Charlie's+Drip+Irrigation

The Positive and Negative Effects of Drip Irrigation

Did you know that irrigation is the term used for watering systems like water hoses, sprinklers, and even something as simple as a bucket? Irrigation has been around for thousands of years, since Mesopotamia, the first known civilization. Want to learn more about one of the types of this fascinating invention that we rely on to help grow most of our crops? This paper will focus on the positive and negative effects of drip irrigation, but will first give some background information to help you understand what basic irrigation is. Irrigation is known to have originated in Mesopotamia, used in the form of dams, canals, crop basins, and ditches fed by a river, or basin irrigation. The simplest method was planting crops in the fertile ground after the river had flooded. Irrigation was vital to ancient life because most of their economy was based on farming. Irrigation then began to evolve into more complex methods to suit different needs. Men started using shadoofs to get water from the river easier. Man started to think of more complex systems as more advanced tools and materials became available. Systems used now are divided into these types - surface, drip, overhead, and sub-surface irrigation. Surface irrigation is arguably the simplest type of irrigation as it is the running of water over land to water crops, but it’s not very efficient because most of the water evaporates or runs-off and wastes tons of water a year - it’s least complex form is letting the field naturally flood, but has more complex forms. Drip irrigation is the most controlled form of irrigation because the water does not run-off or evaporate, but goes straight to the dirt by the roots of the plant. Overhead irrigation is the spraying of water on plants to water them, a sprinkler is an example. This method can cause fungi to grow if the water is left on the leaves to long. Sub-surface irrigation is the watering of crops underground so evaporation isn’t much of a problem. These systems can become clogged by dirt in unfiltered water. Drip irrigation has many positive and negative effects, which may surprise you. Negative effects include the emitter clogging, which would keep the water from flowing, and the establishment of crops may not be able to take place with drip irrigation alone. The positive effects may include less wasted water due to evaporation or run-off; weeds are reduced since there is no water directed in the areas around the crops. You can also water each plant differently if the emitters are adjustable since the emitters can be adjusted individually. As you can see, there are advantages and disadvantages to drip irrigation. So in review, irrigation has been around for a long time, and is an effective way to water crops. It evolved as man, mind working, cities growing, came up with new ideas.

Tools & Supplies Used 4 Popsicle sticks 4 Tongue Depressor 3 ft. x ½ “ PVC pipe ½” PVC elbow ¾” PVC coupler ¾” to ½” PVC adapter ½” PVC valve ½” PVC cap 8 ft. Butcher’s twine Scissors Miter Saw Drill Hole saw Hacksaw Hand saw <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 20pt; text-align: center;">Wood glue <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 20pt; text-align: center;">8 ft. 1”x2” pine wood <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 20pt; text-align: center;">Nails or screws <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 20pt; text-align: center;">Sawhorses <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 20pt; text-align: center;">Hammer or Screwdriver

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 32px;">How to Make My Project ** **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Irrigator **


 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Cut PVC pipe into three pieces: 21 inches, 4.5 inches, and 4.5 inches.
 * 2) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Drill four holes at equal intervals along the bottom of the 21 inch section of pipe.
 * 3) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Thread and secure cotton string of desired length through the four holes you have drilled.
 * 4) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Tie knots at equal intervals along the length of the string to slow down water and prevent erosion.
 * 5) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Place the cap on the pipe with the string and the elbow on the other end of the pipe. Place one 4.5 inch piece of pipe in the other end of the elbow and then place the valve on the pipe.
 * 6) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Place the other 4.5 inch pipe in the valve and the reservoir on the other end.
 * 7) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Secure the irrigator to holder.

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Holder **
 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Measure planter’s height and width. Cut four boards, two long enough to clear the width of the planter.
 * 2) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Cut two side pieces, one long enough to clear the height of the planter and have a hole to hold the irrigator. The other side should be even longer. It should include the length of the other side plus enough length to attach the irrigator to that side. Cut a hole high enough to clear the sides of the planter but take the height of the shorter side into account. The hole should be large enough to allow the irrigator to be inserted into the holder. The irrigator will be suspended above the planter by the holder.
 * 3) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Attach the two side pieces to the pieces that are long enough to clear the width of the planter. Place one so that it is just high enough to clear the sides of the planter. Attach the other piece to the top of the shorter side and at the same height on the other side piece.
 * 4) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Feet may be attached to the base of the holder.

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Reservoir **
 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Attach a two liter bottle or similar bottle to a ¾ inch PVC coupler with a ½ inch adapter on the other end.
 * 2) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Cut a hole in the bottom to create an opening to add water.

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