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Irrigation management

Study Manual

Geerten van der Lugt, 2018

PREFACE

Manuals

This study manual is one of a series of HollandDoor manuals developed for Jordan
under the Hydroponic Agriculture and Employment Development project (HAED)
project. The manuals are made for trainers in the Jordan Horticultural sector to
further develop the Hydroponic Agriculture.

The manuals gather theoretical and practical information, training suggestions and
assignments about greenhouse technology, cultivation of different crops,
postharvest and greenhouse business and marketing.

Irrigation management

This manual or training book explains irrigation management for hydroponic

growing systems: the equipment and the their use with different irrigation
strategies to influence on plant growth and to come high water efficiency on
different growing medium.

The graphs is this manual are derived form a study of the irrigation management of a
cucumber grower in the Netherlands, done by Geerten van der Lugt in 2014. The data and
figures are used as an example of irrigation on a hydroponic growing medium. Comments
are given to “translate” these examples to Jordan circumstances.

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CONTENT

Preface .............................................................................................................................................. 2
Content ............................................................................................................................................. 3
vocabulaire, definitions and Abbreviations........................................................................................ 5
Training Content ............................................................................................................................... 6
1.1 Training objectives ............................................................................................................................. 6
1.2 Theoretical knowledge ...................................................................................................................... 6
1.3 Training skills / compentences ........................................................................................................... 6
1.4 Working methods .............................................................................................................................. 6

2 Introduction Irrigation................................................................................................................ 7
2.1 Irrigation on Hydroponic growing systems ........................................................................................ 7

3 Installation and equipment ........................................................................................................ 9

3.1 Fertigation system ............................................................................................................................. 9
3.2 Dripping systems.............................................................................................................................. 10
3.3 Monitoring and control.................................................................................................................... 12

4 Plant Water Need .................................................................................................................... 13

4.1 Water need ...................................................................................................................................... 13
4.1 Influence of Radiation ...................................................................................................................... 14

5 Irrigation strategy .................................................................................................................... 18

5.1 Radiation as key factor..................................................................................................................... 18
5.2 Water content ................................................................................................................................. 19
5.3 Start and Stop Times ........................................................................................................................ 21
5.4 Altering Watercontent ..................................................................................................................... 23

6 EC and pH ................................................................................................................................ 24
6.1 EC ..................................................................................................................................................... 24
6.2 pH .................................................................................................................................................... 25

7 Factsheets, Protocols, video’s .................................................................................................. 27

8 References ............................................................................................................................... 27
9 Assignments............................................................................................................................. 28
9.1 Group assignments .......................................................................................................................... 28
9.2 Individual assignments..................................................................................................................... 28

Colofon............................................................................................................................................ 29

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4
VOCABULAIRE, DEFINITIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS

Hydroponic growing system = Growing system without soil

Growing medium = Inert or organic material that gives places for the roots to grow
Root-zone = part of the growing medium that is used for growth of the roots
Nutrient solution = mix of water and fertilizers that give a balanced amount of
nutrients that can be irrigated to the plants.

Fertigation system = all equipment that is used to irrigate the plants with nutrient
solution.
Dripper = instrument that injects the water in the growing medium
Drip water = water released by the drippers
Drain water = water released by the growing medium
Drain percentage = amount of drain water (per m2) compared to the irrigated drip
water (m2)
Premix = mix of source water with drain water
Recirculation = re-use of drain water in the growing system

EC= Electrical Conductivity (expressed in mS/cm), expresses the total salt content
of a liquid.
pH = pondus Hydrogenii, expresses the acidity of liquids in range 0-14

Radiation = irradiation in W/m2 (intensity) or J/cm/t (amount of sunlight energy per

time-range).
Evaporation = water release by the plant through the leaf stomata

Water content = water amount in % of total volume of the growing medium

Drip volume = (total) amount of water released by a dripper or all the drippers
Start and stop time = times on a day that the irrigation begins and ends
Drip frequency= frequency of irrigation by dripper per hour

Water balance of crop = result of water input by irrigation and water loss by
evaporation

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TRAINING CONTENT

This training book consist all relevant information about irrigation strategy in
hydroponic growing systems: how to use them, how to monitor the status in
growing medium, how to structure the strategy and understand the plants response
to altering irrigation strategies.

