Efficient Sub-Surface Drip Irrigation for Water-Scarce Areas

1. Sub-Surface Drip Irrigation Using Water Precisely When Water is Scarce By: Cody Konen

2. Introduction of Sub Surface Drip • First introduced in U.S. in 1960 (Dew Hose) • Has become very popular since 1995 • Showed significant advantages • Increased Water Use Efficiency • Less water required • Precise placement of water and nutrients to plant roots

3. Basic Layout

4. Installing Tape (Dripper line)

8. Tape to PVC connection (Low End)

10. Pump House • Close to water source and pumped by diesel or electric motor • Filter arrangement chosen by GPM of system • Fertilizer injection, and or acid injection • Final filter to catch fine particles

11. Top end connection (Filters)

12. Field valves

13. System Controlling

14. Using less water • Depending on field size decides your water rate, zone size, and how many zones in the field • Inches of water applied per hour = (0.00221) X (flow rate, in GPM) / (# acres) • Lot more knowledge of where we are applying and how much than previous method of irrigation

15. Operation • Usually runs at least 10 days on normal year, on a hotter year may never shut it off • During this operation, we can fertilize crops with nutrients besides phosphorus due to our pH of water and contents will not mix • Apply chlorine for prevention of clogging each emitter • Weekly flushing of PVC and tape lines from debris

16. Water Patterns

17. What Clogged Emitters Look Like and What They Can Do

19. Overall Opinion • Uses less water and less labor while keeping the same or better yields • Very expensive initial cost on a per acre basis • Only way we can no-till our crops used from this water source.