the entire tape for irrigation.

Buy a pressure regulator. Drop automatic irrigation is designed for water pressure not exceeding 100 kPa (1 atmosphere). If you use a water supply for irrigation, in which the pressure can exceed this mark even for a short time, you must use a regulator.

Prepare a distribution pipe. To provide irrigation water beds, the total area of ​​which does not exceed 3 acres, a pipe with a diameter of 32 mm will be sufficient. You can buy such a pipe in any construction store. Consider the fact that pipes made from recycled polyethylene are not suitable for.

You will need fittings (fittings) to connect the drip tape to the distribution pipe. Fittings can be with faucets or without them. Faucets are needed to provide moisture to plants that need different amounts.

You will also need plugs, clamps, connectors, gaskets and other peripherals, which are necessary for the installation and use of the automatic irrigation system in the greenhouse.

Features of autowatering

Automatic irrigation is the irrigation of land under the control of equipment. Such a water supply system is designed to supply moisture to the soil or directly into it at a certain period of time according to predetermined parameters. Automatic watering can also independently control the amount of moisture supplied, taking into account the external temperature of the air. By installing such a system in a greenhouse, you can forget about frequent watering by hand. The system itself analyzes the factors by which the required amount of time for irrigation is calculated.

By purpose, automatic irrigation can be divided into the following types:

• Agricultural watering, which is designed for installation in greenhouses or open fields where vegetables are grown,
• Landscape autowatering - designed to supply moisture to plants for decorative purposes (flowers, shrubs),
• Combined autowatering is designed for irrigating areas with mixed vegetation.

How to choose autowatering

1. Decide which autowatering you need - drip, rain or subsoil. In mixed plantings of crops that love dry and humid air, drip irrigation systems for greenhouses or subsurface are better. If weed control is not to your liking, then give preference to the drip.
2. Make a plan for the greenhouse - measure the size of the beds, develop a planting plan, then calculate the necessary amount of material to create automatic irrigation, if you will do it yourself, or devote the installation organization to your plans.
3. Decide whether you need to fully automate the irrigation in the greenhouse or whether it will be controlled manually at the starting point of the water supply. The final price of autowatering, as well as the amount of time that can be devoted to other, no less useful matters, depends on this.

Autowatering in a greenhouse: system composition and types of autowatering

The development of innovative technologies did not pass farmers and country houses, and today the market offers to purchase automatic irrigation systems controlled by specialized software that determines how much moisture and organic matter plants need. The use of automatic irrigation contributes to the most economical consumption of water, and also allows you to save growing crops in conditions of moisture deficiency.

Important! Greenhouse automatic irrigation is a system by which irrigation is carried out at a strictly defined time by a strictly established amount of water and minerals necessary to maintain the normal functioning of crops.

Autowatering system consists of the following elements:

• Water tankequipped with a heating system, providing heating of water to room temperature, which is most favorable for plants,
• Controllerintended for irrigation at a given time, while the option of supplying water, time and its quantity is determined individually. All these data, including the watering mode, are stored in the device’s memory,
• Temperature sensorsnecessary to determine the most optimal water temperature. If the water temperature is below the required level, temperature sensors are triggered, which entails the inclusion of automatic heating.

Briefly consider the main types of autowatering in order to further focus on the most commonly used methods of autowatering in farm and country practice. Distinguish:

Sprinkling - One of the types of automatic irrigation, the essence of which is the spraying of water over the area of ​​the greenhouse, as a result of which it falls on the plants from above. To implement this system of automatic irrigation, specialized spray nozzles are used, which, rotating around its axis, are able to cover vast territories. Due to a significant lack of sprinkling, which implies water entering the aboveground parts of plants, the use of this method is very limited.

Subsoil irrigation, the use of which is justified only in large greenhouses aimed at growing perennial crops produced in large quantities. This method is based on the use of pipes with a porous structure, which are buried inside the soil.

Drip autowatering - The most commonly used version of autowatering, which allows the most ergonomic management of water resources. In the process of using this method, increased soil moisture is created, due to which plants are protected from winter temperature extremes. In addition, the use of this method prevents the development of weeds in greenhouses.

