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irrigation system maintenance guidelines

1. o Se 62 Dripperline length m 600 34 9 21 8 17 4 11 6 64 1 40 1 321 21 4 91 3 57 1 45 7 30 4 117 1 73 2 58 6 39 0 Interpolation can be used to calculate advancement time for dripperlines distances between drippers dripper flow rates or dripperline lengths not mentioned in the above tables Dripperline length m DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK 49 CHEMIGATION A EXAMPLE Example 1 A thin walled dripperline OD 12 mm ID 11 8 mm e Distance between drippers 0 5 m not mentioned in the table Dripper flow rate 1 6 e Dripperline length 200 m According to the advancement time in the table on thin and medium walled dripperlines page 49 the advancement time will be between 11 1 and 15 7 minutes Calculate the actual advancement time using the formula 11 1 15 7 2 Round the result to the next whole number in this case 14 minutes 13 4 minutes Example 2 A thick walled dripperline OD 16 mm ID 14 2 mm e Distance between drippers 0 6 m Dripper flow rate 2 0 I h e Dripperline length 350 m not mentioned in the table According to the advancement time in the table on thick walled dripperlines above the advancement time will be between 19 3 and 20 1 minutes Calculate the actual advancement time using the formula 19 3 20 1 2 19 7 minutes Round the result to the next whole number in this case 20 minutes 50 DRIP MAINTE
2. Water source O Reservoir Other Reservoir size Holding time Maximum water depth Pump Data Type of pump L Horizontal L Vertical In case of a floating suction point Pumping depth in relation to the surface of the water In case of a permanent suction point Location of the suction point Distance between the surface and the suction point Direction of suction Vertical upwards LI Horizontal Vertical downwards 76 DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK Pipe Data Distance between the water inlet and the pumping point Length of the blank pipe from the pump to the plot head Type of pipe Steel PVC PE Cement L Other Filter Data Working pressure at the head control filter inlet and outlet bar Inlet 1 Outlet Main filters Gravel Disc 1 Screen Hydrocyclone sand separator Control or sub main filters Screen Disc 1 Other specify type Filters flushing frequency Filtration level microns Filtration system works properly Automatic filter clogs quickly and is back flushed frequently Automatic filter works properly but the control filters clog quickly Data on injecting fertilizers and chemical products Specify the type of fertilizer chemi
3. c 8 c m 77 Download the form at http www netafim com irrigation products technical materials DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK 79 APPENDICES Appendix 1 Sampling drippers 82 Appendix 2 Water analysis 83 Appendix 3 Unit conversion tables 85 Appendix 4 Further reading 86 Appendix 5 Frequently asked questions FAQ 87 DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK 81 APPENDIX 1 Sampling drippers In order to verify the performance of the drippers sampling of the dripperlines should be performed To sample the dripperlines perform the following steps e Cut a 20 cm dripperline sample from the 4th and 5th dripperlines at the beginning and at the end of the dripperline The dripperlines to be sampled are those located in the 4th and 5 places at the beginning and the end of the plot Each sample must be comprised of the dripper and at least 10 cm of the tube on either side of the dripper Wrap the 16 samples firmly with wet paper and put them in a plastic bag e Send the samples to Netatim for analysis Repair the dripperlines in the field When the area is composed of several plots take the samples from one representative plot Distribution line Water from the source 0 O 4 Q Q 0 0 0 9 4 Q Q Q 5 Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q 9 5 9 4 5 Dripperlines 5 4 lt If a different sampling procedure is
4. 0 0 5 06 0 7 0 8 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 1 8 19 2021 22 23 2 4 2 5 Velocity V m sec The graph represents the velocities in pipes of one specific standard among many If the pipe used in the system s main sub main or distribution lines does not appear in the above table and graph find the actual internal diameter of the pipe in the pipe documentation and calculate the velocity using the following formulas Calculating the area of the pipe s cross section A A n r em 3 1416 D Inside diameter m e r ID 2 m The pipe s inside diameter ID varies according to the pipe s material standard and model To find the actual inside diameter of a particular pipe check the product documentation Velocity within blank pipes meter second The table below represents the velocities in pipes of one specific standard among many Flow rate m h i 20 60 100 120 140 160 180 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 Lr eaka V velocity in the pipe m sec 6 15006 0 018 0 31 0 63 0 94 126 1 57 1 88 2 20 2 51 8 202 72 0 032 0 17 0 34 0 52 0 69 0 86 1 03 1 20 1 38 1 55 172 2 15 2 58 10 254 51 0 051 0 11 0 22 0 33 0 44 0 55 0 66 0 76 0 87 0 98 1 09 1 37 1 64 1 91 248 246 12 304 08 0 073 0 08 0 15 0 23 0 31 0 38 0 46 0 54 0 61 0 69 0 76 0 96 1 15 1 34 1 53 1 72 1 91 210 14 336 55 0 089 0 06 0
5. NETAFIM GROW MORE WITH LESS V 001 01 2014 COPYRIGHT 2014 NETAFIM NO PART OF THIS PUBLICATION MAY BE REPRODUCED STORED IN AN AUTOMATED DATA FILE OR MADE PUBLIC IN ANY FORM OR BY ANY MEANS WHETHER ELECTRONIC MECHANICAL BY PHOTOCOPYING RECORDING OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER WITHOUT PRIOR WRITTEN PERMISSION OF NETAFIM THIS DOCUMENT IS PRESENTED WITH THE EXCLUSIVE AIM OF NOTIFYING SELECTED POTENTIAL CLIENTS REGARDING THE NETAFIM DRIP IRRIGATION SYSTEM RECEIPT OR POSSESSION OF THIS DOCUMENT DOES NOT IMPLY RIGHTS AND THE CONTENTS SHOULD BE VIEWED AS A PROPOSAL ONLY THIS DOCUMENT IS NEITHER ISSUED AS A GUARANTEE NOR IS IT LEGALLY BINDING NETAFIM ENDEAVORS TO PROVIDE QUALITY ACCURATE AND DETAILED INFORMATION NEVERTHELESS NETAFIM CANNOT ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR RELIANCE ON THE INFORMATION PROVIDED AND THE USER IS ADVISED TO OBTAIN THE PROFESSIONAL ADVICE OF NETAFIM AND OR ITS AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVES INDEPENDENTLY THERE IS NO UNDERTAKING BY NETAFIM THAT THE PROVIDED INFORMATION OR ANY PART THEREOF IS ACCURATE COMPLETE OR UP TO DATE MENTION OF THIRD PARTY PRODUCTS IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND CONSTITUTES NEITHER AN ENDORSEMENT NOR A RECOMMENDATION NETAFIM DOES NOT ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY WITH RESPECT TO THE USE OR THE PROVISIONS OF SUCH PRODUCTS NETAFIM WILL NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR DAMAGE OR LOSS THAT MAY RESULT FROM THE USE OF NETAFIM S PRODUCTS OR THE USE O
6. 20 20 o 16 zo so vo 18 26 29 Dripperline 12 mm ID 11 8 mm 100 8 9 5 6 44 80 16 0 10 0 8 0 5 3 22 4 14 0 11 2 7 5 28 4 178 14 2 9 5 200 9 8 6 1 49 83 178 11 1 8 9 5 9 25 1 15 7 12 6 8 4 32 0 20 0 16 0 1077 300 10 3 6 5 52 8 4 18 8 11 8 9 4 6 3 267 167 13 3 8 9 34 1 21 3 170 11 4 ripperline 16 mm ID 16 2 mm ripperline 22 mm ID 22 2 mm ES ipperline 25 mm ID 25 0 mm in Dripperl length m Dripperl length m Dripperline length m 600 50 4 31 5 25 2 16 8 92 7 57 9 46 3 30 9 131 9 82 4 66 0 44 0 169 2 105 7 84 6 56 4 Advancement time minutes in thick walled dripperlines Dripperline length m Distance between 0 drippers m NENNEN TENE ONT eem ro 16 2 9 vo re zo o 16 zo so ve 18 26 59 Dripperline 12 mm ID 10 2 mm 100 6 6 4 2 3 3 22 120 75 60 40 16 8 10 5 84 5 6 212 13 3 10 6 7 1 200 73 46 37 24 13 3 83 66 44 18 8 117 9 4 6 3 23 9 14 9 12 0 8 0 300 77 48 39 26 141 88 70 47 19 9 12 5 10 0 6 6 25 5 15 9 127 8 5 ripperline 16 mm ID 14 2 mm g 200 14 2 8 9 71 43 232 16 1 129 8 6 36 4 227 18 2 12 1 46 3 29 0 23 2 15 4 ripperline 20 mm ID 17 5 mm E ripperline 23 mm ID 20 8 mm p ENAERE AANEEN in Dripperl length m
7. Rectify water pH to the required level according to crop and soil Fertilizer interaction with irrigation water Fertilizers are salts that react with other salts found in the irrigation water Therefore it is important to consider the chemical composition of the water to be used for preparing the liquid fertilizers For example under conditions of water hardness or high pH level the phosphorus of a phosphate fertilizer precipitates with calcium and magnesium present in the water These precipitates can be seen at the bottom of the fertilizer tank Preventing sand particle penetration into the system During system installation or repair The biggest threat is sand particles coming from the soil which might enter the system directly through the dripperlines during their installation or repair NOTE Sand particles are especially harmful for the drippers They do not decompose Once they penetrate any type of dripper they cannot be removed or dissolved using chemical products Sand particles can penetrate the system in two ways with the water flow or directly from the soil NOTE When water is pumped from a reservoir river or canal not from a well the water should preferably be pumped from a floating point at 0 5 to 1 0 meters depth below the water s surface Filtering the water supply will keep sand particles out of the system NOTE Hydrocyclone sand separators are adequate for separating sand particles from the water The bes
8. Avoid contact with the skin The contact of acid with the skin may cause burns Use protective clothing when working with acid goggles gloves a mask long pants a long sleeved shirt and closed high shoes Avoid swallowing and inhaling Swallowing of acid or inhaling its fumes could be fatal During acid treatment a second operator must be present who can if necessary provide first aid Remain on site throughout the acid treatment Keep all unauthorized personnel away from the treatment area Injecting acid into the system In order to apply an acid treatment to the system the following steps must be taken Verify that the injection pump is acid resistant and of sufficient capacity for the task NOTE Acids are very corrosive on materials such as steel aluminum asbestos cement etc PE and PVC tubing are resistant to acids Consider these factors before planning the treatment In case of doubt always consult Netafim Before beginning the treatment flush all the components of the system thoroughly using maximum flow NOTE Flushing the system before using acid is essential to prevent damage to the system nject the acid into the irrigation system for the time required to attain the desired concentration during the stipulated treatment time Turn off the injection pump Continue irrigation for the time required according to the Advancement Timetable see Advancement time page 47 Flush the injectio
9. Check the pump s flow rate and pressure at its outlet Flush the dripperlines A higher or lower frequency may be required depending on the type and quality of the water e f the filtration system is automatic initiate flushing of the filter s and check that all the components work as planned f pressure regulating valves are installed check the pressure at the outlet of each one of them and compare these figures with the benchmark data Once a growing season In some cases the following need to be performed twice or three times in a growing season depending on the type and quality of the water used Check all the valves in the system Check the level of dirt in the system carbonates algae and salt sedimentation Check for occurrence of dripper clogging Flush the piping main line sub mains and distribution pipes f necessary inject hydrogen peroxide and or acids as required At the end of the growing season nject chemicals for the maintenance and flushing of the main line the sub main lines the distribution pipes and the dripperlines Flush the dripperlines Prepare the system for the inactive period between the growing seasons Perform winterization of the system in regions where the temperature might drop below O C 32 F DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK 11 REGULAR SYSTEM INSPECTION Inspection of the pump Inspection of the filter Inspection of the valves Inspection of m
10. Flushing will temporarily increase the flow requirements of the system which in turn will decrease the system pressure In some cases in order to supply the flow rate required for flushing an additional pump at the head of the system is used The additional pump will be activated only during flushing to add the missing flow rate The length of dripperlines affects the required flushing duration Longer dripperlines need longer flushing durations Verification of the flow velocity in the dripperline during flushing Place the open end of the dripperline over a 1 5 liter bottle using a funnel Verify that all the water enters the bottle Measure the time in seconds it takes to fill the bottle and use the following table in order to make sure that the velocity is at least 0 5 m sec 1 65 ft sec 162 Quantity of water per 1 meter of 5 05 o 158 0 206 0 240 0 338 0 386 0 490 0 962 dripperline length liters Maximum time for filling of bottle seconds for a velocity 17 11 5 5 5 5 3 5 2 of at least 0 5 m sec 1 65 ft sec 24 DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK SYSTEM FLUSHING Thin walled dripperlines Dripperline Pipe s inside Wall thickness Max working pressure Max flushing pressure model diameter ID mm mm mil bar bar 12000 12 015 60 16 80 12080 2 0 12125 2 9 3 5 4 7 2 5 12150 3 0 16060 16080 0 16100 B 16125 031 125 18 2 0 5
11. Terminology Application methods Designating the injection point Dosage Chlorine treatment Safety Chlorine injection into drip irrigation systems Materials Application methods Designating the injection point Dosage Pest control Rodent control Ant control Periods of system inactivity Preparing the system for periods of inactivity Winterization of the system System startup procedures Forms System description form Hydraulic conditions checklist Maintenance activities monitoring form Appendices Appendix 1 Sampling drippers Appendix 2 Water analysis Appendix 3 Unit conversion tables Appendix 4 Further reading Appendix 5 FAQ N Ook 13 17 2 33 43 51 by 63 69 75 DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK 3 ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT Irrigation is the watering of land by artificial methods Without irrigation agriculture is limited by the availability and reliability of natural watering by floods or rain Drip irrigation is widely accepted as the most efficient irrigation technique as it allows high uniformity of water and nutrient application The nature of agricultural water sources nutrient injection practices natural limitations of filtration equipment and the general agricultural growing environment make maintenance a priority For optimal performance drip irrigation systems require routine system maintenance It is imperative to implement all the instruct
12. 12 0 19 0 25 0 31 0 37 10 44 0 50 0 56 0 62 0 78 0 94 1 09 1 25 1 41 1 56 1772 DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK 23 SYSTEM FLUSHING Calculating flow velocity in a pipe V Velocity speed is the distance water passes in one unit of time in a pipe meters per second V 0 A 3600 V Velocity m sec Q Flow rate m h A Area of the pipe inside cross section m 3600 Constant for conversion of the result from m h to m sec Flushing the dripperlines laterals Dripperlines in both surface and SDI systems require periodic flushing to purge them of settled debris organic or mineral and of any residues of chemicals injected into the system In SDI systems dripperline flushing must be given high priority since frequent dripperline replacement is impractical and dripperlines are expected to last up to 20 years or even longer Even for short term dripperline use flushing is important to maintain irrigation uniformity Flushing should be performed as often as needed to keep the dripperlines clean this depends on seasonal water quality and the effectiveness of the system filter All the dripperlines in a plot should be flushed in sequence in a single flushing event Dripperlines should be flushed until the flushed water runs clear Flushed water should be disposed of properly to avoid deteriorating the system s inlet water quality and or the quality of the environment surrounding the site CAUTION
13. Check that the pump sounds as usual free of hiss or irregularity that might suggest stress or a mechanical problem within the pump Check the flow rate and the pressure at the pump s outlet and compare the results to the benchmark data see Hydraulic conditions checklist page 78 Inspection of the filter Pressure differential across a filter Every filter must cause a loss of pressure in the system while filtering This loss of pressure is demonstrated by the pressure differential across the filter between the inlet and the outlet of the filter filtration array NOTE Check the filter documentation for the allowable pressure differential across the filters Most filters are subject to an increasingly higher pressure differential between inlet and outlet due to friction as the filter becomes clogged Monitor the filter pressure differential frequently especially as water conditions change in the course of the season The pressure differential in a filter might be higher than the allowed maximum due to the development of biofilm scale or mineral sedimentation in the filter The pressure differential in a filter might be lower than the allowed minimum due to poor operation and maintenance practices or improper calibration of the automatic flushing control unit Check the pressure differential across the filter according to the filter documentation Fitter Higher than the maximum Gravel sand Partial or total clogging of medium T
14. DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK NUTRIGATION AND ACID TREATMENT Hygroscopicity Solid fertilizers have the property of adhering to moisture this stiffens the granules and makes them difficult to handle afterwards It is important to keep them in a closed container in order to avoid this phenomenon Liquid fertilizers Preparation of liquid fertilizers The temperature of the water in which it dissolves influences the amount of fertilizer to dissolve as shown in the following table Effect of temperature C on the solubility of fertilizers fertilizer grams in one liter of water Temperature Fertilizer grams liter water O 0o EE MM 3 _ Urea 160 Ammonium sulfate 700 770 Potassium sulfate 70 80 110 280 _ 350 130 3 0 _ 227 130 Mono ammonium phosphate It can be observed that the temperature of the fertilizer solution strongly affects fertilizer solubility as in the case of urea In contrast the characteristics of ammonium sulfate are almost not affected by temperature Generally the water temperature under field conditions is higher than 20 C Therefore it might seem logical to assume that at the time of preparing a liquid fertilizer that the higher the water temperature the greater the amount of fertilizer that can be dissolved But a crucial parameter has been ignored When fertilizers are mixed with water a reaction between the
