Container Plant Irrigation Considerations Tom Yeager Department of

Container Plant Irrigation Considerations Tom Yeager Department of Environmental Horticulture

Apply Irrigation Uniformly as the Amount Needed Distribution Uniformity Application Amount

What impacts the uniformity of delivery? Overhead sprinkler

Design: spacing

Design: pressure Take into account slope 2. 31 ft = 1 psi

Design: pressure Pressure loss due to friction for 100 ft Sch. 40 PVC pipe Pipe Size (inch) Flow (GPM) Press. Loss (PSI) 1. 0 12 3. 4 2. 0 12 0. 1 4. 0 12 0. 0

Maintenance Remove obstructions inside and in front of emitters

Monitor uniformity and application amount

53 56 61 66 47 49 57 61 42 43 50 53 40 41 48 49 16 816 51

53 56 61 66 47 49 57 61 42 43 50 53 40 41 48 49 16 816 51

Calculation for Uniformity Low quarter average (ml) Overall average (ml) 40+41+42+43 = 166 41 51 = 0. 80 = = 166 4 Distribution Uniformity = 80% DU 41

Convert Volume to Application Depth Average volume applied = 51 ml or cm 3 = 0. 9 cm Cup area = 3. 14 x 4. 25 2 = 57 cm 2 0. 9 cm 2. 54 cm/ inch = 0. 4 inch

57 cm 2 51 ml or cm 3 = 0. 4 inch 2 57 cm 51 cm 3

Summary Determine distribution of water over the area Amount applied per duration of irrigation http: //edis. ifas. ufl. edu/ep 458 Distribution Uniformity Application Amount

Match Water Demand with Application Amount Overhead sprinkler

Are there differences in water demand? Species

Plant water demand or loss (inch/container) July 3 - gal Salmon’s Nursery, FL Podocarpus Rhaphiolepis Rosa Loropetalum Ilex Rhododendron Viburnum 0. 33 0. 35 0. 38 0. 39 0. 44 0. 47 0. 53 August Saunder’s Nursery, VA 0. 14 Rhododendron Spiraea Weigela Hydrangea Gardenia Berberis 0. 32 0. 33 0. 35 0. 38 0. 39 0. 50 0. 07

Are there differences in water demand? Can you manage for the species differences?

Calculation for Uniformity Low quarter average (inch) Overall average (inch) = Distribution Uniformity Overall Average – variation between species = number to exceed so sprinkler variation does not overcome species variation 0. 40 – 0. 14 = 0. 26 0. 40 = 0. 65 = 65% DU

Are there differences in water demand? Species Spacing

Container Water Loss for 3 -gal Ligustrum July June Spacing Water loss (inch) 0. 30 0 0. 33 3 0. 36 6 0. 40 9 0. 10 Spacing Water loss (inch) 0 0. 32 2 0. 38 4 0. 42 6 0. 45 0. 13 Million and Yeager, SNA 2013

Spacing 0 inch 5. 5 inch 11 inch 16. 5 inch 95 52 35 24 Wt. loss (g) 400 520 ( 30%) 570 ( 45%) 610 ( 50%) ETc (inch) 0. 25 0. 36 0. 39 % Cover 0. 33 Light interception per plant Temp.

Dwarf Yaupon 1 -Gallon 2013 120 Temperature (F) Jan 10 Jan 11 Jan 12 100 80 60 Substrate - Wide Spacing 40 Substrate - Close Spacing Air 20 Hourly measurements Jan 13

Are there differences in water demand? Species Spacing Size

Plant Water Demand Affected by Plant Size 1 -gal Viburnum - spring planting 1. 0 20 0. 8 Water loss 16 Size index 14 0. 6 12 10 0. 4 8 6 0. 2 4 2 0. 0 0 0 14 28 42 56 70 Day 84 98 112 Size index (cm) Water loss (inch) 18

Match Water Demand Species Spacing Size With Application Amount Overhead sprinkler

Capture Factor (CF) = Volume captured

Canopy Affects Capture of Irrigation and Rain

Match Water Demand Species Spacing Size With Application Amount Capture Factor Overhead sprinkler

How Do We Use This and Other Information? Match Water Demand with Application Amount

Thanks for Your Support! Center for Applied Nursery Research Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association Saunders Brothers Nursery Salmon’s Wholesale Nursery Southwest Florida Water Management District

http: //hort. ufl. edu yeagert@ufl. edu