As you can imagine, proper maintenance and servicing of an irrigation system are key to ensuring it operates optimally and efficiently. But when and how should this be carried out? Ideally, it is best to take advantage of the periods when the plants are dormant; it is at these times that annual maintenance on farms has the greatest impact and will ensure the next growing season begins with the farm in the best possible condition.
However, looking after these systems requires regular maintenance throughout the year. Broadly speaking, there are various factors that can cause serious problems in the system which, without proper maintenance, will gradually cause the entire installation to become blocked. This blockage can occur for various reasons and in different ways, so we will classify them as follows:
Physical: these are caused by solid particles suspended in the water. They may originate from sand, silt, clay or even organic matter and certain molluscs.
Chemical: these usually occur when the conditions necessary for certain chemicals to precipitate are present, whether due to a rise in temperature, an inappropriate mixture of fertilisers or poor handling. The active ingredients may precipitate, forming various types of deposits that are very difficult to remove.
Biological: any aqueous medium is populated by microorganisms which, once the conditions for their proliferation are met, will be capable of clogging any system, whether biological or inert (such as our irrigation system), and it is therefore of the utmost importance to control the formation of these masses of microorganisms (biofilm) in reservoirs, filtration stations and, ultimately, inside our pipes and drippers.
To ensure that an irrigation system has a much longer service life, it is essential to choose the type of filter station carefully, as this will form the core of the maintenance programme. There are different types of filter (debris trap, hydrocyclone, sand filter, mesh filter, ring filter, etc.) and their location will determine the type of problem to be addressed, as well as the sizing required.
In addition to the filtering measures, there are certain recommendations that can be followed:
– Carry out regular water analyses, covering both organic and inorganic parameters, to plan cleaning measures according to the problem
.- Carry out periodic inspections and cleaning of the filtration plant.
– Ensure that the various fertiliser mixtures are prepared correctly to prevent the formation of precipitates.
– Open the end of the branch line at regular intervals.
To guarantee specific and constant flow rates in our systems and ensure safety in the face of the problems mentioned, we use Vered. This self-compensating dripper allows us to manage suspended solid particles and features an advanced self-cleaning mechanism that operates with every irrigation cycle. With these simple steps, and thanks to its large, clog-resistant inlet filter, we will be able to keep the system in the same condition as on the first day.