15. a stable pressurized state and is quite different from the advancement time It is recommended to be aware of the advancement time for each part of the irrigation system according to its hydraulic design Advancement time in main sub main and distribution pipes The advancement time in a blank pipe a pipe without outlets can be calculated by the following steps Calculating the area of the pipe s cross section A Asne r e 3 1416 D Inside diameter m r ID 2 m The pipe s inside diameter ID varies according to the pipe s material standard and model See the actual inside diameter of a particular pipe in its product documentation DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK 47 CHEMIGATION Velocity within blank pipes meter second The table below represents the velocities in pipes of one specific standard among many Flow rate m h diameter inches Inside diameter T E 0 31 062 0 94 126 157 188 220 251 0022 017 0 34 0 52 06 0 86 103 120 138 vss 172 2157258 310 254 0 051 011 022 033 44 05 0 6 076 0 87 0 98 1 09 137 162 1 91 2182 naa seh oora asana ja LG a nah saa sa ayo zaza 0 089 0 06 012 019 0 25 0 31 0 37 0 44 0 50 0 56 0 62 0 78 0 94 1 09 1 25 1 41 1 56 172 Calculating flow velocity in a pipe V Velocity Speed is the distance water passes in one unit of time in a pipe meters per second V 0 A 3600 V Velocity m sec Q Flow rate
16. a strong oxidant It is very useful for the following purposes To prevent and eliminate the growth of organic slime ferrous slime and sulfurous slime To oxidize elements such as iron sulfur manganese etc To clean organic sedimentation and bacterial slime from irrigation systems To improve filtration efficiency especially for gravel or sand filters NOTE Chlorine is effective only on organic matter Chlorine is ineffective against inorganic materials such as sand silt minerals scale etc Materials Chlorine is available for commercial use in gaseous liquid or solid state Each type has its advantages and disadvantages The suitability availability and price of each material must be taken into account before deciding which to use 58 DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK CHLORINE TREATMENT Commonly available forms usually include e Gaseous chlorine Cl 100 active chlorine Solid chlorine calcium hypochlorite contains 60 85 active chlorine If the water contains high alkaline levels hardness and or high pH it is recommended not to use this form Liquid chlorine sodium hypochlorite contains 7 13 active chlorine Liquid chlorine is unstable and decomposes quickly in the storage tank depending on time temperature and solar radiation NOTE Do not store liquid chlorine for long periods of time Keep the storage tank in the shade If it must be kept under direct sunlight paint the storage tank with white pa
17. account in order to allow the injected product to reach its final destination This calculated time is called advancement time The advancement time may be divided into three phases Time is the calculated time in which the water passes between the injection point and the valve in the field In the case of several valves the most distant valve must be taken into account Time Il is the calculated time in which the water passes the distance between the valve and the end of the sub main pipe Time is the time that passes between the moment when the product enters the dripperline and the moment it reaches the last emitter dripper micro sprinkler or sprinkler The total relevant advancement time will be calculated according to the location of the injection point Observe the advancement time of the clean irrigation water without products flowing in the pipes after the treatment in order to clear the system of all residues of the injected product The advancement time is a calculated time and will be minimally influenced by the physical and chemical properties of the product For practical purposes it may be assumed that the product advances in the system at the same rate as water The advancement time is calculated when the system is pressurized and stable The advancement time should not be confused with the system filling time The filling time is the time required for an empty system starting to fill until it reaches
18. an overpopulation of voles In field crops these small mammals love to unearth and devour newly planted seeds and snack on the young seedlings that survive Larger rodents such as pocket gophers damage field crops by eating the root system out from under the plant Rodents can also cause damage to farm equipment and infrastructure They may gnaw on small diameter cables and irrigation pipes The mounds created by larger rodents can damage or disrupt harvesting equipment while the tunnels can cause leaks in irrigation channels and even small earthen dams In general rodents responsible for the majority of damage to agricultural crops and systems live underground for at least part of their lives A physiological feature of rodents is that their teeth grow continuously As a result these animals must chew to wear down their teeth so that they fit in their mouth otherwise the animal will starve Both the feeding and the need to gnaw cause damage to crops and equipment There is no single simple method for managing rodent overpopulation on agricultural lands Control of these potential pests requires a well designed plan that is executed on a consistent basis The formation of a systematic plan for managing rodents in subsurface drip irrigated fields requires research into the predominant species in the region and formulation of rules regulating how these populations may be managed The aim of this chapter is to outline the components of a well
19. and chemicals may cause serious injury or even death They may also damage the crop the soil the environment and the irrigation system Proper handling of nutrients acids and chemicals is the responsibility of the grower Always observe the nutrient acid chemical manufacturer s instructions and the regulations issued by the relevant local authority Chemical injection Chemigation refers to the injection of chemicals the addition of chlorine hydrogen peroxide acid or others to prevent or reduce dripper clogging and the injection of chemicals herbicides pesticides and others for crop and soil concerns The following flow chart is a guide for determining the order in which to perform chemical injection 1 Begin by recording the system s flow rate at operating level 2 Calculate the dose to be injected based on agronomic and technical data product properties see the product documentation and the instructions of the relevant authority 3 Perform a test injection in order to verify and or rectify the correct functioning and the respective flow rate of the injection system 4 Flush the system according to the instructions in the chapter System Flushing page 17 5 Inject the chemical according to the calculations point 2 above depending on the specific treatment 6 Flush the system taking into account the advancement times See Advancement time page 47 7 Upon completing the injection of products fertilizers disinfecta
20. and longevity General preparation Disconnect the power to the pumping system before beginning any work Ensure that the winterized pump cannot be accidentally activated and insulate any exposed leads Remove exterior dirt and grime and any substance that may trap moisture Exposed metal is subject to oxidation prime and repaint as necessary Ensure motor vent screens are clear of debris Flush suction and discharge lines Check for leaks and replace any worn gaskets Drain the pump by opening the air bleed valve or port plug on top of the pump impeller chamber and remove the port plug closest to the bottom of the chamber if applicable Flush the pump and clean rust and debris that may have accumulated in the impeller chamber if applicable Precaution must be taken to ensure that the exposed tank s if applicable and piping are also drained A low pressure 3 5 meters 5 PSI high volume blower may be used to purge the system with air f the pump is to be stored wet do not use anti freeze solutions other than propylene glycol Propylene glycol is non toxic and will not damage components in the pump and or pumping system Use a 40 propylene glycol 6096 water solution to protect the pump at temperatures down to 45 C 50 F Lubricate bearings refer to the Pump Owner s Manual Keep the pump clean and dry during the storage period to guard against corrosion Shelter the pump from elements when possible
21. at the end of the dripperline The second wave removes contaminants from the dripperline The color of the water is not as dark as in the first wave but the process takes more time Flushing must be continued until the water is visually clean Flushing is more effective when the flow rate within the dripperlines is increased and allows flushing contaminants from the dripperlines internal walls In some cases the downstream pressure must be increased in order to enable these flow rates in the dripperlines The pressure should not exceed the value indicated in the tables on the previous page according to the dripperline s wall thickness Dripperline flushing pressure NOTE The maximum allowed flushing pressures in the tables on the previous page are valid when flushing for a maximum of half an hour consecutively with the end of 5 or more dripperlines kept open To avoid exceeding the allowable pressure in the system a minimum of 5 dripperlines should be open at any time during flushing Dripperline flushing with flushing manifolds Some drip irrigation systems are equipped with flushing manifolds to simplify the dripperline flushing process This method is common mainly in SDI systems but is also implemented in above ground systems Its purpose is to facilitate the task of dripperline flushing and save labor hours The flushing manifold at the end of the dripperlines is fitted with a flushing riser and valve to allow flushing of the
22. being used that the most damage occurs Experience has shown that rodent damage when the system is shut down can be reduced by properly applying an acid treatment As acidification of the dripperline is standard practice for end of season cleaning a slight modification of this process may also help to protect dripperlines from rodent damage Follow these guidelines Flush each zone at the recommended pressure e f the field is dry pre irrigate each zone for 6 hours Inject N pHuric at 200 ppm for 1 hour before shutting down each zone Shut down zones leaving N pHuric in the lines N pHURIC combines the benefits of both urea and sulfuric acid while virtually eliminating the undesirable characteristics of using sulfuric acid alone 66 DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK PEST CONTROL Chemigating with a properly labeled pesticide that has a strong odor or fumigation effect will cause many rodents to keep away from subsurface dripperlines This may be an effective technique for early season deterrence Make sure the pesticide is properly labeled for use in the area Extermination Several rodenticides including toxicants and anticoagulants are in current use for managing rodent populations CAUTION Consult the local authority for approved rodenticides toxicants and anticoagulants in the country area and always follow the application directions In general placing approved baits around the perimeter of the field prior to irrig
23. designed rodent control plan and to help growers formulate such a plan Rodent management plan Management of rodent populations on agricultural land generally falls into the following categories Habitat modification and exclusion to reduce population pressure Trapping and removal Use of repellants to deter invasion Use of repellants to deter gnawing Extermination Each category is discussed with respect to protecting crops and equipment Habitat modification to reduce rodent pressures Existing rodent pressures either from surrounding fields or within a newly planted field are the first source of conflict between rodents crop and equipment A cultivated zone surrounded by unkempt ground or by open fields infested with rodents represents a continuous battle Thus the first step in an integrated rodent management program is to reduce the pressure of high rodent populations in the entire area 64 DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK PEST CONTROL First take a visual count of rodent presence in the surrounding fields Large rodents such as pocket gophers will leave tell tale mounds Smaller animals such as mice and voles will not be as obvious The presence of runways in grassy areas is one sign of small rodent activity Assessing the rodent population in the general area will provide an indication of the intensity of the management required to protect the crop and the irrigation system After assessing the situation establ
24. liter of the irrigation water to be used Procedure 1 Pour 10 liter of irrigation water in the bucket 2 Record the pH level of the water 3 Add 1 cc of the acid and mix the solution 4 Record the pH level of the solution 5 Repeat steps 3 and 4 until the desired pH level is obtained NOTE If the pH level changes abruptly it is recommended to dilute the acid with water or use a larger volume of water 6 Construct the curve or table using the variation from the initial pH in coordination with the volume of acid as parameters 7 The result will provide an approximation of the amount in cc or ml of acid per liter of water needed to reduce the pH to the required level 8 1 cc ml of acid per 10 liter of water 1 0 liter of acid per m of water DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK 39 NUTRIGATION AND ACID TREATMENT IM EXAMPLE Titration curve of water with chloric acid 3396 0 0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 3 5 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 9 0 9 5 10 0 10 5 11 0 11 5 12 0 milliliter chloric acid per 10 liters of irrigation water Dissolving the incrustations of salts of low solubility in irrigation systems The recommended concentration of acids is 0 696 see Recommended acid concentrations page 39 In order to attain this 0 696 concentration of acid in the water inject 1 0 liter of acid for every 1 0 m3 h cubic meter per hour to be treated for 10 minutes NOTE In order to verify that the treatment is efficient the pH val
25. m3 h A Area of the pipe inside cross section m 3600 Constant for conversion of the result from m h to m sec The flow rate in a pipe with no outlets is constant throughout the length of the pipe and is independent of the pipe s diameter or of the area of the pipe s cross section If the pipe s cross section changes the flow velocity changes accordingly but the flow rate remains constant Consequently A V A V A V constant Calculating the advancement time in a pipe The time it takes for water to pass the length of a pipe segment seconds At L V At Advancement time sec V Velocity m sec L Length of pipe segment m Calculating advancement time in a telescoped pipe Calculate the advancement time for each segment separately and add up the results to obtain the total advancement time of the whole telescoped pipe IN EXAMPLE Assume the telescoped pipe is comprised of 3 segments each segment of a different length The calculated advancement time for each pipe section is assumed to be e 1 55 seconds L1 L2 L3 2 40 seconds E c m The total advancement time of the whole telescoped pipe will be 55 40 25 120 seconds 2 minutes 48 DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK CHEMIGATION Advancement time in dripperlines Advancement time minutes in thin and medium walled dripperlines Distance between 0 drippers m 2 eem ro 16 20 9 vo
26. on the type of soil unplanned or induced irrigation interruptions and duration of the irrigation and the Nutrigation seasons In perennial fruit trees the recommendation is for up to two treatments per season starting from the second year of age The first treatment should be implemented in the first third of the irrigation season The second treatment should be implemented when beginning reduction of water applications to the crop towards the end of the irrigation season Young trees are vulnerable to these chemicals In the case of new plantations and plantations of up to one year of age consult Netafim s Agronomy Division In open field crops seasonal or perennial it is highly recommended to implement the treatment once a year The time for this mandatory treatment is when beginning reduction of water applications to the crop towards the end of the irrigation season Certain crops will require one additional treatment during the irrigation season because previous interruptions or reductions of water volume that were carried out increase the potential for root penetration into drippers In the case of sandy soils more than 7096 sand and less than 896 clay regardless of the type of crop it is recommended to execute the herbicide treatment dividing the application into two injections each of which should be half of the dose calculated for a single application The interval between these two injections should be two 2 weeks F
27. products or detergents Mineral fertilizers together with organic fertilizers Applying herbicide by chemigation via drip irrigation Advantages Avoids crop damage and contamination of foliage flowers and fruits caused by spraying Application is local and avoids damaging the neighboring crops Herbicide injection process Herbicide should be diluted to obtain an aqueous solution prior to injection nject herbicide into the system at the head of the relevant plot Start the injection of herbicide only after half but before two thirds of the planned irrigation time based on the advancement time has elapsed in order to ensure that the whole quantity of injected herbicide has been evacuated from the system through the drippers After injection of the required amount of herbicide irrigation should be continued for at least 15 minutes in order to flush herbicide residues out of the system TIP s The herbicide injection should take place towards the end of the irrigation event Example if you plan to irrigate 300 m3 ha water the herbicide will be applied once a quantity of aproximately 250 m has been irrigated 46 DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK CHEMIGATION Advancement time When products are injected into the water they will advance through the system at the same rate as the water The time it takes for a product injected into the pressurized system to arrive at a given point can be calculated and must be taken into