Arrangement of a drip irrigation system in a greenhouse: urgency of the problem

Actual problems that both beginners and gardening professionals face every year are the need for timely and effective watering, the introduction of the optimal amount of fertilizer, as well as pest control. And for beginners, these problems are most acute. How to ensure timely watering so that each plant receives a sufficient amount of moisture? How not to overdo it with the amount of fertilizer, if you are constantly tempted to contribute more and thereby increase productivity? Often, good intentions turn into a waste of effort and money, and crops are affected by excessive moisture by late blight, and in fresh tomatoes from the garden the threshold of harmful substances exceeds all existing standards. How to deal with this? The answer is very simple - to equip a system of automatic watering plants.

• In order for cultivated plants to gradually move from one stage of development to another, it is necessary to satisfy the needs of the root system in oxygen,
• In the case of traditional irrigation, this is often not possible, since excess moisture pushes air bubbles out of the root zone, thereby depleting the soil. It follows from this that the lack of complete absence of air in the root zone impedes the proper development of garden crops,
• In the case of arranging a drip irrigation system, moisture flows freely to the root of the plant, thereby preventing air from being pushed out of the soil. The simultaneous presence of air and moisture in the soil eliminates the constant need for additional fertilizers and provides optimal conditions for plant life.

The principle of operation of drip lines: main features and varieties

Before we talk about making a drip irrigation system with our own hands, we will consider the general principle of its operation. Simplified drip irrigation scheme consists of three units: water intake, carried out from a water supply system, well or well, filtration, after which water reaches the third and, perhaps, the main link of the drip system - drip lines. They can be represented by drip tapes or drip tubes, which are represented by pipes made of polyethylene with a diameter of 1.5 to 2 cm, equipped with specialized auto-irrigation elements - droppers, which can be either external or integrated into the tube. Initially, at the dawn of development, a drip automatic irrigation system, experts introduced outer droppers to the world, which were inserted into a suitable hose manually. External droppers were classified as compensated and uncompensated, and also differed in accordance with the flow of water and the number of outputs. A distinctive feature of such droppers is a commitment to long-term operation. Due to the fact that the dropper is a non-separable element of the system, and its mechanical cleaning is obviously impossible, modern engineers emphasized the development of a self-cleaning system from pollution, which also aims to extend the operational life.

A significant innovation in the development of drip systems was the integration of droppers inside the hose. There are several varieties of integrated droppers, which, despite some unprincipled differences in design, consist of an integrated filter, a valve and a labyrinth, which is a complex device through which water flows. Despite the fact that the hoses with integrated droppers are thinner, their service life significantly exceeds the life of the previous varieties. The characteristic features of their appearance gave reason to call them drip tapes.

Important! You must be able to distinguish drip tapes from less efficient drip tubes made of thermally bonded polyethylene. In the process of welding the seam, they acquire microscopic filtering holes, which are a primitive similarity to the built-in dropper. Despite the fact that, like the other varieties of drip tapes, they were developed by Israeli specialists, they could not take root in the world market, although they continue to be used in some less developed countries due to their low cost.

Advantages of the drip auto irrigation system

• Ensuring full and timely hydration of each plant,
• Design features contribute to the rational distribution of all moisture,
• Simplicity of design provides ease of use,
• Using the drip irrigation system, you will forever forget about the excessive consumption of water,
• Water entering the aerial part of plants is also deliberately excluded,
• The ability to simultaneously moisturize and make organic and mineral fertilizers,
• Reducing the amount of soil washed out from under the plants,
• Ease of assembly and affordable pricing.

How to make autowatering in a greenhouse: arrangement options

To efficiently and efficiently equip a system of automatic watering in the greenhouse with your own hands, you can go in two ways:

• Purchase a ready-made kit and assemble it,
• Show imagination and carry out self-assembly of the system from improvised materials.

