TLE MODULE 4:

Installation of Irrigation
and/or Drainage Pipes
Environmental Aspects of
Irrigation Work Repair and
Maintenance of Irrigation
 WHAT TO EXPECT
COMPONE MAINTEN
DRAINAG NTS OF A ANCE
E PIPES TYPICAL COMMON
INSTALLA IRRIGATIO TO ALL
TION N SYSTEM TYPES OF
SYSTEMS
 It helps you create the
WHAT IS farm crop production
you’ve always wanted by
AN making sure your plants
IRRIGATI get the water they need,
just when they need it as
ON you save your time and
water
SYSTEM?
 At times, natural
WHY DO drainages tend to get
damaged or ruined by the
WE type of soil you'll be
NEED using, or natural disasters
such as typhoons or
ARTIFICI earthquakes, which affect
the structure of the soil
AL greatly.
DRAINA
 × Canal seepage
× Semi-permeable or
POOR impermeable layers of soil
× Over-irrigation
DRAINAG × Proximity to reservoirs or
coastal areas
E CAN
LEAD TO:
5
 GUIDE ON
DRAINAGE
PIPES
INSTALLATION 6
 1. DRAW YOUR
PROPERTY TO SCALE
1. Outline(sketch theforfarm
your farm nursery location)
seedlings, farm tools and
equipment area, and (if you do) other structures
2. Show walkways, roads, and other surfaces
3. Identify trees or major obstacles
4. Measure and record the perimeter of your property
5. Identify slopes
6. Show ground cover, grass, seedling beds, etc.
7. Identify the location of the water meter (or pump) and main line
 2.
DETERMIN
E YOUR
Use a clean empty jar with a lid, clean
faucet water, a tablespoon of detergent

SOIL TYPE
and a sample of the soil from your farm.
 2.
DETERMIN
E YOUR
a. Fill the jar about 1/3 full of the soil
to be tested
b. Add water and detergent and cap the
SOIL TYPE
jar
c. Shake the jar vigorously and set
aside for several hours; around 5
hours or more
d. Evaluate the results and record it in
your notebook
 2.
DETERMIN
E YOUR
SANDY SOIL: Water is clear, and soil
has settled to the bottom of the jar.

SOIL TYPE
LOAM SOIL: Water is still murky
(misty) with bits of suspended matter.
CLAY SOIL: Water is murky and there
is a ring of sediment around the jar.
 3. DETERMINE YOUR
SERVICE LINE SIZE
Contact your local water company or wrap a piece of
string around the pipe once and then measure the string.
4. DETERMINE YOUR WATER
PRESSURE AND FLOW
These can be determined with a Flow & Pressure Gauge
 The depth of the trenches
TRENCH will vary depending on a
number of factors
DEPTH,
PIPE
MATERIA
LS
 All plastic eventually
ALL weakens when exposed to
sunlight, even the plastic
PLASTIC that is labeled "UV
MAINLIN resistant." Also, you don't
want to accidentally break
E PIPE a plastic pipe with a shovel
when planting a new shrub
SHOULD or weeding
BE AT
 Irrigation systems can
LATERAL usually be about
8-10"/12"/14"
PIPES
AND The deeper the pipe, the
less likely it is to be
TUBES damaged
 There are two types of fittings
ASSEMB available for poly tube and PEX

LING Barbed Fittings:

Old school method, wherein you

POLYETH press the barbed ends of the

fittings into the tube and place a
clamp on the tube directly over
YLENE the barbs.
Locking Fittings:
TUBE OR Latest technology, where you
insert the tubing into.
PEX
 Not cheaper ones for
PEX irrigation systems,
great for your laterals
but should not be
used on mainlines
 Don't forget to install the
WIRING control wire for the valves
while the trenches are open

If there are a lot of rodents or

pests that can chew on the
wire, putting it in a sleeve
may save you from a
headache
 Control and understand
ENVIRON how fertilization works

MENTAL Monitor pests

CONSIDER Rotate crops
ATIONS
Schedule your irrigation to
avoid overirrigation
 Over-watering or under-
IRRIGATIO watering can seriously
damage the health of your
N REPAIR crops, causing root decay,
shallow root growth and run-
AND off

MAINTEN Simply buying a sprinkler is

not the key to proper
ANCE watering and healthy farms
COMPONENTS
OF A TYPICAL
IRRIGATION
SYSTEM 21
1. POINT OF CONNECTION (POC)

The source of water for the entire irrigation system

This valve is normally buried in a valve box and

should be tested periodically to make sure it
remains operational
 2. BACKFLOW PREVENTION
DEVICE
Since water in an irrigation system is subject to contamination, the potable water
supply is in danger of contamination if water from the irrigation flows back into
the city piping system

a. From backpressure:
This occurs when the pressure in the irrigation system (downstream) is greater
than the pressure in the water supply (upstream)
b. From back-siphonage:
This is caused by negative or reduced pressure in the water system
 3. MAINLINES

A pipe that carries water from the POC, through the

backflow prevention device and then to the remote-control
valves
 4. VALVES

Regulate the flow of water in an irrigation

system
 5. LATERAL PIPING SYSTEM
(laterals)
Carry water from the control valves to
the sprinkler's heads or drip emitters
 6. SPRINKLER HEADS

Delivers a metered amount of water over a part of

the entire zone

Different sprinkler head = different specific rate of

application
 7. LOW VOLUME IRRIGATION
SYSTEMS OR DRIP IRRIGATION
Requires additional equipment compared to spray irrigation systems
Drip valve assembly:
Each zone has a drip valve assembly contained within a valve box
a. Remote control valve
b. Filter
Low volume systems include emitters with small openings that can easily become
clogged
c. Pressure Regulator
Most low volume irrigation systems are designed to operate at pressures below
that of the typical water supply
 8. ENVIRONMENTAL SENSORS

Are devices that interface with controllers, shutting

down an irrigation system when water is not
needed

Monitors rainfall, soil moisture, and humidity

MAINTENANCE
COMMON TO
ALL TYPES OF
SYSTEMS 30
 DAILY
Signs of Underwatering
- Older leaves turn down and
drop
In running irrigation
- Leaves are dull or drooping
at night, problems are
- Leaves curl
- Stem or branches die back
Signs of Overwatering
- Leaves turn light green or
yellow
- Young shoots are wilted
- Excessive growth
- Algae or mushrooms
around plants
MONTHL SEMI- ANNUAL
Y ANNUAL
Replace the backup
Have the backflow
battery in the
preventer tested. The
often undetected so controller, these keep
backflow preventer
turn it on during the the watering schedule
keeps the water from
daytime so you can that is programmed
returning to the drinking
observe the system into the controller in
water side after it has
when it's running the event of a power
moved into the
outage
irrigation system
THANK
YOU!
Hope you understood the lesson.