28. protective footwear WARNING Only authorized electricians are permitted to perform electrical installations Electrical installations must comply with the local safety standards and regulations WARNING Measures must be taken to prevent the infiltration of nutrients acids and chemicals into the water source FN ACID HAZARD When not handled properly nutrients acids and chemicals may cause serious injury or even death They may also damage the crop the soil the environment and the irrigation system Proper handling of nutrients acids and chemicals is the responsibility of the grower Always observe the nutrient acid chemical manufacturer s instructions and the regulations issued by the relevant local authority 09 WARNING When handling nutrients acids and chemicals always use protective equipment gloves and goggles m CAUTION When opening or closing any manual valve always do so gradually to prevent damage to the system by water hammer DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK 5 ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT The symbols used in this document refer to the following WARNING The following text contains instructions aimed at preventing bodily injury or direct damage to the crops and or the irrigation system CAUTION The following text contains instructions aimed at preventing unwanted system operation installation or conditions Failure to follow these instructions might void the warranty x ATTENTION The following text
29. read all the instructions for treatment with chlorine and follow all the local legal regulations and the manufacturer s instructions Proper handling of chlorine is the responsibility of the grower Before filling any tank with chlorine solution it must be flushed thoroughly to remove any remaining fertilizer or other chemical products Avoid contact with the eyes If chlorine comes in contact with the eyes it can cause blindness Avoid contact with the skin If chlorine comes in contact with the skin it can cause burns Use protective clothing when working with chlorine goggles gloves mask long pants long sleeved shirts and high closed shoes Avoid swallowing or inhaling Swallowing chlorine or inhaling its vapors could be fatal During treatment a second operator must be present who can if necessary provide first aid Stay in the location during the full duration of the treatment Keep all unauthorized personnel away from the treatment area NN WARNING Direct contact between chlorine and fertilizers might cause an explosive thermal reaction This is extremely dangerous NOTE The injection of chlorine into irrigation water containing fertilizers is not recommended NOTE When using anti drain irrigation systems CNL the maximum recommended chlorine concentrations may be different and it is necessary to consult with Netafim before applying it Chlorine injection into a drip irrigation system Chlorine is
30. 8 2 4 16150 2 0145 60 020 80 1 2 C _ TK _ ENEMIES 25 29 30 _ 235 s 08 2 209 10 12 18 21 gt 25 08 pec 2 5 22080 020 80 22100 22135 034 135 22150 038 150 25135 034 135 14 25150 038 150 14 1 6 395 3034 1 5 09 1j 1 0 12 Medium walled dripperlines Dripperline Pipe s inside Wall thickness Max working pressure Max flushing pressure model diameter ID mm mm mil bar bar 3 5 1 2 0 1 N IN 3 3 3 6 2 9 16008 Thick walled dripperlines Dripperline Pipe s outside Wall thickness Max working pressure Max flushing pressure 4 6 16000 16 fos 350 330 5 2 5 2 0 0 3 9 4 6 4 6 23009 090 850 30 3B 3 3 3 3 5 2 3 3 5 The outside diameter OD and the inside diameter ID of the dripperline models and the data in the tables above are intended for identification purpose only and do not represent the exact diameter and wall thickness of each dripperline For accurate data refer to the Technical Datasheet of the specific product at http www netafim com irrigation products technical materials DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK 25 SYSTEM FLUSHING The dripperline flushing process consists of two waves The first wave removes contaminants collected
31. F THIS DOCUMENT NETAFIM RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES AND IMPROVEMENTS TO ITS PRODUCTS AND OR THE ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTATION WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE m FOREIGN LANGUAGES In the event that you are reading this manual in a language other than the English language you acknowledge and agree that the English language version shall prevail in case of inconsistency or contradiction in interpretation or translation CONTENTS About this document Aim of this document Safety instructions Use of symbols in this document introduction Structure of the drip irrigation system Preventive and corrective maintenance Maintenance timetable Regular system inspection Inspection of the pump Inspection of the filter Inspection of the valves Inspection of main sub main distribution lines and flushing manifold Inspection of dripperlines laterals System flushing Filter back flushing Flushing the main sub main distribution lines Flushing the dripperlines laterals Preventing clogging in the system Reducing water pH Preventing sand particle penetration into the system Preventing root intrusion in SDI systems Nutrigation and Acid treatment Nutrigation Acid treatment Organic Nutrigation Acid treatment in organic agriculture Chemigation Chemical injection Advancement time Hydrogen peroxide treatment Safety Hydrogen peroxide as an oxidizing agent Use of hydrogen peroxide
32. NANCE HANDBOOK HYDROGEN PEROXIDE TREATMENT Safety 52 Hydrogen peroxide as an oxidizing agent 52 Use of hydrogen peroxide 53 Terminology 54 Application methods 54 Designating the injection point 54 Dosage 55 DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK 51 HYDROGEN PEROKIDE TREATMENT Safety WARNING Hydrogen peroxide H202 is toxic and dangerous for humans Before using hydrogen peroxide read all the instructions for hydrogen peroxide treatments the local legal regulations and the manufacturer s instructions Before filling any tank with hydrogen peroxide solution flush it thoroughly to remove any traces of fertilizers Avoid contact with the eyes The contact of hydrogen peroxide with the eyes can cause blindness Avoid contact with the skin The contact of hydrogen peroxide with the skin can cause burns Use protective clothing when working with hydrogen peroxide Use goggles gloves mask long pants long sleeved shirts and high closed shoes Avoid swallowing or inhaling Swallowing hydrogen peroxide or inhaling its vapors could be fatal During treatment a second operator must be present who can if necessary provide first aid Remain on site during the entire duration of the treatment Keep all unauthorized personnel outside the treatment area WARNING Direct contact between hydrogen peroxide and fertilizers or other chemical products could create a thermal reaction which could cause the tan
33. To avoid condensation and corrosion problems do not wrap or seal the pump with plastic Air must be permitted to circulate around the pump Rotate the pump s axle periodically to prevent freeze up of internal components and keep bearings coated with lubricant to prevent oxidation and corrosion Grease the pump according to the instructions in the pump manual If the pump is equipped with grease nozzles it may be serviced with a grease gun Removal of pump from installation site if applicable Place fittings bolts nuts shims spacers wire nuts pipe fittings etc in a heavy gauge plastic bag and attach it to the pump Remove the pressure gauge from the system and others gauges if necessary and store them with the pump Seal all open ports to keep out foreign objects insects rodents dust and dirt Replace gaskets as necessary Disconnect all suction piping from water reservoir if applicable to prevent freeze damage or alternatively drain all suction piping DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK 71 PERIODS OF SYSTEM INACTIVITY Head control The head control and particularly the filters should be examined for dirt and sediments and treated accordingly chlorine or acid treatment For gravel filters the final result of the treatment should be clean loose gravel with no caking or cracking After the treatment the filters the fertilizer injection unit and all the components of the head control should be flus
34. ages and disadvantages Injection point location As close as possible to the Prevents the growth of bacterial slime in the main pipe and protects irrigation system pump the irrigation system Far from the pump and as close Does not protect the main pipe and is not recommended in cases of as possible to the treated plot effluent water sulfur iron and or manganese 54 DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK HYDROGEN PEROKIDE TREATMENT Dosage The required quantity of hydrogen peroxide depends on the water quality the cleanliness of the pipes and the dripperlines and the size of the system NOTE Measure the hydrogen peroxide concentration using a hydrogen peroxide testing kit After injection measure the residual concentration and adjust the dosage as follows f the residual concentration is too low increase the injected concentration f the residual concentration is too high reduce the injected concentration Recommended levels of hydrogen peroxide concentration before and after injection Dosage of hydrogen peroxide injection method purpose Injected concentration ppm Residual concentration ppm 50 100 Annual maintenance treatment of 200 500 8 10 the irrigation system Measurements must be taken at the point furthest from the injection point Measuring the hydrogen peroxide concentration in a system Controlling the quantity of residual hydrogen peroxide is an integral part of the treat
35. ain sub main distribution lines and flushing manifold Inspection of dripperlines laterals 14 14 15 15 16 DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK 13 REGULAR SYSTEM INSPECTION Regular baseline readings and monitoring of flow pressure and flush water condition will guide your maintenance scheduling In addition to flow pressure and condition of flush water the overall condition of the pump station and distribution system including control equipment engines motors reservoirs injectors pipelines valves fittings flow meters and pressure gauges should be routinely inspected and or calibrated Broken or dysfunctional equipment should be immediately repaired or replaced with the same or similar equipment that will perform the same function according to system design criteria Inspection of the pump Once a month e Visually inspect the pump for integrity and for leaks from its impeller chamber if applicable inlet outlet pipes and accessories e Make sure the pump and its immediate environment are clean and free of any unrelated objects that might obstruct proper aeration of the pump s motor or block accessibility for maintenance e Check the screen at the pump s inlet for clogging e Check for rust on the pump and its accessories e Make sure the electrical supply to the pump is properly isolated and protected from moisture e Make sure the pump starts smoothly In the long term start up vibrations might damage the pump
36. allon USG 3 785 liters L 1 liter L 0 264 gallon USG WEIGHT 1 kilogram kg 2 205 pounds Ib 1 pound Ib 0 454 kilogram kg TEMPERATURE POWERS Celsius Fahrenheit 1 kilowatt KW 1 341022 horse power HP O 232 1 kilowatt KW 56 91965 British thermal units per minute BTU min 1 horse power HP 0 7456999 kilowatt KW FILTRATION Micron um size of gaps between fibers 400 0 32 0 86 5 95 1 1 2 2 3 3 Mesh number of pores per linear inch 40 60 200 The mesh to micron conversion is not a proper mathematical conversion but a commercial approximation DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK 85 APPENDIX 4 Further reading This section provides the reader with links to recommended complementary documents that discuss drip irrigation related subjects at length Download them at http www netafim com irrigation products technical materials Drip Irrigation Handbook The document presents the basic concepts regarding drip irrigation familiarizes the reader with the components of a drip irrigation system and their functions and provides understanding of the basic operational issues regarding the system It is intended for Netafim s personnel and its representatives and agents throughout the world and for its clients their decision makers managers and operational personnel Subsurface Drip Irrigation SDI SDI is an irrigation management tool that enables consist
37. ation system installation will reduce rodent pressures on a new field For pocket gophers a mechanical burrow builder that releases bait is effective in perimeter applications Hand baiting tunnels is time consuming but effective if done by a trained applicator The usual treatment for gophers is bait plowed in every other furrow and around the perimeter of the field Fumigants applied in the tunnels are usually not as effective as toxicants and trapping because they tend to diffuse giving the gopher enough time to escape Rodent management action plan An integrated approach must be taken to reduce rodent damage to crops and equipment This plan must involve reducing acceptable habitats for rodents close to the field and may involve trapping or poisoning to control active populations In addition the dripperline itself can be protected by using the repellant effect of some pesticides and slightly acidifying the soil around the dripperlines Fall and spring are the seasons when rodents are most active and may cause the most damage Therefore any management program must focus on these seasons Do not underestimate the wealth of reference materials and the help of local extension agents and pest control specialists Many growers have implemented successful plans for rodent management on their fields protecting the investment in their irrigation system and improving yields To be effective any rodent control plan must be diligent and consistent
38. cal product injected into the system Concentration of fertilizer chemical product s injected into the system Dose of fertilizer chemical product injected into the system I m h Specify the formula used for injection Specify any additional chemical product injected into the dripping systems Water Treatments Chlorination Other Acid Treatment Information about emitters Specify the number of clogged emitters Many Indicate the location of the obstructed emitters The last dripperline The last drippers of a few dripperlines Some Few None 96 Uniform dispersion in the plot DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK 77 Hydraulic conditions checklist Keeping track of the system s hydraulic conditions flow rate and pressure is of utmost importance for the detection of malfunction clogging and leaks in the system Use a hydraulic conditions checklist in the form of a table representing the flow rate and pressure at the head of the system and at the head of each plot Fill in the table s first row with the planned system data received from Netafim Fill in the table s second row with the benchmark data recorded at the time of initial operation of the system record the data after the system s flow rate and pressure are stabilized The benchmark data should not de
39. ces natural limitations of filtration equipment and the general agricultural growing environment make maintenance a priority WARNING In extreme cases of negligence to perform routine system maintenance a clogged drip irrigation system might cause the loss of the current crop and even necessitate replacement of the dripperlines Aside from making equipment adjustments or repairs the majority of system maintenance activities are applying chemicals flushing the system and controlling pests Preventive and corrective maintenance Maintenance consists of two categories Preventive maintenance aimed at preventing clogging of the drippers can be divided in three categories Flushing the system Chemical injection e Irrigation scheduling rrigation scheduling is not a distinct maintenance practice and therefore it is not discussed in this book However the application of an orderly irrigation plan is of utmost importance to the prevention of clogging of the drippers For introductory guidance on irrigation scheduling see the Drip Irrigation Handbook at http www netafim com irrigation products technical materials Corrective maintenance consists mainly of removal of obstructions already present in the drippers e Flushing the system And one or more of the following practices according to the nature of the obstruction Organic formation treated with hydrogen peroxide Mineral sedimentation treated with acids or a combinat
40. contains instructions aimed at enhancing the effective usage of the instructions in the document NOTE The following text contains instructions aimed at emphasizing a certain aspect of the operation or installation of the system ACID HAZARD The following text contains instructions aimed at preventing bodily injury or direct damage to the crops and or the irrigation system in the presence of acid ELECTRICAL HAZARD The following text contains instructions aimed at preventing bodily injury or direct damage to the irrigation system components in the presence of electricity R SAFETY FOOTWEAR The following text contains instructions aimed at preventing foot injury 09 PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT The following text contains instructions aimed at preventing damage to health or bodily injury in the presence of nutrients acid or chemicals EXAMPLE The following text provides an example to clarify the operation of the settings method of operation or installation The values used in the examples are hypothetical Do not apply these values to your own situation TIP 9 The following text provides clarification tips or useful information 6 DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK INTRODUCTION Structure of the drip irrigation system 8 Preventive and corrective maintenance 10 Maintenance timetable 11 DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK 7 INTRODUCTION Structure of the drip irrigation system A qrip irrigation system is comprised of man
