Is there a standard water ratio for pot size on a drip system ?

[*mistress*]

nice garden Ganja baba

 

[Ganja baba]

Thanks for everything guys
I will definitely think about adding a heat mat for the coco plants.

To measure you run off do you guys just add a bowl to collect the run off at the end of the day measure that against your overall rate per day ?

yes mate , some have big trays , bowls , tubs . you will get the feel of it . in coco you will have easy draining , if you are watering into trays that a just bigger than the pots , and you cant be bothered to keep emptying the trays , get a cheap wet vac . [i picked a 15 lt one up for 40 £ ] , and suck out the water from each tray .

i also use a vac in my tents , with out it they would be sitting in to much water , letting them sit in it for an hour after feeding is good to . and the sucking out makes more air to the roots ... good luck mate

and thanks mistress ....

 

[Homer Nixon]

Cyclical Irrigation
​

published excerpts:

EVALUATION OF FERTILIZER AND IRRIGATION PRODUCTION SYSTEMS FOR LARGE NURSERY CONTAINERS

Anthony Lynn Witcher

Irrigation and fertilization components were evaluated in two experiments to determine which would maximize growth, minimize effluent and reduce the amount of nutrient loss from container substrate. Treatments tested included fertilizer placement (incorporated and topdressed), irrigation frequency [once daily (1x) and three times daily (3x)] and irrigation method (drip rings and spray stakes). In the first experiment, Ulmus parvifolia Jacq. (Chinese elm) trees were grown for a year and new trees were planted the second year. In the second experiment, Lagerstroemia indica x fauriei 'Acoma' ('Acoma' crape myrtle) trees were grown for two consecutive years. Incorporated fertilizer produced higher growth indices and maintained higher substrate nutrient content (N, P and K) in Chinese elms compared to topdressed fertilizer. Similar results where found in crape myrtle with the exception of P substrate content, where no significant differences occurred. In the Chinese elm experiment, the 3x irrigation treatments resulted in higher growth indices and less effluent compared to 1x irrigation. Conversely, 3x irrigation resulted in higher growth indices but no differences in effluent in the crape myrtle experiment. Spray stake treatments resulted in less effluent in the elm study. Drip ring treatments produced larger growth indices in the crape myrtle study. These results suggest a grower could maximize growth and greatly reduce runoff by incorporating fertilizer, practicing cyclic irrigation methods and using drip rings in a large container production system.

***

CYCLIC IRRIGATION IMPROVES IRRIGATION APPLICATION EFFICIENCY AND GROWTH OF SAWTOOTH OAK

by Glenn B. Fain, Ken M. Tilt, Charles H. Gilliam, Harry G. Ponder, and Jeff L. Sibley


Cyclic irrigation increased irrigation application efficiency by reducing leachate volume. The addition of coir to pinebark substrate can increase irrigation application efficiency when a single irrigation event is used. Cyclic irrigation resulted in increased growth of Sawtooth oak compared to a single irrigation event (Table 2). With increasing emphasis on water quality and quantity used, growers might consider changing irrigation practices to improve irrigation application efficiency of container-grown trees. Nurseries need to especially be concerned early in the season when plants are not yet established. It is this time of year when there is less demand for water and fewer roots to take up nutrients. Considering most nurseries fertilize early in the season, it is this time of year that poor irrigation application efficiency can result in increased water quality problems from leaching of nutrients. Many growers of large container plants can apply cyclic irrigation methods without major changes in existing equipment.

***

Cyclic Irrigation lncreases lrrigation Application Efficiency and Decreases Ammonium Losses1
Helen H. Tyler2, Stuart L. Warren3, and Ted E. Bilderback3


Irrigation application efficiency and nutrient efficacy. The 900 ml (lx) treatment produced a greater volume of effluent, higher total NH,-N losses, and lower irrigation efficiency compared to cycled irrigation (2x, 3x, 6x) (Table 1). Cycled irrigation (2x, 3x, 6x) did not differ in volume of effluent or irrigation efficiency. For the 100 days, irrigation efficiency averaged 0.52 for the cycled irrigation treatments (2x, 3x, 6x). an improvement of 38% over the 900 ml (lx) standard application. Thus, it appears, under these experimental conditions, one one-hour rest interval between two 450 ml applications was sufficient to allow for movement of water through the micropore system of the substrate, maximizing irrigation application efficiency. This is in contrast to Lamack and Niemiera's (7) and Karam's (6) results where irrigation application efficiency increased with increasing cycled applications. These differences could be related to volume of irrigation and method and rate of irrigation application.

[..]

Plant response. Irrigation treatment did not affect shoot or root dry weight of cotoneaster or rudbeckia (data not shown). In addition, tissue N and P concentrations (data not shown) and contents (Tables 2 and 3) for both species were not affected by irrigation treatment, suggesting that nutrient uptake was similar regardless of irrigation treatment.

[..]

Thus, even though cyclic irrigation improved water retention by 38%, it did not enhance nutrient accumulation by the plant.

[..]

Cycled irrigation improved irrigation application efficiency and NH,-N efficacy in the container-grown production system used in this experiment. With high irrigation volumes, irrigation application efficiency was improved 38% with cycled irrigation over the one-time application. In contrast to previous reports, dividing the plant's daily water allotment into two cycles of irrigation maximized irrigation application efficiency. However, two one-hour rest intervals [300 ml (3x)] were required to maximize NH,-N efficacy. Nutrient contaminated effluent leaving a nursery site can be reduced with the use of cyclic irrigation. However, reduction in leaching losses of mobile anions such as NO, and P requires lower irrigation volumes.

 

[Hosttrevor]

yes mate , some have big trays , bowls , tubs . you will get the feel of it . in coco you will have easy draining , if you are watering into trays that a just bigger than the pots , and you cant be bothered to keep emptying the trays , get a cheap wet vac . [i picked a 15 lt one up for 40 £ ] , and suck out the water from each tray .

i also use a vac in my tents , with out it they would be sitting in to much water , letting them sit in it for an hour after feeding is good to . and the sucking out makes more air to the roots ... good luck mate

and thanks mistress ....

A cheap wet vac? What is a cheap wet vac?

I'm looking for a solution to emptying my 16 x 35ltr DTW tanks, I'm currenty syphoning through a hose downstairs, its a pain in the ass and takes quite a while.

The PP5 lids are brittle and crack easily so I cant make big holes in them, uust drainage holes and a 20mm hole to take the 16mm garden hose for syphoning.

Thanks, Trev

 

[Hosttrevor]

Ah, I googled it, too big to get around my garden and not enough literage unless going for very pricey models. Ideal for a small set up though, great idea ;-)