Low-flow irrigation systems

Micro-irrigation, also called localised irrigation, low volume irrigation, low-flow irrigation, or trickle irrigation is an irrigation method with lower pressure and flow than a traditional sprinkler system. Low volume irrigation is used in agriculture for row crops, orchards, and vineyards. It is also used in horticulture in wholesale nurseries, in landscaping for civic, commercial, and private landscapes and gardens, and in the science and practice of restoration ecology and environmental remediation. Micro-irrigation, also called localised irrigation, low volume irrigation, low-flow irrigation, or trickle irrigation is an irrigation method with lower pressure and flow than a traditional sprinkler system. Low volume irrigation is used in agriculture for row crops, orchards, and vineyards. It is also used in horticulture in wholesale nurseries, in landscaping for civic, commercial, and private landscapes and gardens, and in the science and practice of restoration ecology and environmental remediation. There are several types of micro-irrigation systems. Many of the components are the same for all of these types of systems. Most systems typically include filters, pipes, valves, and tubing. The main difference is in the type of emission device that is used to deliver the water to the plants. Drip irrigation utilizes drip emitters that deliver water at very low rates. The typical range is 0.2 to 4.0 gallons per hour. In some systems, the emitters are installed manually on the outside of the tubing and placed where needed. Other systems might use integral dripperline or drip tape with the emitters already installed at a predetermined spacing. Micro-sprinklers, which can include fixed stream sprays and rotating spinners typically deliver water at a higher rate, such as 10 to 25 gallons per hour and will cover a larger area than drip emitters. These are more typically used in tree orchards where the plants are larger.The goal is to distribute water slowly in small volumes and target it to plants' root zones with less runoff or overspray than landscape and garden conventional spray and rotary sprinklers. The low volume allows the water to penetrate and be absorbed into slow-percolation soils, such as clay, minimizing water runoff. There are a wide variety of system components included in a micro-irrigation systems. Most systems include a filter. These may include pre-filters, sand separators, media filters, screen filters, and disc filters. The level of filtration required depends on the size of the emission device and the quality of the water source. A pressure regulator or regulating valve may be required to reduce the system pressure to the desired level. Automatic or manually operated valves will be required to switch from one irrigated section to another. An irrigation controller will be used with automatic systems and may also be needed for backflushing the filter or sand separator. Since water conservation is a frequent reason for choosing micro-irrigation systems, soil moisture sensors, rain shutoff sensors, and sometimes even weather stations may be installed. Microtubing is one of the oldest types of drip irrigation devices and was used in greenhouses in the 1970s. It consists of a very small diameter tubing. Flow is regulated purely by the length and diameter of the tubing. Weights or stakes are sometimes attached to the end of the tubing to keep it in place.