41. ctions If any of these is lacking plant growth and yield suffer see Drip Irrigation Handbook at http www netafim com irrigation products technical materials Limitations of Nutrigation via a drip irrigation system e Only water soluble fertilizers that are free of impurities are allowed to be used in drip irrigation e Some fertilizers although water soluble may not be compatible with the method of Nutrigation such as fertilizer that raises the pH of the irrigation water so high that precipitation occurs in the system e Use acid fertilizers in the case of hard water alkaline water or where pH is higher than 7 Certain fertilizers are corrosive to metal parts of the equipment therefore the parts of the system coming in contact with these fertilizers should be made of materials resistant to corrosion NOTE Do not inject ionic iron iron sulfate iron chloride into the drip irrigation system lonic iron will damage the system Always use iron chelates Phosphoric fertilizers can cause the formation of phosphoric salts such as calcium magnesium etc increasing the potential of clogging the emitters Use only phosphoric fertilizers based on orthophosphates Do not use phosphoric fertilizers based on polyphosphates Characteristics of fertilizers used in Nutrigation Knowing the characteristics of the fertilizers to be used in Nutrigation is essential for making the right choice of fertilizers and application i
42. d area susceptible to freezing temperatures during the winter are there any special precautions to take when the system is inactive 70 How do restart the drip irrigation system after a period of inactivity 73 Nutrigation and chemigation issues What fertilizers can use in my drip irrigation system 33 Why it is important to reduce water pH 28 How should conduct acid treatment of my drip irrigation system 38 Can apply organic nutrients through my drip irrigation system 41 In organic agriculture is it possible to apply acid treatment through the drip irrigation system 1 42 Is it possible to apply chemicals such as insecticides fungicides nematicides herbicides etc through the drip irrigation system 43 What is advancement time 47 What precautions should take when applying hydrogen peroxide treatment 51 What are the hazards of chlorine injection through a drip irrigation system 57 Pest and rodent issues How can handle rodent population in the field 63 What products can use to repel ants from the field and the equipment 68 Dripper clogging issues How can prevent soil sand particles from clogging the drippers 28 How can reduce roots from penetrating the drippers 29 DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK 87 WWW NETAFIM COM
43. dripperlines When the flushing valve is Flushing valve opened flow rate and velocity through the dripperlines are greater than those in normal operational mode The higher flow velocity allows efficient removal of settled solids and precipitants from the dripperlines preventing them from clogging the drippers Flushing manifold The flushing manifold is sized for a flow velocity of at least 0 5 m sec 1 65 ft sec at the end of the dripperlines to ensure sediment removal Flushing will temporarily increase the flow requirements of the system which in turn will decrease the system pressure In some cases in order to supply the flow rate required for flushing an additional pump at the head of the system is used The additional pump will be activated only during flushing to add the missing flow rate During dripperline flushing carefully monitor the water flowing out of the flushing valve Do not close the flushing valve before the water is satisfactorily clean 26 DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK PREVENTING CLOGGING IN THE SYSTEM Reducing waterpH I 28 Preventing sand particle penetration into the system 28 Preventing root intrusion in SDI systems 29 DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK 27 PREVENTING CLOGGING IN THE SYSTEM Reducing water pH Water pH level must be considered since it affects many aspects of cultivation Study the water analysis and get to know and manage the pH levels See Water analysis page 83
44. e end of the dripperline and allow the water to flow freely for 10 seconds 5 The chlorine testing kit has two reagents in order to measure both the free chlorine and the combined chlorine When chlorine is tested in drainage treated and or residual water or when a fertilizer with an ammonium base is injected to the system measure the combined chlorine 6 If the chlorine concentration in the water is higher than the capacity of the testing kit the sample must be diluted using distilled water only In order to determine the concentration multiply the result by the dilution factor The residual chlorine measured with the kit is the result of the injected quantity of chlorine less the quantity of chlorine consumed during the treatment due to its action mainly on the existent organic biological matter NOTE The residual chlorine must be verified at the furthest point of the system Open the end of the fourth or fifth dripperline from the end and let the water flow for 10 seconds before taking the sample NOTE Measure the chlorine concentration using a chlorine testing kit Chlorine dosage The following table lists the recommended chlorine concentration levels to be injected and the required residual concentration of chlorine Injection method purpose Concentration to be injected Residual concentration 0 5 10 ppm inuous injecti 2850 2 0 3 0 ppm The measurement must be taken at the point furthest from the injecti
45. e intrusion of roots may occur when the plant suffers water stress and the roots are searching for moisture One of the main causes of root intrusion is insufficient irrigation This occurs when the plant s water consumption exceeds irrigation Under these conditions the roots tend to develop near the dripper and eventually penetrate it Gradually the roots may grow into the dripper blocking the water passage in the dripper Maintaining proper humidity in the surroundings by means of adequate irrigation planning allows the roots to spread and use the entire available moistened soil volume instead of concentrating around the dripper Continuous soil humidity monitoring allows better control over the moistening pattern thus maintaining optimal soil humidity within the dripper s surroundings Water stress may be Planned at the farmer s discretion Caused by a lack of water or a faulty water supply Due to an unforeseen increase in water consumption by the crop example a few consecutive days of unexpected exceptionally high temperatures without proper irrigation to compensate for the higher water consumption during those days DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK 29 PREVENTING CLOGGING IN THE SYSTEM If a crop requires a stress period A precise dosage of herbicide should be injected to prevent rootlet ends from growing near the dripper without damaging the plant itself Chemical treatment should be executed prior to the start of th
46. e of the treated system per hour m3 h DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK 55 HYDROGEN PEROXIDE TREATMENT n order to calculate the required volume of hydrogen peroxide 3596 to be injected into the irrigation water for 45 minutes use the following formula V cc 2 2 5 x C ppm x O m3 h n order to calculate the required volume of hydrogen peroxide 50 to be injected into the irrigation water for 45 minutes use the following formula V cc 1 8 x C ppm x O m3 h IN EXAMPLE Calculate the required volume of hydrogen peroxide 50 to be injected into the irrigation water using the following data O 100 m3 h The required hydrogen peroxide concentration in the water and the system 68 ppm The residual concentration of hydrogen peroxide is 2 ppm e C 68 2 70 ppm V cc 1 8 x C ppm x O m h 1 8 70 100 12 600 cc 12 6 liters of hydrogen peroxide 50 to be injected for 45 minutes into a system with a flow rate of 100 m h NOTE The recommended duration of injection is minimum 45 minutes and maximum one hour 56 DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK CHLORINE TREATMENT Safety 58 Chlorine injection into drip irrigation systems 58 Materials 58 Application methods 59 Designating the injection point 59 Dosage 59 DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK 57 CHLORINE TREATMENT FN WARNING Chlorine liquid solid or gaseous is toxic and dangerous to humans Before using chlorine
47. e stress period For surface systems with root penetration potential especially those where the irrigation line is covered by plastic sheets foliage etc it is recommended to move the dripperlines slightly away from the roots P Trifluralin 48 Stomp Pendimethalin 33 The table presents examples of commercial products used for the Alligator Pendimethalin 4096 prevention of root penetration The percentage of active substance is determined by the manufacturer Prowl Pendimethalin 40 To calculate the amount of commercial product to be injected through the drip system proceed as follows Use the coefficient of 6 six and divide by the percentage of active substance in the commercial product The result of this calculation is the volume in cubic centimeters cc of the commercial product to be injected per dripper Multiply the number of drippers per surface unit to be treated by the volume of the commercial product calculated below The number 6 is a coefficient that simplifies unit conversion 6 96 active substance in the commercial product cc product per dripper CAUTION v Consult the local authority for approved herbicides in the country area and always follow the application directions Examples of commercial products dosage Treflan 6 48 0 125 cc dripper Therefore 1 0 liter of Treflan is enough for 8 000 drippers Stomp 330 6 33 0 182 cc dripper Therefore 1 0 liter o
48. ently high yields better water and fertilizer management and reduced fertilizer and water usage This guide describes the specifications design installation operation and maintenance of an SDI system It is intended as an aid in the selection of subsurface drip irrigation and the management of the system to obtain the desired results Dripperlines Drippers amp Other Emitters Product Catalog This catalog is an aid for locating basic data on each of the drip products within a hand s reach The catalog describes the main applications of the item displayed its features and benefits technical specifications of drippers and dripperlines a table of all active catalog numbers and basic packaging data Fittings amp Accessories Product Catalog The Netafim Fittings and Accessories product families are designed to complement and support efficient and professional utilization of dip irrigation systems The Netafim Accessories amp Fittings are an integral part of the irrigation system Each component is manufactured under the strictest quality control standards ensuring maximum system performance and reliability The catalog presents Netafim s wide variety of manifolds dripperlines accessories holders clips adaptors and plugs stakes amp spikes pressure regulators product assemblies tools Agro Machinery Product Catalog Netafim offers a wide variety of application tools and accessories designed for simple rapid and eff
49. entration required at the injection point 5 ppm 1 4 Formula for calculating the chlorine solution injection Required chlorine concentration ppm Flow rate of treated system m h Flow rate of injected chlorine solution in l h Concentration of injected chlorine solution 10 The number 10 in the formula is a coefficient that simplifies the conversion of units 5 ppm 100 m3 h 10 10 NOTE The recommended injection time is at least 45 minutes NOTE All the recommendations and examples presented here refer to open field crops fruits grains vegetables etc For treatments in protected crops greenhouses tunnels etc consult with the Netafim Agronomy Division Flow rate of the chlorine solution injected into system 5 h of chlorine solution DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK 61 CONTROL Rodent control 64 Ant control 68 DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK 63 PEST CONTROL Rodent Control Unmanaged populations of rodents in agricultural fields can cause significant damage and loss of productivity in a wide range of crops A wide variety of rodents may inhabit agricultural lands including Voles Mice Rats Ground squirrels Gophers Small rodents such as mice and voles damage young and older trees alike in nurseries and orchards by girdling the tender saplings and branches Studies in New York have shown up to a 6696 reduction in apple yields as a result of girdling by
50. eparator open the valve at the drainage outlet of the filter Drainage outlet 20 DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK SYSTEM FLUSHING Periodic filter maintenance m CAUTION Before starting filter maintenance make sure the system is not under pressure Gravel sand filter The filter might lose some gravel sand during the back flush cycles so even if the filter is in proper working order it may require additional gravel sand from time to time While flushing check the water at the filter s drainage exit by touch to detect loss of gravel sand medium Screen filter Take the screen out of the filter casing and clean it with pressurized water and brushes Visually inspect the screen for breaches and cracks and replace the screen if damaged Disc filter Open the filter s casing and release the piston holding the discs pressed close together Take the discs out of the filter casing Thread the discs on an acid resistant rope and tie the ends of the rope to form a loop Do not thread too many discs on one loop it is important that the cleaning solution reaches all the disc surfaces Soak the discs in this solution making sure the discs are loose and have good contact on both sides with the solution Do not put too many discs in at one time f the disk remains dirty repeat the last step solution for surface water with organic and biological residue Make a 1096 peroxide solution Pour 7 liters 1 8 gallons of water
51. er Fertilizers are salts that react with other salts found in the irrigation water Therefore it is important to consider the chemical composition of the water to be used for preparing the liquid fertilizers For example under conditions of water with high alkalinity the phosphorus of a phosphate fertilizer precipitates with calcium and magnesium present in the water These precipitates can be seen at the bottom of the fertilizer tank Interaction between fertilizers There are fertilizers that must not be used in the same mixture as they are incompatible In some cases when mixed those fertilizers immediately induce crystallization and cause clogging in the irrigation system In other cases the reaction between two incompatible fertilizers causes the loss of nutrients Compatibility of the most common soluble fertilizers Urea Magnesium sulfate Ammonium nitrate Magnesium nitrate Ammonium sulfate Calcium chloride MAP Calcium nitrate MKP D Potassium sulfate Potassium nitrate DO O Potassium chloride um uen moni Potassium chloride SEUSS Potassium nitrate Potassium sulfate acum chord KEKS ms Menene SSS Ammonun nal Compatible Limited compatibility amp Incompatible DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK 35 NUTRIGATION AND ACID TREATMENT Jar test To avoid injecting products that might clog or otherwise damage the irrigation system perform the simple jar test described below before injecti
52. ers pressure gauges pressure regulators and flush valves Once the system is operational chemicals should be injected if necessary and then the system should be thoroughly flushed Baseline readings should then be recorded and compared with benchmark data and adjustments made if needed DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK 73 System description form 76 Hydraulic conditions checklist 28 Maintenance activities monitoring form 79 DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK 75 System description form When Netafim s support or advice are needed complete the System Description Form with regard to the plot in question Download the form at http www netafim com irrigation products technical materials Definition of the Problem Clogging Routine test Other General Information Type of irrigation PC UniRam MegaNet Other Age of the equipment Size of the system ha System flow rate m3 h Total length of dripperline per hectare m Location of the dripperlines Surface Subsurface depth m Emitter flow rate l h Average length of dripperline m Downstream from the head control filter bar Operating pressure At the end of the dripperline with the lowest pressure bar Irrigation frequency specify units for example hours day days week pulses Soil composition 96 sand sili 96 clay
53. event damage to PC dripper diaphragms and other accessories of the system The manner of application and the product quantity will be as recommended by the manufacturer but the mother solution should be applied as to allow a concentration of no more than 0 196 of the active substance in the irrigation water It is necessary to continue irrigating with plain irrigation water for the time necessary to flush the entire quantity of the injected product out of the irrigation system and ensure its total transfer to the soil this depends on the system size see Advancement time page 47 In CNL systems open the end of the dripperlines while flushing the system 68 DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK PERIODS OF SYSTEM INACTIVITY Preparing the system for periods of inactivity 1 1 1 70 Winterization of the system 70 System startup procedures 73 DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK 69 PERIODS OF SYSTEM INACTIVITY Preparing the system for periods of inactivity Whenever a drip irrigation system is expected to be inactive for more than 60 days it should be prepared to withstand the period of inactivity The following procedures must be implemented Chemical injection see Chemical injection page 44 Filter back flushing see System flushing page 17 Flushing the main sub main distribution lines and flushing manifold see System flushing page 17 Flushing the dripperlines see System flushing page 17 Preparation of the pumpin
54. f Stomp 330 is enough for 5 945 drippers Alligator 400 6 40 0 150 cc dripper Therefore 1 5 liters of Alligator 400 are enough for 10 000 drippers Prowl 400 6 40 0 150 cc dripper Therefore 1 5 liters of Prowl 400 are enough for 10 000 drippers 1cc 1ml NOTE In cases where the number of drippers per lineal meter of dripperline exceeds 3 the number of drippers noted for herbicide dosage calculation will still be 3 drippers per meter and not according to the actual number of drippers EXAMPLE One 1 hectare with 6 500 meters of dripperlines and dripper spacing of 0 20 meters 6 500 meters divided by 0 20 meters equals 32 500 drippers per hectare actual quantity Based on the above as this case has b drippers per lineal meter of irrigation line i e more than 3 drippers meter the calculation will be made according to 3 drippers per lineal meter of irrigation line Thus 6 500 meters multiplied by 3 drippers equals 19 500 drippers per hectare quantity calculated for application The dose to be injected will be 19 500 drippers multiplied by the volume in cubic centimeters cc per dripper of the commercial product calculated above depending on the active ingredient of the said product 30 DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK PREVENTING CLOGGING IN THE SYSTEM Determining the quantity and frequency of treatments The number of treatments per season with one of the above mentioned herbicides should be 1 or 2 depending
