When growing any crops in the greenhouse, it is necessary to think over the method of watering in advance, because this care parameter significantly affects the growth of plants and, as a result, their productivity. The article discusses drip irrigation from a barrel, its principle of operation, and also describes how to build it yourself.

Types of droppers

A dropper is a device with small tubes at the end, due to which the flow of water is regulated by cutting them into the main pipe or hose. Products vary depending on the volume of irrigated territory and the type of crop grown.

The following types are distinguished:

1. Compensated Droppers. They include a valve and a membrane, which provides a metered supply of fluid, regardless of the pressure in the system.
2. Uncompensated. Water supply with the help of such a device has a falling trend, the beginning of the row will be more irrigated than its end.
3. Manual droppers.
4. Devices equipped with a fixed volume of water from 1 to 3 liters.
5. Spider. Irrigating devices designed for simultaneous watering of several objects.

The principle of drip irrigation

The construction consists of the following parts:

• water tank;
• trunk pipeline;
• discharge hoses;
• droppers.

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The line is diverted from the tank, the outlet hoses are connected to it, in which holes for droppers are made. To create a head, the water collector is placed at an elevation of 50 cm to 3 m, otherwise you must use a submersible pump. The system is also equipped with a controller and a timer, which allows you to set individual watering parameters and significantly save water consumption.

Advantages and disadvantages

• Comparing this irrigation technology with existing ones, a number of advantages can be distinguished:
• Moisturizes the deeper layers of the soil. Normal watering moistens the upper 10 cm of soil, and after some time the surface dries up, which limits the oxygen supply of the root system. Drip irrigation gradually moisturizes the earth and completely saturates the root of the plant with moisture, and also prevents the formation of a compacted crust on the upper soil layer.
• The liquid enters only the place of growth of crops. The remaining areas remain dry, which prevents the waterlogging and bogging area. In addition, the formation of favorable conditions for the development of diseases is excluded.
• Excludes the formation of burns on the leaves. As you know, the drops of water on the leaves act on the principle of lenses and concentrate the rays of light, which causes the burning of the green part.
• Profitability.
• Uninterrupted operation.
• For watering, water with an ambient temperature is used, which eliminates the stress factor that occurs during cold irrigation.

• As for the disadvantages, they are as follows:
• The need for constant monitoring. It is important to constantly add water to the barrel, as well as to avoid waterlogging of the soil.
• The need for regular cleansing.

Drop watering "Aqua-Dusya"

AquaDusia is a simple and inexpensive drip irrigation system from LLC Smart Yard (Moscow).

The kit consists of the following components:

• hoses;
• droppers;
• drip tapes;
• connecting mechanisms.

The kit may also include a barrel, pump and controller. The device runs on 8 batteries, the charge of which is enough for several months. Watering occurs in the evening, after the water in the barrel is heated. For each plant, 2 liters of liquid fall, after which irrigation ceases. Installation coverage - up to 70 plants.

Important! Currently, ordering and purchasing a kit is only available online.

How to make automatic drip irrigation from a barrel with your own hands at home

The design is quite simple in execution, which makes it possible to build it at home and reduce financial costs.

Preparation of required materials

To build the installation you will need:

• capacity from 200 l;
• hoses or pipes;
• pump with filter;
• racks for droppers;
• taps (to adjust the pressure and shut off the system);
• tow;
• connecting elements.

Everything you need can be purchased at the Leroy Merlin chain of stores. It is important to pay attention to the choice of outlet elements: their diameter should not exceed 10–16 mm. It is better to abandon the use of metal parts, since particles of rust formed over time can clog droppers.

The barrel must be installed at a height of about 1.5 m; for this, a metal or wooden stand is built. On the lid of the storage tank, you need to make several small holes for ventilation. Also make a hole in the barrel for subsequent attachment of the crane. The outlet pipes are pierced with an awl or a nail in the places where the droppers are installed.

Important! It is advisable to use opaque products, because this will prevent the development of green algae as a result of exposure to sunlight.

Direct assembly system

Work sequence:

1. They begin the process by installing a crane on a barrel, mounting it with a seal and a coupling.
2. Then a filter is attached, after which, through branching fittings, a main water supply is connected, and with the help of tees, outlet pipes are connected.
3. A dropper is inserted into each hole using a sealant.
4. At the end of each branch of the system, a stub is installed. All joints wrap tow.

Connecting drip irrigation to a barrel

For automatic barrel filling, a special autofill kit is required. It works on the principle of a drain tank, in which the valve shuts off the fluid supply at the moment when the float in the tank rises to a certain point. Using automatic devices allows you to set an individual watering mode. For this purpose, use a timer and a controller that runs on battery power.

Useful Tips

For the system to function for a long time, it is necessary to adhere to a number of recommendations:

• regularly clean the discharge pipes from clogging;
• for the installation of the pipeline use plastic products that do not corrode;
• clean the filter weekly;
• cover the barrel with a lid to prevent water pollution and, as a result, its stagnation and pressure reduction.

Did you know? The world's largest greenhouse called Eden is located in the UK. Two huge domes cover the territory with a total area of ​​22 thousand m².

So, thinking about how to improve your greenhouse, you can choose an irrigation system by drip irrigation from a barrel. Such an installation allows not only to reduce water consumption, but also materially available.