The construction scope of the subsurface drip irrigation system includes: installation of the headworks; excavation of the main pipeline trench; installation of the main pipeline; installation of lateral pipelines; installation of branch pipelines; and installation of capillary tubes.
First-system installation: Installation of a centrifugal screen filter to ensure the cleanliness of irrigation water and prevent clogging. A check valve is installed between the filter’s inlet and the wellhead pipe to prevent backflow after pump shutdown, thereby avoiding fertilizer solution reflux and subsequent groundwater contamination. If fertigation is required, a butterfly valve is installed between the centrifugal filter and the screen filter, along with a fertilizer tank; a fertilizer injector may also be used.
Main pipeline trench excavation: The design specifies a trench depth of approximately 1 meter (with a minimum of 50 centimeters in northern regions) and a width of about 0.3 meters to accommodate the installation and construction requirements for antifreeze materials. A dedicated trenching machine shall be used for excavation, and strict adherence to straightness during trenching is mandatory to ensure optimal working conditions for subsequent pipeline installation.
For the project, 90-mm or 110-mm pipes are primarily used as the main pipelines, with lock-type pipe fittings employed for connections. When connecting the underground main pipeline to the underground branch and secondary branch pipelines (which use PE63 pipes), reducing lock-type tees are installed; a PVC female-threaded ball valve is fitted on each branch line to control the respective branch piping. The PE63 pipes are laid perpendicular to the fruit-tree planting rows, and based on the number of tree rows, long-handled hole-punching tools are used to create openings in the PE63 pipes, followed by the installation of spigot-and-socket bypass fittings.
Branch pipe and capillary tube installation: PE20 pipes are selected for the branch pipes, with one PE20 pipe laid for each row of fruit trees. The PE20 pipes are directly installed on the socket-type bypass fittings, and holes are drilled in the PE20 pipes at the locations corresponding to each fruit tree for subsequent installation.
Turbulence generator Simply attach one end of the capillary tube directly to the turbulence generator and secure the other end at the base of the fruit tree.