55. f the filters in the array flushing spreads the discs to allow the water flowing between them to pick up the dirt from the grooves in the discs lt Piston The automatic inlet valve is close and the drainage valve is open The opened drainage outlet creates a pressure differential across the filter allowing water to flow into the filter through its outlet and out of the drainage outlet back flushing the filter discs Filters in an array are flushed in sequence Drainage outlet DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK 19 SYSTEM FLUSHING Gravel sand filter During current operation the automatic 3 way valves close the filter s drainage outlets Water flows through the gravel sand medium into the irrigation line When filter flushing is performed the automatic 3 way valve of one of the filters opens the drainage outlet while blocking the water inlet to the filter The opened drainage outlet creates a pressure differential across the filter allowing water to flow into the filter through its outlet and out of the drainage outlet back flushing the filter s gravel sand medium Filters in an array are flushed in sequence Current operation Filter flushing Drainage Drainage Drainage outlet outlet Drainage outlet I E irrigation line To the irrigation line Hydrocyclone sand separator To flush the sand accumulated in the sand compartment at the bottom of the hydrocyclone sand s
56. feet between the two points The acid injection point must be upstream from the chlorine injection point During chlorine injection it is forbidden to reduce the pH level of the water to below 6 The required quantity of chlorine depends on the water quality the cleanliness of the pipes and dripperlines and the size of the system DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK 59 CHLORINE TREATMENT Measuring the chlorine concentration in the system Controlling the level of residual chlorine is an integral part of the treatment Follow the guidelines below in order to ensure that the correct dosage is applied 1 Chlorine concentration Type of irrigation and dripper Chlorine concentration at the injection point With non compensated drippers Limited by crop sensitivity With pressure compensated drippers lt 30 ppm limited by crop sensitivity Pulse irrigation with pressure compensated lt 30 ppm limited by crop sensitivity non leakage CNL drippers Flush dripperlines after treatment 2 The chlorine concentration must be checked regularly at least once or twice a week When the continuous injection method is used the injected quantity must be adjusted initially according to the residual concentration 3 The residual concentration of chlorine must be checked at the point furthest from the injection point within the system Residual chlorine Injected chlorine Chlorine demand in the system 4 Before taking a sample open th
57. fferential is reached Je ATTENTION To prevent loss of nutrients if a filter is installed downstream from a dosing unit set the controller to pause Nutrigation or chemigation during filter back flushing Always give priority to filter back flushing Do not perform Nutrigation M or chemigation during filter back flushing Each type of filter has a different flushing mechanism The typical flushing mechanism of each type of filter is described below However for flushing a specific filter always refer to its user manual Screen filter Drainage Flushing is performed during the Flushing Filtration lt outlet filter s current operation axis screen Automatic valve The automatic valve opens the Motor drainage outlet which creates suction in the flushing axis ASIE XD The motor rotates the flushing axis and moves it back and forth drawing the dirt from the entire inside surface of the filtration screen Filter inlet Filter outlet e TV To the irrigation line 18 DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK SYSTEM FLUSHING Disc filter During current operation the piston at Current the top of all the filters in the array holds operation the discs pressed close together Piston All the automatic inlet valves are open and the drainage valves are close Water flows through the disks into the irrigation line Drainage outlet During the flushing operation the piston Filter at the top of one o
58. g in the soil and cut off easy access by mice or voles to the loose soil around the dripperline Preventive installation procedures The following installation procedures can significantly reduce potential rodent damage to subsurface dripperlines It is highly recommended that all these procedures be followed Prepare a buffer zone around the field and apply rodenticides according to a plan drawn up with the local extension agent if rodent pressures are high Have the field as free of crop residue as possible Field mice are especially fond of plant residues nsert dripperlines as deep as practical for the crop being grown Dripperlines inserted at depths greater than 30 cm 12 exhibit less rodent damage Apply a repellant or toxicant when inserting the dripperline Seal the slit made by the shank by using front tractor tires to reduce ready made paths for small rodents The front tires should be narrow single ribbed cultivating tires and the front of the tractor must be weighted This operation must be completed on the same day as the dripperline insertion Operate the irrigation system for 12 hours per zone within two weeks of completing the installation Do not reach a situation where the dripperlines are inserted in the fall and the first irrigation is performed in the spring Rodents especially pocket gophers are often most active in the fall and early spring It is often at these times when the irrigation system is not
59. g system see Pumps page 71 Preparation of water tanks Make sure the tanks are constantly full of water and the liner is securely tied Winterization of the system Winterizing guidelines for irrigation systems in regions with freezing hazards Winterizing the system is necessary in climates where water may freeze and expand possibly damaging plastic and metal system components Water from filters valves chemigation equipment pressure regulators and subsurface pipes and dripperlines should be emptied especially at lower ends of the field where water typically accumulates Polyethylene dripperlines are not subject to damage from freezing since drippers provide drainage points and polyethylene is somewhat flexible Prior to a winter shut down period Perform chemical injection flushing of all pipes and dripperlines and cleaning of the filters Empty filters valves chemigation equipment pressure regulators and subsurface pipelines Water tanks and soil reservoirs coated with PE or PP liners The optimal condition for a water tank to be in is full of water throughout the year The water will prevent wind damage to the liner and to the metal walls of the tanks Wintertime regulations The same recommendations apply for the freezing period in winter with the addition of the following instructions The liner becomes very sensitive to movements strikes and vibrations when the temperature drops below 0 C 32 F Therefore
60. h biological activity To reduce BOD COD values by oxidizing organic and inorganic polluting materials Hydrogen peroxide is one of the most powerful known oxidizers It always decomposes in an exothermic reaction into water and gaseous oxygen 2 H 0 gt 2 H 0 0 NOTE Do not use hydrogen peroxide if the pipes and or storage tanks are made of steel or asbestos cement or if they are covered with cement Hydrogen peroxide is not effective for preventing or dissolving scale sediments sand etc Physical and chemical properties of hydrogen peroxide Physical state Characteristic odor Molecular weight H 0 Boiling point Freezing paint Vapor pressure at 25 C Specific gravity H 0 1 NOTE Due to reasons of safety and cost Netafim recommends using a concentration of no more than 50 hydrogen peroxide DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK 53 HYDROGEN PEROKIDE TREATMENT Terminology Injected hydrogen peroxide is the concentration ppm of the product calculated at the injection point Residual hydrogen peroxide is the concentration ppm of the product measured at the furthest treatment point Hydrogen peroxide requirements are high for waste water and industrial residual water and low for potable water and other types of water with no organic load For waste waters or industrial residue conditions it is not possible to calculate the required concentration of hydrogen peroxide Therefore it is necessary to inject an arbit
61. h may cause dripper clogging NOTE Avoid mixing organic nutrients in the fertilizer tank Organic nutrients must be filtered before they are injected in the irrigation system The injection point of an organic nutrient must be located before the main filtration system in order to prevent dripper clogging DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK 41 NUTRIGATION AND ACID TREATMENT Acid treatment in organic agriculture Acids permitted for use in organic agriculture Acetic Citric Oxalic Para acetic It is possible to use chlorine hydrogen peroxide etc for disinfection oxidation depending on local standards In organic agriculture processes must be performed according to the pertinent regulations in each country and according to the certifying authorities 42 DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK CHEMIGATION Chemical injection Advancement time 44 47 DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK 43 CHEMIGATION The irrigation system is used also as a method for distributing products with the irrigation water These products such as fertilizers insecticides fungicides nematicides herbicides etc must be totally soluble in the water and are injected into the system at a selected point penetrating into the soil through the system If there is any doubt whether a certain product can be injected through the irrigation system consult a Netafim M specialist NN CHEMICAL HAZARD When not handled properly nutrients acids
62. he growing season considering meteorological and environmental factors that potentially influence the water quality Consult Netafim s Agronomy Division especially recommended for new projects Water quality is not controllable it varies with time for a variety of reasons This means that different treatments are required at different times in order to ensure that water quality is suitable for the irrigation System Therefore it is recommended to analyze the water occasionally in order to constantly adjust the treatment Other factors that affect the water quality and must be taken into account are the fertilizers and chemical products used in the same system for various treatments Taking water samples 1 Before taking a water sample flush a clean one liter bottle using water from the source to be sampled 2 Fill the bottle so that no air at all remains inside the bottle if possible squeeze the bottle to expel any remaining air 3 Close the cap firmly and store the sample in a clean place in the shade 4 Send the sample to a local authorized laboratory as soon as possible after taking the sample O1 Write the following data on the sample bottle Grower s name Location Water source Date sample was taken DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK 83 APPENDIX 2 6 Request an analysis of all the following parameters EC electrical conductivity CI chloride TSS total suspended solids pH level of acidity
63. hed with clean water Then the head control should be emptied of water so that all the components are dry filters manifolds water meters and valves The fertilization system should be protected from the elements The openings in the system as a result of removing the accessories need to be well covered to prevent dirt and animals from getting inside however air should be permitted inside to avoid condensation Main line All main lines sub mains and dripperlines should be flushed see System Flushing page 17 Then the flushing valves should be opened at the low points to enable the water in the pipes to flow out In freezing areas If water still accumulates at the end of the lines and the lines do not drain completely it is necessary to expel the remaining water from the pipe All openings in the main line due to valve removal should be covered by a plastic bag to avoid penetration of animals and dirt Risers and valves It is necessary to ensure that no water remains in the valves and their risers AN WARNING At low temperatures PVC risers can break even if touched lightly The location of PVC risers should be marked by 4 colored red and white high posts around the risers t is important to let the water out of the command chamber of the valves and from the command tubes Sub mains t is necessary to drain the sub main pipes of water towards the lower points and if water remains at the l
64. icient installation and removal of dripperlines while avoiding damage to the drippers and maintaining their integrity The catalog presents Netafim s line of insertion extraction laying and retrieval machinery and accessories Connectors Product Catalog Netafim s comprehensive range of pipe connector systems is made of high resistance and high durability polymers Use the catalog to select the right line for your application barb connectors fast ring connectors flare connectors twist lock connectors and a vast family of start and reducing connectors Polyethylene Rigid and Flexible Pipes Product Catalog For use in agricultural irrigation systems water delivery systems sprinkler and micro sprinkler stands assembly dripper sets and automation application The catalog presents Netafim s range of standard irrigation pipes tubes and micro tubes 3 5 4 6 5 6 8 and 9 12 and 8 mm micro tubes 86 DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK APPENDIX 5 Frequently asked questions FAQ Operational issues See page How should plan an efficacious maintenance program for my drip irrigation system 10 How should monitor the performance of the various components of my drip irrigation system 13 Is regular flushing of the various components of a drip irrigation system an intricate task 17 My irrigation system is going to be inactive for a prolonged period are there any specific preparations to make 69 My field is in a col
65. in a timeframe determined by the extent of the rodent pressure in the surrounding area DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK 67 PEST CONTROL Ant control ZI WARNING Always observe the pesticide manufacturer s instructions and the regulations issued by the relevant local authority Most pesticides are comprised of an active substance and an emulsifier They are usually marketed in the form of powder grains or liquid Pesticides in the form of powder or grains are banned for use through drip irrigation systems because they do not dissolve efficiently in the irrigation water Their use does not allow determination of the exact concentration of active substance in the solution and in addition the active substance may damage the drippers diaphragm and even clog the drippers Ant treatment products are to be applied externally by scattering or spattering them on the ground and ants nests These products are to be applied in the concentration indicated by the manufacturer Machteshim Luxemburg Bayer Syngenta etc There are several products and active substances that can be used for ant treatment Disictol Diazinon Chlorpiryfos Fipronil Clap pyperonyl butoxide Pirinex Basudin Ecogan Imidacloprid 3596 against termites etc If products in emulsion liquid form such as the Dorsan Chlorpiryfos 4896 and Clap are to be used through a drip irrigation system the product must be injected at a maximum concentration of 0 196 to pr
66. ine ends it should be pumped out The line ends of the sub mains should be marked by 4 colored red and white high posts Dripperlines There is no special winter preparation for dripperlines besides the standard chlorine acid treatments and flushing as the dripperlines drain through the drippers and even if some water remains it will not damage the dripperlines 72 DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK PERIODS OF SYSTEM INACTIVITY TIP S Pressure regulators and subsurface pipelines can be easily and efficiently emptied using a blower or an air compressor providing high flow rate and low pressure An adapter is required consisting of the following parts 3 4 Brauckman pressure regulator Galvanized conical connector 3 4 e 1 2 F 3 4 M brass coated bushing 10 cm galvanized 1 2 pipe Stainless steel band clamp 3 4 transparent pipe 12m e 1 4 F 1 2 M brass coated bushing e Pressure gauge 250 GLZ 6 bar 1 4 BSP 3 4 ball valve with long handle e Flare connector For full assembly and operation instructions consult Netafim s irrigation products department System startup procedures Startup procedures after a period of inactivity are similar to those performed after system installation In summary the system should be carefully pressurized and inspected for leaks and system integrity This includes verifying the functionality of all system components including filters valves controllers chemigation equipment flow met
67. int Application methods Use one of the two following chlorination methods Continuous injection Chlorine is continuously injected during the entire irrigation cycle This is the most efficient method but chlorine consumption is the highest Selective injection The frequency of this selective treatment will be determined according to the water quality in the system and could be daily weekly monthly etc Chlorine is injected during the last irrigation hour Take into consideration the time it takes for chlorine to get to the end of the system see Advancement time page 47 With this method both chlorine consumption and efficiency are lower than with continuous chlorination Designating the injection point Chlorine can be injected at two different points of the system Each position has its advantages and disadvantages Injection point location Remarks O As close as possible to the Prevents the growth of bacterial slime in the main pipe and protects irrigation system pump the irrigation system Far from the pump and as close Does not protect the main pipe and is not recommended in cases of as possible to the treated plot effluent water sulfur iron and or manganese Dosage NOTE It is dangerous to inject chlorine and acid into the same injection point at the same time When it is necessary to reduce the pH using acid injection chlorine and acid must be injected at two different points with at least 3 meters 10
