Sub-Surface Irrigation

Sub-Surface Zonal Irrigation

Increasing Irrigation Efficiency

Through the use of sub-surface zonal irrigation each tree or vine is now a specific delivery zone; Each with its own specific volume of water & nutrients, delivered at its own specific hourly delivery rate off a single main irrigation line. The area surrounding the “root bowl” is now a specific “delivery zone”.

Savings on irrigation water enables farmers to increase the number of trees or vines for a given water allocation. This increase in farm capacity may be greater than 50%. There is a substantial reduction in pumping time and power consumption. Savings of 50%+ have been achieved via the use of sub-surface irrigation.

The P1 System

P1 units reduced water wastage and allowed two Apple trees to be irrigated with the amount of water previously used by only one tree, with a 9% cushion:

One Hectare of 1,666 Apple trees received irrigation of 36L/hr per tree, which was reduced to 16L/hr per tree – a 55% reduction. The productive farm size is now twice the number of hectares with the same original limiting water allocation.

Sub-surface irrigation is the most efficient technology for irrigating fruit trees and vineyards. The sub-surface zonal irrigation system produces efficiencies and enhanced returns that quickly pay back the initial investment. This system utilizes UV resistant Polypropylene plastic with an expected lifespan of 20+ years with reasonable use; and enables “short cycling” irrigation, producing water savings and reduced pumping times of 50%+.

Using sub-surface zonal irrigation, the farmer can closely control the volume of water and nutrients going directly to the root bowl.

The “deep root irrigation” ensures optimal root bowl temperatures and root bowl health in hot climates. Healthy trees ensure quality fruit and maximum returns on the orchard or vineyard.

The technology also offers additional advantages where every tree / vine can receive specific water and nutrient rationing by
volume – one tree or vine potentially differing from the next according to requirements – all from a single main supply line.

P1 Slow Release Soil Amending Medicator

The slow release soil amending medicator is an optional device that is designed to be added or removed as required from the main body of the dripper assembly. The Medicator has two incoming water lines, one of which is the main feed to the dripper assembly (say) 8 liter per hour while the second incoming line feeds the Medicator at a lower rate of (for example) 1 liter per hour.

NB: Both Medicator lines are fed off the single main supply line.

Both the general irrigation water and the slow release medicated water are mixed within the dripper assembly body prior to root bowl delivery. In an orchard of say 10,000 trees, it might be found that (say) 60 trees are requiring soil amending such as additional nutrients or medication. The Medicator delivers slow release soil amending products over an extended period which might be a number of days.

Once the trees have recovered, the Medicator can be removed and stored away until required again.

The irrigation system will then revert to the normal delivery of water and other nutrients.

The P2 System | Deep-Root Soil Amendment Irrigation Technology

Sub-surface moisture retentive reservoir that combats water percolation in dry sandy soils. The P2 system offers deep root irrigation, is soil amending and produces healthy orchards, vineyards and valuable fruit. Sub-surface deep-root irrigation brings substantial water savings that can also average 50%+.

NB: A limited water allocation (eg. 20) hectares can now irrigate (eg. 40) productive hectares.

The deep root moisture retentive “reservoir” creates nutrient rich soils at the capillary root zone.

NB: Farmers with percolation issues now have an irrigation solution that will cut extended pumping times by 50%+

A general improvement in crop condition brings obvious financial advantages to all.

Pre-Mix Materials

Agronomists now have the ability to optimize water and nutrient efficiency while still ensuring healthy trees and fruit. Irrigation soil amendment technology is suited for use in any soil types or structure, but it certainly is especially valuable when used in dry, sandy soils, such as those typically found in semi-arid or fully arid environments.

Currently, dry sandy soils are converted for agricultural use at great cost, often requiring that clays and other such materials are trucked in and mixed into the 0.5m top soil, using large machines at great expense – often with poor results. The sub-surface reservoir is a cost effective method of soil amendment for dry sandy soils, altering the soil composition. The reservoir also provides instant on-going direct physical access to the root bowl region so that alterations or additional materials can be introduced to the root bowl region at any time, as and when required.

The water retentive reservoir provides nutrient rich moisture at the root bowl; The capillary and the general root systems seek out the reservoir in much the same way that farm animals seek out watering points. The ideal reservoir pre-mix will limit soil compaction within the reservoir body. This allows for a free exchange of nutrient rich moisture to the surrounding exchange medium.

NB: The sub-surface mini reservoir maintains surrounding soils at optimum moisture levels for multiple days while also cutting pumping times, reducing overheads and wastage levels.

The pre-mixed materials / ingredients contained within the reservoir body are specifically chosen to meet the surrounding soil conditions while also accommodating the needs of each tree / vine.

NB: A typical sample of the dispenser pod pre-mix might contain any of the following in applicable percentages:

Vermiculite: moisture retention, also adds structure producing drainage
Superabsorbent Potassium Polyacrylate Polymers (SAP): water retention
Perlite & Leca: break up the reservoir content into draining and retaining pockets
Nitrogen: Healthy green leaves
Phosphorus: strong roots and blooms
Potassium: encourages healthy plant growth

Vermiculite

Vermiculite is a naturally occurring mineral, it is sterile, non-toxic, will never go bad, it is resistant to mould and it can hold a lot of moisture. Adding vermiculite to the pre-mix provides soil structure, this limits compaction within the dispenser pod, increasing oxygen availability, while providing moisture retention and a free flow of nutrient-rich moisture from within the pod to the surrounding soils.

