Drip irrigation for vegetable fields

• Beds 1.5 m wide (1 m bed + 0.5 m path) — standard for mechanized cultivation
• Black plastic mulch 40 µm — 40% water savings, no weeds
• 8 mil drip tape UNDER the mulch with 20 cm emitter spacing and 1.6 L/h flow rate
• Fertigation is mandatory — manual fertilizer application on a drip-irrigated field loses 60% of its effectiveness
• Row layout across the slope — uniform water distribution, minimal erosion

Strategy:

• Density: 30,000–40,000 plants/ha (30–40 cm in-row spacing, 1.5 m between rows)
• 1 tape line per bed down the center (both plant rows are moistened by lateral water movement)
• Water consumption per hectare: 5–7 mm/day at peak (50–70 m³/ha)
• Morning irrigation 5:00–9:00 AM to reduce air humidity
• DO NOT water from above — late blight within 3–5 days

Irrigation schedule by phase:

Fertigation:

• Vegetative phase: EC 2.0, pH 5.8, emphasis on N (NH₄NO₃, Ca(NO₃)₂)
• Fruiting: EC 2.5–3.5, pH 5.8, emphasis on K (KNO₃, K₂SO₄) + Ca for fruit firmness
• Excess N during fruiting = cracked fruit, poor storage quality

Strategy:

• Density: 40,000–60,000 plants/ha (25 cm in-row spacing)
• Tape with 20 cm spacing, 1.6 L/h flow rate
• Water consumption: 6–8 mm/day at peak (up to 80 m³/ha)
• Very sensitive to drying out — fruit becomes bitter
• Works ideally with straw or plastic mulching

Rates:

• Transplanting: 25–30 m³/ha every other day
• Flowering–fruit set: 50–60 m³/ha daily
• Fruiting: 70–80 m³/ha daily; in heat, twice/day

Fertigation:

• EC 1.8–2.5, pH 5.8–6.0
• High K during fruiting — sweet and crisp cucumbers
• Sensitive to chlorides — do not use KCl

• Density: 30,000–45,000 plants/ha
• Tape spacing 20 cm, flow rate 1.6 L/h
• Consumption: 4–6 mm/day at peak (40–60 m³/ha)
• Sensitive to stress from irregular watering — fruit drop
• Important — warm water 18–22°C, not directly from the well

Fertigation:

• EC 2.0–2.8, pH 5.8–6.2
• Stable NPK, high Ca demand to prevent blossom-end rot
• Avoid large doses of ammonium N — root toxicity risk

• Density: 30,000–45,000 plants/ha (60 cm in-row × 50 cm between rows)
• Tape spacing 30 cm — matches the plant spacing
• Water consumption: very high — 6–10 mm/day (60–100 m³/ha)
• Heads crack with irregular watering — maintain consistency
• Deep root system — can water less frequently but longer

Fertigation:

• EC 2.2–2.5, pH 6.0–6.5
• High N during the vegetative phase (before head formation)
• K during the head phase — density and storage quality
• Mo and B are important — deficiency causes head deformation

• Density: 40,000–60,000 plants/ha (70 cm between rows)
• Emitter spacing 30–40 cm (point irrigation for each plant)
• Consumption: 3–5 mm/day, 30–50 m³/ha/day
• Critical phases: flowering–tuber formation (maximum demand)
• Stop watering 2 weeks before harvest for storage quality

Fertigation:

• EC 1.8–2.2, pH 5.5–6.0
• High K — large, sweet tubers
• Moderate N — excess = vigorous foliage, small tubers

• Using sprinklers for fruiting crops: late blight, grey mold, 30–50% crop loss
• Cold well water: stress for tomatoes and peppers. A 5–10 m³ warming tank is mandatory
• Tape on top of mulch: UV degradation within 1 season. Under mulch — 3–4 seasons
• Fertigation for 100% of watering time: stock solution is not flushed out — deposits in the tape. Always run 15 min of clean water after fertigation
• One schedule for all crops: tomatoes and cabbage require different rates and pH. Separate zones for different crops

• 4-field rotation: tomatoes/peppers → cucumbers → potatoes/onions → cabbage/greens. Prevents pathogen buildup
• Reused tape lasts 2–3 seasons with the same crop. When switching crops, change the spacing or use a new roll
• Mainline and filtration are shared across all crops — a 10–20 year investment