Greenhouse Management

3 Basic TypesSub-IrrigationOverhead IrrigationDrip Irrigation

Capillary MattingNon-woven fibersRe-usableStores water & nutrientsIndoor or outdoor useSoluble salt issues

Capillary Matting

IHP Capillary Matting (clean)

IHP Capillary Matting

covered with P17 tissue

Removing P17 tissue

Capillary MattingA distribution

system is used to wet the mat

Ebb & Flow (Flood) BenchesPots placed in trayTrays are floodedExcess fertilizer

solution drains back into reservoir

Soluble salt issues

Econojet 4x4 Ebb & Flow Bench

Ebb & Flow (Flood) Benches

Ebb & Flow Benches at DeJongs, Pella, IA

Flood Floor IrrigationPlants grown on the

floorFloor is flooded with

a fertilizer solutionPlants absorb water

and nutrientsUnused fertilizer

solution is recycledSoluble salt issues

Flood Floor Irrigation at Willoway Nurseries

Flood Floor Irrigation at DeJongs

Hand WateringStill the preferred

method of many growers

Never as easy as it looks

Difficult to apply water uniformly

Problems with wet foliage

Plastic Water CollectorsMade from re-

cycled plasticPot sits on

collectorCollector directs

water back towards pot

Overhead Boom IrrigationComputer controlledPrecise applicationInterchangeable

nozzlesCan be programmed

on a per crop basisCapability of

applying fertilizers and pesticides

Wet foliage

Fixed Overhead Irrigation SystemsMany styles and

manufacturers to choose from

Nozzles interchangeableNozzle output measured in

GPM at a specified pressure

Nifty Nozzle Flow Rate in Gallons Per MinuteITEM COLOR SIZE 15

PSI22 PSI 29 PSI 36 PSI

360NN-BR Brown 1.75 mm

0.29 0.35 0.41 0.46

360NN-GN Green 2.00 mm

0.40 0.49 0.57 0.63

360NN-GR Grey 2.25 mm

0.51 0.62 0.72 0.80

360NN-BL Blue 2.50 mm

0.63 0.77 0.89 0.99

360NN-RD Red 2.75 mm

0.76 0.93 1.07 1.20

360NN-OR Orange 3.00 mm

0.90 1.10 1.28 1.43

Dramm JetRain Nozzles

ECHO SystemFor hanging basketsBaskets hang from

hooks on a cable system

Irrigating nozzles remain in a fixed position

Baskets are brought to the nozzles

ECHO System

Spaghetti Tubes with EmitterSupply line with

“punched in” spaghetti tubes

Fertilizer solution applied to the surface of the growing medium

Foliage remains dry