1.1 TRAINING OBJECTIVES

Objectives of this training manual are:
- Understand the working and use of irrigation in hydroponic growing systems
- Understand the effects of an irrigation strategy on plant growth
-

1.2 THEORETICAL KNOWLEDGE

- Understanding of the water need of the plants
- understanding the principles of the water content in growing medium
- understanding the water logistics in irrigation systems in hydroponic growing
systems.

1.3 TRAINING SKILLS / COMPENTENCES

- The interpretation of collected data on irrigation and water content
- Being able to elaborate on changing of volume, timing and frequency of
irrigations
- Define the irrigation strategy for the irrigation computer

1.4 WORKING METHODS

- theoretical class
- practical lessons within the greenhouse
- practical working with irrigation strategy with computers

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 2 INTRODUCTION IRRIGATION
2.1 IRRIGATION ON HYDROPONIC GROWING SYSTEMS

2.1.1 Watersaving in improved growing systems

Research has showed that in protected growing sites, as greenhouses and with improved
growing technologies, like hydroponics, the water use efficiency can be improved
significantly. Important features of improved water use efficiency are the use of better
irrigation techniques, like drip-irrigation, computer models that quides irrigation on
radiation or evaporation. The re-use of drain of drainage water has a high results in water-
and nutrient efficiency (figure 1).

Figure 1: comparing on water use (liter/kg produce) with different form of protected
cultivation.

2.1.2 Irrigation and fertigation

In hydroponic systems all nutrients have to be fed by the irrigation system. Compared to
soils the roots can obtain water from only a small root zone area as the volume is restricted
by the limiting dimensions of the growing medium. In hydroponic growing the irrigation
should always be done with a nutrient solution (practically never with only water). Nutrient
solutions are applied to the plant with the use of fertigation system.

2.1.3 Water content of growing medium

With the irrigation the water content of the growing medium has to be kept at an optimum
level so that plants can take water according to what the plants need. Hydroponic growing
systems are successful because in these systems water and nutrients are available without
limits. A grower has to manage his irrigation and use the volume of the growing medium to
obtain the optimal situation for the plants. How to keep the optimal situation?

2.1.4 Drain water and recirculation

In hydroponic growing systems the nutrient solution is applied in such a way that all plants
receives enough water and nutrients for their growth and evaporation. Actually the plants

7
are given a surplus. This surplus will leak from the growing medium and then is called drain
water. The function of this surplus is to feed all plants enough water and nutrients, since
not all the plants are equal in their need of water. The drain water should occur in a way
that the growing media are equalised in their water content and nutrient status.
The drain water levels-out all the differences between dripping systems, plant growth and
growing medium that occur in the greenhouse. The amount of drain water is mostly around
25-30% of the volume of water that is irrigated. It is important that drain water is realised
at almost every irrigation (see manual growing systems and irrigation management).

towards drippers
endmix

A B
fertilizers

collection of drainwater

reuse of drainwater
pre-
mix

desinfected drainwater
drainwater buffertanks

rainwater basin
emission

Figure 1: Nutrient solutions in a greenhouse irrigation process with recirculation.

This amount of drain water can be spoiled, but is preferably collected and re-used again.
This is called recirculation (figure 1). With the re-use of the drain water 25-30% of water
savings are realised and up to 35% of the fertilizers use can be saved, compared to a
growing system without recirculation (table 1).

Tabel 1: Total use of water and nutrients for tomatoes in open and closed hydroponic
system (Pardossi et.al., 2011).
open closed Saving (%) Leaching
Water (m3/ha) 8632 6831 21 1682
N (kg/ha) 1591 1032 35 266
P (kg/ha) 306 244 20 25
K (kg/ha) 2422 2000 17 343

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 3 INSTALLATION AND EQUIPMENT

3.1 FERTIGATION SYSTEM

The irrigation water that contains the desired nutrients is called a nutrient solution. Nutrient
solutions are made by adding fertilizers to water and are applied to the plant with the use of
fertigation system (figure 2). The fertigation system mixes water and fertilizers and pump
the nutrient solutions to the plants. The nutrient solution reaches the plant by driplines and
drippers (dripwater), by eb/fluss systems or in some cases by overhead irrigation.

photos: A+B tanks and fertilisation equipment

3.1.1 Water logistics

In hydroponic systems with growing medium plants receive their water through dripping
systems that starts with water source, water treatment, fertigation unit for mixing with
nutrients, water pipes, cranes driplines and drippers. The whole water logistic is actually
guite complicated and can be large (frame: “length of driplines”).
In hydroponic systems with NFT the dripping lines and drippers are different. The gutters for
NFT are connected with the (underground) water pipes with small water hoses or also with
drippers. In DFT beds the water logistics seems less complicated. However in many DFT
systems there are instruments that oxygenate the water or have instruments that keep the
water moving.

