Do-it-yourself automatic watering in a greenhouse with video and photos

Almost any gardener has a moment when there is a desire to do automatic watering in the greenhouse with their own hands. It is easy to explain this desire. In the summer, in addition to the garden, there are many exciting activities for which you need to leave the country house, or which do not allow you to come to the country. Cucumbers and tomatoes planted in a greenhouse, left unattended, can lose color, get sick or simply die due to lack of moisture. Irrigation automation will eliminate the need to fiddle with hoses, automatic watering will save the gardener strength and reduce water consumption.

Types of irrigation systems for country greenhouses and their features

You need to consider all the currently popular automatic irrigation schemes, before you start creating automatic irrigation in the greenhouse. In the form of an enlarged scheme, any irrigation system consists of the following parts:

• source;
• equipment for forced water supply under pressure;
• water purification systems from mechanical, chemical and other inclusions;
• automation (controller);
• pipes and valves.

All about organizing drip irrigation

Drip irrigation in a polycarbonate greenhouse is the dream of every summer resident. For water, large volume containers (barrels made of metal or plastic) are usually used. A barrel (tank) is a source of water. For better heating of the water and creating pressure, the tank must be raised above the ground. The number of bars (pipes) required for the construction of a stand for the tank is calculated based on the size of the tank (tank) and the height of its rise above the ground.The recommended height for a pressure of 0.2 atmospheres is 1 m or 2 m.

To create automatic drip irrigation in a greenhouse, pipes are needed. Through pipes, water from a natural reservoir or central water supply is supplied to the barrel. You can use plastic or metal pipes. It is more profitable to use plastic pipes, as they do not corrode, serve for a long time, and are easy to install.

A pump is installed to supply water, if the cottage already has an operating pumping station, then the container is connected to it using pipes.

It is necessary to include a purification system in the scheme - a filter for coarse water purification from mechanical impurities. The filter is installed at the outlet of the barrel, next to the ball valve. A controller with an electromechanical valve must be mounted behind the filter. Thanks to the controller and the valve, water will be automatically supplied (switched off).

Draw a diagram of a greenhouse

Before purchasing greenhouse equipment, you need to make a drawing of the greenhouse. On the diagram, indicate not only the dimensions of the greenhouse itself, but also the size and location of the ridges. The drawing is needed to calculate the required length of the line, the number of fittings for branches, the length of the drip tape or, if you decide to use drippers, the length of the hose and the number of drippers.

Installation

Installation begins with laying the main sleeve (pipe), the recommended pipe diameter is 40 mm. It is better to have the central highway at a slight angle to the horizon. When preserving the system for the winter, it will be easier to drain the water. You can lay the sleeve in a trench, the maximum allowable depth of the trench is 50 cm. Using a valve, the line is connected to a water source at one end, and a tap or plug is placed at the other end.

Along the entire length of the main plastic pipe, at the points of attachment of drip tapes, you need to drill holes for mounting start connectors. Drip tapes are unwound, laid out on ridges, fixed with holders. Attached to the central pipe. It is necessary to cut off the tapes with a margin (100 mm). Put caps on the end pieces. The system is washed after completion of work.

Drip irrigation and its benefits

During the operation of the irrigation system, automatic water supply will be carried out using the controller. At the signal of the controller, the electromechanical valve opens, and under a pressure of 0.2 atmospheres, the water flow passes through the central line to drip tapes, supplied directly to the root of each plant. Instead of drip tapes, the system can be equipped with hoses and droppers .

After installing the drip system, significant water savings are noted, on average, its consumption is reduced by 30%.In a greenhouse equipped with a drip irrigation system, the incidence of tomatoes, strawberries, and cucumbers is significantly reduced. The reason is the optimal soil moisture. For a greenhouse in the country, drip irrigation is a good solution.

Sprinkler irrigation

In a greenhouse with automatic watering, the sprinkling method can successfully grow moisture-loving crops. A system of this type is suitable for cucumbers, they love moist air and the absence of drafts. It is not difficult to assemble this model of an automatic irrigation system in your greenhouse. It is necessary to calculate the required length of pipes, the number of taps and spray nozzles.

