SARE-ACE IRRIGATION SYSTEM

Irrigation System. An underground drip irrigation system was installed and each individual paddock and field replication was equipped with a turbine water meter to measure total water applied and rate in gallons. Drip tapes are located on 40 inch centers and are buried approximately 14 inches deep. The tape used was a Netafim 10 mil Python polyethylene seamless extruded tube with injection molded emitters on 24 inch centers. The emitters have a flow rate of 0.39 gallons per hour at an inlet pressure of 12.80 psi. The filter system for the drip consists of a Netafim Arkal Model expanding disc dual filter capable of 140 mesh filtration. In addition a Netafim hydrocyclone and sedimentation tank are used on the system to remove the heavy sand particles prior to disc filtration. The complete filtration assembly is automated with a 4 station controller to flush on a time and a pressure differential basis. The system is also equipped with a chemigation check valve and an Agri-Inject hydraulically actuated teflon diaphragm fertilizer/chemical injection system. The injector has an injection rate of 5.6 GPH at 100% capacity to 0.56 GPH at 10% of capacity. The pump is regulated by a pressure actuated flow control Cycle Stop Valve. This allows continual operation of the pump on a pressure regulated system while irrigating. Construction of the drip irrigation system was begun in July 1997 and was completed in January of 1998.