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Turn Your Center Pivot Into A Drip Irrigator
A Kansas company has come up with a way to transform an existing center pivot or lateral irrigator into a drip irrigation system. They say it can result in 20 to 50 percent water savings compared to using conventional center pivot sprinkler nozzles at a low gpm.
    The Dragon-Line Precision Mobile Drip System was introduced at the recent 3I Show in Dodge City, Kansas. It’s designed to drag specially designed flexible hose and emitter tubing behind the irrigator and drip water directly onto the soil surface.
    The tubing is fitted with 1 gal./hr. pressure compensating emitters on 6-in. spacings. As the tubing is pulled along the ground, the emitters deliver a uniform water pattern across the full length of the irrigated area.
    The system attaches to the end of a rigid or flexible drop and/or a manifold, whichever method is considered best for the crop being irrigated. The emitter tubing is then attached to the flexible hose so that it drags completely on the soil surface. The flow and length of dripline that drags behind the pivot can range from 2 to 100 ft. or more, depending on gpm and dripper line spacing.
    The system is adaptable to both low and high profile crops and in any row spacing, and can also be used to apply chemicals and fertilizer along with the water. The tubing’s orange color makes it highly visible in the field.
    “Many farmers are faced with a declining water supply and a greater need to conserve water. We’re trying to help them grow the same crop using less water,” says Monty Teeter. “By implementing efficient irrigation methods, we can prolong the life of the aquifer for future generations. It’s especially useful for farmers with low volume wells that deliver 300 gpm or less. We’ve learned that we’re banking water applied, not evaporating or running it off.”
    The cost to convert an existing center pivot to a Dragon-Line system with filtration ranges from $100 to $250 per acre, depending on design.
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Dragon-Line, 2729 W. Oklahoma, P.O. Box 987, Ulysses, Kansas 67880 (ph 844 424-3724 or 620 353-1111; www.dragonline.net; montyt@teeteril.com).


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2016 - Volume #40, Issue #6