Enter the volume of water needed for the irrigation area, the area to be irrigated, the flow rate of the drip irrigation system, and the efficiency of the system into the calculator to determine the run time for the drip irrigation system.
Drip Irrigation Run Time Formula
The following formula is used to calculate the run time for a drip irrigation system:
RT = (V * A) / (F * E)
Variables:
- RT is the run time for the drip irrigation system (in minutes)
- V is the volume of water needed for the irrigation area (in gallons)
- A is the area to be irrigated (in square feet)
- F is the flow rate of the drip irrigation system (in gallons per minute)
- E is the efficiency of the drip irrigation system (expressed as a decimal)
To calculate the run time for the drip irrigation system, multiply the volume of water needed for the irrigation area by the area to be irrigated. Divide the result by the flow rate of the drip irrigation system multiplied by the efficiency of the system.
What is a Drip Irrigation Run Time?
Drip irrigation run time refers to the duration for which a drip irrigation system is operated to provide the necessary amount of water to plants. This time is determined by several factors including the water needs of the plants, the rate at which the system delivers water (drip rate), and the local weather conditions. For instance, if a plant requires one inch of water per week and the drip system delivers water at a rate of 2 gallons per hour, the run time would be calculated to ensure the plant receives the required amount of water. It’s crucial to adjust the run time as per the changing weather conditions and plant growth stages to prevent overwatering or underwatering. The goal is to maintain optimal soil moisture levels for healthy plant growth and water conservation.
How to Calculate Drip Irrigation Run Time?
The following steps outline how to calculate the Drip Irrigation Run Time.
- First, determine the area to be irrigated (in square feet).
- Next, determine the flow rate of the drip irrigation system (in gallons per hour).
- Next, calculate the water requirement for the area (in gallons) using the formula: Water Requirement = Area x Crop Coefficient.
- Then, calculate the run time of the drip irrigation system using the formula: Run Time = Water Requirement / Flow Rate.
- Finally, calculate the Drip Irrigation Run Time.
- After inserting the variables and calculating the result, check your answer with the calculator above.
Example Problem:
Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge.
Area to be irrigated (in square feet) = 500
Flow rate of the drip irrigation system (in gallons per hour) = 2
