irrigation advice

[Mitch]

Thanks for all of the advice so far as this process unfolds.

I'm tying into an existing waterline to irrigate this 1 acre food plot as well as my fruit, oak, chestnut and hazelnut trees. I'm guessing there is something out there that I can use in the form of a timer, which will allow me to water when I want. What diameter of PVC will I need and any recommendations on sprinkler heads?

 

[bigbluetruck]

I think I would look for poly pipe on a roll before I messed with PVC pipe. But that's just what Ive looked into for some temporary water lines on a couple of projects

 

[Mitch]

I had just come to that same realization, lol, poly pipe looks like a much better option. What diameter?

 

[Jeff H]

Sounds like quite the project. I don't think I'd touch it with a 10 ft pole. That's a lot of water to move!
For water conservation I'd also recommend a heavy poly tube and drip irrigation for your trees but I'm afraid the critters will keep you in repair mode 24-7. Lots of variables to consider. Maybe a nursery would be helpful. Good thing your planning now I think you're going to have your hands full.

 

[X-farmerdan]

When you say you are going to tie into an existing waterline you mean what? I don't know. I have to ask. Have you considered the sheer volume of water your going to need?

 

[SwampCat]

I ran 1/4 mile with one inch poly on 100 ft rolls. Was pretty easy actually. I had a 1 1/4” service line coming to my house that I tied into, but only a 3/4” meter - so that is a little limiting. At my garden, I split down to two lines with standard hose bibs. I cant run two high volume sprinklers at the same time. I think it would be great for an orchard - but I would hate to have to water an acre food plot.

 

[farmer]

Irrigation is a lot of work an headache. I would never consider it for a food plot, I would focus on cover crops no-til, etc. Other ways of conserving moisture.
As farmer Dan said, have u considered volume? It takes a little over 27k gal of water to cover 1 acre with 1" of water. Not trying to discourage u, just asking questions.
Do you have a reliable source? Lots of irrigation supply houses and dealers who could help point you in right direction as far as sprinkler sizes etc....
Good luck!

 

[Cap'n]

I think the initial test that you would need is a pressure test. You may not have the pressure to do anything but drip irrigation. From there it becomes a mathematical equation on whether or not you will have the pressure to do what you want and with what size lines and heads.

 

[buckdeer1]

I actually thought it was more than 27K gallons.I tried it with sand points and it was just a pain having to run pumps with generators.I do however use a roundup tote as a water tank.I take 2 of the sump pumps that suck off flat surface and drop in to top of tank where I made the hole bigger.i then run to a piece of poly irrigation tubing that is 1/2 inch.Then I have places where I pierce the 1/2 inch and insert barbed fittings to connect 1/8 inch tubing at each of my tree locations.I run a line each way as they are planted in a row and can do about 15 trees each direction.So I water 27 or 28 trees with 275 gal a week.made it pretty easy as I started the generator and came back the next day to haul back to my windmill tank to refill tank with my trash pump.I believe that a windmill can be the best investment to a farm

 

[wsucoug]

I have been there and done this before and I think if you want irrigation.....then you should go ahead and do it, however there are many things to consider. The most important things being your water source in both how much is there in gpm and at what pressure and how far do we have to run the water. After that we can design a system. Be warned though....even a basic water system usually isn't cheap.

 

[wsucoug]

As far as a timer goes, this is what you are after:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004LPBS6K/ref=psdcmw_3480701011_t2_B00FYR7D2C

 

[Jeff H]

When you say you are going to tie into an existing waterline you mean what? I don't know. I have to ask. Have you considered the sheer volume of water your going to need?

A little over 27,000 gallons of water for every inch of water per acre. In twelve waterings you'd have enough to fill a 1/2 acre pond.

 

[Mitch]

Sounds like quite the project. I don't think I'd touch it with a 10 ft pole. That's a lot of water to move!
For water conservation I'd also recommend a heavy poly tube and drip irrigation for your trees but I'm afraid the critters will keep you in repair mode 24-7. Lots of variables to consider. Maybe a nursery would be helpful. Good thing your planning now I think you're going to have your hands full.

that's only way I operate lol

 

[Jerry D]

I would recommend a nelson big gun 75 series or similiar.

Run the waterline below or above grade to the gun. It could be flexible epdm style hose that feeds the gun on a tripod style stand that you can move around the plot.

You need good pressure and flow.

If you have a pond or a big holding tank... Get a high pressure gas pump. Honda makes one. It's like 5 hp or something and you could us it for the big gun. You could also get a pto powered pump and use a tractor and use the aluminum wade rain piping.

I'd probably consider digging a pond and lining it. Have the waterline keep the pond topped up. Then pump from there possibly.

Hard to say. Not sure your pressure and flow rates

 

[wsucoug]

I think there are more affordable systems than the big gun option; however, it is one one way of doing it. But to be honest, no one can realistically recommend a proper system until we know how much water is available, how much pressure is available, and how far the water line needs to be run (and if there is any significant elevation change).

 

[Jerry D]

Drip systems on an acre won't work unless you want pipe every 4ft with drippers on 4ft centers...

You also won't want traditional lawn sprinklers because they will struggle to pop up and lots of damage possible to the heads when you disk the field.

My opinion is the only viable option is overhead irrigation.

Next option is you could use smaller sprinklers 3/4" that shoot about 50feet radius or 100 ft circle. You will need a lot of them and probably will only be able to run 1 line at a time. I would opt for the largest sprinkler possible given your flow rates... possible 2 or 3 smaller sprinklers would work that you would connect together and every few hours move them around.... depends how much time you have on your hands I guess and the shape




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[Jason Broom]

Irrigating acreage intended as food plots for wildlife is prohibitively expensive. Plant the right things at the right time, working with normal rainfall patterns to achieve best results. While I admire the thought behind it, if you live where you can't grow the right things at the right time, it's probably not a good long-term idea (for the wildlife) for you to irrigate. This is not farming.