Length of driplines in a greenhouse

The distances from the fertilisation unit to all the plants in the greenhouse can be
large. In a 1 ha greenhouse the distance to the plant in the far end corner will be at
least 200 meters if the fertilisation unit is at the corner of greenhouse.
The length of driplines can go up to 100 meters. All together the drip system can reach
up to 6 km/ha.
This indicates the challenges of the water logistic in a greenhouse, especially in big
greenhouses. When considering that all plants should receive the same amount of
water with the same quality, it is recommendable to pay good attention to the layout of
the irrigation system in the greenhouse.

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 3.2 DRIPPING SYSTEMS

3.2.1 Driplines
Pipelines that are underground are made of PVC (Polyvinylchloride). The PVC material has
proven to be very useful in the water logistic. PVC lines are used to transport the water from
the fertilizer equipment into the greenhouse until the driplines. The driplines are made from
polyethylene. This material is flexible and durable and more useful along the plant rows.
In hydroponic systems iron, copper or any metal waterlines are not desired. With the use of
metal the amount of the metal ions might increase above the required plant nutritional
levels. For instance with copper it is well known that it can dissolve in the nutrient solution,
especially when lower pH water is used. For that reason also cranes and any other
equipment in the water logistic of the greenhouse should be made without metals.

The diameter of the driplines is 16-20-25 mm. The diameter is depending on the capacity
that is needed in the greenhouse: the length of the plant rows and the capacity of the
drippers. The advance of smaller diameters is that the volume of water in the driplines is
less. Less volume of water in the water system makes the system more flexible to change
the content. In most cases the diameter is 20 mm.

The total length of the driplines can be enormous in a greenhouse. The distances for the
water to travel are sometimes large and cause differences in the quantity of water that the
individual plants get. These differences is one of the main reasons way it is necessary to
realizes drain water (chapter 2).

Photos: PVC pipes and driplines

3.2.2 Drippers
There are two types of drippers: non compensated drippers and pressure compensated
drippers. Non compensated dripper can be used when the area is flat and the length of the
driplines is less than 50 meter. Examples of these drippers are capillair, cobra and
woodpecker (pictures). Dripper length of more than 100 meter require pressure
compensated drippers.
Pressure compensated drippers start watering when the pressure in the driplines has
reached a certain value. The drippers has a little pressure compensation compartment with a

10
silicon membrane that opens when the working pressure of the dripping system has been
build up in the dripping lines (it takes a while to reach that point after starting the watering
process). The drippers then start and stop watering all at the same.
In hydroponic growing systems pressure compensated drippers are required. After all the
area is not flat, since the area has been laid out with a slope of 1-2% (to ensure the running
off of the drain water to a lower end of the greenhouse).
Besides that pressure compensated drippers are useful when the irrigation areas are large
en the length of the drippers are above 100 meter and or when the capacity of the irrigation
pump is low (which makes the start time for dripping longer). Examples of pressure
compensated drippers are the Kameleon of the CNL Waterspin (pictures)

Pictures of drippers: above are the woodpecker and the capillair; under are the pressure
compensated waterspin and kameleon pressure nozzels.
The capacity of the drippers varies from 1-4 litre/hour. In soil growing the bigger capacities
are maybe more interesting, since they save on pump time and electricity power. In
hydroponics the electricity is not an argument. There is a routine of smaller drippers, when
each individual plant has a dripper. These drippers have a capacity of 2 litres/hour. When
more plant heads are growing on one plant root (like V –systems, or multiple plants on one
propagation block) growers will choose for rather bigger capacities like 4 litres/hour.

The capacity of the growing medium is however also important. When the growing is slow in
spreading the water in the medium the size of the drippers should not be too high. This is to
prevent that too much water is drained from the growing medium, instead of taken up by
the growing medium.

The operating pressure of most dripping systems is 2-3 bar.

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 3.3 MONITORING AND CONTROL
The irrigation can be controlled by different systems. The early methods were focusing on
drain water control. The methods controlled the drain water efflux from the growing medium
and reacted with extra irrigation when the drain water was low of expanded the time
between irrigates when the drain water increased above target levels.
Other methods uses scales to weigh the mass of the growing medium. The method is
relatively simple but should be continuous to help the grower with the irrigation. A difficult
aspect is that the scale does not distinguish the weight of the growing medium and the
weight of the plants. Direct water content measurements provide the most direct figures
that are useful to guide the irrigation process.