In the first case, experts recommend choosing a ready-made drip irrigation system, made ideally by a reputable manufacturer with a good reputation. In the selection process, be guided by the following criteria:

• Ease and convenience of operation,
• The presence of a variety of functions,
• The quality of parts and the size of the complete system,
• Level of workflow automation.

In the second case, you can choose one of the popular horticultural ideas for arranging a drip irrigation system, as well as develop your own automatic watering scheme, and using your technical skills and theoretical knowledge in this field, make a drip irrigation system from improvised materials.

Experts recommend giving preference to assembling the finished kit produced by the leading brand, since in this case, spending less time on assembling the system, you will organize the highest quality irrigation system that is insured against emergencies and breakdowns.

How to assemble a drip irrigation system from a ready-made kit?

The following items are included in the finished drip system kit:

• Drip tape
• A set of branches and fittings necessary for repair,
• Disc filter to prevent frequent clogging of the system,
• Start connectors equipped with taps and rubber seals,
• Connectors connecting the filter and the hose,

Since the goal of any work, including the assembly of the drip irrigation system, is to complete the installation as quickly as possible and without any special physical and material costs, perform the work in several stages proposed by our experts:

• First of all, design a line layout project,
• Prepare the tools necessary for the job,
• Check the accuracy of the configuration of each individual element of the system,
• Build the system.

Important nuances to consider in the design process

The development of a work plan and a project for distributing an irrigation system is not difficult, but despite this, it is necessary to take into account a number of certain nuances:

Develop a greenhouse plan on a scale so that it can accurately determine the location of the beds and their parameters. Development of a greenhouse project is not difficult. To do this, use the tape measure to make the appropriate measurements, and then transfer them to the plan, taking into account the desired scale.

Important! The laying of the hoses must be carried out in such a way that the hoses pass through all the beds.

Determine the source of water in the design of the irrigation system and mark the place of its installation in the plan of the greenhouse. As a source of water in the drip irrigation system, a container of a suitable volume is used, to which the pipeline is connected.

What you need to know about the main pipeline?

As you already understood, drawing up a plan is not just a whim of responsible masters, but an event that will subsequently facilitate the work. This is due to the fact that the main pipeline is often not included in the finished set of the system, and therefore, it is necessary to calculate its length. This task will facilitate the previously drawn up plan of the greenhouse.

Important! For the installation of a drip irrigation system, it is recommended to use a polyethylene pipe designed for cold water, the diameter of which does not exceed 32 mm. If this condition is not observed, it may be difficult to drill holes and fix fittings.

Standard drip irrigation system assembly plan

• The installation location of the filter is determined only by your preferences, however, it is important to follow one simple rule: installation of the filter should be carried out in the area between the pipeline and the water source,
• Using the start connector, connect the drip tape to the main pipeline. In this case, it is important to take into account the nuance that the drip tape must pass through absolutely all beds,
• When finished, plug the end of the drip tape.

If we consider the installation process of the drip system in more detail, it looks as follows:

To connect the hose to the main pipeline, use specialized fittings purchased in advance at the store,

As practice shows, in most cases the filters are collapsible and easy to clean. The filter is installed in the supply hose.

Important! When installing the filter, pay attention to its housing, where you will see arrows showing the direction of water movement. When installing, it is important not to confuse anything and install the filter in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.

The next step is to connect the drip tape to the pipeline. The previously drawn up plan of the greenhouse will help us again with this, thanks to which we know the exact location of the beds in the greenhouse.

So, in accordance with the plan, on the main pipeline in places of future fastening of the drip tape, make a marker mark,

Using a drill, in the places of marks we drill holes, the diameter of which should be such that the seals included in the kit hardly pass into them,

After you have drilled holes in the pipeline and inserted rubber seals into them, insert the start-connectors with a tap into them. The start connectors are fastened by tightening the nut.

Following these recommendations, you get the opportunity to turn off the irrigation of one or more beds without turning off the irrigation of the entire greenhouse.

Important! Some manufacturers manufacture start-connectors without cranes, and therefore, it is important to monitor this in the process of choosing a kit. If you do not pay attention and purchase start connectors without taps, you cannot turn off the watering of one of the beds without shutting down the entire system.

