Micro-Tal system
The Micro-Tal system was developed by Ein-Tal Micro Drip Irrigation Ltd. in Israel. It is a gravity system that is adapted to take advantage of the benefits of the drip irrigation method without requiring an expensive water pressure system. The main feature of the Micro-Tal drip system is the low flow rates of 0.1–0.5 l/ h per emitter under low gravity pressure controlled by water heads up to 1 m. The very low flow rate (one-tenth of that of the ordinary drip) means that it takes 6–10 hours to supply the daily amount of irrigation water to a plant through the drip emitter. Another major difference with systems discussed earlier is the drip line, which is assembled by connecting in-line emitters with segments of 4-mm tubing. The gravity filter used in this system is also unique to the Micro-Tal.
Uses of a drum system
A drum system covering 5 beds each 1 m wide and 15 m long can be used to grow 250 plants (tomato, egg plant and similar plants requiring a spacing of 60 cm along the plant rows); 500 plants (spinach, cabbage, kale, pepper and similar plants requiring a spacing of 30 cm along the plant rows); or 1,500 plants (onion, carrot and similar plants requiring a spacing of 10 cm). The drum system also offers water storage and control through a control valve, making it possible to fill the drum for irrigating at another time.
Six examples are presented: the KARI drum system from Kenya, the Waggon Wheel system from South Africa, the Family, Plastro and Micro-Tal systems from Israel, and the IDE drum used in India.
Construction, operations and maintenance
The standard drum kit system comprises a drum, control valve, a manifold and drip lines. The drum should be filled with the valve in the closed position. To irrigate it is important to open the valve fully. This allows the water to be distributed quickly through the drip lines and allows for good water distribution.
System components
- 920-litre drum
- Gravity filter
- Capillary micro-tube with 4 mm outside diameter
- Low flow inline drip emitters
- 16 mm PE pipe
- 16 mm x 4 mm connectors.
Assembly instructions
- Prepare a 60 m x 20 m garden to be irrigated by making planting beds as required.
- Lay out a 16-mm PE pipe along the longer sides of the garden (feeder lines) and every 20 m connect the feeder lines with 16 mm pipe. This makes a network water delivery system that essentially divides the garden into three 20 m x 20 m units.
- Locate the tank at the upper end of the garden. Unroll 20 m lengths of the 4 mm capillary micro-tube along the length of the garden.
- Cut the 4 mm micro-tube according to crop spacing and connect the in-line Micro-Tal drip emitters.
- Connect drip lines to feeder lines with female connectors using the snap-in collar.
- Connect the set to a drum on a platform 0.5–1 m high.
- Connect the gravity filter inside the drum.
Manuals, videos and links
- Ein-Tal Micro Drip Ltd. Ein-Tal is a well known company in the farming community, mainly for its vast range of novel irrigation methods that fits the growing needs of water savings and modern products for agriculture and gardening.
Acknowledgements
- Sijali, Isaya V. DRIP IRRIGATION: Options for smallholder farmers in eastern and southern Africa. RELMA, 2001.
