OPERATION GUIDE

DRIP IRRIGATION
1 HECTARE SYSTEM FOR PAPAYA

1ST Edition 2008

INTRODUCTION
CONTEXT
This guide is a technical reference for training farmers on the operation and maintenance of midscale irrigation systems for papaya. This is based on the pilot efforts conducted in Eastern region of Ghana.

DESCRIPTION
This training guide covers basic principles of the operation and maintenance of low pressure drip irrigation system used for papaya production. The size of the irrigation system is approximately one hectare. This illustrated guide is structured for easy comprehension and complements hands-on training. This guide does not replace direct advice of a trained extension field agronomist. It is recommended that an agronomist and irrigation specialist be consulted by the farmer prior to undertaking any significant activity.

This document was developed with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Trade and Investment Program for a Competitive Export Economy (TIPCEE). Contract No. GS-23F-9800H, Order no. 641-M-00-00037. The author's views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Agency for International Development or the United States Government.

CREDITS
This guide is part of technical series designed for the Ghana export horticultural industry. These reference materials were used by farmers during training sessions for irrigation pilot sites with USAID's Trade and Investment Program for a Competitive Export Economy Project (TIPCEE).

CONTENTS
SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION
Installed irrigation system 1

SECTION 2: OPERATION For copies contact: USAID/TIPCEE: trainingguides@tipceeghana.org This publication has been prepared with technical supervision and financial support from USAID/TIPCEE project. SECTION 3: MAINTENANCE Technical contributions by: Jean Pierre Chapeaux, Independent Consultant, Dakar, Senegal Prosper Bissi, USAID/TIPCEE Produced By: Reiko Enomoto, Smallholder Training Specialist, USAID/TIPCEE
Filter cleaning Flushing Checking for leakage Checking for clogging Storing after crop cycle 11 13 15 16 17 Operating the system Checking discharge Standard program Fine tuning 4 5 6 7

INTRODUCTION Different layouts

SECTION 1

OPERATION

SECTION 2

Depending on the shape and slope of the field and the location of the water source, the layout can be different.

Operating the system

1. Turn on the pump. 2. Fill the tank. (It usually takes 10-15 min.)

3. Open the main valve.

Cover the intake pipe with a mesh.

4. Open all the control heads.

Each plot size: 1,650m2 Total number of plots: 6 Total size of the system: 1ha (10,000m2)

Each plot size: 2,500m2 Total number of plots: 4 Total size of the system: 1ha (10,000m2)

Because of the pressure regulator, all the drippers would give the same discharge. Therefore you can open all the control heads at the same time.
Pressure regulator

When the system is operating well, the discharge per dripper should be 1L /hour.

1 L /hour

Drip Irrigation 1 Hectare System for Papaya

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Drip Irrigation 1 Hectare System for Papaya

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OPERATION

SECTION 2

OPERATION

SECTION 2

Checking discharge
Check the discharge of a dripper before you start the production and check again every month.

Standard program
Month after planting 1~2 3~4 5~6 7~ Water Requirement (mm/ day) 1.25 2.5 3.75 5 Application Time (hour/ day) 1 hour 15 min. 2 hours 30 min. 3 hours 45 min. 5 hours

Note 1: The standard program is based on the following conditions.

Plot size: 1ha Plant population: 2,000 Plant distance: 2.5m X 2m Total length of dripper lines: 4000m
2m 2.5m

Dripper spacing: 0.4m Total number of drippers for 1ha: 10,000 No. of drippers per tree: 5 Place a 1.5 L Voltic bottle under any dripper and measure the discharge for 30 min. Check the discharge. The standard discharge is 1L/ hour: 0.5L/ 30 min.
7 6 5 4 3 2 1

0.4m

(10,000 drippers 2,000 plants = 5 drippers /plant)

0.7 L

Note 2: When a tree is more than 7 month old, each tree needs around 25L of water /day.
0.6 L 0.5 L 0.4 L 25L

Required discharge per dripper: 5L /day

5 L /day

(25L

5 drippers = 5L )

Discharge: 1 L /hour
1 L /hour

If the discharge is more or less than 1L/ hour... Check whether some part of the system is clogged. Adjust the application time of the standard program. (See page 6.)

Irrigation time/ day: 5L

1L /hour = 5 hours

Note 3: Adjust your application based on the weather, plant condition, soil surface and soil moisture level. (See page 7-10.)
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Drip Irrigation 1 Hectare System for Papaya

OPERATION

SECTION 2

Fine tuning
You can increase or reduce the water application up to 20% from the standard program. Adjust your program everyday. Standard application Increase application Decrease application Stop application (e.g. 5 hours.) Up to +20%. (e.g. 6 hours.) Up to -20%. (e.g. 4 hours.) No application.

1. Check the weather

Standard
Sunny with clouds

Sunny Windy Hot (Harmattan)

Increase

Dry

Decrease
Cloudy or drizzling

Stop
Rainy

Note: Rain counts as a part of the irrigation dose. Depending on the amount of rain, consider decreasing the application or stopping it for one or more days.
Drip Irrigation 1 Hectare System for Papaya Page 7

OPERATION 3. Check the soil surface

Is the wet surface bigger or smaller than the area covered by the leaves (drip area)? Is there a dry space between the wet areas of two dripper lines?

SECTION 2

OPERATION 4. Check the soil below

Is the wet area under the soil (water bulb) bigger or smaller than where the roots are? Are water bulbs within a line connected? Is there a dry space between the water bulbs of two dripper lines?

SECTION 2

Wet area

Dig the soil to locate the wet area.

There is a dry space.

Standard
Water bulbs within a line are connected.

Standard

Wet surface is the same as the drip area. Water bulbs between two lines are not connected. Roots receive exactly the amount of water needed.

Increase
Water bulbs within a line are not connected. Wet surface is smaller than the drip area. Roots do not receive enough water.

Increase

Wet areas are connected.

Decrease

Decrease

Wet surface is bigger than the drip area. Water bulbs between two lines are connected.
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Roots are saturated with water.

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Drip Irrigation 1 Hectare System for Papaya

MAINTENANCE

SECTION 2

Storing after crop cycle

1. Apply 4-5 days of irrigation dosage for the field to reach the field capacity.

2. Store the control heads in a protected place.

3. Bring the dripper lines to the edge of the field, and fix them together to the ground with a wooden stake. Check once a week for any damage.

4. Before the soil becomes dry, plough crop residues into the land.

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