Installation of cranes is carried out on those beds where crops that do not require frequent watering grow.

Important! As specialists in this field, we recommend installing cranes on all beds without exception. This will be convenient if you consider it necessary to apply fertilizer only to certain beds, while disabling the beds that do not need to be fertilized.

The next step involves attaching the drip tape to the start connectors, which is carried out with little effort. In the subsequent place of their connection is tightened with a nut.

Important! Of great importance is the correct arrangement of droppers on a drip tape, which should be located on top.

At the end of all work, the drip tape must be carried out to the end of the bed and drowned. To do this, they cut it off in the right place, fold the end and finally fix it, which can be done using a drip tape,

If the configuration of your beds is characterized by an irregular shape, you can always branch the drip tape with the help of special splitters. To do this, the drip tape is cut in the right place and a tee or double is inserted, with which you can direct the watering in the right direction,

The opposite end of the main pipeline must also be plugged.

To automate the water supply process, a drip irrigation system is made in accordance with the above recommendations, however, in this case, after installing the filter, it is necessary to install an autocontroller and a timer for automatic irrigation of greenhouses, which can be programmed to be switched on at any time of the week, day or hour.The drip auto irrigation system is ready. Thus, with minimal time and money, you will see a tremendous effect from the installation of a drip auto irrigation system.

Drip irrigation system

Another name for this system is spot irrigation. Most often, you can find this type of autowatering on the scale of small garden plots. The main advantage of this type of system is low cost. Water with a small pressure is supplied through hoses from an autonomous structure (a tank that is filled, for example, from a well) and through droppers gets directly to the roots of plants.

Another advantage of this irrigation system is that due to the slow and uniform wetting of the soil, the soil at the roots is always kept moist and never dries. Another plus: the water goes entirely to the plant, but weeds do not, which is usually inevitable with ordinary watering from a watering can.

There are two options for providing a drip system: either you make holes yourself and fit the droppers, or it’s easier to buy a special hose, inside it is a special capillary labyrinth that slows down the flow of water and drops it out. This device is called drip tape.

One of the varieties of drip irrigation is micro-irrigation. It has a low water consumption (achieved through microscopic drops) and is most often used in mini-greenhouses on city balconies, for flowers in pots or in winter gardens.

Materials

Now consider the main types of materials that can be used in the design of an automatic watering system.

• Metal pipes. Strong and durable material, but with a lot of disadvantages. For example, the susceptibility to corrosion, the labor-intensive process of installing such pipes, almost inaccessible to ordinary people, and, accordingly, it requires the involvement of a specialist, which further increases the cost of such a project. Additional accessories for metal pipes, such as fittings and taps, are quite expensive.

• PVC pipes. Otherwise, polyvinyl chloride pipes. They are the toughest of all products based on polymeric materials. The ability to withstand temperature jumps, unprecedented resistance to external influences, increased strength are the main advantages of this material. Used for both ground irrigation systems and for underground. It is very easy to connect PVC pipes to each other, this process does not require any special skills, it is carried out using specialized adhesives and fittings.

• Polyethylene pipes. This material is flexible, which is especially important during cold weather, when there is a chance of freezing water in the pipes, because if such an incident occurs, the pipes can simply burst. Polyethylene pipes are protected from this trouble. Installation requires a special skill of socket welding, which is easy to master.
• Polypropylene pipes. Very similar in properties to polyethylene, but are a more economical option. They withstand high pressure, are not susceptible to corrosion, lightweight, resistant to chemicals, do not break. They are joined by socket welding, as are polyethylene pipes.

All of the above materials, of course, relate to the professional installation of durable automatic watering systems, which, although you can mount them yourself, but still it is quite difficult to do this without special knowledge. In fact, they often implement drip irrigation in greenhouses using simple plastic bottles. Bottle irrigation is the most economical option, but also the most short-lived.

Bottle self-irrigation is classified as drip irrigation.

Basic mounting options:

• the bottles are hung
• are installed in close proximity to the root system,
• dig into shallow depth.

The simplest bottle system can be done with your own hands.

