OPERATION GUIDE

DRIP IRRIGATION

ST1 Edition 2008

1 HECTARE SYSTEM FOR PAPAYA

INTRODUCTION

CONTEXT

This guide is a technical reference for training farmers on the operation and maintenance of mid-scale irrigation systems for papaya. This is based on the pilot efforts conducted in Eastern region of Ghana.

DESCRIPTION

This training guide covers basic principles of the operation and maintenance of low pressure drip irrigation system used for papaya production. The size of the irrigation system is approximately one hectare. This illustrated guide is structured for easy comprehension and complements hands-on training.

This guide does not replace direct advice of a trained extension field agronomist. It is recommended that an agronomist and irrigation specialist be consulted by the farmer prior to undertaking any significant activity.

This document was developed with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Trade and Investment Program for a Competitive Export Economy (TIPCEE). Contract No. GS-23F-9800H, Order no. 641-M-00-00037.

The author's views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Agency for International Development or the United States Government.

CREDITS

This guide is part of technical series designed for the Ghana export horticultural industry. These reference materials were used by farmers during training sessions for irrigation pilot sites with USAID's Trade and Investment Program for a Competitive Export Economy Project (TIPCEE).

For copies contact:

USAID/TIPCEE: trainingguides@tipceeghana.org

This publication has been prepared with technical supervision and financial support from USAID/TIPCEE project.

Technical contributions by:

Jean Pierre Chapeaux, Independent Consultant, Dakar, Senegal

Produced By:

Reiko Enomoto, Smallholder Training Specialist, USAID/TIPCEE

Prosper Bissi, USAID/TIPCEE

CONTENTS

SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION

Installed irrigation system

SECTION 2: OPERATION

4

5

6

7

1

Operating the system

Checking discharge

Standard program

Fine tuning

SECTION 3: MAINTENANCE

11

13

15

16

17

Filter cleaning

Flushing

Checking for clogging

Checking for leakage

Storing after crop cycle

Page 3 Page 4

OPERATION SECTION 2INTRODUCTION SECTION 1

Different layouts Depending on the shape and slope of the field and the location of the water source, the layout can be different.

Operating the system

2. Fill the tank. (It usually takes 10-15 min.)

3. Open the main valve.

4. Open all the control heads.

Because of the pressure regulator, all the drippers would give the same discharge.Therefore you can open all the control heads at the same time.

When the system is operating well, the discharge per dripper should be 1L /hour.

Pressure regulator

1 L /hour

Total number of plots: 6

Total number of plots: 4

2Each plot size: 1,650m

2Each plot size: 2,500m

2Total size of the system: 1ha (10,000m )

Total size of the system: 21ha (10,000m )

1. Turn on the pump.

Cover the intake pipe with a mesh.

Drip Irrigation 1 Hectare System for Papaya Drip Irrigation 1 Hectare System for Papaya

Page 5 Page 6

OPERATION SECTION 2OPERATION SECTION 2

Checking discharge Standard program

Month after

planting

Water Requirement

(mm/ day)

Application Time

(hour/ day)

1~2 1.25 1 hour 15 min.

3~4 2.5 2 hours 30 min.

5~6 3.75 3 hours 45 min.

7~ 5 5 hours

Note 1: The standard program is based on the following conditions.

Plot size: 1ha

Plant population: 2,000

Plant distance: 2.5m X 2m

Discharge: 1 L /hour 5 L /day

1 L /hour

Total number of drippers for 1ha: 10,000

No. of drippers per tree: 5

Required discharge per dripper: 5L /day

Note 2: When a tree is more than 7 month old, each tree needs around 25L of water /day.

25L

Irrigation time/ day: 5L 1L /hour = 5 hours

(10,000 drippers ÷ 2,000 plants = 5 drippers /plant)

(25L 5 drippers = 5L )

Check the discharge of a dripper before you start the production and check again every month.

Place a 1.5 L Voltic bottle under any dripper and measure the discharge for 30 min.

Check the discharge. The standard discharge is 1L/ hour: 0.5L/ 30 min.

Check whether some part of the system is clogged.

Adjust the application time of the standard program. (See page 6.)

If the discharge is more or less than 1L/ hour...

1

2

0.4 L

0.5 L

0.6 L

0.7 L

3

4

5

6

7

2.5m

2m

Total length of dripper lines: 4000m

Dripper spacing: 0.4m

0.4m

Note 3: Adjust your application based on the weather, plant condition, soil surface and soil moisture level. (See page 7-10.)

Drip Irrigation 1 Hectare System for Papaya Drip Irrigation 1 Hectare System for Papaya

OPERATION

Page 7

SECTION 2

You can increase or reduce the water application up to 20% from the standard program. Adjust your program everyday.

1. Check the weather

Sunny

Windy

Dry Hot

(Harmattan)

Sunny with clouds

Cloudy or drizzling

Rainy

Fine tuning

Standard application

Increase application

Decrease application

Stop application

(e.g. 5 hours.)

Up to +20%. (e.g. 6 hours.)

Up to -20%. (e.g. 4 hours.)

No application.

Stop

Note: Rain counts as a part of the irrigation dose. Depending on the amount of rain, consider decreasing the application or stopping it for one or more days.

Standard

Increase

Decrease

Drip Irrigation 1 Hectare System for Papaya

Page 9 Page 10

4. Check the soil below

Standard

Increase

Decrease

OPERATION OPERATIONSECTION 2 SECTION 2

Water bulbs within a line are connected.

Water bulbs within a line are not connected.

Water bulbs between two lines are not connected.

Water bulbs between two lines are connected.

Roots are saturated with water.

Roots receive exactly the amount of water needed.

Roots do not receive enough water.

Are water bulbs within a line connected?

Is there a dry space between the water bulbs of two dripper lines?

Is the wet area under the soil (water bulb) bigger or smaller than where the roots are?

Dig the soil to locate the wet area.

3. Check the soil surface

Wet surface is the sameas the drip area.

Is the wet surface bigger or smaller than the area covered by the leaves (drip area)?

Is there a dry space between the wet areas of two dripper lines?

Standard

Increase

Decrease

Wet surface is biggerthan the drip area.

Wet surface is smallerthan the drip area.

There is a dry space.

Wet areas areconnected.

Wet area

Drip Irrigation 1 Hectare System for Papaya Drip Irrigation 1 Hectare System for Papaya

Page 17

MAINTENANCE SECTION 2

Storing after crop cycle

3. Bring the dripper lines to the edge of the field, and fix them together to the ground with a wooden stake. Check once a week for any damage.

1. Apply 4-5 days of irrigation dosage for the field to reach the field capacity.

4. Before the soil becomes dry, plough crop residues into the land.

2. Store the control heads in a protected place.

Drip Irrigation 1 Hectare System for Papaya