68. into a container and add 3 liters 0 8 gallons of hydrogen peroxide 3596 or pour 8 liters 2 1 gallons of water into the container and add 2 liters 0 53 gallons of hydrogen peroxide 5096 to the water solution for well water with manganese iron or carbonate deposits Make a 1096 hydrochloric acid solution Pour 7 liters 1 8 gallons of water into a container and add 3 liters 0 8 gallons hydrochloric acid 30 3596 to the water Stir the discs in the solution a few times Total soaking time should be 1 to 3 hours f the solution is no longer cleaning the discs replace it with a new mixture Visually inspect the discs for cleanliness and for dents and cracks and replace any damaged discs Rinse the discs with clean water Put the discs back in the filter Make sure to put back the same number of discs that have been taken out Tighten the piston holding the discs pressed close together and close the filter casing Flush the filter a few times to remove all chemicals DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK 21 SYSTEM FLUSHING Flushing the main sub main and distribution lines Flushing the main sub main and distribution lines is an important operation that often doesn t get the attention it requires Even with a primary filter at the head control station small particles can get by and should be physically removed from the piping system Flushing the main sub main and distribution lines will considerably reduce the accumula
69. ion of acid and hydrogen peroxide Organic formation and mineral sedimentation treated with a combination of acid and hydrogen peroxide 10 DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK INTRODUCTION Maintenance timetable When operating a new system for the first time Flush the piping main line sub mains and distribution pipes Flush the dripperlines Check actual flow rate and working pressure for each irrigation shift when the system is active for at least half an hour Compare the data collected to the data supplied with the system planned The tolerance should not be greater than 5 Write down the newly acquired data and keep it as benchmark for future reference f the flow rate and or the working pressure at any point in the system differ by more than 5 from the data supplied with the system have the installer check the system for faults Once a week Check actual flow rate and working pressure for each irrigation shift under regular operating conditions when the system is active for at least half an hour and stabilized Compare the data collected to the benchmark data Check that the water reaches the ends of all the dripperlines Check the pressure differential across the filters A well planned filtration system should lose 0 2 0 3 bar when the filtration system is clean If the pressure differential exceeds 0 8 bar 11 6 PSI check the filter s and their controller for faults Once a month
70. ions in this handbook for proper maintenance of the drip irrigation system Aim of this document The purpose of this document is to present a comprehensive approach to the maintenance of a drip irrigation system and to familiarize the reader with the maintenance procedures regarding the various components and functions of the system It is intended for farm managers and agricultural and technical personnel The importance of thorough knowledge of the subjects discussed in this document for the effective operation and maintenance of the drip irrigation system cannot be overemphasized Drip irrigation is the most advanced and the most efficient of all irrigation methods However its exceptional capabilities cannot be effectively implemented if the user is not familiar with the related knowledge and does not implement it in the current operation and maintenance of the drip irrigation system Netafim makes every effort to provide its clients all over the globe with concise comprehensible documentation in order to facilitate the operation and maintenance of the drip irrigation system while maximizing the ensuing benefits higher yield of superior quality crops with higher market value and higher ROI Netafim s personnel and its representatives and agents around the world should make sure to read and understand this entire document thoroughly prior to advising their clients on issues regarding the operation and maintenance of a Netafim drip
71. irrigation system It is the responsibility of Netafim s representatives and agents to make sure that upon delivery of a drip irrigation system the client is familiar with all the operational and maintenance considerations as discussed in this document The clients managers and operational personnel should be familiar with the components of the drip irrigation system and their functions and study all the operational and maintenance issues discussed in this document in depth prior to first operation of a new Netafim drip irrigation system ATTENTION This document is not a user manual For detailed instructions on the operation maintenance and troubleshooting of the components of the Netafim drip irrigation system refer to the user manuals and documentation of each component supplied with the system This document should be kept available to the farm s personnel at any time for consultation on issues regarding the current operation and maintenance of the drip irrigation system In addition Netafim s Irrigation Products Department is at the client s service for any inquiry advice or additional information needed after reading this document 4 DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT Safety instructions All local safety regulations must be applied when installing operating maintaining and troubleshooting the Netafim drip irrigation system and its components WARNING In an agricultural environment always wear
72. ish a buffer zone around the field Elimination of weeds ground cover and litter around the field will reduce habitat suitability Cultivating this area is a good deterrent for small rodents as it destroys runways and may eliminate them outright Larger animals such as pocket gophers can burrow under this area but the lack of food may slow them down If cultivation is not an option weed control is still imperative especially for pocket gopher management Weeds often have large tap roots which are the preferred food for gophers while fibrous rooted grasses are less appealing The opposite is true for smaller rodents which enjoy the cover that grasses provide Thus in fields of corn which has a fibrous root structure the main rodent pressure may be mice and other small rodents Trapping and removal Trapping can be an effective method to reduce the population of large rodents such as pocket gophers in small to medium sized fields 50 acres Trapping is also effective to clean up remaining animals after a poison control program In the case of smaller rodents such as mice trapping is not usually cost effective because these animals have such rapid reproduction rates Body gripping traps work exceptionally well for capturing pocket gophers Traps can be set in the main tunnel or in a dripperline preferably near the freshest mound Consult a specific pocket gopher control guide for details on how and where to set these traps Gophers usua
73. it is important to keep it still with minimum movements caused by the wind The wind tends to penetrate the gap between the liner and the metal walls and blow the liner off The best way to avoid this is by keeping the tank full with water According to manufacturers experience the ice will not damage the metal walls or the liner unless water is pumped drained from the bottom of the tank when a layer of ice exists on the top water surface In such case a hole should be drilled in the ice layer and a pipe of a diameter suitable for the filling flow rate should be inserted into it Water should be added through the pipe to avoid an air cavity between the ice and the water 70 DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK PERIODS OF SYSTEM INACTIVITY e f the intake and the supply line to the pumps are steel pipes no special preparations are required to protect them If they are PVC lines they should be drained and then sealed to prevent water penetration during the winter To avoid penetration of water into the supply line a manual valve should be installed at the water tank outlet and kept closed during the freezing period Pumps Proper preparation of the pumping system for extended periods of non use in freezing as well as non freezing climates is important in order to preserve the system s performance and duty life expectations Investing a short amount of time and following the procedures below will preserve the pumping system s performance
74. k to explode This is highly dangerous NOTE The injection of hydrogen peroxide into irrigation water containing fertilizers is not dangerous Hydrogen peroxide H202 as an oxidizing agent For more than a decade the use of hydrogen peroxide for disinfecting and oxidizing irrigation water has become increasingly widespread Prior to this chlorine was used but it was found that after the oxidation and disinfection process organic chlorides which produce carcinogenic compounds such as Trichloromethane started to appear and the process also contaminates the environment In fact many countries have passed laws against chlorinating water and this is a growing trend Nowadays hydrogen peroxide is used for cleaning screen disc and gravel filters It is also used as an oxidizing agent for fruits and vegetables prior to storage and for disinfecting public premises Hydrogen peroxide is a strong oxidizing agent It releases oxygen atoms that react quickly oxidizing organic matter The advantages of hydrogen peroxide e Quick reaction speed Environmentally safe Does not generate dangerous by products Hydrogen peroxide is environment friendly does not contaminate the soil does not harm the aquifer and indirectly makes more oxygen available for the soil and the plants The oxidation reaction is quick so the hydrogen peroxide is consumed immediately upon contact with the irrigation water and it is biodegradable Its speed enab
75. les the use of the hydrogen peroxide for quick oxidation and disinfection of the water source and also in close proximity to the filters Hydrogen peroxide is also suitable for oxidizing iron and manganese 52 DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK HYDROGEN PEROKIDE TREATMENT Hydrogen peroxide is commonly used in greenhouses net houses and tunnels or on substrates where the irrigation systems traverse only short distances Chlorination could cause significant damage to the roots in substrates The required concentration of hydrogen peroxide at the system inlet depends on the water quality oxidation potential and the reduction and concentration of organic matter in the water In general between 1 and 10 cc ml of hydrogen peroxide active agent are required for each cubic meter of water 1 to 10 PPM Uses of hydrogen peroxide Hydrogen peroxide is a powerful oxidizing agent and is effective for the following To prevent the accumulation of bacterial slime in the sub main pipes and dripperlines To clean irrigation systems of accumulated organic deposits and bacterial slime To oxidize micro elements such as iron and sulfur and trace elements such as manganese and prevent bacterial propagation To improve the main and secondary filtration under high organic load conditions To disinfect and treat waste water sewage irrigation water drinking water and swimming pools To prevent and eliminate water odors and interference wit
76. lly visit traps within a few hours of setting so newly placed traps should be checked twice daily If a trap has not been visited within 48 hours move it to a new location Trapping is usually most effective in the spring and fall when the gophers are actively building mounds Repellants Rodent repellants can be divided into two large categories those that affect the population at large and those that repel the rodent from gnawing on cables or small diameter tubing such as a dripperline Two repellants that have proven effective in reducing rodent populations over a large area are owl boxes and wet soil Owl boxes are being employed in greater numbers as part of rodent management programs The principle is simple the higher the owl population the fewer the rodents The application of owl boxes to deter rodents is becoming more prevalent This technique works especially well for small bodied rodents such as mice but also affects larger rodents because owls prey on the young Consult the local extermination service for the design and placement of owl boxes appropriate for the area Wet soil but not flooded can be an effective deterrent for rodents that spend much of their time in tunnels The repellant effect of wet soil seems to be the result of poor oxygen transfer through it Rodents that live in tunnels depend upon the air traveling through the soil for oxygen In wet soils the rate of oxygen diffusion is greatly reduced and produces an en
77. ment Follow the guidelines below in order to ensure that the correct dosage is being used 1 When using the continuous injection method the hydrogen peroxide concentration must be examined regularly at least once or twice a week In addition the injected quantity must be adjusted according to the residual concentration 2 The concentration of hydrogen peroxide at the injection point should not be more than 500 ppm 3 The residual concentration of hydrogen peroxide must be checked at the most distant point of the system 4 Before taking a sample open the final end of the dripperline and allow the water to flow freely for 10 15 seconds 5 Use the reagents in the hydrogen peroxide kit for measuring hydrogen peroxide concentrations 6 If the hydrogen peroxide concentration in the water is higher than the testing kit capacity the sample must be diluted with distilled water To determine the concentration multiply the result by the dilution factor Determining the quantity of hydrogen peroxide to inject into the system The following examples show how to calculate the initial dosage for various concentrations of hydrogen peroxide After injection it may be necessary to adjust the quantity for future injections based upon the residual concentrations where V Volume cc of hydrogen peroxide to be added to the irrigation water for 45 minutes C Desired concentration of hydrogen peroxide in the water ppm O Flow rat
78. n order to provide the right elements to the plant at the right time Chemical composition Fertilizers can be simple or compound Simple fertilizers are fertilizers that consist of a single product For example urea ammonium nitrate potassium chloride Compound fertilizers are the products that are obtained by mixing several simple fertilizers these are generally not used in Nutrigation 34 DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK NUTRIGATION AND ACID TREATMENT Form Solid state fertilizers may be granulated or powdered Liquid state fertilizers are fertilizers that can be injected directly into the irrigation system Some fertilizers need to be dissolved in water to reduce the concentration prior to injection Solubility Solubility is one of the most important characteristics to be considered in preparing liquid fertilizers Every fertilizer has a level of solubility which is influenced by the temperature of the water in which it dissolves AN WARNING Only fertilizers that are water soluble and completely free of impurities are allowed to be used in drip irrigation Some fertilizers are very easy to dissolve in water and others are more difficult but still can be used in Nutrigation Some fertilizers such as simgle and triple superphosphate for example have a solubility level so low that they are classified as water insoluble and their use in irrigation systems is not allowed Fertilizer interaction with irrigation wat
79. n pump with clean water after every use Acid concentrations The concentration of acid added to the irrigation water depends on the type of acid being used and its percentage 38 DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK NUTRIGATION AND ACID TREATMENT NOTE Acids must be free of insoluble impurities such as gypsum oils etc Recommended acid concentrations si Percentage of acid Recommended concentration in treated water Hydrochloric acid Phosphoric aci osphoric aci o 0 6 Sulfuric acid If the acid used has a percentage different from the data included in this table adjust the concentration according to the percentage relative to the concentrations recommended above Calculate the acid concentration when a different initial concentration is used IM EXAMPLE 98 sulphuric acid is available What percentage X must be used X 98 0 696 6596 X 0 696 6596 9896 0 496 Recommendations for the acid injection process Prevent incrustations of salt in water with a high potential for formation of salt with low solubility The pH of the water must be reduced continuously or at a predetermined frequency The required pH level will be determined according to the water quality To calculate the required pH level it is recommended to titrate the irrigation water with the acid to be used Determining the titration curve or table Required equipment Acid pH digital meter or litmus paper Bucket 10
80. nts oxidants herbicides etc continue irrigating with water only for as long as necessary to remove all residues of these products from the system See Advancement time page 47 Flow chart for chemical treatment Record Calculate End of Concentrato Systen is test Record turned on i Injection flow rate Pressure builds up in the system Test injection Determining the chemical substances for injection There is a large variety of chemicals and disinfectants in solid liquid and gaseous states worldwide Due to the different chemical techniques used in their preparation as well as the various concentrations and dosages of minerals emulsions and coagulants it is impossible to provide a pre approved list of permitted or prohibited products and manufacturers 44 DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK CHEMIGATION NOTE Before injecting any chemical product into your system determine its degree of compatibility The injection of incorrect chemical substances may be harmful to the system When inappropriate products are injected the following problems may be expected Sedimentation in the drippers due to the reaction between the water and the chemical products Physical and or chemical damage to the emitters Permitted chemical products NOTE Netafim authorizes the use of certain chemical agents Products that are not authorized in this summary must pass a control test in Netafim s laboratory prior to usage to ascer
