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Old 03-30-13, 09:43 AM   #1
NiHaoMike
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Default Decrease pressure and increase time to improve sprinkler efficiency?

Are sprinklers more efficient at lower pressure after accounting for the increased time to compensate for the lower flow rate? The theory is that at lower pressure, the droplets are larger so there is less loss to evaporation and drift. How does it work in practice?

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Old 04-09-14, 12:53 PM   #2
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Your idea on the surface is good but the problem is the nozzles are designed to provide a spray pattern at a certain pressure/gpm. Now there are some that you can put restrictors on and they work ok. Even if you were to do that the problem now is you will have to redesign your system putting the heads closer together due to the restricted heads reduced coverage.
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Old 04-25-14, 06:33 PM   #3
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Here is what I know...

It's in the duration, not the frequency.
What you want is depth, frequent watering doesn't get us that.
Longer, less frequent watering cycles gets us deep.

You need to first reach the roots, then draw them down.
Frequent watering tends to result in plants with a shallow root system.
A plant's roots follow the water, if the water barely sinks into the soil we have shallow roots.
It is deep roots that allow a plant to withstand droughts.

For example if you are currently watering 7 days a week.
You'd be better off watering three days a week at twice the length of time.
Saves water, too.

And you could get away with watering twice a week as well.

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Old 04-25-14, 06:53 PM   #4
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That is true for some locations. All depends on soil type evaporation rate and other factors. With our soil it's reccomended to water more days a week for shorter cycles because of the sandy soil which is totally opposite of soil type that's typical in our area. Also the amount of water per week also varies greatly depending on soil type climate etc. Our soil it's nearly impossible to over water and in the summer it needs 2" a week but when the temps are 110* every day it ups to 2.5" per week.
That said that's the recommended to keep the lawn really nice. I wont' be doing that cause I can't pump enough water out of the well to do that. Just the back yard and not all of it would take the well pump running 25 hours just to get 1" of water. It's a jet pump.
We have been on twice a week outside watering since the beginning of last summer. Several citys are now making it permanant instead of going by lake levels. Luckily we have a well and the regs don't apply to us because no one can regulate use of your own water here. Was just reittirated in a recent court case in west TX.

I forgot to mention earlier there are some small rotors like the MP rotor rainbird has a version that's better IMO as well. It has a much lower precipitation rate so you have to run the zones much longer but the sprays are heavier streams that don't mist and evaporate near as much.
If doing a new system with them it also allows you to use less zones as well in most cases.
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Old 04-25-14, 07:47 PM   #5
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Consider the merits of irrigating in early AM (4-6 AM) when the dewpoint is highest and evaporation is lowest.

But where in Texas are you? Houston, Midland, El Paso, Paris? A lot depends on your specific climate.

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Old 04-25-14, 08:35 PM   #6
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I'm NW of Fort Worth. Early morning is the best time to water here.

Will have to go back and see what the dew point is that early in the morning in the summer. During the day it's usually in the 60s. Heat humidity and lots of sun here. To top it off the nightly lows are in the mid 80s and it'll be 90* by 9am and mid 90s at midnight. Been extremely hot the last 3 summers here. Hopefully this summer will be cooler and it's way better so far. 105* used to be uncommon now 110* is common with hotter than that very common as well. That heat bakes the heat out of everything and the ground temp rises pretty high.

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