Gravity Fed drip system

11 years ago

Does anyone use a Gravity fed drip system? I am wanting to expand my growing area and it will require renting some ground. I haven't found said ground, but I am thinking it will most likely won't be a water source near by and I will have to haul water to the location. This area will mainly be used to grow winter squash. I am thinking 1/2 to 1 acre max.

I have access to a 500 gallon poly tank and trailer. It is one my family uses to haul water for cattle in the fall, so it sits at their farm all the rest of the year not being used. I also can get the 275 gallon reused tanks for very cheap.

How high does the tank need to be to power a 200 foot row, 100 foot row? I am sure this has been figured out, so trying not to redesign the wheel.

Also, I would like to collect rainwater to use to water also, but the primary source of water would be our well.

Any ideas?

Jay

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Comments (4)

randy41_1
11 years ago
your question got my interest and i found this link. it might be better to get a small 12v pump that you can power with a car battery and charge the battery with a solar panel.

Here is a link that might be useful: water pressure info
jrslick (North Central Kansas, Zone 5B)
Original Author
11 years ago
Good information Randy. It sounds like this would be a very doable thing. I can imagine putting 2, 275 gallon tanks up in the air (8 to 10 ft) I have a good supply of wood power poles and 4 by 4's and a 500 gal tank in a trailer. I could pump the water up into the big tank and power the system with gravity and I wouldn't have to use electricity. Maybe just some gas to run a small pump.

Lots of math to do still, but I think it would work.
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barrie2m_(6a, central PA)
11 years ago
Also appreciate the link Randy. I've been using a vertical 1000 gal tank set on a 3' high stand and it has worked well for me. I only use it to fertilize via driptape lines, usually 6- 100' lines at a time. I fill the tank over a few intervals to avoid drawing too much grit from my well, then disolve CaNO3 in bucket of water and dump into the top of tank before opening valves. It avoids headaches with the Dosatron injector and does the job.

Even using water pressure at 10 lbs on driplines I noticed my distant (100') soil was always more watered and when I discussed with a irrig. rep. was told that I probably have a slight terrain slope and that when the water is turned off the remaining water still drains to the lowest spot on the grade.

I've seen a research setup by a PSU prof. where a 5-gal. bucket was hung at 5 ft. on a post to water a short section by drip tape and it was reported to work well. I'll add that if you can position a tank on a hill above watering land you'll achieve the height without a stand. I plan to haul water to a stationary tank 1500 ft. from a water source and just use a tractor mounted tank and PTO pump to fill the tank as needed. That may work for you too.
jrslick (North Central Kansas, Zone 5B)
Original Author
11 years ago
I saw some of the 5 gallon bucket set ups, interesting for a small scale.

Being in "Flat Kansas" hills are hard to come by! I did read an article about a gentleman who did just as you were saying. His gardens were down in the valley floor and he leveled out a pad up on the hill.

Jay