Irrigation
Horticulture

Irrigation is a crucial part of horticulture, especially for crops such as radishes, lettuce and chrysanthemums grown in the open field. There are different types of irrigation systems available, each with their own specific features and benefits.

Roof irrigation

Roof irrigation is a method in which water is used to cool the climate in the greenhouse. This is done by the evaporation of water from the glass and by the entry of cool, moist air into the greenhouse. Water must always be present on the roof to maintain the cooling effect. The droplet size should be wind sensitive, but should not be too large as this can reduce the cooling effect. For roof irrigation, the capacity should be adjusted to a maximum evaporation of 1 mm per hour in warmer periods to prevent parts of the roof from drying out and to minimise the amount of water to be pumped around.

Spray irrigation

Spray irrigation or bottom/upper irrigation is used mainly in strawberry cultivation to keep the plants and substrate sufficiently moist. Here, top sprinkling is first used to fill the pots, followed by bottom sprinkling. For this method, RONDO-Mini sprinklers from Spranco-Matic are usually used because of the wide variety of different release nozzles and spray patterns.

Sources

Irrigation systems are fed from a water pump or water unit and are essential for successful cultivation. By using the right irrigation technology, the right humidity, temperature and moisture levels can be created, allowing crops to grow and thrive optimally.