81. o acids from the epithelial enzymatic hydrolysis of cattle e Humic acids Proper nutrient solution preparation Solid organic nutrients must be dissolved in water in the correct concentrations for example e Guano marine bird manure Mix with water at a ratio of 1 10 100 liters of guano per 1000 liters of water e The solution should stand sufficient time 7 10 days depending on the season and on the quality of the product until a solution free of suspended solids is obtained e The tank suction point must be located horizontally at no less than 40 cm 16 from the bottom of the tank in order to prevent suction of the sediments e The tank flushing valve must be located at the bottom of the tank to allow full evacuation of the sediments e The sediments from the tank may be used for spreading in the field Suction point gt 40 16 inch Flushing valve CAUTION Organic nutrients should never be applied in combination with inorganic fertilizers IN EXAMPLE If humic acids applied as nutrients in agriculture are combined with an inorganic nutrient this will cause flocculation Humic acids N or K or Ca Flocculation gt Clogging Another problematic interaction frequently occurs between materials injected into the system and microorganisms living inside the system or that are injected into it Organic nutrients injected into a system contaminated with bacteria are likely to develop bacterial slime whic
82. on of fertilizer acid or any chemical This is especially important if it is the first time a specific product or mixture of products is used or when using a product supplied by a new vendor To perform the jar test Use a clean transparent glass container of 2 liters 0 5 gallons minimum Fill it with the same water used for irrigation taken at the point of injection in the system Add the product s to the water in the container at the exact ratio prescribed for injection Manually mix the contents of the container until the products are completely dissolved f the products do not dissolve after mixing for a few minutes do not inject the product or mixture into the irrigation system and call your local Netafim representative for advice f the products dissolve properly place the container to rest uncovered for 24 hours at ambient temperature protected from direct sunlight After 24 hours visually examine the contents of the container against the light and check for any type of sedimentation coagulation or floating solids f any of these are present do not inject the product or mixture into the irrigation system and call your local Netafim representative for advice Corrosivity Most fertilizers both solid and liquid attack metals in the irrigation and fertilization systems Generally the higher the acidity of the solution the greater the corrosive effect For example the combination of potassium chlo
83. on point 60 DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK CHLORINE TREATMENT After injection measure the residual concentration and adjust the dosage as follows f the residual concentration is too low increase the injected concentration or extend the injection time e f the residual concentration is too high decrease the injected concentration Determining the quantity of chlorine to inject into the system The quantity of chlorine to be injected will depend on the type of chlorine used Gaseous chlorine When gaseous chlorine is used the dosage is based on a chlorinator A chlorinator controls the gas flow The calculation is simple since the material is pure 10096 1 g of gaseous chlorine in 1 m3 h of water 1 ppm Calculate the flow rate of gaseous chlorine in the system as follows Flow rate of the treated system 100 m3 h Desired residual chlorine at the end of the system Chlorine demand in the system Concentration required at the injection point 5 ppm 1 4 The flow rate of gaseous chlorine in the system 5 100 500 gr h grams per hour Liquid and solid chlorine Liquid chlorine is much less stable than solid chlorine Do not store liquid chlorine for long periods of time Calculate the flow per hour of injected chlorine solution as follows Flow rate of the treated system 100 m3 h Concentration of injected chlorine solution Desired residual chlorine at the end of the system Chlorine demand in the system Conc
84. on the system Fill in the table s first row with the planned system data received from Netafim Fill in the table s second row with the benchmark data recorded at the time of initial operation of the system record the data after the system s flow rate and pressure are stabilized Key Maintenance activities Flushing Substance injection e Pump Mainline Dripperlines e Hydrogen peroxide Pesticide Filter Sub main line Acid Root intrusion prevention Fill in the following rows with a description of each maintenance activity concentration of the substance in case of injection and the actual hydraulic conditions data recorded immediately after the maintenance activity If a deviation greater than 5 is recorded at any point in the system troubleshoot the problem and record the hydraulic conditions again after troubleshooting If at any point in the system hydraulic conditions within 5 deviation of the benchmark data cannot be restored call your local Netafim representative The Maintenance activities monitoring form should be filled in regularly and kept for future reference At the pump Plot name outlet number Flow rate m3 h or l sec bar Pressure after the plot valve bar Pressure at the dripperline bar Pressure bar pressure bar Outlet pressure end of the furthest Planned dod Benchmark in case of injection z gt gt S 5 G o
85. or alkalinity 504 sulfate TDS total dissolved solids Ca calcium hardness of the water PO4 phosphate Turbidity Mg magnesium N NHsg nitrogen ammonium Algae and Chlorophyll Na sodium N NHsz nitrogen nitrate Zooplankton K potassium B boron BOD biochemical oxygen demand e HCO bicarbonate Fe iron COD chemical oxygen demand C03 carbonate Mn manganese VSS volatile suspended solids Alk alkalinity When waste industrial effluent and or recycled waters are used All the above parameters are essential for a correct analysis In some cases additional parameters will be needed in order to complete the correct interpretation of the water quality for example dissolved oxygen redox etc If in doubt consult the Netafim laboratory regarding water quality 7 Taking a sample from the end of a dripperline e Wait until the pressure has stabilized Open the end of the dripperline and let water flow for 2 3 minutes before taking the sample 8 Taking a sample from the head control outlet To estimate the filtration efficiency the sample should be taken downstream from the head control outlet after the system has been working for at least one hour NOTE Take the samples downstream from the pump but as close to it as possible If the field to be irrigated is located more than 1 km away from the pump take another sample of water at the head of the
86. or any query please contact the Agronomy Division at Netafim When not to use herbicides to prevent root intrusion The treatment is contraindicated under the following conditions When the soil is saturated due to rain or irrigation Near the time of crop planting or sowing and or when the volume of the roots is very small In soilless substrates When the relevant authorities prohibit the specific treatment When dripperlines are not evenly inserted in the soil When dripperlines are covered by a plastic sheet Before treatment Perform the following tests a few days before the scheduled treatment Turn the water on for 20 minutes If puddles appear the soil is too wet and not suitable for treatment Check the dripperlines for leaks and bursts Repair all defects before the treatment In grass verify that the dripperlines are properly inserted and are not located between the surface of the soil and the grass carpet Verify that the pump and the central controller are in proper working condition NOTE The soil must not be too wet during treatment If the soil is too wet it is recommended to partially dry the soil by postponing an irrigation cycle intended to be performed before the treatment DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK 31 PREVENTING CLOGGING IN THE SYSTEM Al EXAMPLE Calculate the minimum amount of Stomp 550 plus water required for an injection lasting 20 minutes in accordance with the dosing unit s specifica
87. ot as dark as in the first wave but the process takes more time Flushing must be continued until the water is visually clean Obtain the velocity of the water flowing in the pipes The velocity of the water in a pipe depends on the flow rate and the internal diameter of the pipe see Advancement time page 47 dentify the diameter of each pipe section to be flushed separately using the table below which presents the most common diameters of pipes used for main sub main and distribution lines Nominal pipe diameter inches mm Actual internal pipe diameter mm 2308 The table represents the inside diameters ID in pipes of one specific standard among many Check the flow rate in each pipe section to be flushed separately at the closest water meter installed upstream from it Knowing the diameter of the pipe and the flow rate use the graph below to derive the velocity for each pipe section to be flushed The recommended flushing velocity is 1 5 m sec 5 ft sec The allowed velocity range for flushing is 1 0 2 0 m sec 3 3 6 6 ft sec 22 DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK SYSTEM FLUSHING Velocities in pipes of various diameters at various flow rates 340 10 320 300 280 260 240 220 200 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 4 40 20 6 Flow rate O m3 h
88. plot In new irrigation projects water samples should be taken as close as possible to the planned suction point 84 DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK APPENDIX 3 Unit conversion tables 1 Kilometer km 0 621 mile mi 1 inch in 2 54 centimeters cm REA 1 hectare ha 2 471 acres ac 1 acre ac 0 4047 hectare ha 1 hectare ha 10 000 square meters m 1 square meter m 0 0001 hectare ha 1 acre ac 4 047 square meters m 1 square meter m 0 00025 acre ac 1 hectare ha 0 004 square mile mi 1 square mile mi 2 259 hectares ha 1 hectare ha 15 mu 1 mu 0 0666 hectare ha 1 square kilometer km 0 386 square mile mi 1 square mile mi 2 59 square kilometers km 1 square centimeter cm 0 155 square inch in 1 square inch in 6 452 square centimeters cm 1 square foot 12 0 155 square inch in 1 square meter m 10 76 square foot ft2 1 cubic meter per hour m3 h 1 gallon USG per hour gph 264 1721 gallons USG per hour gph 0 0038 cubic meter per hour m3 h 1 liter per hour I h 1 gallon USG per hour gph 0 2641721 gallon USG per hour gph 3 785 liters per hour l h PRESSURE eC CC 1 bar 14 50377 pounds per square inch psi 1 pound per square inch psi 0 06894757 bar 1 bar 100 kilopascals kPa 1 kilopascal kPa 0 01 bar 1 PSI 6 894757 kilopascals kPa 1 kilopascal kPa 0 145 pound per square inch psi VOLUME 1 g
89. rary quantity use the testing kit to verify the residual concentration at the end of the system and correct the dosage accordingly For potable water or water without biological load it is easy to calculate the quantity of hydrogen peroxide to be injected into the system Application methods There are two methods for applying hydrogen peroxide 1 Continuous injection with low dosage Hydrogen peroxide is injected continuously during the entire irrigation cycle This is the most efficient method but the consumption of hydrogen peroxide is the highest 2 Selective injection The frequency of this selective treatment should be determined according to the water quality in the system and could be daily weekly monthly etc Hydrogen peroxide is injected during the last hour of irrigation Do not forget to take into account the time required by the hydrogen peroxide to reach the end of the system see Advancement time page 47 With this method both the consumption and the efficiency are lower than with continuous low dosage injection of hydrogen peroxide NOTE The removal of all residual hydrogen peroxide from the system should be verified at its most distant point Open the end of the third fourth or fifth dripperline from the end of the system and let the water flow for 10 seconds before taking samples Designating the injection point The hydrogen peroxide may be injected into a system at two different points Each point has advant
90. ravel sand filters is an essential maintenance task that is frequently neglected Gravel sand should not be caking and or cracking and should be adequately cleaned during the automatic back flush cycles Caking The gravel in the filter sticks together forming a clod and making water passage through the filter difficult Check it by inserting a fist or an object of similar size into the medium A good condition medium should be penetrable If the medium is hard to penetrate it might be caking Cracking Cracks and fissures appear on the medium s surface Check it visually During inspection examine the gravel sand by touch The gravel sand grains should be sharp edged not rounded and smooth like beach sand The sharp edges promote better filtration The gravel sand will wear smooth over time If this has occurred replace the gravel sand Once a month If the filtration system is automatic initiate flushing of the filter s and check that all the components work as planned Inspection of the valves Once a growing season Visually inspect each valve for integrity and for leaks Activate each valve manual hydraulic or electrical and make sure it opens and closes according to its specific function and purpose Visually inspect air relief valves for dripping that might suggest faulty sealing of the valve mechanism f pressure regulating valves are installed check the pressure at the outlet of each one of them and compa
91. re it to the benchmark data Make sure the flushing valves installed at the dripperline flushing manifold open when dripperline flushing is initiated DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK 15 REGULAR SYSTEM INSPECTION Inspection of main sub main and distribution pipes and flushing manifolds Visually inspect the main sub main and distribution pipes and the dripperline flushing manifolds for integrity for leaks and for damage from agricultural machinery or from rodents and pests Inspection of dripperlines laterals Once a week At the start of the irrigation sequence when the flow and pressure are stabilized visually inspect the dripperlines for integrity and for leaks In SDI systems check for puddles that might suggest the existence of leaks Check the pressure at the end of the furthest dripperline when the flow and pressure are stabilized At the end of the irrigation sequence visually inspect the wetting pattern on the soil Dry areas or an uneven pattern might suggest clogging in the dripperline Visual inspection of water quality System maintenance should be performed as soon as water quality begins to degrade as shown by color grit organic or any solid materials in the flush water The ends of the dripperlines should be opened regularly in extreme cases this might be required as often as each irrigation and the contents emptied into the hand or a jar for visual inspection of water quality Clean water Degraded wa
92. ride and phosphoric acid is extremely corrosive Volatilization Fertilizers containing urea and ammonium nitrogen can be lost by volatilization of ammonia The tanks storing liquid fertilizer mixtures for longer than 4 days must be sealed Fertilizer pH Liquid fertilizers have different pH levels that may affect the crop and the drip irrigation system The acceptable pH level for crops is 5 7 The effect of fertilizers with different pH levels on the irrigation system pHlevel Effect on the irrigation system upto5 Acidic May damage the PC drippers and system components made of materials containing Acetal depending on the duration of exposure to the substance and the ambient temperature 5 6 Mildly When combined with certain nutrients may damage the PC drippers and system acidic components made of materials containing Acetal depending on the duration of exposure to the substance and the ambient temperature peers All the components of a Netafim drip irrigation system are resistant to pH levels of 6 and up 8 and up Basic When combining certain nutrients sedimentation might occur causing clogging of the drippers and other components Consult a Netafim M expert Salinity Fertilizers are salts that contribute to the increased salinity of the irrigation water The level of EC electrical conductivity reflects water salinity and is measured with simple instruments in the field and in laboratory 36
93. rlines Technical Datasheet and Advancement time page 47 Stage C Turn off the water Do not delay water turn off Wait 24 hours before the next irrigation cycle System is Injection End of turned on begins injection Pressure builds up in the system System is turned off End of treatment Stage A Injection time Stage B Distribution Stage C Waiting time See Advancement time page 47 32 DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK NUTRIGATION ACID TREATMENT Nutrigation 34 Acid treatment 38 Organic Nutrigation 41 Acid treatment in organic agriculture 42 DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK 33 NUTRIGATION AND ACID TREATMENT NN ACID HAZARD When not handled properly nutrients acids and chemicals may cause serious injury or even death They may also damage the crop the soil the environment and the irrigation system Proper handling of nutrients acids and chemicals is the responsibility of the grower Always observe the nutrient acid chemical manufacturer s instructions and the regulations issued by the relevant local authority Nutrigation Nutrigation is comprised of three stages Dissolving soluble fertilizers if required e Injecting nutrients according to the desired dosing ratios Delivering the precise quantity of nutrients to the plant s root zone Crop scientists recognize that plants need 13 essential minerals all of which play a number of important fun
94. se AS drippers as an additional precaution When the subsurface dripperlines are empty Sand particles might penetrate the drippers when the soil is oversaturated due to rainfall If these conditions are foreseen Netafim recommends using anti siphon AS drippers If AS drippers are not used when the subsurface dripperlines are empty and the soil becomes oversaturated due to rainfall water could flow in the opposite direction from the soil to the dripper outlet bringing sand particles with it Under these circumstances the dripperlines act as small draining tubes The small particles of sand that are carried towards the dripperline may eventually clog the drippers Irrigating during the rain event will help flush the sand particles from the dripperlines and prevent clogging of the drippers During irrigation the pressure in the dripperlines exceeds the pressure exerted by the water present in the surrounding soil preventing the sand particles from penetrating the drippers In case of a very intense and long rainy period it is recommended to flush the system prior to the beginning of the next irrigation sequence Activating the system for a period of 10 minutes after pressurizing is recommended in order to flush out the accumulated sand particles Preventing root intrusion into SDI dripperlines Plant roots can penetrate the drippers causing a reduction in the flow rate and possibly an obstruction This is known as root intrusion Th