The best option for bottle watering is a 2 liter bottle. Several holes about 2 mm in size are made in the lid (conveniently with a hot nail). Next, cut the bottom of the bottle, it is better to do this not to the end, so that the bottom can be used as a lid, preventing evaporation of moisture and debris. The bottle is installed in the hole with a depth of not more than 15 cm at an angle of 45 degrees. The frequency of the bottles is every 15 cm of soil. Installation should be done as carefully as possible so as not to damage the root system of the plant.

Device diagram

As for greenhouses, there are three main points that require automation:

• automatic watering
• ventilation automation (opening doors and windows),
• automatic humidity control.

Automatic watering

Before proceeding with the installation of the automatic watering system, it is worth preparing well. Start work by drawing a plan of the site with the exact size and location of the plants, be sure to indicate all the distances between them. Next, you need to mark the approximate location of the future water supply system, you need to calculate and mark all the branch points and pipe joints to simplify the task of buying additional funds.

After drawing all the planned pipes, you should think about the source of water supply. - it can be a centralized water supply system or, if there is no possibility to connect it, an ordinary barrel. It should be borne in mind that the barrel should be at a height of about 2 m (provided that you are not going to purchase a pump), and in order to avoid the flowering of water, it should be completely closed from sunlight.

And also think over the location of hoses and pipes - inside the soil, simply on the surface of the earth or suspended. When subsurface irrigation is necessary to take into account the pressure of the soil on the pipeline, so you need to choose products with thicker walls. With a land location, one should not forget again about the blooming of water, pipes should not be transparent in this case.

A filter is required for a drip autowateringas the hoses will clog continuously during use. It is desirable to automate the drip irrigation system; for this, special controllers are used. Using the controller, you can improve the machine with sensors of humidity, rain, temperature. Simpler automation options are mechanical or electronic watering timers.

Automatic airing

With proper auto-ventilation of the greenhouse, you can achieve truly amazing results in growing vegetable crops, because every gardener knows that the heat affects the plants very destructively, especially in a greenhouse, where overheating is most likely under the scorching rays of the sun.

There are 2 types of automatic ventilation:

• volatile electrical system
• autonomous system, works without external electricity.

Each variety has its own advantages and disadvantages. So, the systems connected to the electric power source are more powerful, the data from the temperature sensor give a clear command to the device when to actuate the mechanism. At the same time, a power outage means death for plants.

Autonomous systems are hydraulic, bimetallic and pneumatic. The most bimetallic low-power ones should be installed only on light vents. The hydraulic drive is quite common and has good power, it is also possible to make the hydraulic system yourself at home.

Humidity control

Plants due to an excess or lack of moisture in the greenhouse can begin to get sick with various ailments, for example, fungal diseases are very fond of conditions of high humidity.On sale you can find devices to control this process, at the right time they will supply moisture to the soil, achieving the optimal value of 60-70%. Organization of the necessary level of humidity can increase productivity several times.

Tips & Tricks

In this section there will be some recommendations on how best to organize an automatic watering system.

Watering Tips:

• do not allow either overdrying or excess moisture,
• watering is best done in the morning or evening,

• to understand that the soil is moist enough - you can check how many centimeters it is wet (optimally 30-50 cm),
• it is better to give preference to watering with warm water heated by the sun,
• do not forget to loosen the soil,
• during periods of drought, rare and plentiful watering is better than frequent and small volumes.

Regarding the operation process:

• do not forget to clean the filters,
• Before preserving for the winter, be sure to completely remove water from the entire system,
• sensors and batteries for the winter is better to bring in a warm room,
• Solenoid valve for the winter is also better to clean,
• make sure that there are no blockages in the system.

How to install drip irrigation, see the next video.

Autowatering in a greenhouse from bottles

Now again we turn our attention to the system of automatic (or more precisely, "semi-automatic") irrigation from plastic bottles. You doubt the advantages of such irrigation systems over the good old watering can? Do you think that spending so much money, effort and time on automatic drip irrigation is too risky? Then this option is best for you - it costs almost nothing and its arrangement in the greenhouse is unlikely to take you more than one day.

