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permaculture - [permaculture] gravity -fed, low pressure drip irrigation systems

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  • From: "Marjory Glowka" <forestgarden@austin.rr.com>
  • To: "permaculture" <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: [permaculture] gravity -fed, low pressure drip irrigation systems
  • Date: Sun, 4 Dec 2005 08:53:46 -0600

Hello Everyone,

We have a large rain-water collection system on top of a hill which gravity
feeds an orchard a bit down the hill. The water pressures we get at the
orchard vary a bit from 4.3 - 8 psi. We sucessfully tested and have been
using some drippers that worked well enough even though they are not spec'ed
at that low of a pressure.

Our soil is very sandy and we've notice that drippers only cause a stream of
water to drip pretty much straight down - the water does not soak around and
spread like we had hoped - probably because of the soils low organic matter.
So we are now thinking about perhaps using a sprayer jet instead of
drippers. I know we won't get much of a 'spread' with only 4 psi, but it
seems anything would be better than nothing.

Does anyone have any experience with low pressure gravity fed irrigation
systems? Can you recommend a source for emitters/sprayers that works under
low pressure situations?

We are considering buying a solar pump and pressure tank to get the psi up,
but we are trying to keep the whole project as 'low tech' as possible, so I
am hoping to find another solution.

Any help or suggestions greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

marjory.












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