Top 47 Irrigation Engineering Interview Questions
Q1. What Are The Mechanisms Available To Reduce Over-watering Right Now On Existing Irrigation Systems In Landscapes? How Effective Are These Mechanisms?
Florida statute 373.Sixty two mandates the installation of a running rain sensor tool or switch on all automated irrigation systems installed considering that 199@UF/IFAS studies has proven that increasing disk rain sensors can be powerful at conserving water. Potential financial savings of 17 to 34 percent have been shown at ½-inch and ¼-inch thresholds below everyday rainfall frequencies (Cardenas-Lailhacar & Dukes, 2008; Cardenas-Lailhacar et al., 2008).
Ornamentals: In 22 years of irrigation studies on bushes and shrubs, best drip irrigation and different low-volume irrigation gadgets were used. These gadgets have allowed very little water application at the same time as retaining plant quality, though there are troubles with pests such as squirrels chewing thru the strains, causing maintenance issues.
Turf: Cardenas-Lailhacar et al. (2008) confirmed that generation such as soil moisture irrigation controllers can reduce irrigation via 70–90 percent for various products and irrigation watering days without negatively impacting turf great all through everyday rainfall situations. Further paintings with nicely mounted soil moisture sensor irrigation controllers on homes in Florida indicates the ability for 50 percent irrigation savings without a terrible impact on landscape best (Haley & Dukes, 2007). Similar savings appear feasible with different “clever irrigation” controllers including ET controllers.
Q2. Will Planting Another Type Of Turfgrass Automatically Result In Water Savings?
The clinical evidence seems to point to human behavior with regard to over-irrigation—not unique plant life within the landscape—because the motive for plenty wasted irrigation water. In addition, there may be a few evidence that during well-watered (i.E., sustained exact first-class) situations, bahiagrass uses barely more water than St. Augustinegrass. Thus, replacing St. Augustinegrass with bahiagrass will now not probable lessen water needs for nicely-watered conditions. In addition to water, there are numerous different elements, which includes maintenance degree, illnesses, and pests, that need to be taken into consideration associated with a turfgrass exchange.
Q3. Which Type Of Mulching Material Is Useful For Controlling Weeds?
Normally Black polythene film is recommended for controlling weeds.
Q4. Emitter Is Not Functioning Well, Why?
It’s because of some best particles clogging the emitter due to awful great of water. In that case we ought to offer filtration unit for disposing of pleasant details present inside the water.
Q5. Do Different Varieties Of Turfgrasses Use Different Amounts Of Water?
Many studies had been performed on water use of turfgrasses. Most of these studies are carried out underneath “nicely-watered” conditions (i.E., no pressure due to loss of water) and must no longer be careworn with drought studies in which water is withheld and physiological responses of grasses are studied.
All turfgrasses want water to preserve exact pleasant (dense, uniform, green), whether it comes from rainfall or supplemental irrigation. Drought-tolerant grasses will pass into dormancy all through dry intervals, developing extra slowly or turning brown until conditions are favorable for growth. When sufficient soil moisture returns, these grasses can commonly recover from drought-brought on dormancy instead of demise. For example, bahiagrass is drought-tolerant, but if it isn't always provided with good enough water, the drought response of this grass will result in dormancy and a “useless” appearance.
Much of the literature seems to suggest that there can be differences in water use between unique warm-season grasses. These disparities probable stem from natural differences in mowing heights (e.G., St. Augustinegrass lawns versus bermudagrass golfing turf), fertility, leaf architecture, and so on. However, those differences have now not been sincerely documented in Florida paintings.
In one observe, Zazueta et al. (1999) located that once maintained under UF/IFAS hints, bahiagrass had 11 percent higher water use prices than St. Augustinegrass whilst properly-watered, but that the 2 grasses had similar trpiration costs while beneath persistent strain. A modern UF/IFAS take a look at is exploring the water use fees, below nicely-watered situations, of numerous grasses which include St. Augustinegrass and bahiagrass.
Q6. How To Reduce The Drip System Cost?
In Paired row gadget, the total range of lateral is much less evaluating to unmarried row device. Total fee of unit will lessen by adopting this technique.
