IDE system

Layout of IDE drum system. Drawing: RELMA.

International Development Enterprises of Colorado, USA, designed and tested a drum kit system which can irrigate 520 vegetable plants. The drum kit consists of 130 pipes (1-mm diameter) called micro-tubes, fitted to 5 rows of 12-mm diameter PE laterals. Water from the drum flows out in a small stream from all 130 micro-tubes. The water then spreads out in a circular pattern to about 0.5-m radius. Four plants are planted in each of the circles.

Suitable conditions

Field tests are reported to have been carried out on vegetables in the hill areas of Nepal and in Andhra Pradesh, India.

Construction, operations and maintenance

System components

• 200-litre drum
• Tap
• Line filter
• 16 mm submain pipe
• 5 x 10 m PE laterals (12-mm diameter) fitted with 26 micro-tubes (1-mm diameter)
• 5 end caps.

Assembly instructions

1. Prepare the area to be irrigated.
2. Mount the drum.
3. Connect laterals to a 200-litre drum of water by a 16 mm-diameter pipe (submain).
4. Unroll all the pipes, lay them on the ground and connect to the drum. A manual is provided with the kit as a pictorial guide to correct installation and planting.

Reference manuals, videos, and links

• International Development Enterprises.

Acknowledgements

• Sijali, Isaya V. DRIP IRRIGATION: Options for smallholder farmers in eastern and southern Africa. RELMA, 2001.