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Hands-On Irrigation

Learn how to use drip irrigation and plastic mulch to effectively manage soils and fertilizers. Get tips on designing, installing, and running a drip irrigation system with minimal investment.

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Hands-On Irrigation

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  1. Hands-On Irrigation Clifton A. Slade, Slade Farms

  2. Pop Slade says “There’s enough ways for everybody to have a way”

  3. Objectives • Using drip irrigation and plastic mulch to manage soils and fertilizers • Designing, installing, and running a drip irrigation system for fertilizing with minimum investment • Tips about soils, fertilizers, and drip irrigation

  4. Feet of Row Per Acre(1Acre = 43,560 sqft) 36 Inch Row – 14,520 = 1 Acre

  5. Irrigation Planning + Fertility Management = Dependable Yields

  6. Southeast Virginia Water Deficit Chart

  7. WHY PLASTICULTURE • Early Production • Quality • Increased Yields

  8. Plastic Mulch-layingEquipment

  9. $500 per Acre

  10. PLASTIC MULCH

  11. Rye Cover Crop (Dec. 13)

  12. TRANSPLANTED

  13. BEE HIVE

  14. Pounds Mulched Per Acre

  15. Irrigation

  16. Irrigation and Fertilizer Equipment

  17. Irrigation Central

  18. Irrigation Factors Factors to consider before applying drip-irrigation systems: • Surface Water • Well Water • Nutrient Content in Water • Soil Quality

  19. Irrigation Tip • Water should be tested by a lab for ph and nutrient content.

  20. Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations for 2014 http://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/456/456-420/456-420.html

  21. Critical Periods of Water Need by Crops

  22. Advantages • Uses less water and fertilizer than with sprinkle or surface irrigation systems • Lower energy and equipment cost than overhead equipment • Once in place, it requires very little labor to manage and operate • Disease and insect damage on the crop is reduced because the leaves do not get wet

  23. Disadvantages • *****Need to water on rainy days***** • Drip tubing can be damaged by insects, rodents, and laborers • Cost of pressure regulators and filtration equipment • Can not use the system for frost control

  24. Hours Required to Apply 1 Inch of Water to Mulched Area (gph/100ft) (gph/100ft) (gpm/100 ft) (gpm/100 ft) 2.0 2.0 2.5 2.5 3.0 3.0 3.5 3.5 4.0 4.0 8 8 0.13 0.13 15.5 15.5 19.5 19.5 23.5 23.5 27.0 27.0 31.0 31.0 10 10 0.17 0.17 12.5 12.5 16.5 16.5 18.5 18.5 22.0 22.0 25.0 25.0 12 12 0.20 0.20 10.5 10.5 13.0 13.0 15.5 15.5 18.0 18.0 21.0 21.0 16 16 0.27 0.27 8.0 8.0 10.0 10.0 11.5 11.5 13.5 13.5 15.5 15.5 18 18 0.30 0.30 7.0 7.0 8.5 8.5 10.5 10.5 12.0 12.0 14.0 14.0 20 20 0.33 0.33 6.0 6.0 8.0 8.0 9.5 9.5 11.0 11.0 12.5 12.5 24 24 0.40 0.40 5.0 5.0 6.5 6.5 8.0 8.0 9.0 9.0 10.5 10.5 30 30 0.50 0.50 4.0 4.0 5.0 5.0 6.0 6.0 7.0 7.0 8.5 8.5 36 36 0.60 0.60 3.5 3.5 4.5 4.5 5.0 5.0 6.0 6.0 7.0 7.0 40 40 0.67 0.67 3.0 3.0 4.0 4.0 4.5 4.5 5.5 5.5 6.0 6.0 42 42 0.70 0.70 3.0 3.0 4.0 4.0 4.5 4.5 5.0 5.0 6.0 6.0 48 48 0.80 0.80 2.5 2.5 3.0 3.0 4.0 4.0 4.5 4.5 5.0 5.0 50 50 0.83 0.83 2.5 2.5 3.0 3.0 4.0 4.0 4.5 4.5 5.0 5.0 54 54 0.90 0.90 2.5 2.5 3.0 3.0 3.5 3.5 4.0 4.0 4.5 4.5 60 60 1.00 1.00 2.0 2.0 2.5 2.5 3.0 3.0 3.5 3.5 4.0 4.0 Trickle Tube Flow Rate Mulched Width (ft)

  25. Pole Butterbeans

  26. Organic Compost

  27. Greens

  28. Greens – Marketing Day

  29. Contact Information Clifton A Slade 1111 Mt Ray Dr. Surry, VA 23883 cslade@vt.edu

  30. Questions or Comments? Thank You

  31. Come to see us! “The farm gate hangs on welcome hinges” - Pop Slade

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