Q7. Is There A Correlation Between Plant Water Need And Homeowner Water Use?
Haley et al. (2007) confirmed that owners did use extensively less water within the wintry weather than other seasons. However, average homeowners over-watered as plenty as 2–3 times the quantity needed by means of the flowers, primarily based on estimates of weather call for. Thus, there is a few indication that house owners reduce irrigation all through durations whilst much less is needed; however, it seems that over-irrigation may additionally nevertheless occur.
Q8. Does Water Only Move Downward, Pulled By Gravity?
When implemented slowly (as in drip irrigation) water radiates outward from its source point, growing an overlapping wetting pattern underneath the ground. See the "wetted pattern" illustration" at right. When carried out slowly to the soil at a unmarried factor, water actions thru the soil in methods:
Downward pulled by means of gravity.
Outward and upward, pulled through a capillary movement.
Q9. What Are The Irrigation Requirements For Turfgrass And Landscape Plants?
Note: The term “irrigation necessities” implies well-watered situations, which me that this is the amount of irrigation water in addition to effective rainfall (that which is saved within the plant root sector and to be had to be used) wanted for plant increase and without any water stress.
Ornamentals: All panorama shrubs and timber grown in a nursery and planted in a panorama require water to come to be hooked up. Under most occasions, rainfall occurs irregularly, so irrigation is required, at least till vegetation are set up. Trees require about 3 to four months in keeping with inch of caliper (trunk diameter measured 6" from ground) to grow to be hooked up. Shrubs require approximately 20 to twenty-eight weeks to end up mounted. Irrigation occasions should be 2 to a few gallons of water in step with inch trunk diameter. For example, a 2-inch tree must be watered 4 to 6 gallons at each irrigation occasion. Water every different day until vegetation are established.
In addition to preliminary watering for status quo, irrigation in the year following established order may be needed to preserve suitable satisfactory in dry climate. We have little records on irrigation requirements for flowers once set up, due to the various factors that impact this. These factors encompass slope, component, soil compaction, soil intensity, soil extent, width of soil space, depth to water table, wind, season, length of plant at planting, nursery manufacturing approach, period of time in the container, and root pruning strategies at planting. This studies honestly has no longer been executed.
Turf: Under nicely-watered situations, Stewart and Mills (1967) reported that annual water consumption in South Florida for St. Augustinegrass and bermudagrass averaged forty three inches/yr over five years. For North Florida, Jia et al. (2007) pronounced 33 inches of overall water necessities for bahiagrass. Irrigation requirements for turfgrass in North Florida are at the order of 20–25 inches/12 months and 30–35 inches/year in South Florida, on average (Smajstrla, 1990). These numbers are internet irrigation requirements and do no longer include introduced irrigation because of the inefficiency inherent in all irrigation systems. See “Efficiencies of Florida Agricultural Irrigation Systems, ” for more facts on irrigation performance (Smajstrla et al., 1991). In most years, rainfall will make contributions extensively to meeting the overall water call for of turfgrasses.
Q10. What Is Sprinkler Irrigation?
Sprinkler Irrigation is a technique of making use of irrigation water which is much like rainfall. Water is shipped thru a system of pipes normally through pumping. It is then sprayed into the air and irrigated entire soil surface via spray heads so that it breaks up into small water drops which fall to the ground.
Sprinklers offer efficient insurance for small to large regions and are suitable to be used on all forms of houses. It is likewise adaptable to almost all irrigable soils seeing that sprinklers are to be had in a wide range of discharge capability.
Q11. Why Are Landscapes Irrigated?
Simply stated, irrigation provides the water necessities for sustainability of flora when rainfall isn't always sufficient.
Ornamentals: Trees and shrubs are irrigated regularly while grown in the nursery and when first planted so that their roots quickly grow out from the basis ball and into the soil within the landscape. It is vital that roots grow as quick as viable so irrigation can cease. The fine way to encourage fast root boom is frequent mild irrigation applied to the foundation ball after planting. Under perfect situations (e.G., in non-compacted soils, surrounded by means of considerable irrigated areas), many Florida-Friendly plants do not require similarly irrigation except in extended drought.