Atomizers (nozzles) cover a large radius area. The pipe system for supplying water is often located in the upper part of the greenhouse. The source is a barrel, at the exit of which are set:

• pressure water pump;
• faucet;
• filter;
• timer.

For organizing irrigation by sprinkling, pipes with a diameter of 22-25 mm are suitable, they must be mounted under the roof of the greenhouse. On the one hand, the pipe is connected through a compensating loop and a coupling to the main pipe coming from the water source, on the other hand, a plug is placed on the pipe. Spray nozzles are installed on the pipe with the desired pitch.

Underground irrigation system

Irrigation in the greenhouse can be organized by underground irrigation. To do this, you will have to work with a shovel, as the pipes are laid in trenches. With underground irrigation, water is supplied directly under the root of each plant.

The advantage of such a system is the efficient use of water, the enrichment of the soil with oxygen, the absence of a crust. The disadvantages include the difficulty of installation associated with earthworks. Repairing such a system will also require physical effort.

A plastic pipe with a diameter of 32 to 50 mm is suitable for the central pipeline. To supply water directly to the roots of plants, you need to use special porous hoses. It is better to dig a trench for laying the central pipe in the middle of the greenhouse, the required trench depth is 40-60 cm.

The assembly of a system consisting of plastic pipes is carried out using fittings. To supply water to the pipes, droppers or sprayers are mounted. The assembled system is first covered with a small layer of sand, on top of it - with ordinary soil.

Equipment for automatic irrigation systems

To automate your greenhouse, you can not do without special equipment for automatic water supply from the source to the central highway. For this purpose, timers and controllers are used, both of which are equipped with solenoid valves.

With the help of timers, you can set the time of watering and its frequency. Device controllers are more complex. They are equipped with a display and a set of buttons with which you can set a specific watering program for the days of the week.

For a small area greenhouse, a timer or an inexpensive controller with one channel is suitable. If there are several greenhouses, you will need a more expensive model of a multi-channel controller. Plus expensive models - GSM module and the ability to control the system using your mobile phone. An alternative to one multi-channel controller can be several timers (single-channel).

Pumps and filters

Irrigation requires settled water, therefore, a metal or plastic barrel performs not only a backup function, accumulating water. In the barrel, the water is heated to air temperature, when watering, this has a positive effect on plant he alth.A tap must be inserted into the bottom of the barrel. A tap is needed for emergency draining of water and for revision: cleaning the tank from debris, rust, sediment. The water supply pipe is mounted in the upper part of the tank, the water supply pipe to the greenhouse is located in its lower part.

There are certain criteria to follow when choosing a pump. Purchase a pump if it meets the requirements:

• it is easy to mount and dismantle;

• there is a soft start system;
• low noise;
• body material is resistant to chemical preparations included in fertilizers;
• optimum power;
• automation capability.

Automated irrigation systems for greenhouses must be equipped with high-quality filters for water purification.The reliable operation of irrigation systems will largely depend on the quality of the water used. Drip tapes fail quickly when using untreated water. For small greenhouses with a barrel as storage, mesh filters are suitable.

Automatic greenhouse ventilation

Don't stop at automating greenhouse irrigation. For greenhouse plants, certain air humidity and temperature conditions are important. Natural ventilation using vents may not always provide the desired parameters.

The problem can be solved with forced ventilation using fans installed inside the polycarbonate greenhouse. The advantage of greenhouses with automatic ventilation is obvious:

1. Plants are less likely to suffer from late blight, powdery mildew.
2. The greenhouse maintains a certain microclimate necessary for greenhouse plants.
3. Optimal air temperature maintained.

Together with the fans, a thermostat is installed in the greenhouse, they are responsible for automatically turning the fans on and off. Greenhouses with ventilation and watering greatly facilitate the work of summer residents. The yield in such greenhouses is higher, the percentage of plant disease is lower.

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