SnareBear

Quoted from http://www.fao.org/d...4e/w3094e05.htm

"Bubbler irrigation is a partial-area, low-volume, high-frequency irrigation method based on closed-conduit delivery. It is designed to reduce investment and energy requirements by using inexpensive, thin-walled, corrugated plastic pipe of sufficient diameter that even the limited pressure available from a low-head surface reservoir might suffice. Bubbler irrigation is essentially a modification of drip irrigation, intended to make the system less dependent on industrially produced components"

See attached picture for an illustration. Around each tree is dug a shallow basin roughly the width of the tree's drip line. You lay a main pipe, 4" in the ground, then branch off to each individual tree with a 1/2" pipe, and let the pipes come up vertically inside the basin forming the "bubbler". No sprinkler, just a plain piece of PVC tube. You adjust the height of the individual tubes until they all feed water at the same rate.


My orchard is on a slope, so I was thinking of building a reservoir (1m diameter concrete pipes) at the highest point and then lay the PVC pipes in the ground accordingly. Then feed the reservoir from the local klong in the dry season, with a backup of a well with a pump when the klong dries up.

Of course this very dependant on soil quality, so the basin drains quick enough but not too quick, to wet the roots. A Thai friend said it was a bad idea because it would rot the tree but I cant see why if the soil drains quickly enough. This is basically what you do when you grow a plant in a pot.

Has anyone tried bubbler irrigation?

Do you have any good ideas on how to control weed? Ive got 8 Rai of land, half of it is an orchard with newly planted trees. Weed grows at an amazing speed now in the rainy season. Must cut it once a week and it is very time consuming. I use a "weed wacker" and it takes me two days to cut all.

Some ideas:

1. Make the land more smooth, throw out stones, and buy one of those mowers you can ride, like a small tractor.

2. Use chemicals to kill off the weed. Doesnt feel so good, Im afraid those toxins will get into my fruit later.

3. Plant something really fast growing that will overshadow the weed so it doesnt grow so fast. What are good candidates? Rubber trees? Bamboo? Hemp?

4. Cover the ground with something similar to mulch so the weed dodesnt get any sunlight. What to use?

5. Just let it grow to a jungle and cut it once every two months.

6. Pave the whole thing over with concrete...


Im leaning towards #5. You have any good advice?

Edit: I want to take care of this on my own, no hiring of locals coming in to cut every week.