Irrigation solutions for greenhouse-grown crops

Irrigation is one of the most important controllable aspects of greenhouse cultivation and has a major impact on the crop quality. The decision on which irrigation system is most suitable for our needs in the greenhouse depends on several factors: type of crop, climate, labor, initial investment, growing environment and type of soil, container size, etc. Here are some of the most common irrigation systems in greenhouses. We will compare them for you by indicating their main advantages and disadvantages:

• Manual watering

Advantages:

- low initial investment - cheap equipment

- serviced irrigation - only crops that need water will receive water

- a good opportunity to inspect the crops

Disadvantages:

- It can be inefficient and uneven

- It requires training and experience

- A time-consuming task - more work

- It is difficult to keep the harvest dry

- It can affect the soil structure if the flow is not properly regulated

- It can be wasteful and difficult for even application of the fertilizer

- It cannot be automated.

• Micro-rain-pipe irrigation

Advantages:

- The process can be synchronized and automated

- Can be used for crops where low humidity of the air is a problem

- Can be used to influence the microclimate around the plants and in the greenhouse itself

- Medium to low initial investment.

Possible negative sides:

- Less efficient and wasteful way of irrigation, if not properly managed

- Uniformity can be a challenge

- Low efficiency in dense sheds - can lead to excessive drainage.

• Drip irrigation

Main advantages:

- It can be automated and programmed based on many different parameters - duration, irrigation rate, etc.

- The spaces between the row remains dry

- Reduces the frequency of leaf diseases

- Can apply accurate amounts of water, which can reduce the water consumption

- The water is better distributed

- Possibility for fertilization.

Disadvantages:

- Medium to high initial investment

- The water distribution can be problematic if the plant environment becomes too dry or the droppers are not located properly

- The system cleaning and maintenance are mandatory and sometimes labor-intensive.

• Irrigation booms

The advantages include:

- A significant reduction in labor costs

- They can be programmed and automated

- Can be used for applying various types of preparations

- Can be used as a sprayer

- Even coverage

- Excellent choice for large-scale monocropping applications.

Some drawbacks:

- High initial investment

- Possible only for specific types of greenhouses

- For better results, a trained operator is required to adjust the equipment and to carry out preventive maintenance

- Difficult to manage with smaller batches of different cultures at different stages of growth.

• Underground drip irrigation

Advantages:

- Positive influence on the uniformity of the soil moisture

- Can be applied to different growing systems

- Can be used for different plant species and container sizes

- The soil substrate and the leaves of the plants remain dry.

Disadvantages:

- Medium to high initial investment

- Can cause accumulation of salts in the nutrition environment (not able to wash out the mixture through this system)

- Requires an environment for growing with excellent flexibility (capillary), but also sufficient drainage

- If the water is contaminated, the diseases will spread quickly.

• NFT - Nutrition Film Technique (for hydroponic systems)

The main advantages are:

- The water is always in motion (improves the content of dissolved oxygen (DO2)

- The water can be reused and recycled

- The system is usually programmed and automated

- Reduces the water consumption as it passes through the system in a cycle.

Drawbacks:

- High initial investment

- Must be managed by a qualified operator

- Little room for errors (directly exposed roots)

- It requires a climate-controlled environment

- It is difficult to control pathogens, as they can spread quickly.

• Mist propagation

Advantages:

- Ability to apply large amounts of water, although by very fine droplets

- The most suitable option for germinating chambers/rooting stations

- Effective impact on the air humidity and climate in the greenhouse/growing area

Disadvantages:

- Medium to high initial investment

- Even higher when the cost of a germination chamber are included

- Requires a very efficient filtering system

- A high pressure pipe must be installed to ensure the fine sputtering of water.