For watering in a greenhouse from bottles you will need:

• scissors,
• a needle or an awl
• gauze, cotton or nylon,
• empty plastic bottles with caps,
• shovel.

In most cases, bottles of 1 to 2 liters are used. This is enough for a time from one and a half to three days, depending on the weather and the plant's need for moisture. It is allowed to use larger containers, but you need to understand that they will occupy too much space near the plant. Between preserving the useful area of ​​greenhouse beds and the autonomy of the irrigation system, you should choose.

Step 1. Wash the plastic bottles and erase paper labels from them, if any.

Step 2 Scissors cut the bottoms of the bottles by about 5 cm.

Step 3 With a hot needle (or awl), make a series of holes in the plastic covers. The quantity of fluid entering the soil per unit time depends on their quantity and diameter.

Step 4 Put a piece of gauze in the lid on the inside. It will perform the function of a kind of filter and prevent the holes from clogging too quickly. Instead of gauze, if necessary, you can use cotton or nylon.

Step 5 With a shovel, dig a hole with a diameter of a bottle and a depth of 10-15 cm near the plant (or the place where it will be planted).

Step 6 Insert a bottle with the lid closed into the dug hole. Everything, the system of "semi-automatic" watering is ready. Repeat the previous steps with the rest of the bottles, placing them next to each plant in the greenhouse.

Advice! With this method of placing the bottle in the ground, there is one problem - various debris, particles of land and plants fall on top. Over time, they clog holes and there is a need to remove the container and clean it. There are two ways to solve this problem. The first is placing the bottleneck up. In this case, the holes are made in the bottom, and the top of the container is protected from debris by the lid. The second method is a 5-liter container cap that covers the bottle.

There are two more ways to improve such a system. First, replace the holes in the covers with purchased garden droppers - they clog less and deliver moisture to plants better.Secondly, you can hold a hose with branches in the greenhouse from the water supply and insert each of them into the bottle from above. Thus, there is no need to replenish them yourself - just open the valve and wait a while.

Drip irrigation hose

In an effort to facilitate their work, people have created an automatic irrigation system that includes many components. And this article will tell about one of them, the most important thing - about a hose for drip irrigation.

Timers and controllers for automatic watering

The most important component of autowatering is a timer or controller, which ensures the operation of the entire system that does not require the presence of a person whose participation is reduced only to the installation of equipment and its initial configuration.

Important! Most modern timers and controllers for automatic watering of greenhouses were initially equipped with electromagnetic valves that open and close the water supply to the highway.

First you need to distinguish between timers and controllers for automatic watering. The first are relatively simple electrical and electromechanical devices that allow you to set only two parameters (frequency and duration of irrigation).

The controller is a more complex electronic device, where the user, using a set of buttons and a display, sets the irrigation program, which includes additional parameters, such as:

• metering pressure in the pipeline,
• setting watering cycles separately by day,
• metering temperature and humidity.

In addition, many of them are equipped with GSM modules, which allows you to control remotely using a mobile phone. The difference in the functionality and complexity of automatic irrigation control devices affects the cost - timers are cheaper, controllers are more expensive.

There is another characteristic that you must pay attention to - the number of channels. If plants in your greenhouse need only one irrigation program at all - get the simplest timer or controller with one channel. And in a situation where you need to organize different types of irrigation, multichannel devices will come in handy.

Important! If for some reason you consider the purchase of one multi-channel controller is not a good idea, then an alternative to it will be the purchase of several simple single-channel timers - you just need to connect them to a common trunk and set separate watering programs.

Among other things, when choosing automation for a greenhouse, pay attention to the autonomy and type of battery. Most modern timers and controllers use either several finger-type batteries, or one of 9 V (better known as the “crown”).

Water tank, pumps and filters for autowatering

Each automatic greenhouse irrigation system begins with a water source. In most cases, such a source is an ordinary plastic or metal tank. Of course, you can connect watering directly to the water supply, but this is undesirable - too cold water can damage the health of plants. And in the presence of an “intermediate” tank, the water will have time to warm up to a temperature comparable to that of air. In addition, the tank acts as a kind of reserve in case of a water outage.