3.3.1 Water content measurement

Water-content instruments measure the water content of the growing medium in
percentages on volume basis (% of v/v). A measurement of 60% tells that the growing
medium is 60% filled with water on the location of the instrument. The location in the
growing medium is important. The sensors are needles of a certain cm long that should
covers the height of the growing medium.
Next to water content this instruments also measures the temperature and the Electrical
Conductivity in the growing medium.

Photos of water-content instrument and sensors: above left: the Grodan WC sensor; aove
right the ECH2O; under: the ECH2O box open; under middle a sensor for rockwool; under
right a sensor for organic material or soils.

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 4 PLANT WATER NEED

4.1 WATER NEED

4.1.1 Water need during the crop cycle

The amount of water that is being used by the plant is of course depending on the plant
growth, the plant size, the daily climate, the season. Next figures give an idea of the water
use in a hydroponic growing systems. The data are recovered from a Dutch tomato grower
(figure 2). The amount of water (in l/m2/wk.) is given during a growing season. Realise that
the presented rise of water gift is due to the increased size of the crop during the season,
but mostly due to the change of the season from winter to summer, with increased radiation
and outside temperatures.

Figure 2: watergift per week form tomato crop.

watergift l/m2/week
60
50
40
30
20
10
0

The irrigation has to compensate the water use of the growing crop. In hydroponic growing
this means that irrigation should as equal as the sum of the:
- water uptake by the plant
- the drain water that is drained from the growing medium

The reasons of the drain water is already explained in chapter 1.5.3. Drain water is mostly
around 25-30% of the irrigation. It comes with almost every drip irrigation during the day,
besides the first two or three irrigations in the early morning.
The rest of the irrigation water is meant for wetting the growing medium, in order that the
plant can take up water from the growing medium.

4.1.2 Water uptake

The wateruptake by the plants is meant for the growth of the plants. The wateruptake is
used for direct growth and for evaporation:
- The water consumption that is used for plant growth is actually fresh growth. The
possibility for fresh growth is also depending on the plant structures (cells and organs) to
contain and hold this water. The dry matter growth is important, which is depending on the
(netto) plant photosynthesis. Photo synthesis is depending on radiation, but the effect on

13
the water balance is more indirect and there might be a time gap between photosynthesis
and dry matter formation.
- Evaporation has two beneficial effects on the plants: first is the uptake of water and
transport of water and nutrients to the top of the plants, the leaves and the growing points.
Second benefit is the cooling effect. The plant will cool itself because of the evaporation.
With this cooling mechanism the plants have the capability to avoid the negative
consequences of high plant temperatures, due to the high radiation.

When measuring the wateruptake, evaporation and growth it is always striking to find out
that most of the water is used for evaporation and less water is is used for actual
plantgrowth. The next parts give an example of the water uptake of a cucmber crop in the
netherlands.

4.1 INFLUENCE OF RADIATION

4.1.1 Radiation, evaporation and growth

Water uptake is meant for growth and evaporation and both are influenced by light (sunlight
or artificial light). The amount of sunlight can be measured by its radiation (in W or J/cm2).

Figure 3 shows radiation (J/cm2/day), evaporation (l/m2/day) and growth (g/m2/day) of a

cucumber crop over 12 days in June in the Netherlands.
It is remarkable how close the evaporation (l/m2/day) is linked with the radiation according
to these data. The growth (fresh weight growth) however seems to have a more flat
development.

Figure 3: radiation, evaporation and growth per day of a cucumber crop in June

It is remarkable how close the evaporation (l/m2/day) is linked with the radiation according
to these data. The growth (fresh weight growth) however seems to have a more flat
development. Radiation seems to have more direct impact on the water plant evaporation

14
than on the plant fresh growth, but also the fresh growth reacts, which is visible in the figure
also: During the days the radiation decreases (from above 2000 J/cm2/day to less than
1000 j/cm2/day, the growth is retarded showed by the slowly declining green line.

