bucket drip irrigation

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This training was prepared by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) team of Otto Gonzalez-USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (Team

Leader), Jon Fripp (Civil Engineer) and Chris Hoag (Wetland Plant Ecologist)-USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (Civil Engineers).Fripp and Hoag were the primary authors of this material. The U.S. AID provided funding support for the USDA team.

Bucket Drip Irrigation

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Bucket Drip Irrigation

• For Flower Crops

• For Vegetable Crops

• Can be constructed in

any zone

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Water into bucket and

drips out of the driplines onto the plants

Water into bucket once ortwice a day. This depends on:•Type of plants•Soils•Temperature

•Recent Weather•Wind

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Bucket drip irrigationis simple irrigation:•Been Used Worldwide

•Not Expensive•Low Pressure•Saves Water•Fertilizer Application

Photo from Chapin Living Waters Foundation

700 pounds of tomatoes from one kit in one year (100 plants) 

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Chapin Bucket DripIrrigation Kits•Filter screen•Water Supply Line

•Drip Line

Bucket

Water Supply Lines

Filter

Stand

Drip Lines

Need to add:•Bucket•Stand•Plants

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We will look at thesteps to build and usea bucket drip

Remember the basics of irrigation 

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The first step is to drill a hole inthe bottom of a clean bucket

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•Be sure the filter screen is clean

•You will need to clean it periodically•Clean by washing it, not by rubbingit with fingers

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•Examine the fittings

•Notice how they will beassembled into the bucket•They must be tight

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•Bucket is placed onstand at highest end ofgarden•The stand should be atleast 1 meter high

1 meter

Bucket

Stand

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The water supply lines go into the rubber stopper

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Connect the watersupply line to thedrip line

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•Stretch the drip line acrossthe garden•Avoid folds or creases•Do not vary elevation by

more than 1 foot•Drip line should be incontact with the soil•Weight the drip line downwith rocks•The drip opening should beon top of the line

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•Close end of drip line•Fold over twice and putin sleeve•Can also tie with string

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Carefully pour cleanwater into thebucket

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•Look for wet spots

•Mark them•Place plants wherethere is a drip

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Notice that the drip should be on top of the drip line

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•Plants should go where the drip will be•Try to avoid getting soil on the drip line

•Can place mulch over line to reduceevaporation loss of water

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Plants should be downslope of the drip

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Clogging can be a

problem.

May need to cover thebucket top to keep

dust and sand fromblowing to bucket

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If hole becomes blocked or the drip becomes slow:•Do not use a pin to clear the hole•Rub your finger across the hole and blow into it

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Can also flush the lines

This is done by opening the ends of the driplines and pouring clean water through it.

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Photo from John Tiedeman

The Chapin bucketdrip irrigation kitsshould last 5 to 7years with proper care

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If stored•Flush clean water thru

the opened drip lines.•Clean the filter screen•Carefully roll the driplines•Do not fold the driplines

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•Can apply fertilizer to

the irrigation water.•The fertilizer will gostraight to the plant

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•If you are using a

compost tea forfertilizer, be sure topour it through aheavy cloth

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Test TimeWhat is wrong here? 

Answer: line is bent

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Test TimeWhat is wrong here? 

Answer: line is not flat

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Test Time

What is wrong here? 

Answer: water is too dirty. The

irrigation water needs to be cleaner.

Dirty water can clog the openings

Hint: this is the inside of the drip bucket.

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Questions?