Re: pressureless drip irrigation?

Hi Diane -

An interesting problem!  Since gravity flow delivers the most water at the lowest point in the system, I'm wondering if something like the following might work.  If you were able to grid the slope with strictly horizontal drip lines, so that all the emitters in one horizontal line are at exactly the same elevation, you could open one of these lines at a time, irrigating horizontal 'stripes' of the planting in sequence.

An attempt to explain graphically (view with a fixed font such as Courier):

Phase 1 - (water first tier)
top of hill (i.e. water source)
                    |
   ===================================
   |          |          |           |
   |          |          |           |
   =================================== open
   |          |          |           |
   |          |          |           |
   ----------------------------------- shut off
   |          |          |           |
   |          |          |           |
   ----------------------------------- shut off
bottom of hill

Phase 2 - (water second tier)
top of hill (i.e. water source)
                    |
   ===================================
   |          |          |           |
   |          |          |           |
   ----------------------------------- shut off
   |          |          |           |
   |          |          |           |
   =================================== open
   |          |          |           |
   |          |          |           |
   ----------------------------------- shut off
bottom of hill

Phase 3 - (water third tier)
top of hill (i.e. water source)
                    |
   ===================================
   |          |          |           |
   |          |          |           |
   ----------------------------------- shut off
   |          |          |           |
   |          |          |           |
   ----------------------------------- shut off
   |          |          |           |
   |          |          |           |
   =================================== open
bottom of hill

Seems like it might have a chance to work for you(?)
Anyway, good luck!
Regards,
Seán O.

h o r t u l u s   a p t u s     -    'a garden suited to its purpose'      
Seán A. O'Hara                     sean@support.net
1034A Virginia Street, Berkeley, California 94710-1853, U.S.A.

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