Turf: Although Florida receives big rainfall, dry periods are commonplace in the overdue spring and fall. The dry length within the spring coincides with height plant water wishes due to increasing temperatures, sun radiation, and day period. Due to enormously shallow roots, turfgrasses normally require irrigation as a minimum as soon as every week to maintain first-rate. On sandy soils, some grasses may want to be irrigated as a minimum days a week to make certain suitable satisfactory (Shedd et al., 2008).
Q12. How Much Subsidy Government Gives For Installation Of Drip System?
50 % of installation drip irrigation price as given as subsidy by means of the government.
Q13. Which Turfgrasses And Landscape Plants Can Be Grown Without Supplemental Irrigation Or Fertilization?
Some turf species won't need water to survive, but all want water to live green. Drought tolerance means that the grasses will “fire” (flip brown) and reduce leaf location to preserve water. Some, along with bahiagrass or centipedegrass, will exhibit higher healing from drought strain. St. Augustinegrass and maximum of the zoysiagrass sorts will now not typically persist well without supplemental irrigation for the duration of times of confined rainfall. Fertilization follows a comparable fashion—bahiagrass and centipedegrass have low fertilization requirements and might stick with exceedingly low ranges of nutrients.
Q14. What Is The Reason For More Pressure At The Entry Of Sand Filter?
Provide skip before filter out and adjust stress. Place filter out detail nicely. Fill required amount of sand.
Q15. How Can I Tell The System Is Working?
There are several methods to affirm that your machine is working, such as:
Feel for moisture simply under the floor of the soil immediately above a dripper.
Run micro tubing to the floor at the cease of a area and use it as a factor supply dripper.
Install a flag indicator on the end of region.
Monitor glide at the water meter.
Because water travels each upward and outward from the dripper, the soil will typically be damp at, or near, the surface.
Q16. Where Should I Use Drip Irrigation?
You'll be thrilled with the fuller blooms and greater splendor of your annuals and perennials when watered. Mature flowers and shrubs grow fuller and healthier with dripperline's as opposed to sprinkler watering.
Q17. How Much Depth Is Needed For Laying Sub Main In The Field?
Normally we encouraged 60-70 cm from the top of the soil.
Q18. What Is Subsurface Drip Irrigation (sdi)?
When a drip tape or tube is buried beneath the soil floor, it is less vulnerable to harm throughout cultivation or weeding. With SDI, water use efficiency is maximized due to the fact there's even less evaporation or runoff.
Q19. What Is Drip Irrigation?
Drip irrigation is the system of delivering unique amounts of water and nutrients without delay to the plant's root area, drop via drop, supplying growers precise irrigation manage and green use of constrained water resources.
Q20. Leakage Of Water From Air Release Valve. Why?
Due to damaged air launch valve ring. Replace the broken ring.
Q21. Types Of Microirrigation System?
The basic kinds of microirrigation gadget are as follows:
Surface System: It is the machine in which emitters and laterals are laid on the floor surface along the rows of vegetation. The emitting gadgets are positioned within the root region place of bushes.
Sub-surface System: It is a device wherein water is applied slowly beneath the land surface thru emitters. Such systems are commonly desired in semi everlasting/permanent installations.
Bubbler system: In this gadget the water is carried out to the soil surface in a small circulation or fountain. Bubbler structures do not require complicated filtration systems. These are suitable in situations in which big amount of water need to be implemented in a quick time frame and suitable for irrigating bushes with huge root zones and high water necessities.
Micro and mini Sprinklers: These are small plastic sprinklers with rotating spinners. The spinners rotate with water strain and sprinkle the water. These are available in distinctive discharges and diameters of insurance and might operate at low strain inside the range of one.Zero to 2kg/cm@Water is given best to the basis region vicinity as inside the case of drip irrigation however not to the whole ground floor as accomplished inside the case of sprinkler irrigation method.
Pulse: Pulse gadget makes use of excessive discharge price emitters and consequently has quick water application time. The primary benefit of this machine is a possible discount within the clogging hassle.
