In Sydney’s western suburbs preparation for the opening
of Downes Wholesale Nursery’s new site is picking up
pace. The irrigation system is well in hand, as Warren Downes
explains.
With its opening only weeks away, Downes’ Wholesale
Nursery’s new Theresa Park facility is being fitted
with a state-of-the-art irrigation system designed specifically
for the 58-hectare site on Sydney’s western fringe.
More than three kilometres of 200- millimetre and 150mm PVC
main line have been laid for the irrigation system and a
sophisticated pump station is ready to be commissioned in
the next few days.
Being freshly dug, the dam has a lot of suspended particles
in the water so before the irrigation can be used it has
to be settled.
Rather than set up an expensive injection system to add
flocculent, Downes’ Wholesale Nursery has used a non-toxic
polymer-based brick flocculent which simply needs water flowing
over it.
Once the dam has been initially settled, the wetlands area
will take over to keep the water clean. The Rain Bird LF1200
sprinkler heads have been set out in a triangle formation
for superior performance in windy conditions.
To tie the irrigation system together and control the solenoids
and weather sensors, the business has chosen Rain Bird’s
SiteControl system, which features a graphic interface which
will display a map of the nursery on a computer as well as
maps of the pipework and solenoid valves which will be able
to be adjusted simply by clicking on their icons.
One thing the Downes have noticed in a lot of nurseries
is that the owners are often unaware what their pumps are
capable of. To overcome this, SiteControl can communicate
with the pump station to check on available pressure and
turn extra valves
either on or off during the irrigation cycle to shorten complete
cycle times.
SiteControl can also communicate with the nursery’s
temperature sensors, anemometer and rain tipping bucket and
make adjustments to the irrigation cycle as needed, such
as turning on frost control and pausing irrigation during
rain.
This all helps to make sure the nursery is using its water
wisely.
Extracts reprinted with kind permission
from Australian Horticulture, October 2005 edition.
Being freshly dug, the dam has a lot of suspended particles
in the water so before the irrigation can be used it has
to be settled.