Introduction of sprinkler irrigation system

1. Composition of sprinkler irrigation system

Water source

Rivers, lakes, well water, reservoirs, etc., water quality must meet irrigation standards (no excessive sediment, impurities or salt).

Water pump unit

Provide pressure to transport water from the water source to the pipeline system. Common types include centrifugal pumps, submersible pumps, etc.

Pipeline system

Main pipeline: water delivery trunk, usually PVC pipe or galvanized steel pipe.

Branch pipeline: connects the main pipe and the nozzle, which can be moved (such as a hose) or fixed.

Nozzle: core component, disperses water into droplets, and is divided into low-pressure (short range), medium-pressure, and high-pressure (long range) nozzles according to working pressure.

Control equipment

Valves, pressure regulators, filters (to prevent nozzle clogging), automatic controllers (such as timed irrigation).

Auxiliary facilities

Fertilization devices (such as fertilizer injection pumps), meteorological stations (automatically adjusted according to rainfall), etc.

2. Types of sprinkler irrigation

Fixed sprinkler irrigation

Pipes and nozzles are permanently fixed, suitable for farmland or green land with frequent irrigation, with a high degree of automation, but with a large investment.

Semi-fixed sprinkler irrigation

The main pipe is fixed, the branch pipe and sprinkler head are movable, the cost is moderate, and manual operation is required.

Mobile sprinkler irrigation

Both the pipe and the sprinkler head are movable (such as reel sprinkler, tractor-mounted), with high flexibility, suitable for field crops.

Central pivot sprinkler irrigation (circular sprinkler irrigation)

A large self-propelled system rotates around the center point to irrigate a circular area, with high efficiency, suitable for large-scale farms in plains.

Micro sprinkler irrigation

Low-pressure, low-flow sprinkler heads are suitable for orchards and nurseries, saving water and reducing soil erosion.

III. Advantages of sprinkler irrigation

Water-saving and high efficiency

The water utilization rate is 70%-85% (30% higher than ground irrigation), and the water volume can be controlled by adjusting the sprinkler head.

Strong adaptability

Suitable for undulating terrain, sandy soil and other highly permeable soils, and the irrigation intensity can be adjusted.

Increase production and improve quality

Uniform irrigation improves the growth environment of crops, and some crops can increase production by 10%-30%.

Comprehensive utilization

Combined with fertilization (water and fertilizer integration), spraying pesticides, frost prevention, etc.

Labor saving

Automation system can significantly reduce labor input.

Fourth, limitations of sprinkler irrigation

High initial investment

Equipment (such as pipes, sprinklers, pump stations) cost more than traditional furrow irrigation.

High energy consumption

Continuous pressurization is required, and the operating energy consumption is high (especially high-pressure sprinkler irrigation).

Affected by climate

Windy weather will cause uneven spraying, and evaporation losses will increase at high temperatures.

Maintenance requirements

Sprinklers are easy to clog, and filters and pipes need to be cleaned regularly.

Five, applicable scenarios

Agriculture: field crops (wheat, corn), cash crops (cotton, sugarcane), orchards, tea gardens, etc.

Gardens: parks, golf courses, urban green belts.

Others: sports field moisture retention, industrial and mining dust reduction, ecological restoration, etc.

Six, technical points

Sprinkler selection

Select the type of sprinkler (such as rotary, refractive) according to the crop height and soil permeability.

Spraying uniformity

The nozzle overlap rate (usually 30%-50%) must be ensured during design to avoid missed spraying.

System pressure management

The working pressure needs to be stable to avoid insufficient spraying radius due to low pressure.

Water saving optimization

Use low-pressure sprinkler irrigation or pulse sprinkler irrigation to reduce evaporation and runoff.