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Drip Irrigation Techniques

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Drip Irrigation Techniques

A coding club is prototyping a drip-irrigation system for a small vineyard trial in Marlborough. Use the information and system plan below to make sound design decisions. Show calculations and explain your choices.

System plan and design brief

The prototype has a water tank, filter, pressure regulator, mainline, lateral tubing and emitters. The filter catches particles that could block emitters. The regulator keeps pressure within the emitter’s operating range. A controller opens a valve according to a schedule. Each vine is planned to receive two 2 L/hour emitters. The trial row has 24 vines, each 2.5 m apart. For this task, assume every emitter delivers its rated flow and there are no leaks.

1.The first test shows that several emitters are delivering less water than expected. Which maintenance action should the team try first, and why?

2.Choose the best reason for using a pressure regulator before the lateral tubing.

It keeps water pressure in a suitable range for consistent emitter flow.
It removes the need for a filter.
It makes the controller measure soil moisture.
It increases the distance between vines.

3.Match each component to its main function.

Filter
Controller
Lateral tubing
Emitter

Carries water along the row of plants
Removes particles that may block emitters
Starts and stops irrigation according to a schedule
Releases a measured flow of water near a plant

4.The team plans to run the system for 45 minutes. Calculate the total water delivered to one vine by its two emitters. Show your working.

5.Calculate the total water used by all 24 vines during that 45-minute run. Show your working and include the unit.

6.The controller is set to run for 45 minutes every day for 7 days. What total volume will the trial use if the system operates as planned?

7.Give two reasons drip irrigation may use water more efficiently than overhead sprinklers. Explain each briefly.

8.The vineyard row slopes downhill. Identify one possible issue this creates for even watering and one design or testing response.

9.Design a simple plan for one row of 24 vines. Draw and label the mainline, lateral tubing, two emitters at each vine, and the filter and regulator. Vines are 2.5 m apart; show at least four consecutive vine positions and label the spacing.

10.Propose one sensor-based upgrade for the prototype. State what the sensor measures and how that information could change the controller’s watering schedule.