Vermiculite: Sterile, resistant to mould, adds structure and drainage.

Superabsorbent Potassium Polyacrylate Polymers (“SAP”)

NB. SAP’s create hydro-mulching within Irrigation sub-surface reservoir and can increase surrounding soil moisture by 32% while reducing pod pre-mix density by 8.5% compared to native soils.
“SAP” is mainly used for agriculture and has 3 advantages:

SAP (Kalium) has a beneficial effect on plants;
SAP will not cause soil salinization;
SAP is nature friendly and environment friendly.

Potassium Polyacrylate

For fruit trees, Potassium Polyacrylate (“SAP”) can increase yield and reduce the fruit cracking rate. With young trees or transplanted tree species, it can improve the survival rate.

The SAP is available in agricultural specifications where there is a starch component making it bio-degradable and it will continue to decompose in the soil. The decomposed material is water, carbon di-oxide and ammonia gas and this will not pollute the soil, further it is non-toxic to the human body and the pH value is neutral equal to 7. NB: When mixed with “slow-release fertilizer“ or “bacterial fertilizer activator“ it will perform the function of a slow release agent for slow release fertilizer.

Several water-soluble fertilizers such as urea, auxin and root agents (strong acid and alkaline products cannot be mixed) but they can be dissolved in water and by adding potassium polyacrylate particles to the solution to absorb it, you have (as mentioned above) the advantage of a slow-release fertilizer for fertilizers.

The reservoir prevents the loss of fertilizer and medicine and achieves the triple effect of balanced water supply, fertilization and drug administration. This significantly improves the efficacy of fertilizer and medicine, and reduces the amount of fertilizer and medicine required.

Soil Amendment Technology Offers The Following

Advantaged Agronomy
Deep-root soil amendment
Deep-root nutrient distribution
Deep-root zonal irrigation
Close control on water usage
Moisture retentive materials
Controls sandy-soil water loss
Reduction in fertilizer usage

Pumping time cut of 50%+
Electricity saving of 50%+
Irrigation saving of 50%+
Labour saving of 20% (estimated)
Fast and easy installation
UV protected long lasting HDPE / PP material
Reduced surface salts build up
Increased usable irrigation water of 50%+

LECA

Leca, “light-expanded clay aggregates” has been in use for a long time. Leca pebbles are tiny clay pebbles that are quite light. If you crush one, you can see that the inside is very porous, filled with a lot of air, and has a hard clay shell surrounding it. Leca is typically dominantly placed towards the bottom half of the pod. This spread of Leca can significantly enhance pre-mix drainage since nutrient rich water passing through the pre-mix will exit the pod along the full length of the pod with the greater volume exiting the pod in the lower half, carrying nutrients and oxygen.

Leca in the reservoir pre-mix soil aids in the long-term preservation of the pre-mix structure. This implies that the premix will not deteriorate or get more compact with time.
Leca is not water retentive, the use of Leca in the pre-mix guards against pre-mix compaction within the reservoir. Importantly, it helps with water drainage from within the reservoir, outward to the surrounding soils and very importantly, it assists with oxygenation of these soils.
Usually, when you apply fertilizers to your soil, they come in the form of salts in your water. These salts need something to grasp onto so the roots can absorb them. Unfortunately, Leca has a very low, almost zero cation exchange capacity (CEC), which means it is not good at binding nutrients. However, it is important to note that Leca does not significantly impact the CEC of soil, this will assist in delivering nutrient rich water from within the pod to the surrounding soils.
Although the cation exchange capacity of the organic material is high, the Leca’s value is relatively low. Consequently, we advise using Leca at a ratio of 1 to 5 (Leca to pod pre-mix). Most of the time, it is preferable to place the larger Leca towards the bottom of the pod and mix the smaller Leca with the bulk of the pre-mix material. Ideal transfer from within the pod to surrounding soils can be achieved in this manner.

Perlite

Perlite is durable, clean, lightweight, and simple to use. It is neither acidic nor alkaline. Perlite is highly porous, and due to its expanded nature, it can help with drainage.
Adding perlites to your pre-mix can improve drainage from within the pod, allowing more water to escape from the pod and giving your roots more oxygen.
It is advised to add 20 to 30 percent of perlite to your pre-mix mixture by volume.
Generally speaking, Leca and Perlite add are both excellent choices for adding to the pre-mix as they do enhance drainage and limit pre-mix compaction.
Perlite has a very low cation exchange capacity (3 meq/100g), which is also something you need to be aware of when adding it to your pre-mix material.

Pumice

Pumice helps aerate the soil while also assisting in the absorption and gradual release of water. It has ideal drainage while maintaining the proper balance of water and oxygen.
Pumice will preserve water, functioning as tiny sponges to collect the nutrient-rich water and hold it until the soil needs to be hydrated while also bringing oxygen to the root zone and promoting air circulation.
Pumice does not dry out rapidly.
Pumice retains moisture for a slightly longer period, this can be advantageous when the ideal percentage is used in the pre-mix material.
The recommended amount to utilize pumice in your pre-mix is 20 to 30 percent of the soil mix volume.
NB: Pre-mix structure is determined by the immediate needs of the surrounding soils and type of trees / vines etc.