Separately, it should be said about connecting the supply and intake of water to the tank. The first should be located closer to the top in order to be able to fill the tank completely. The water intake should be located at the bottom of the tank, but not at the bottom, otherwise a large amount of debris accumulating on the bottom of the tank will fall into it.

Important! It will not be superfluous to connect a separate tap in the tank bottom to clean the tank of accumulated debris or to urgently drain water from it. If the tank is located near the house, bring rain tide and get another, free source of water.

The next element of the system is the pump, when choosing which you need to pay attention to the following criteria:

• the ability to automatically control
• power - do not take too strong a unit for irrigation of one or two greenhouses,
• water consumption - the pump must provide the right amount of water and with a reserve power,
• resistance of mechanisms to various chemical compounds - in case fertilizers are mixed with water during irrigation,
• noise level
• the presence of a soft start system,
• simplicity of installation and dismantle.

The filter is an integral part of any automatic irrigation. Without it, the system will quickly become unusable due to clogging of drip tapes or sprinklers with various foreign particles.

According to the design of the cleaning element, filters are divided into three types:

The latter type is used in industrial automatic irrigation for greenhouses and vegetable gardens of a large area. The strainer does not reduce the pressure in the pipeline and therefore is excellent for systems where water flows by gravity from a tank located at a certain height. A disk has the best performance. Regardless of the type of filter selected, install it with the first or second element on the line leaving the water tank.

Autowatering with sprinklers - instructions for creating

Sprinklers differ from the previous auto-irrigation system in the way they deliver moisture to plants - instead of droppers, atomizers are used that work in a certain radius around themselves. In addition, often the highway for such an irrigation system is not located on the beds, but above them - under the roof of the greenhouse.

Step 1. On a plain piece of paper or drawing graph paper, make a plan for a future autowatering system.

Step 2 Install a water tank. In this case, a backup will not be needed for it - the pressure in the line will be created by the pump.

Step 3 In sequence, install at the outlet of the tank a pump, a tap for manually closing the system, a filter and an automatic watering timer.

Step 4 Lay the highway. When it is located on props or attached to the roof of the greenhouse, make sure all connections are secure. Do not forget about the compensation loop - it is needed to take into account bends and changes in the linear size of hoses or pipes at different temperatures.

Step 5 Close the ends of the lines with plugs and drill holes for the spray nozzles.

Step 6 Install the nozzles. Choose the interval between them, based on the radius of spraying water at the pressure created in the system.

Step 7 Perform a trial test of the system in manual mode. If everything is in order, set the frequency and continuous watering on the controller or timer.

Preparing an autowatering system for winter

It is not recommended to stop using the automatic watering system at the end of the summer season without any preparatory measures - the water remaining in the pipes and hoses can freeze and cause irreparable damage to the mains. Therefore, we give a brief instruction on the preservation of such systems before the onset of winter.

Step 1. Shut off the water supply from the source.

Step 2 Drain the remaining water from the container.

Step 3 Open the taps or remove the plugs from the ends of the lines - let the remaining water flow out.

Step 4 Remove the dropper pegs from the ground.

Step 5 If you think that there is still a lot of moisture inside, through a temporary fitting, connect a compressor to the line and blow the whole system with compressed air. Use caution and work with safety glasses.

Step 6 Cover sensors and highways.

Step 7 If necessary, dismantle part of the hoses and sophisticated equipment and bring it into the house.

Drop watering "Beetle"

The "Beetle" system is of two types - greenhouse and greenhouse - and has several variations, differing in the ways of water supply.The “Beetle” for greenhouses provides water for 60 bushes on an area of ​​18 m 2, and the greenhouse - 30 flora representatives on an area of ​​6 m 2.

With proper maintenance, care and proper installation, an automatic irrigation system in a greenhouse can last from 5 to 10 years or more. Its use will help you save a lot of effort and time, which can be spent either on other matters or on vacation.