4.1.1 Water uptake

The wateruptake by the plants is meant for the growth of the plants in the first place.
However most of the water consumption is not used for direct growth, but for evaporation.
When maesuring the wateruptake, evaporation and growth it is always striking to find out
that most of the water is used for evaporation and less water is is used for actual
plantgrowth.
In table 2 an example is given of a daily measurement of the water uptake of a cucumber
crop and the amount of water that is used for growth. It shows that less than 30% is used
for growth, meaning that more than 70 % is used for evaporation. It is also interesting to
see that during the night wateruptake is going on, but that the amount for evaporation is of
course less and more water is staying in the plant, being used for (fresh) growth

Table 2: wateruptake for growth of a cucumber crop in June, as percentage of total uptake
(Realise that in The Netherlands the day length in June is around 16 hours; the figures
however are representing 12 hours day and 12 hours night).
Water uptake for growth (% total uptake)
June 24 uur night day
8 0,31 0,49 0,12
9 0,32 0,55 0,09
10 0,27 0,45 0,08
11 0,27 0,47 0,07
12 0,21 0,32 0,09
13 0,24 0,36 0,12
14 0,27 0,44 0,10
15 0,25 0,40 0,10
16 0,29 0,44 0,14
17 0,29 0,51 0,08
18 0,31 0,46 0,15
19 0,37 0,37 0,28

avarage 0,28 0,44 0,12

The next part gives a closer look on the daily effects of radiation on the daily water uptake
of the plants.

QUESTION AND TASKS

- Can you give estimations on the relatively amount of the total irrigation water that is used
for growth and for evaporation.
- what do you expect is the consequences on the dry weight growth of the plant?
- What do you expect for water uptake during the night?

15
 4.1.2 Daily patterns
Water uptake and evaporation are closely linked to radiation. When looking to the daily
patterns of these phenomena the links are even better visible.
In figures 4 a, b, c and d presents the radiation, water uptake, evaporation and fresh growth
of a cucumber crop on a day in June in the Netherlands. The figures are obtained by
measurements of the radiation, the irrigation, the water content from the growing medium
and the weight of plants. The water uptake and evaporation are calculated from the
obtained data. Since the radiation during these days is rather high in the Netherlands (2000-
2500 J/cm/day) these data can be used as an example to compare with Mediterranian and
tropic circumstances.

The figures show that radiation and water utake are linked during the day. The water uptake
reacts within hours to increasing and decreasing radiation during the day (A). Even on a
moment during the day that the radiation is sharply reduced because of heavy rainfall the
water uptake by the plant is greatly reduced. The water uptake follows the evaporation
strictly (B). The plant growth is varying during the day, whereby the growth is retared when
the radiation and evaporation is increasing and where the growth is enhanced where the
radiation is decreasing (C and D). Iit assumed that the retarding of the plant growth is
caused by the water loss of the plant during the ties that the evaporation takes all the
water that the plant takes.

Figure 4: linkages between radiation, water uptake, evaporation and growth of a cucumber
crop in June in the Netherlands (data assembled per hour).

A: radiation and water uptake

16
B: water uptake and evaporation

C: radiation, water uptake, evaporation and growth

B: radiation and growth

It can be concluded that the radiation will have a major impact on the plant water plant
balances and water uptake. This water need is however is mostly used for evaporation and
is actually reacting direct and quickly on the radiation in the greenhouse. The evaporation
can be so strong that the plants suffer from water loss if the water uptake is not coping with
the evaporation. Growers want to avoid these moments, since the fresh growth is
determining their production.

The big influence of radiation and the close relation to water uptake is noticed daily by
growers. In hydroponic growing systems the radiation has become the major factor that is
being used in the irrigation strategy. In practise growers set their irrigation to the radiation.

In chapter 4 it is described how the irrigation strategy is depending on the radiation.

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 5 IRRIGATION STRATEGY

5.1 RADIATION AS KEY FACTOR

In practise growers set their irrigation to the radiation. The irrigation computers can handle
an adjustment that guides the irrigation frequency. The irrigation strategy requires the
setting of:
- Drip volumes per irrigation
- Drip frequency
- Start and stop moments

5.1.1 Volumes of irrigation and drip size

Volumes per dripper and per irrigation can be given in different figures, like:
- volume of irrigation per plant head = 100 ml
- volume of irrigation per plant = 100-350 ml (depending on the amount of heads per plant)
- volume per m2: 300-500 ml
- volume of irrigation per day: depending on greenhouse size, plant size, season, see table 3

Growers change the drip size. The above example is with 100 ml per dripper, but this
changes between 80-150 ml per irrigation depending on the situation. Growers give more
water per irrigation when the want the growing medium to be more flushed. And with
smaller drip sizes the growing medium has the tendency to increase in water content

