Microirrigation Systems for Vineyards
Maintenance of Microirrigation Systems
Maintenance of the drip irrigation systems requires maintenance to continue operating at maximum efficiency. Factors that can slow or stop flow through the drip system include: suspended material, chemical precipitation, and biological growth, which may require water treatment and a systematic program for regular maintenance.
Filter Maintenance
Filters are the first line of protection for your microirrigation system, and they need regular maintenance to operate at a high level. A pressure drop across the filter is an indication of debris, so it must be monitored to maintain full flow. Usually this can be done by installing gauges before and after the filter or a differential pressure gauge that compares the two sides.
Screen Filters
Regular cleaning of screen filters is very important. If they are neglected, a portion of the screening element will become caked and clogged, forcing water through a smaller area. This can push debris through the screening element and under extreme conditions rupture it.
Sand Media Filters
As the media fills with particulate matter, the pressure drop across the media tank increases, forcing water through smaller and fewer channels. This will eventually disable a media filter, requiring that clean water from one tank be routed backwards through the dirty tank to clean the media. Typically media filters should be backflushed when the pressure drop across the filter reaches about 10 psi or as recommended by the manufacturer. During the backwash process, the direction of the water reverses through the sand bed.
Flushing the Main Lines, Submains, and Laterals
The main lines, submains, and particularly the lateral lines should be flushed periodically to ensure sediments are cleared from the system, which can cause a potential hazard by clogging emitters. Flushing the main, submain, and laterals will considerably reduce the accumulation of organic and mineral materials in the system.
Chemical Injection for System Maintenance
Unfortunately, filtration alone is not always sufficient to address all water quality issues. Chemicals are necessary to control algae, iron, and sulfur bacteria, as well as disease organisms. Chemicals can cause some materials to settle out or precipitate out of the water, while maintaining solubility in others. Chlorine is a primary chemical used to kill microbial activity, decompose organic materials, and oxidize soluble minerals, causing them to precipitate out of solution. Acid treatments are used to lower the water pH to either maintain solubility or dissolve manganese, iron, and calcium precipitates that clog emitters or orifices.
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