Re: on drip irrigation
- To: pumpkins@mallorn.com
- Subject: Re: on drip irrigation
- From: P*@aol.com
- Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 16:57:23 EST
In a message dated 3/16/99 7:20:42 AM Eastern Standard Time, GBPUMPKIN@aol.com
writes:
<< I used Drip Irrigation for 5 years before giving it up. It would cause
shallow rooting and the roots would gather around the emitters loosing the
benefit of the rest of the garden soil.
George
>>
Drippers,
George has a good point that I neglected to mention. Drip irrigation by its
very nature is a low volume application of water. Not only must the drippers
be spaced close enough so that the area that they soak overlaps, but they must
be left on for a very long time. You don't turn them on for an hour and shut
them off. When I irrigate a dry, sandy field the water is left on for days to
get the soil moisture levels up. The drip tape is covered with 4 foot mulch to
help with evaporation. If you have heavier soil it will take less time for
there is already some water there. I try to wait for a good rain, then lay the
plastic and drip tape. On a good sized field with wide row spacing I water
with 2,000 gallons at a time, using a 40 gallon per minute pump. As soon as
the tank fills, I pump it out again. Drippers are meant to be left on for a
long time, or you will get incomplete, shallow coverage. Not to mention all
those drip lines getting in the way of weeding. Don't get me wrong, I think
drip irrigation is great.....I just don't choose to do it on my big ones.
pumkinguy
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