Table 3: volume of irrigation of a tomato crop in the Netherlands, planted in December,

depending on plant growth and growing season.
Season Water use l/m2/day Radiation J/cm2/day
January- February 0.2-2 100-1000
March- April 3-4 1000-1500
May- July 5-8 1500-3000
August- Octobre 2-4 1000-1500

5.1.2 Irrigation frequency

The irrigation frequency is mainly depending on the plant size and radiation. In greenhouses
with heating the heating hours also influence the irrigation. In the cases with heating the
higher temperatures have a comparable effect as radiation.
Many growers use the radiation sum as guidance for irrigation. After some radiation the
irrigation starts computerized with a certain amount of water. In the Netherlands the
computer setting are like: with every 100 J/cm2 the irrigation starts with 200-300 ml
per m2 (“2-3 cc/joule”). In practise this means that an irrigation with 100 ml per dripper
starts after 100 J/cm2. In Jordan situations this value might be higher due to higher
radiation with higher temperatures in the greenhouses, causing higher evaporation of the
plants.

18
In figure 5 the frequency of irrigation is visible, depending on the light intensity measured in
W/m2. When working with Wm2 a recommendation for irrigations per hour is:

Radiation intensity Number of

(W/m2) irrigations per hour
300 1
500 2
900 4
>1000 5

The frequency might be lower with young plants and might be higher with older plants, more
intense daylight and higher temperatures. Also the amounts of fruits influences the irrigation
frequency: with more fruits the grower irrigates more frequently.

The type of growing medium is another factor that has to incorporated in the irrigation
strategy. Media with less water holding capacity (see manual hydroponic system and
growing media) need water at a more frequent rate than growing media that holds the water
better.

Figure 5: radiation (W/m2), irrigation frequency and irrigation volumes of a cucumber crop
in June.

5.2 WATER CONTENT

5.2.1 Water content

19
The second parameter that growers use to guide the irrigation is the water content of the
of growing medium. The water content can be measured by weighing the growing medium
continuously with a scale or with an instrument that measures the water content more
directly (chapter 2.3)

A normal set point for the water content is around 60%-70% of the volume of the growing
medium. This 60-70% has showed to be a good reference during years of experience with
irrigation on hydroponic growing medium. It depends on the type of growing medium
whether this level should be a bit higher or lower. This level guarantees that there is enough
water available for the plant. But this level also guarantees that there enough room for air
and oxygen in the growing medium.
As is visible in the figure 6 the water content varies between 50-60% during the day. Values
with a maximum and minimum water content level can be feed in the irrigation system
as target values for the irrigation strategy. The difference between the maximum and
minimum value is then mostly around 10% of the volume of the growing medium.

Figure 6: water content (%) and irrigation (l/m2) at a cucumber grower.

watercontent growing media (%) and watergift l/m2

70 8
60 7

50 6
5
40
4
30
3
20 2
10 1
0 0
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During the day the water content rises, due to the intensive irrigating during the day, while
during the night the water content decreases because of the water uptake by the plants.
A reduction of 10% during the night is considered to be fitting in a good routine.

5.2.2 Oxygen
Oxygen is just as importance as water for the roots of the plants. Uptake of nutrients is a
process that consumes energy from the plant and it will therefore dissimilate sugars that are
transported to the root system. The presence of oxygen in the growing medium on all levels
in the growing medium is therefore necessary. Research has shown that an air content of
30% in the growing medium is sufficient to create pores in the growing medium, that allows
air with oxygen to enter in the growing medium.

20
A water content of 50-60% ( figure 6) means that there is room for 30% air (in this case the
growing medium rockwool takes 5-10%).

5.2.3 Changing levels

Growers also have seasonal effects in their water content strategy. They alter the water
content during the seasons or the development of the crop. For instance during the winter
the water content is lower and during the summer the water content is higher to anticipate
on the lower and higher water demand during the seasons.
With the water content it is also possible to influence the water balance of the crop.
Lowering the water content means that the water is less easy available for the roots. It
could have an generative effect on the crop. Raising the watercontent will give the roots a
boost in their water uptake, causing an vegetative effect. The effects might be very small,
but a daily repetition of these changing in the water levels on crucial moments of the day
will indeed influence the water balance of the plant.

5.3 START AND STOP TIMES

The times of starting the irrigation and of stopping the irrigation is quite important and can
have a big effect on the watercontent of the growing medium.