Biwall: It is extruded twin chamber micro-irrigation tubing manufactured from Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE). This machine is suitable for all intently spaced row vegetation like sugarcane, cotton, greens, onion, tea and many others.
Q22. Can Reclaimed Water Be Used For Irrigation?
Yes, reclaimed water can be and is used for irrigation. In truth, Florida is a frontrunner inside the U.S. Within the use of reclaimed water for irrigation, with approximately 660 million gallons of reclaimed water being used each day, in line with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection 2006 Reuse Inventory.
Reclaimed water does generally include increased ranges of salts relative to Florida floor and groundwater, except where saltwater intrusion is difficult in coastal areas. The expanded levels of salts in reclaimed water may additionally impact exceptional plant species in various methods because of variations in salt tolerance. Periodic checking out of reclaimed water utilized in irrigation is recommended.
Also, reclaimed water may additionally incorporate plant nutrients, which may additionally need to be considered in any fertility application. It isn't clear that all the vitamins in reclaimed water are to be had for flora. Finally, the content material of reclaimed irrigation water can vary between distinctive municipalities because of allowing differences and specific differences between wastewater remedy plant life.
Q23. Why Micro Irrigation Is Necessary?
To improve the productivity of irrigated land from the existing low tiers.
To enhance use-efficiencies of Water, Energy, Nutrient and Human Effort in Agriculture.
To preserve scarce sources inclusive of Water and Electricity.
To expand the benefits of irrigated agriculture to extra people with the available water.
To facilitate higher crop control via Fertigation and Chemigation
Q24. What Are The Advantages Of Micro Irrigation?
Crop Yield Enhancement
Saving in Irrigation Water
Saving in Energy in pumping
Savings in Fertilizer intake
Quality Improvement of Produce
Improved Pest & Disease Control
Improves Soil Health
Reduced Weed Growth
Reduced Labor Costs
Suitable for Marginal lands
Suitable for inferior satisfactory water
Q25. Are Day-of-the-week Restrictions Effective At Reducing Water Use?
In a word, sure, however only if they are enforced. Over time, their effectiveness can become reduced. Olmsted (2008) reviewed the literature to decide the effectiveness of day-of-the-week watering regulations particular to Florida. In Hillsborough and Orange Counties, water use discounts (with the aid of utilities) had been suggested as 17–18 percentage; however, no discounts were seen in Seminole County. In South Florida, day-of-the-week regulations decreased water deplete to 21.5 percent at some point of one day/week watering restrictions.
Day-of-the-week restrictions restrict flexibility for customers who strive to devise irrigation based on rainfall tendencies. In addition, they'll inspire over-watering at the allowed day. Just because potable water needs lower under regulations, it doesn't mean that irrigation is being carried out at the right time and within the proper quantity—in different words, it is viable that water continues to be being wasted, despite the fact that it is able to be a smaller amount. However, to a big volume, many landscape vegetation can continue to exist at some point of most durations of water restrict.
Q26. Will Automatic Sprinkler System Water As Well As I Can Water By Hand?
It will do a miles higher process due to the fact a professionally designed device will deliver exactly the right amount of water to character garden and garden regions.
Q27. Why Pressure Gauge Is Not Working Some Times?
Rain water access internal. Corrosion in gauge pointer harm. Provide plastic cover and fasten pointer properly.
Q28. How To Clean The Drip System?
Open all stop caps in lateral; main and submain pipes and function the motor as a minimum ten minutes to get rid of all excellent debris provides in drip irrigation gadget.
Q29. While Removing The End Plug White Mixture Is Coming. Why?
This is because of uncleaned lateral and more salinity in water. This can be prevented by using cleaning the laterals fortnightly.
Q30. How About Those Tight Or Awkwardly Shaped Areas That Are Difficult To Water With Conventional Spray Systems?
Dripper lines clear up the hassle and avoid spraying your walls, window and fences. Consistent watering with dripper lines facilitates set up and guard new shrub beds and planting regions.
Q31. What Is Microirrigation System?
