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| Version | User | Scope of changes |
|---|---|---|
| May 12 2010, 5:30 PM EDT | ElenaHG | 17 words added, 10 words deleted |
| Apr 6 2010, 1:49 AM EDT | DanaShaw0 | 47 words added, 12 words deleted |
Changes
Key: Additions Deletions
Definition: DEFINITION
The transport of water to turf, crops and vegetation.
AKA
AKA: Automatic sprinkler system
PerformancePERFORMANCE criteria: CRITERIA
Sustainable irrigation involves an understanding of many aspects of the farm, city or site involved (depending on scale). Used correctly irrigation systems can provide the precise amount of water needed for cultivation and not a drop more. The key to these systems is resource management. Water being the resource, whether reclaimed, gray or potable, management of the following three main aspects will ensure efficiency and conservation. First, scheduling is vital to the system to allow for maximum absorption of water. This also involves an understanding of soil structure (different soil strata have different absorption rates). Scheduling can be improved greatly with the installation of smart controllers, rain sensors, soil-moisture sensors and seasonal adjustments to multiple watering program types. Second, understanding and calculating the evapotranspirtation rate of a system. Simply put how much water transpires from soil and vegetation before being used by the landscape. These rates can be broken down and calculated, this should be done seasonally due to weather patterns. Third and sometimes most important is hardware. General maintenance and upgrades on active irrigation parts are crucial in water management. These parts are susceptible to winter damage depending on local climate. This helps to eliminate long term leaks and loss of pressure to extensive systems that can fall under disrepair.
Illustrations:ILLUSTRATIONS
CaseCASE studies:STUDIES
UUCAL CAL sustainable irrigation project project: http://cesonoma.ucdavis.edu/HORTIC/sust_irr_sc.pdf
Queen city eco-village, Shoreline, WA
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
The transport of water to turf, crops and vegetation.
AKA
AKA: Automatic sprinkler system
PerformancePERFORMANCE criteria: CRITERIA
Sustainable irrigation involves an understanding of many aspects of the farm, city or site involved (depending on scale). Used correctly irrigation systems can provide the precise amount of water needed for cultivation and not a drop more. The key to these systems is resource management. Water being the resource, whether reclaimed, gray or potable, management of the following three main aspects will ensure efficiency and conservation. First, scheduling is vital to the system to allow for maximum absorption of water. This also involves an understanding of soil structure (different soil strata have different absorption rates). Scheduling can be improved greatly with the installation of smart controllers, rain sensors, soil-moisture sensors and seasonal adjustments to multiple watering program types. Second, understanding and calculating the evapotranspirtation rate of a system. Simply put how much water transpires from soil and vegetation before being used by the landscape. These rates can be broken down and calculated, this should be done seasonally due to weather patterns. Third and sometimes most important is hardware. General maintenance and upgrades on active irrigation parts are crucial in water management. These parts are susceptible to winter damage depending on local climate. This helps to eliminate long term leaks and loss of pressure to extensive systems that can fall under disrepair.
Illustrations:ILLUSTRATIONS
CaseCASE studies:STUDIES
UUCAL CAL sustainable irrigation project project: http://cesonoma.ucdavis.edu/HORTIC/sust_irr_sc.pdf
Queen city eco-village, Shoreline, WA
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
