A drip irrigation system for hydroponic vegetable production. Nutrient solution is delivered to each plant through drip emitters on a timed cycle, flushing the growing medium with fresh nutrients, water and oxygen at every feed. Suits substrate beds, grow bags and pot culture.
In a drip-fed hydroponic system the timer decides everything. Solution is pushed to each plant through its own emitter on a set cycle, which flushes the growing medium and replaces the stale solution around the roots with fresh nutrients, water and oxygen. The crop grows evenly because no plant is left waiting for the next flood.
The system is made up of a nutrient tank, a pump, a filtration stage, a main line down each bay, branch lines along the rows and a drip emitter at every plant. Emitters are spaced to the crop and chosen for the flow the medium needs. Where a bay is long or the ground uneven, pressure-compensating emitters keep delivery even from the first plant to the last.
Feeds are set by a timer or controller, with the number and length of cycles matched to the crop, the medium and the weather. In hot weather the cycle shortens; in cool weather it lengthens. Solution strength and pH are checked on a schedule and adjusted at the tank rather than at the plant, which keeps the whole bay on the same recipe.
The daily routine is a walk down the rows to confirm every emitter is running, plus a check of tank level, pump and filters. Filters are flushed on a schedule, because a partly blocked filter shows up as an uneven crop before it shows up on a gauge. Emitters are cleaned or replaced when flow drops. Growers running a full soilless installation can compare our greenhouse hydroponics system, and ground-based layouts are covered under dripping irrigation. AIPH represents growers internationally, and GrowerTalks covers commercial growing practice.
The number and length of feeds depend on the crop, the growing medium and the weather. Short, frequent cycles suit free-draining media in hot weather, while longer, less frequent cycles suit cooler conditions. We set the starting schedule from your crop plan and you adjust from there.
They are worth using where rows are long or the ground is uneven, because they keep the flow the same from the first plant to the last. On short, level beds standard emitters are usually sufficient.
The hot-dip galvanized steel frame is designed for a 15-20 year service life in normal agricultural environments, with a double-sided zinc coating of 200-275 g/m². Film covers are replaced every 3-5 years, while glass and PC panels carry their own manufacturer warranties.
The hot-dip galvanized steel frame carries a 10-year structural warranty covering structural safety, plus a 5-year warranty against corrosion perforation. It is designed for a 15-20 year service life.
Send your growing area, crop type and local climate. If you already have a layout drawing, that is enough to start. Our engineers then return a quotation with a system layout and a bill of materials.