5.3.1 Controlling the watercontent

The normal routine is that the irrigation starts a while after sunrise and stop before sunset,
as is shown in figure 7. The first irrigation are used to raise the water content of the medium
to working level (period P1). Than follows a period (period P2) in which the grower irrigates
as much water as the plants consumes by wateruptake for evaporation and growth. During
this period the radiation is guiding the irrigation process. Before sunset the growers stop at
a certain moment. The aim for this stop is to prevent that the growing medium stays too
wet during the night. It is better to decrease the watercontent and let air come in. A normal
routine is that the watercontent decreases about 10% during the night (period P3).

Table with start en stop times, suggested for Jordan circmstances, during the year.
Seasons Start time after sunset* Stop time before sunset*
November - Februay 3 hours 4 hours
February - April 2 3 hours
June- july 1 2 hours
August Octobre 3 3 hours
* Remember that sunrise and sunst in the Netherlands is different than other countries

Widening the start and stop times from each other can be done to raise the watercontent of
the growing medium more structually. A longer time during the day the growing medium is
irrigated. It also gives an effect on the amount of drainwater that will fluss from the growing
medium. It gives the grower the opportunity to lower the EC or alter the nutrient content in
the growing medium.
Narrowing the start and stop times mostly results in lowering the watercontent of the
growing medium. During the night the period of decreasing water content is extended.

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 5.3.2 Influence on vegetative or generative growth
The moment of starts and stops varies with almost every day, depending on the times of
sunrise and sunset and the light intensity during the day. Also the strategy of the grower to
steer the crop with its waterbalance is of importance. Widening the times mostly is
supporting a vegetative growth, narrowing is supporting a generative growth of the plants.

Figure 7: development of the watercontant during the day.

5.3.1 Night irrigations

Normally growers are reluctant at night irrigations. Only when the growing medium has a
low water hold capacity it can be necessary to give irrigations during the night (F.i. growing
medium like perlite or gravels require night irrigations. Producers of Rockwool and cocos
recommend to avoid night irrigations. The only reason for night irrigations is when a grower
has stopped to early with the irrigation on the previous day, with the result that the water

Standards for irrigation management

 capacity of dripper: 2-4 l/h

 drip size: 100 ml
 irrigation per radiation: 3 ml per 1 joule/cm
 drain percentage: 25%
 size of growing medium: 10-12 l/m2, 5-6 l/ plant
 operational water content of growing medium: 55-65%
 start time after sunrise: 2 hours
 stop time before sunset: 2 hours

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content is decreasing more than 10% of its volume. A night irrigation is than recommended
to keep the water content between the target values.

5.4 ALTERING WATERCONTENT

5.4.1 Lowering and raising the water content

When irrigating the growing media has to absorb the water in the medium. This absorbing is
depending on the water absorbing quality of the growing media. There are differences in this
capacity between growing media: it is a process that takes time. When the amount of drip
water is more than the growing media can absorp within the dripping time, the growing
media will not grab this water but let it run through, with the result that this water will drain
from the growing medium. The logical result of this phenomena is that, in case of the same
amount of drip water during a day, larger drip volumes causes more drain and that smaller
drip volumes per minute causes a higher water content.

Raising water content Lowering water content

Drip size (ml/min) Smaller drip volumes Larger volumes

Drip frequency Higher frequency Lower frequency

In case of the same drip amount per day it is also logical that a higher frequency of dripping
causes a higher water content than a lower drip frequency. And indeed a higher frequency
(with smaller drip volumes) gives the growing medium more time to adsorb the water, than
lower frequencies.

5.4.2 Daily control of the drain water

The amount of drain water and the time that drain water leaves the growing medium are
important issues in the irrigation management. Figure 7 gives an indication of a preferable
time of the first drain of the day.

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 6 EC AND PH

It might be necessary to change the EC of the growing medium. What is best to do?
The pH of the irrigation water is not only important to keep the pH in the growing medium at
the desired level but is also important to keep the irrigation system working.

6.1 EC

6.1.1 Change the EC

The best way to changes the EC is to set a higher or lower EC of the drip irrigation and keep
the irrigation to the routine level as before. However sometimes it is necessary to change
the EC more rapidly.
To change the EC more rapidly it is important to reach more drain. Bigger volumes of
irrigation will help of course, but it is even possible without altering the amount of irrigation
per day. This can be reached by:
1. Bigger drip volumes: raise the drip volumes with 25-30%, f.i. to 150 ml
2. More frequent irrigation: raise the amount of irrigations per hour during a couple
hours per day.