Microirrigation is frequent application of water immediately on or underneath the soil floor near the root sector of plants. It grants required and measured amount of water in relatively small quantities slowly to the person or groups of vegetation. Water is carried out as continuous drops, tiny streams, or satisfactory spray via emitters placed alongside a low-strain delivery system. Such device gives water exactly to plant root zones and maintains perfect moisture situations for plant growths.
Q32. What Is The Proper Way To Irrigate?
Scientifically, irrigation should arise primarily based on plant reaction to environmental call for. Thus, irrigation frequency and amount might be defined via the environmental demand (i.E., evapotrpiration, ET), soil water-holding capacity and plant root quarter depth. Irrigation must be applied such that the soil water reservoir is filled and gravity drainage and runoff do not arise. This approach is certain in an EDIS ebook entitled, “Basic Irrigation Scheduling in Florida,” (Smajstrla et al., 2006), which affords summary facts from the world over diagnosed guides inclusive of “Crop evapotrpiration: Guidelines for computing crop water requirements” (Allen et al., 1998). This scientifically commonplace technique goals to bring about “nicely-watered” situations in which no stress is authorized. In addition, an irrigation device must be properly-designed and in desirable restore to apply irrigation efficaciously to flora (i.E., with out losses due to runoff and deep percolation).
In practice, irrigation is frequently constrained to specific days of the week by way of water management districts thru maximum of Florida. Thus, landscape flora may additionally go through various degrees of stress relying on precise web site situations and plant type.
Ornamentals: In the case of newly planted timber and shrubs, water need to be implemented to the root ball and perhaps the soil just past the root ball. In all of the research during the last twenty-two years on timber in Florida, the vicinity beyond the foundation ball has now not been irrigated. Trees and shrubs set up just first-class with out wide, landscape-huge (i.E. Sprinkler) irrigation. For instance, live all rightand southern magnolia tree root systems extend to approximately 14–20 toes in diameter 12 months after planting in a non-compacted soil with out interference from curbs, sidewalks and other soil obstructions.
Turf: Guidelines for turf irrigation consist of an irrigation machine that is well designed and in properly repair. Generally, UF/IFAS irrigation guidelines endorse irrigation of ½–¾ inches while 30–50 percent of turfgrass suggests signs of wilt at some stage in the day. However, if an automated irrigation device is used under day-of-the-week water regulations, program run time guidelines are given in “Operation of Residential Irrigation Controllers.” The pointers in this publication were further delicate into user-friendly pointers and posted as the FAWN urban irrigation scheduler.
Q33. Do Natives Require Less Water? If So, When?
A plant's indigenous fame does now not have an effect on its fertilizer or irrigation necessities. There is not any medical proof that local vegetation require much less fertilizer and water than flowers not local to Florida. To put it every other way, residential and commercial landscapes are frequently very exceptional from the native situations wherein a plant originated, despite the fact that they are observed inside the identical state. Additionally, a plant that became previously indigenous to a website might not be tailored to the location any further, depending on the manner the website online has been altered. In a latest research have a look at, Florida local shrubs required the equal irrigation as non-natives (Scheiber et al., 2007). Fertilizer requirements have now not been examined.
Q34. Why Should I Use Drip Irrigation?
Slow even drift of water to vegetation and soil: Shrubs and plants will thrive. Application of water and nutrients without delay to the plant's roots is the quality way to make sure plant health and vitality.
Easy to put in - bendy and daptable: Dripperline installs without difficulty in tight, awkwardly formed areas which can be hard to water with traditional spray systems.
Solves spray irrigation: issues No adverse spray on homes, home windows, fencing, or pedestri in high site visitors regions. Avoids unsightly brown spots on roses and other flora, considering the fact that spray by no means touches the plants. Soil and foliage are kept dry, lowering fungal sicknesses.
Improved plant increase: Makes flowers fuller and more healthy. Water and vitamins introduced without delay to the root zone promotes wholesome plant boom and decreases plant strain. Soil aeration is stepped forward because soil debris are not washed down, decreasing soil compaction and improving root growth.
Saves on upkeep & exertions: No moving sprinkler elements to should restore. Installs with a long way much less hard work than sprinklers.
Unobtrusive & aesthetic: Hidden and mendacity near the plant, coloured Brown. Doesn't intrude with landscaping or surroundings.
