Low-Volume Irrigation Revolutionizes Industry

New Technologies Raise Productivity While Conserving Water Resources

Written By: Liz Duff, Technical Writer, Two Rivers Marketing, Des Moines, Iowa -- Associated Construction Publications, 6/1/2006

Provided By: Vermeer Manufacturing Company, Pella, Iowa

To maximize every drop of water that gets distributed in irrigation projects, low-volume systems have become a viable part of the landscape beautification process.

Low-volume irrigation features a flexible tubing system that distributes per client of water and nutrients through soil directly to the plant's root zone, providing irrigation control and efficient use of water resources. Being able to apply water at a specific rate conserves water, and it helps plants reach maturity in significantly less time.

In the 1960s, Netafim® developed and commercialized low-volume irrigation for the agricultural industry in Israel — an area that recognized its limited water supply. As products and techniques became recognized, Netafim expanded into other countries that were interested in using less water to grow plants and crops to maturity, more quickly, and with less disease.

In 1992, Netafim-USA started a landscape division for dripperline practices with the intent to save water used in overhead sprinkler systems. "We started as a small company, and are now the second-largest irrigation equipment manufacturer in the world," says Mike Stoll, Netafim market manager for the landscape and turf division. "As our products expand to additional markets, our overall focus continues to be on the efficient use of water."

Since its inception, Netafim has developed various products such as the Techline CV® and Techline® dripperlines to revolutionize irrigation practices around the world. The products are designed to deliver a more even watering pattern as compared to sprinklers in both garden and turfgrass applications.

Dripperline products offer the ability to distribute the same amount of water at the beginning of the line where pressure may be very high, all the way to the end of the line where pressure may be lower, while also immediately flushing out any debris that could clog the system. With Techline CV, a check valve is built into every dripper. When the dripperline shuts off, a mechanism closes the dripper so any remaining water stays inside the pipe rather than draining out of the pipe.

Overhead sprinkler systems disperse water through air, allowing only 30 percent to 70 percent of the water to reach the root zone of the plant or turf. Whereas, dripperline radiates water outward and upward in the soil and doesn't fall prey to wind conditions, temperature, time of day, or humidity, and is 85-percent to 95-percent efficient. "When we put water into the soil, it won't go down the drain, or get lost on blades of grass and dry out from the sun," Stoll says.

Costs associated with overhead sprinklers may vary depending on the areas being utilized. In a larger irrigation area, the cost per foot to install an overhead system is less than it is to install in a smaller garden area. However, in a low-volume irrigation system, cost is based on soil conditions and doesn't change too dramatically if the soil remains the same in the application.

Despite the water pressure, low-volume irrigation delivers a measured amount of water into the soil radiating out of drippers that are placed 12 inches or 18 inches apart inside the polyethylene pipe. The soil will catch drops of water and radiate them outward, upward or downward from the dripper hole. Netafim has flow rates which distribute water flow into the soil at 0.26, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.9 gallons of water per hour, per dripper depending on the type of soil — clay, loam or sand, and the application — gardens or growing turfgrass. "Based on the type of soil, we can determine the specific dripper flow rate, how many inches apart the drippers should be inside the pipe and how far apart the rows should be," Stoll says.

Dripperline can be installed on-surface or underground depending on the application. Typically, for a garden application, dripperline tubing is placed on top of the ground and woven through the garden. Depending on the soil type, rows of dripperline may be placed 12 inches or 18 inches apart, stapled to the ground and covered with mulch creating a ladder effect throughout the garden. "Contractors around the country are comfortable with the on-surface application of our products," Stoll says. "It's a fast and effective way of taking an odd-shaped garden and laying dripperline out while using less water."

On the other hand, when it comes to installing dripperline in the ground for turf grass, contractors are sometimes more hesitant. Oftentimes, they don't want to change their method of using sprinkler systems. "We understand how installation of our dripperline works, and how it improves the growth of turfgrass, however some irrigation contractors haven't developed the mind set, and don't have the equipment to lay the tubing in the ground cost effectively," Stoll says.

Netafim and Vermeer Manufacturing Company are working to develop and market underground dripperline products that can be installed using Vermeer® equipment.

The relationship between Netafim and Vermeer began several years ago when drought in the Denver, Colo., area became so severe that sprinkler irrigation was banned. Property owners couldn't run their sprinkler systems or install new ones. However, products like Netafim's Techline CV and Techline could be installed and used because they are considered low-volume irrigation, relying on soil to move the water so every drop reaches where it needs to be and controlling the amount of water saturating the ground.

After hearing the news, the local Vermeer dealer concluded that if he could take products from Vermeer and develop a way to install dripperline products in larger areas more effectively, he could provide an ideal work solution for contractors facing a business slowdown. He shared the concept with Vermeer and looked into several opportunities, which ultimately led to the introduction between Netafim and Vermeer.

In 2004, Stoll and Ed Savage, underground segment manager for Vermeer, met at the International Irrigation Association tradeshow, and came to the conclusion that each company offered the other a solution to the growing need for an efficient way to install water and energy-conserving irrigation components. An agreement was signed in November 2005, and the alliance began.

According to Savage, technological innovation and environmentally sound applications were key factors that shaped the decision for Vermeer to form an alliance with Netafim. "Netafim's dripperline system is the premier product on the market. Contractors now have an extremely efficient method to install it with our multi-blade plow attachment."

Through this alliance, Vermeer plans to educate landscape architects, contractors and designers on the benefits of low-volume irrigation, while providing them with a unique and efficient installation method. "Customers will have two industry sources to consult with on irrigation projects and a source for the latest technology in dripperline and installation solutions," Savage says.

Vermeer has developed a vibratory multi-blade plow attachment for its LM42 lawn plow to install Netafim dripperline products at specific depths and widths specified by certain ground conditions. The attachment can simultaneously pull multiple rows of dripperline in turfgrass or gardens, eliminating the need to trench and maximizing jobsite productivity.

According to Chris Fontana, engineering solutions manager for the Vermeer cutting edge department, the vibratory plow attachment uses a high-frequency vibration to cut through the ground and close up the furrow around the dripperline. The attachment is equipped with three reels that can hold up to 1,000 feet of tubing which spins through a feed shoot and is placed into the ground. "The tool has the capability to lay three rows of tubing at a time, while carrying built-in adjustability to alter the in-ground depth from 4 inches to 10 inches and the row width from 10 inches to 24 inches," he says.

Currently, the Vermeer LM42 lawn plow is being used for this application, while similar types of methods for different machines and applications are being researched.

While the primary customer for low-volume irrigation is a landscape or irrigation contractor, the industry's market is open for water municipalities interested in outdoor water conservation. "We are talking to water management districts around the country, stressing that there are alternatives to sprinklers," Stoll says.

"Our ability to reach out to the water districts with educational information shows that we know that water conservation is critically important, our products help save water and we have the equipment to install product effectively," Stoll says.

Vermeer and the Vermeer Logo are registered trademarks of Vermeer Manufacturing Company in the United States and/or other countries.

Netafim, Netafim Logo, Techline, and Techline CV are trademarks of Netafim USA.