Water-Saving Application of Hose in Agricultural Irrigation

In the context of increasingly tight global water resources, agriculture, as a major water user, has a particularly prominent problem of water conservation. According to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, agricultural irrigation water accounts for more than 70% of the world's total freshwater use. Therefore, while increasing food production capacity, how to use water resources efficiently and reasonably has become an important issue that modern agriculture must face. 

As a vital water delivery tool in the irrigation system, the hose undertakes the important task of transmitting water from the water source to the crops. With the development of technology, the irrigation method is constantly upgrading, from traditional flood irrigation to today's sprinkler irrigation and drip irrigation, and the design and material of the hose are also constantly evolving. 

This article will focus on the application of hoses in agricultural irrigation systems and explore how to maximize the efficiency of water resource utilization in agricultural irrigation through scientific selection and reasonable configuration.

The Common Types of Hoses in Agricultural Irrigation

Agricultural irrigation is a project that is highly dependent on system coordination and precise control. As an important component for water delivery, the performance of the hose directly affects the irrigation effect. At present, the types of irrigation hoses that are widely used in the agricultural field mainly include the following:

1. Drip Irrigation Hose

Drip irrigation hose is the representative of precise water control and the main force of agricultural water-saving irrigation. Its surface is arranged with equidistant drippers or embedded drippers, which can drip water directly into the roots of crops, realize precise water volume control for each plant, and avoid ineffective evaporation of water in the air and soil surface. It is particularly suitable for water-saving planting of fruit trees, vegetables, and other crops, and irrigates evenly, which helps control diseases and improve quality.

2. Sprinkler Hose

Sprinkler hose is an efficient irrigation tool suitable for large-scale farmland, mostly used to connect sprinkler heads or reel sprinkler systems. It can effectively avoid soil erosion caused by excessive irrigation and concentrated water flow by controlling the time and angle of sprinkler irrigation, and is suitable for irrigation sites with high requirements for pressure and uniformity.

3. Laying Hose

It is divided into two types: fixed laying and mobile laying. The former is suitable for facility agriculture or long-term planting areas, while the latter is suitable for farm-type planting or seasonal crops because it is easy to adjust and multi-zone rotation irrigation.

4. Branched Water Hose

This irrigation method mainly distributes the water flow in the main hose to each branch pipe to achieve multi-point irrigation.

Different types of irrigation methods are suitable for different irrigation environments. Selecting and configuring hoses according to local conditions is the first step to improve water resource utilization efficiency and the basis for extending the life of hoses.

How to Enhance Irrigation Efficiency through Hose Systems?

The key to improving the efficiency of agricultural irrigation water is "quantity, direction, and timing", that is, supplying the right amount of irrigation water to the designated crops at the designated time. The hose system plays a role in regulation and execution in this process.

Precise Water Control to Eliminate Waste

One of the advantages of hose system irrigation is that it can achieve "precise water supply" and accurately control the amount of water used for each crop. The drip irrigation system only needs a few liters of water per hour to meet root absorption, which is far superior to traditional irrigation methods such as flooding and furrow irrigation.

Intelligent Control, Automatic Irrigation

Modern irrigation systems can be combined with sensors, controllers, and other equipment and systems to form a "smart irrigation" solution. Based on data such as soil moisture, crop demand, and weather conditions, the system can automatically adjust the water supply duration and flow rate, greatly improving the utilization efficiency of water resources and the irrigation efficiency of crops.

Scientific Pipe Network, Uniform Design

A reasonable pipe layout can effectively reduce pressure loss and water accumulation in dead corners. The three-level structure design of "trunk-branch-capillary pipe" is adopted, combined with flow regulating valves and end check devices to ensure that water flow is evenly distributed to each field, avoiding the phenomenon of "water accumulation at the front end and drought at the end".

Reduce Leakage and Improve Efficiency

High-quality hose materials and reasonable pipe diameter matching can significantly reduce evaporation and leakage during water delivery, especially in areas with high temperatures or complex terrain. The drip irrigation hose uses a low-pressure system, which also reduces water resource loss caused by pressure fluctuations.

Additional Benefits Beyond Water Saving

Using a suitable hose system can not only save water but also bring a series of additional benefits to modern agriculture. 

• Energy saving and consumption reduction: Reasonable pipe network pressure can reduce the energy consumption of water pumps and reduce electricity consumption.

• Reduce labor costs: The intelligent irrigation system with integrated hose layout design can realize automatic control of irrigation and greatly reduce manual operation costs.

• Reduce pests and diseases: Intelligent irrigation can prevent the soil from being too wet, reduce the breeding of mold and pests from the source, and reduce the risk of breeding.

• Increase yield: Precision irrigation and water supply can ensure stable water absorption by crop roots, reduce diseases, promote healthy growth, and increase yields.

Common Issues and Optimization Suggestions

Although the effect of the hose system is very significant, there are still many issues that deserve attention in practical applications.

• Improper laying leads to knots or entanglements: In some areas, the hoses are laid out in a non-sequential manner to save time, resulting in the hoses being bent, entangled, and knotted, causing water flow obstruction, blockage, or even rupture. The hoses should be laid in the forward direction and should be protected from frequent dragging and sun exposure.

• The filtration system is not taken seriously: If the sediment in the river or well water is not filtered, it is very easy to clog the dripper and pipe. Therefore, it is recommended to install a pre-filter and backwash it regularly.

• Lack of maintenance and flushing: If the inside of the hose is not cleaned for a long time, algae and microorganisms are likely to grow, affecting the water quality and irrigation efficiency. It is recommended to clean the pipe network system at least once a season.

• Loose joints and water leakage: If the joints of the hose are not reinforced or the hose is old and the joints are not firmly connected, they will become loose and leak. It is recommended to check the joints regularly to avoid accidents.

Висновок

Although the hose system is small, as an important bridge connecting the water source and the root system of crops, it directly affects the utilization efficiency of water resources. Through scientific selection, reasonable layout, and intelligent coordination, agricultural water use has gradually become precise and controllable. 

Saving water is not only for environmental protection, but also the only way to achieve high-quality agricultural development. If you have more questions about the application of hoses, please feel free to contact us, and we will be happy to answer them for you.