Calculate drip irrigation flow rates, tape length, and run times. Design efficient systems for vegetables, row crops, orchards and vineyards.
Tomato crop. Emitter flow 2 L/h, spacing 0.3m. 100m tapes, 20 rows.
Need pump capacity of 13-15 m³/h at operating pressure. If each tape needs 666 L/h, mainline must handle 13,300 L/h. Use 50mm or 63mm mainline pipe.
Total flow = Emitter flow rate × Number of emitters. Example: 2 L/h emitters at 0.3m spacing on 100m = 333 emitters × 2 = 666 L/h per tape.
Sand: 0.2-0.3m, Loam: 0.3-0.5m, Clay: 0.4-0.6m. Vegetables: 0.2-0.3m, Row crops: 0.3-0.4m, Vineyards: 0.5-1.0m.
Run time = Irrigation requirement × Area ÷ Flow rate. For daily irrigation in sand, 30-60 minutes. For clay, 2-4 hours every 3-5 days.
Drip tape: 0.5-1.5 bar. Drip line: 1-3 bar. Use pressure regulator. Maximum tape length: 100-200m for 16mm, 200-400m for 22mm.