6.1.2 Comments on EC changes

EC changes in the root media can influence the water uptake. Big changes will affect the
water uptake and might harm the plant. F.i. a sudden lowering of the EC of the irrigation will
have the effect that extra water will enter the plant. During the day this is less harm full
than during the night. During then night the fruits may collapse or crak.
Limit the EC changes to 0.2-0.5 m/s/cm per day.

Water uptake
Water uptake is the result of an osmotic process.
The takes nutrients by a complex process of exchanging cations, membrane fluxes at
the endodermis of the roots. Once inside the ions for an osmotic pressure that
attracts water to enter. The ion uptake is an active process that consumes energy.
The water uptake is a passive process that is induced by osmotic potentials within
plant tissues.

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 6.2 PH
The pH itself has no immediate effect on the water uptake. However the pH of the irrigation
water is quite important in hydroponic systems. The first reason is the availability of
different nutrients that depends on the pH. The figure is a famous figure that reflects the
availability of the nutrients.

Figure 5: Availability of nutrients influenced by the pH

6.2.1 Keep irrigation system clean

Another important reason for pH control is the irrigation system itself. High pH can cause
precipitation of elements in the driplines and blockage of the drippers. The precipitation is
mostly a combination of Calcium and Phosphate causing a white or greyish looking tarnish
inside the driplines and the drippers. Sometimes the tarnish looks brown. In that case also
iron is precipitated. The precipitation is always a spot for settling of micro-organism, mostly
bacteria. It is recommended to keep the pH below 6 in the irrigation water to avoid these
problems.

Picture: clogged drippers: left by precipitation, right by bacteria growth (fotos Benfried)

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Measuring the water release of the drippers

Check the variation between individual drippers within a valve section. The best time to do this
is during the change of the crop. Collect the water release of the drippers by putting drippers in
small bottles, during at least 5 drip cycles. Measure the amount of water of individual dripper
and compare the results and calculate the variation.
* A variation of 0 and 5% is good
* A variation of 5 and 7% is acceptable
* A variation of > 7 to 10% usually indicates that the drippers need cleaning or replacing.

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 7 FACTSHEETS, PROTOCOLS, VIDEO’S

Factsheet irrigation management

Factsheet water quality

8 REFERENCES

Grodan: Growing Solutions

http://www.grodan.com/growing-solutions/grosens-and-e-gro/

Cultilene: Root optimizer

http://app.cultilene.com/Calculator/#doseSizeCalculator

RHP: pH checklist

https://lumencms.blob.core.windows.net/media/104/RHP%20Checklist%20pH_growers_EN
G%20-%20feb18.pdf

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 9 ASSIGNMENTS
9.1 GROUP ASSIGNMENTS
Visit a greenhouse with a hydroponic system and with a growing medium. Control the
irrigation system in the equipment room and in the greenhouse. Work in small groups (2-3
persons) and make a drawing of the complete system. Makes notes about capacity, sizes,
irrigation guiding mechanism, control and monitoring. Describe the system (computer
program settings?) that start the irrigation.

Elaborate the accuracy of the complete system. Make recommendations if improvements are
required.

9.2 INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENTS

QUESTIONS AND TASKS
Q1: Calculate the dripping time that is needed to give the standard of 100 ml per irrigation
with a dripper with capacity of 2 liter per hour.

Q2: Can you elaborate the time that drain water is coming from the growing medium. Do a
check in the greenhouse

T1: The standard of a hydroponic irrigation system are described in table “standards for
irrigation management” (Chapter 5.3). Make a drawing of a growing with standard sizes
(100*15*7.5 cm = 11.25 l/m2): with propagation blocks and plants, drippers and a drain
hole. Elaborate on the drain percentage that comes from the growing medium when the
standards alter: f.i raise the drip size to 150 ml, lower the irrigation per radiation to 2 cc/J,
etc.

T2: As above, but now predict what happens with the water content of the growing medium.

T3: As above, but now change the size of the growing medium to A) 20 l/m2 and B) 6 l/m2.
Compare your answer with the answers on question 1.

T4: As above, but now elaborate on a growing medium that holds less water or a growing
medium with less redistribution power (redistribution of the drip water in the growing
medium).

Q2: Can you explain the vegetative effect of high irrigation frequency compared to low
irrigation frequency

Q3: What happens with the applied irrigation water (follow the route of the water in the
growing medium, plant, etc) when you suddenly give two times more water than is
necessary?

Q4: Control the water quality of the water source by checking the analytical results. What
can you say about the possibility of precipitation in the irrigation system.

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COLOFON

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