95. t way to prevent damage caused by the penetration of sand particles during installation or repair is to take suitable preventive actions Implement the following steps Check that the system s filtration system is complete and functioning properly to ascertain that sand particles will not penetrate the system Attach end connectors immediately after installing the pipes After completing the installation flush the system using the maximum allowed pressure Start by flushing the main pipes and continue with the sub main pipes Verify that both the main and the sub main pipes are clean Do not leave any pipe inlets or outlets open even for short periods of time nstall start connectors and connect the dripperlines immediately after making the holes in the distribution lines Flush the dripperlines 5 dripperlines at a time or with the flushing manifold if installed Check the flow velocity at the end of the dripperline see page XX 28 DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK PREVENTING CLOGGING IN THE SYSTEM NOTE Never leave pipes with open holes in the soil In irrigation systems using well water the presence and concentration of sand particles must be verified and a hydrocyclone sand separator should be installed if necessary Soil particles may also penetrate the drippers if a vacuum is formed in the dripperline may be caused by an air valve that is faulty or not operated properly NOTE It is highly recommended to u
96. tain that they are safe for use with Netafim s systems When contemplating the use of any other chemical product or combination of products Consult the Agronomy Division of Netafim e Send the new chemical product s to Netafim for complete testing NOTE Before using any chemical product it is essential to obtain information from its manufacturer with respect to its chemical quality purity recommended dosage solubility EC pH as well as method and order of preparation NOTE Remove the membrane or oily surface layer formed after the preparation of any product NOTE Any product not included in this list requires prior approval from Netafim The following chemical products liquid or highly soluble are permitted for injection in drip irrigation systems N Nitrogen P Phosphor K Potassium Urea Phosphoric acid Potassium nitrate Ammonium nitrate Mono ammonium phosphate MAP Potassium chloride Nitric acid Mono potassium phosphate MKP Potassium sulfate Ammonium sulfate Mono potassium phosphate Mono ammonium phosphate MAP Micro elements Chelates EDTA DTPA EDDHA HEDTA ADDHMA EDDCHA EDDHSA boric acid Fungicides herbicides insecticides and disinfectants authorized by Netafim e Metam sodium Telone Formaldehyde There are additional options contact the Agronomy Division of Netafim for details After chemigation it is necessary to continue irrigation with water
97. ter 16 DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK SYSTEM 18 Filter back flushing Periodic filter maintenance 21 Flushing the main sub main and distribution lines 22 24 Flushing the dripperlines laterals DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK 17 SYSTEM FLUSHING Flushing the irrigation system reduces the accumulation of pollutants to a minimum by pushing them out of the system The system must be flushed at regular intervals The frequency depends mainly on the water quality and the maintenance program Flushing of the irrigation system is comprised of 3 processes Filter back flushing Flushing main and sub main lines Flushing dripperlines Filter back flushing ATTENTION For effective filtration filters must be back flushed whenever they become dirty Filters whether disc screen or media should be back flushed periodically to clear out any precipitate of particulate or organic matter Clogged filters can reduce pressure to the system lowering the water application rate The filter s performance depends on the efficiency of its flushing and cleaning Any accumulation of non disposed material will eventually lead either to clogging of the filter or in a gravel sand filter to the release of the filtering material along with the filtered water during irrigation Many filter systems are automated and will self clean via an electric or hydraulic 3 way back flush valve when a pre set filter pressure di
98. that is free of chemical products Verify the flushing duration and timing see Advancement time page 47 In irrigation systems with anti drainage drippers CNL in addition to the previous instruction it is necessary to open the ends of the dripperlines for flushing DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK 45 CHEMIGATION Possible product issues In general products both those approved and not approved by Netafim contain approximately the same percentage of active material The differences between the various products are The quality of the product The storage time The dosage The quality of the emulsion With good quality emulsion the active components in the product mix with the water without creating layers of different compositions When these conditions are not fulfilled the contact of high concentrations of the product s active ingredients with various parts of the system such as valves drippers flow meters etc could damage them These products are very corrosive to some metals and also react with various polymers depending on the product Forbidden chemical substances The use of the following chemical products in drip irrigation systems is strictly forbidden Poly phosphates Red potassium chloride Borax Organic products with a high content of suspended solids without preliminary treatment Products or fertilizers with low solubility e g gypsum Oily chemical products oily solvents petroleum
99. tion of organic and mineral materials in the system This will prevent those materials from reaching the drippers and eventually clogging them thus minimizing the quantity of chemical products required to maintain the system Regular flushing of the main sub main and distribution lines will result in a significant saving of labor time and chemicals The main sub main and distribution lines in the system should be flushed in sequence Each one of them should be flushed for at least two minutes or until the flushed water runs clear 29 ATTENTION The pipes must be flushed at regular intervals The frequency depends mainly on the water quality and the maintenance program minimum once a growing season Flushing is effective only when the flow rate within the main sub main or distribution line is sufficient to allow for proper flushing velocities in the system Manual flushing of main sub main and distribution lines Flushing may be automatic or manual Manual flushing of main sub main and distribution lines should be carried out as follows Flush the pipes in this order main line sub main lines distribution lines Open the flushing valves of each one of them in turn while under pressure The process of flushing the main sub main and distribution lines consists of two waves for each The first wave removes contaminants collected at the end of the pipe The second wave removes contaminants from the pipe The color of the water is n
100. tions Stomp 550 required per dripper 6 55 0 11 cc Total number of drippers in the system to be treated 10 000 drippers Total required amount of Stomp 10 000 x 0 11 cc 1 090 cc 1 09 liters Dosing unit s flow rate 240 liter hour 20 minutes 60 3 240 I h 3 80 liters This dosing unit can supply 80 liters in 20 minutes These 80 liters are composed of 78 91 liters of water plus 1 09 liters of Stomp 550 Treatment procedure e Turn the water on and let it flow until pressure stabilizes e Filla clean tank with a volume of water equal to the volume required for an injection lasting 20 minutes 78 91 liters in the example above e Immediately add the herbicide to the water in the tank e Inject the mixture from the tank into the system If the solution was calculated correctly the injection will end in 20 minutes Before turning off the system allow the water to continue flowing through it during the required period of time see Advancement time page 47 NOTE Observe the irrigation and injection advancement time see the dripperlines Technical Datasheet Do not delay or advance the system s shut down After treatment wait at least 24 hours before the next irrigation cycle Treatment summary Fill the system until pressure is stable Stage A Inject the solution for 20 minutes Stage B Solution is distributed through the system allow water to continue flowing as per the advancement times see the drippe
101. ue at the furthest point should be less than 3 for at least 3 minutes IN EXAMPLE Flow rate of the equipment 50 m3 h Necessary acid 50 liters Injection time 10 minutes NOTE If the injection pump capacity is lower than required and it will not be capable of injecting all the required acid within the specified time an extra injection pump must be added If the capacity of the injection pump is larger than necessary add water to the tank with the solution until reaching the volume necessary to ensure 10 minutes of solution injection 40 DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK NUTRIGATION AND ACID TREATMENT Organic Nutrigation The application of organic nutrients through the drip irrigation system requires special attention e Organic nutrient solutions are usually less soluble in water and frequently contain high concentrations of suspended solids which may cause sedimentation with consequent damage to the irrigation system e The application of combinations of organic nutrients shall be avoided and the preparation of adequate solution must be ensured e Effective filtration and system maintenance are prerequisites for the success of the crop e System flushing and disinfection treatments are essential when organic nutrients are used to ensure the system s longevity Permitted organic nutrients that are commonly applied through the drip irrigation system partial list e Guano marine bird manure and Urine Slurry e Amin
102. unnels in the medium or breakage and loss of medium Screen Screen clogging Screen ripping or bursts through the screen meat grinder Clogging of filtration grooves Leakage through discs due to solids trapped between the discs preventing the discs from being pressed close together and causing gaps in the disc array 14 DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK REGULAR SYSTEM INSPECTION A pressure differential that is higher or lower than the recommended range for the specific filter may lead to debris passing through the filters and or poor irrigation system performance Visual inspection Visually inspect the filtration unit or medium and all other filter components and accessories for mechanical integrity Automatic flushing Check the frequency of automatic flushing Flushing frequency is too high Flushing frequency is too low Automatic flushing is not triggered The filtration unit or medium The filtration unit or medium is Faults in automation or sensor remains clogged after flushing breached or leaking Mechanical failure The pressure range is Faults in automation or sensor incorrectly set in the controller Mechanical failure Faults in automation or sensor Too frequent automatic flushing occurs when the filter is not properly cleaned and the pressure differential across the filter remains high immediately after flushing Gravel sand filter Periodic inspection of the medium in g
103. used it is very important to describe the process used and attach this description to the samples NOTE These instructions are suitable both for integral drippers and for online drippers When taking samples of online drippers they should be sent together with a dripperline sample of at least 20 cm in the same way as done Tor integral drippers 82 DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK APPENDIX 2 Water analysis Analyze the water used in the irrigation system and determine its quality The water quality refers to the concentration of chemical substances dissolved and suspended in the water as well as the physical and biological properties of the water A water analysis is necessary in order to select an appropriate type of filtration system to prescribe a suitable maintenance program to select the type of dripperlines and to prescribe an appropriate Nutrigation plan For agriculture water quality is defined according to the following criteria Agronomic water quality the extent to which it is compatible with the type of soil and with the crop Water quality for irrigation the extent to which it induces clogging of the irrigation system The source of water may be potable water waste water residual water wells reservoirs canals or drainage water Each one requires different levels of treatment before being used It is recommended to analyze the irrigation water at least once a growing season and if needed in the course of t
104. viate from the planned data by more than 5 If a deviation greater than 5 is recorded at any point in the system call your local Netafim representative Fill in the following rows with the actual data recorded each time the system is checked during regular operation according to the Maintenance timetable page 11 If a deviation greater than 5 is recorded at any point in the system troubleshoot the problem and record the hydraulic conditions again after troubleshooting If at any point in the system hydraulic conditions within 5 deviation of the benchmark data cannot be restored call your local Netafim representative The hydraulic conditions checklist should be filled in regularly and kept for future reference At the pump outlet Fe Plot name number Pressure at the Inlet Outlet Pressure after endofthe furthest Flow rate Pressure pressure pressure the plot valve dripperline m h or l sec Planned NE EN 8 Benchmark Download the form at http www netafim com irrigation products technical materials 78 DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK Maintenance activities monitoring form Keeping track of the system s hydraulic conditions flow rate and pressure immediately after each maintenance activity is of utmost importance for the proper maintenance of the system along its many years of service Use the Maintenance activities monitoring form to keep track of all the maintenance activities performed
105. vironment that is inhospitable to the rodents DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK 65 PEST CONTROL Flooding the soil to drown the rodents is not as effective The rodents are mobile enough to avoid drowning and most have tunnels designed to avoid the wettest areas in the field in the case of heavy rains The soil need not be saturated to affect the population In practice the use of soil wetness to repel rodents is limited because many crops require soil drying before harvest and because the irrigation system is turned off for a period of time Other general repellants are less effective in rodent management over a large area Sound or ultrasound generators have not been proven effective in driving out rodents Taste repellants such as capsicum may affect some rodents such as voles but have less effect on pocket gophers Targeted repellants applied on or around the object to be protected such as a sapling cable or dripperline may be effective when combined with a plan to reduce overall populations Proper dripperline installation practices can reduce rodent damage particularly by mice When inserting thin walled dripperlines in deep installations the insertion shank can leave cracks in the soil and a path down to the dripperline that mice love to follow chewing as they go Best installation practices dictate that these installation cracks in the soil be sealed by running a tractor tire over cracks created by the plow This will close the openin
106. water and the product occurs which cools the mixture This is called endothermic reaction Because of the lowered temperature of the water the entire amount of product calculated according to the original temperature of the water before mixing cannot be dissolved anymore This occurs with fertilizers containing nitrogen compounds such as ammonium nitrate and urea TIP e When dissolving a fertilizer do not exceed the amount permitted for 10 C according to the table above Upon completing the injection of fertilizers continue irrigating with water only for as long as necessary to remove all residues of the product from the system See Advancement time page 47 DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK 37 NUTRIGATION AND ACID TREATMENT Acid treatment Acids may be used for dissolving preventing and or decomposing salts carbonates phosphates hydroxides etc NOTE Acid treatment is ineffective on most organic substances Safety ACID HAZARD Acids when not handled properly may cause serious injury or even death They may also damage the crop the soil the environment and the irrigation system Proper handling of nutrients acids and chemicals is the responsibility of the grower Always observe the acid manufacturer s instructions and the regulations issued by the relevant local authority Always add acid to water NEVER add water to an acid Avoid contact with the eyes Any contact of acid with the eyes may cause blindness
107. y components each of which plays an important part in the operation of the system System head i Plot head 1 Plot head il System head Plot head of 9 o s 8 DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK INTRODUCTION Schematic diagram P water source O Main filtration automatic drainage valve D Sub main line e Pumping station D water meter D Distribution line O Air valve D Hydraulic valve D Kinetic valve vacuum breaker Pressure gauge D Secondary filtration unit Dripperline Check valve Dosing unit Flushing valve Q Shock absorber D Fertilizer tank D Flushing manifold Manual valve Irrigation controller Fertilizer filter Main filtration unit D Main line DRIP MAINTENANCE HANDBOOK 9 INTRODUCTION The implementation of a simple yet strict maintenance program for drip irrigation systems will achieve the following Keep the system operating at peak performance Increase the system s work life expectancy NOTE For the correct operation of the irrigation system it is imperative to implement all the instructions for proper maintenance of the drip irrigation system in this document For optimal performance drip irrigation systems require routine system maintenance Even though recent innovations in dripper design have made clog resistant dripperlines readily available the nature of agricultural water sources nutrient injection practi

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