IRRIGATION INSIDE

A
GREEN HOUSE

PROTECTED CULTIVATION AND POST HARVEST

TECHNOLOGY [ASAE3204]
B.Sc. Ag. (6th sem.)
 Plant and Water

 Water serves a number of

basic functions in a plant’s life,
constituting up to 95% of fresh
weight.
 Water dissolves several
substances and is the transport
vehicle for the nutrients in plants.
 By means of cell turgor it
provides rigidity and gives shape
to several plant organs.
 Plant and Water

 It is necessary for
photosynthesis and participates
in a large number of chemical
reactions of plant metabolism.
 In addition, it allows plants to
be cooled through its evap-
oration, by means of
transpiration, absorbing heat and
cooling the leaf surfaces.
 Transpiration

What is the importance of “Transpiration” ?

 Transpiration takes place, mainly, through the stomata of the leaves,
that transfers water vapour from the plant to the atmosphere.
 Water losses by transpiration are the unavoidable cost for the plant
in order to be able to fix CO2 from the air, essential for
photosynthesis and plant growth.
 The majority of the water is absorbed passively through the roots,
as a result of transpiration. When transpiration stops, there is no
passive absorption of water and nutrients, which can have
negative effects for the plant.
 Transpiration

 Transpiration requires energy (normally solar) for the water

evaporation process. If the energy decreases, transpiration decreases.
 The energy supplies from the greenhouse heating systems also
contribute to the evaporation process.
 In areas of low solar radiation some energy is applied to the green-
house by maintaining a certain minimum temperature to promote
transpiration.
 Importance of Irrigation in GH

Water Stress
 A plant is considered to suffer water stress, or water deficit,
when the water potential in its tissues decreases to the extent that
it negatively affects the performance of the physiological processes.
 The causes of water deficit can be:
 Low ψ in the soil, due to low
water content or to salinity.
 High transpiration rate.
 High resistance to the water
flux in the soil or in the plant
 Importance of Irrigation in GH

Saline Stress
 A crop can survive under high salinity conditions, but the
production will be seriously affected, quantitatively and
qualitatively.
 Main causes of saline stress
 Excessive fertilization
 Salt supplied by irrigation water
 Salinity conditions of soil
In greenhouse horticultural crops, the primary objective of irrigation
is to avoid water stress, but also to avoid undesirable conditions of
salinity at the root level.
 Greenhouse Irrigation

Greenhouse crops are irrigated by following means

 applying water to the media surface through drip tubes or tapes
 by hand using a hose
 overhead sprinklers and booms
 by applying water through the bottom of the container through sub-
irrigation
 Surface irrigation systems, mainly by furrows, that were
traditionally used in greenhouses are now no longer used.
 Overhead sprinklers and hand watering have a tendency to "waste"
water and also wet the foliage, which increases the potential for
diseases and injury.
 Greenhouse Irrigation

Drip Irrigation System is mostly used in greenhouses. Why?

 Drip and sub-irrigation systems are the most efficient and provide
greater control over the amount of water applied.
 Also, since the foliage does not become wet there is a reduced
potential for diseases and injury.

Drip Irrigation Sub-Irrigation

 Drip Irrigation

Drip irrigation utilizes the concept of applying small amounts of water

through perforations in distribution lines to specific areas of application.
 Drip irrigation can be a valuable tool for accurate growing medium
moisture control.
 It also saves water and labour, and reduces the potential for
groundwater pollution.
 Eliminate runoff of water missing the pot during overhead irrigation
and the volume of water applied to the pot can be controlled.
Controlling drip systems with the use of a tensiometer placed in the
growing medium to sense moisture tension and a small computer
programmed to turn the system on or off when pre-set moisture tensions
are reached, can reduce runoff from potted plants to nearly zero.
 Drip Irrigation

Basic Layout

Typical two station split flow layout for trickle irrigation system with subunit I and
III or II and IV operating simultaneously
 Drip Irrigation

Control head includes:

• Pump station
• Filtering Equipment
• Fertilizer and chemical injection equipment
• Controllers
• Main pressure regulators
• Valves and water measuring devices
 The main lines transfer water from the source to the manifolds.
 Usually control valves are used at the main line-to-manifold
connections.
 The manifolds supply water to laterals that branch from it on one or
both sides.
 Drip Irrigation

Basic components of a trickle irrigation system

 Drip Irrigation

Assignment
What are the different types of filters used in drip irrigation system? Write
about their working principle and purpose of use.
 Drip Irrigation

 The pipe system is usually made of flexible PVC pipes. The emitters
are also made of PVC materials
 They are not damaged when using with saline water or water mixed
with fertilizers.
Types of Emitters
 Based on operating pressure
 Low pressure(2 to 5m)
 High pressure(8 to 15m)
 Based on discharge
 Low (below 4 lph)
 Medium (4 to 10 lph)
 High (15 lph and above)
 Drip Irrigation

Types of Emitters
 Based on principle of operation
 Orifice
 Long-path
 Double wall pipe or perforated pipe
 Based on type of connection to lateral
 In-line emitter
 On-line emitter
 ASSISGNMENT

•Difference between:
1. In-line emitter
2. On-line emitter
 Drip Irrigation

Advantages
 Water and cost saving:
It can irrigate crops with significantly less amount of water than is
required by other irrigation methods. The cost of labour can be reduced, as the
system can be completely automated.
 Easier field operation:
As it doesn’t stimulate weed growth, requirement of weed control is
very less. Also fertigation can be done using highly soluble fertilizers.
 Use of saline water:
Frequent irrigation maintains most of the soil in well aerated condition
and at a soil moisture content that doesn’t fluctuate between wet and dry
extremes. Less drying between irrigations keeps the salts in the soil more
dilute, making it possible to use more saline water.
 Drip Irrigation

Advantages
 Use on rocky solids and steep slopes:
Rocky areas can be irrigated effectively even when the spacing is
irregular, as water is applied close to the tree.

Disadvantages
 High cost
 Clogging
 Soil Condition (based on infiltration rate)
 Salt accumulation:
Salts often concentrate at soil surface and become a potential hazard, as
light rains can leach them down-ward into root zone. Therefore, when rainfalls
after a period of salt accumulation, irrigation should continue on schedule to
leach those salts below root zone.
 Sub-Irrigation
Water and nutrient solution provided at the base of the container rises by
capillary action through holes in the bottom and is absorbed by the
growing media.
Systems are adaptable to crops grown in pots.
Examples of sub-irrigation system:
1. Capillary mat system:
The pots are set on a mat that is kept constantly wet with nutrient
solutions. The pots take up the solution through holes in the bottom.
The mat is placed on a level bench over a layer of plastic.
 Sub-Irrigation
2. Trough System:
Plastic or metal troughs are placed on existing benches or
supported overhead from the greenhouse structure. The troughs are
installed at a slight slope (3” to 6” per 100’) from one end to the other.
Pots are spaced along the trough. Nutrient solution is pumped to the
high end, flows past the base of the pots and is collected in a cross
gutter at the low end. The solution returns to a storage tank under the
benches or below ground to be recycled.
 Sub-Irrigation
3. Ebb and Flow benches:
• This system uses 4’ to 6’ wide watertight benches
or water-tight movable trays to contain the
nutrient solution.
• The benches, usually of plastic or fiberglass
construction are installed perfectly level to
maintain a uniform depth of liquid.
• They can be installed as either fixed or movable
depending on the crops to be grown.
• Channels in the bottom of the bench allow the
water to distribute evenly and to drain rapidly
when the water supply is shut off.
• This allows the bench top to dry reducing algae
growth and disease potential.