The success of a garden is conditioned by different factors: substrate, weather, type of cultivation ... but perhaps the element that can most mark the correct development of our garden is irrigation.
Providing each plant with the right amount of water at the right time is not an easy task. As many sudden changes in the climate (storms or droughts) as the availability of the irrigator to carry out the irrigation tasks can lead to imbalances in the watering of the garden that can cause irreparable damage to it. To ensure that our garden always receives the water it needs and that we can water it even when we are not in it, we must resort to the installation of an automatic irrigation system.
Table of Contents
What is an automatic garden irrigation system?
An automatic irrigation system consists of a series of materials that, thanks to different elements (pipes, sprinklers, diffusers, programmer, solenoid valves, etc.), are capable of transporting a specific amount of water to irrigate a crop at certain times previously chosen.
What are the advantages of an automatic irrigation system?
- The garden can be watered without the need to be present in it.
- Facilitates water savings, providing the right amount at times when it will be best used.
- Once installed, the labor required to maintain and water the garden is minimal.
- The water is distributed regularly thanks to the sprinklers and diffusers.
- It can work with different types of irrigation: sprinkling, micro-sprinkling, dripping, etc ...
Elements of an automatic irrigation system
Programmer
El programmer it is the "brain" of the irrigation system. This component is responsible for setting the times when irrigation should be activated and for how long it will be active. The programmers allow you to plan the irrigation days in advance and, in case of unforeseen events, we can make changes quickly.
There are programmers with different functionalities, making them more or less complete, sectorizing them mainly through their power source. In this way we can find programmers that work with batteries and programmers that use electrical current. Battery-operated controllers are usually installed in small irrigation areas or in places where it is impossible to access the electrical network. On the other hand, the programmers that work by using the current require a nearby outlet to be able to work.
It is recommended that a controller be purchased with a capacity somewhat greater than that strictly required by the irrigation area. That is to say: if the crop is divided into two sectors, it is better to buy a 3 or 4 season one in case it needs an extension later.
Solenoid valve
Una solenoid valve It is the element in charge of causing the movement of the flow. Without it, the water could not travel the path from source to cultivation. The solenoid valves operate following the commands of the programmer. When this indicates it, they open or close the water flow.
They are usually located in the irrigation boxes or in plastic boxes in which one or more solenoid valves can be placed.
The solenoid valves work thanks to an element called a solenoid. This is in charge of transforming the electrical impulses that reach the solenoid valve into hydraulic impulses.
Pipelines
The pipelines They are in charge of conducting the water to the irrigation emitters. They are usually made of polyethylene, a resistant, cheap and light material. Although they are rigid, they have enough malleability to bend if necessary.
They exist of different types according to their nominal pressure (PN). The most common for installations of irrigation systems with sprinklers or drippers is to use pipes of 4 atmospheres PN4 or 6 atmospheres PN6, depending on the type of emitter that is used.
Irrigation emitters
Irrigation emitters are in charge of getting the water from the pipes to the crop. Depending on the type of crop and its size, we can choose between different types of irrigation emitter: sprinklers, micro sprinklers: droppers, among others.
While sprinklers, micro-sprinklers or nebulizers provide generalized irrigation through the rain effect they produce, drippers irrigate crops locally, thanks to a continuous drip. Although elements such as the controller, the solenoid valve and the pipes are essential in any irrigation automation system, the type of emitter that we choose could vary according to our preferences. Depending on the characteristics of our crop and our needs and tastes, we will opt for one or another of those available among the irrigation emitters on the market.
En Mundoriego We have all the necessary elements to automate the irrigation of your garden in a simple and effective way. If you have any questions about the automation or any of its components, do not hesitate to contact contact with us. We will be happy to help you and solve any of your doubts, and remember that we are an expert in Ball valves, butterfly valves, gate valves and in drip irrigation online stores.
Leave your comment