All Of The Drip Irrigation Components For Your Entire Garden
What Is Drip Irrigation?
Drip line irrigation is a system that delivers water to home landscapes using a drip, spray or stream. A drip irrigation system keeps roots wet, but not soaked, all while using less water.
Drip irrigation involves placing tubing with emitters on the ground along side the plants. The emitters slowly drip water into the soil at the plants roots. Because water levels are kept at an preferred range, plant productivity and quality improve. These systems can be used with pretty much any standard soil type.
What Are The Main Parts of Drip Irrigation?
There are several different types of drip systems with various parts used.
- Irrigation Tubing & Dripline
- Dripper & Emitters
- Irrigation Valves
- Pressure Regulators
- Irrigation Sprinklers & Sprinkler Heads
- Irrigation Backflow Preventer Devices
The parts of a drip system include the supply line, valve, pressure regulator, filter, fittings, tubing, and emitters. Backflow valves as well as other backflow devices are also important parts.
There are also drip irrigation kits for all different types of gardens. Kits are an easy way to make sure you have all the parts for your sprinkler or drip system.
Benefits of Drip Systems
Drip systems provide a large number of benefits over other methods:
- Stops disease by reducing water contact with the leaves, stems, and fruit of plants.
- Allows the rows between plants to remain dry, improving access and stopping weed growth.
- Greater efficiency will save you time, money, and water.
- Increases efficiency on uneven ground.
- Reduces loss of water and nutrients below the root zone.
Drawbacks of Drip Irrigation
- High starting investment;
- Replacement of drip irrigation parts on the surface
- Drip emitters can get clogged
- Water management can be difficult
Types of Emitters
Emitters are grouped based on their design type and the method they use to control pressure. Some are built into the irrigation pipe or tubing, others attach to it using a barb or threads. The emitter reduces and controls the amount of water.
Pressure compensating emitters send water at a similar rate under a wide range of water pressures. They give the same flow under high pressure conditions. These emitters are best used on plots that have drops in elevation. This would cause an increase in pressure as water flows down.