Security: No uncovered sprinkler heads, pipes or floor dripperlines to experience on or tamper with.
Q35. Does Having A Sprinkler System Really Save Time?
Yes. You might not should spend every other minute of your treasured enjoyment time watering the garden. Whether you are home or away your system will do the watering for you!
Q36. How Drop In Pressure Occurs?
Leakage in important opened outlet and low water stage in well. Arrest the leakage and near outlet and decrease the pump close to nicely water degree.
Q37. Why Water Is Not Flowing Upto Lateral End?
Because of holes, bents and cuts in laterals. To keep away from this near the holes and cut and dispose of the bends gift within the laterals.
Q38. Venturi Is Not Working Well, Why?
There is less strain in strain gauge or leaking hassle in venturi machine or pump isn't functioning properly.
Q39. Suitable Crops For Drip Irrigation?
All vegetable plants, Flower and fruit crops and Tree plants.
Q40. Suitable Crops For Sprinkler Irrigation?
Lemongrass, Groundnut, Pulses, Sugarcane and Tubercrops.
Q41. We Generally Get forty Or More Inches Of Rainfall A Year. Do We Really Need A Sprinkler System?
If it rained at your property each three days the identical specific quantity every time you in all likelihood might now not need a sprinkler gadget. But nature does no longer work that way, and the only manner to ensure healthful, lush growth is to ensure your garden and vegetation get hold of a regularly timed, calmly measured amount of water. In the dry season when there's very little rain, your backyard can suffer harm after only some days with out water.
Q42. What About Different Soil Types? Even Clay?
Subsurface irrigation works better in heavy clay or sand situations than conventional sprinkler structures. Even "heavy clay" and "sandy" soils are a mixture sand, silt and clay. Loam, which incorporates identical proportions of sand, silt and clay, is ideal. However, flora can thrive in a completely extensive spectrum of soil textures while subsurface watering is carried out at the right price, with appropriate spacing. Different soils create normal wetting sample sun shades as visible at right. Note the dramatic overlap ensuring general coverage all through varying root zone depths.
Drip irrigation works incredible in clay soils. What the general public regard as "heavy clay" and "sandy" soils are honestly mixtures of sand, silt and clay in an effort to allow for adequate water motion and retention between soil particles.
Q43. Will An Automatic Sprinkler System Use More Water Than I'm Currently Using?
No. In truth, it'll conserve water. The device's controller and rain sensor might be set so that you receive simplest the quantity of water you want. You will no longer over-water or below-water your garden with an automatic sprinkler system.
Q44. Can I Save Money Using Drip Irrigation Vs. Traditional Spray Sprinklers?
It is regularly greater profitable to put in a structures while you are handling lengthy, narrow strips, awkwardly shaped areas, or tree, shrub and bedding plant regions - both from a substances cost and labor viewpoint. To assist the reduce legal responsibility and vandalism and saves your clients' fees related to persevered renovation and water usage. A simple shrub mattress set up is quick and clean, both buried 4" below the surface or beneath mulch.
Q45. Some Times Oily Gum Material Comes Out On Opening The Lateral End. Why?
Presence of extra algae or ferrous material in water. Clean the laterals with water or provide chemical remedy.
Q46. Are There Uf/ifas Recommendations For Irrigation, And, If Followed, Do They Provide Water Conservation Benefits?
Ornamentals: Irrigation pointers for timber may be observed at http://hort.Ufl.Edu/woody/. There isn't any documentation of what number of people observe them. It would be hard to record the effect of precise practices on decorative plant fabric, for the reason that these substances most effective make up part of the planted panorama in most instances. Further, in many irrigation systems, turfgrass and ornamentals and trees are not separated in phrases of irrigation zones and accordingly get hold of the same quantity of irrigation relative to the system programming.
Turf: UF/IFAS recommends watering when 30–50 percentage of turfgrass wilts. This must offer water conservation advantages relative to “set it and overlook it” time clock programming; however, this has not been documented.
Haley et al. (2007) confirmed that the usage of the agenda encouraged in “Operation of Residential Irrigation Controllers ” decreased watering through 30 percent over a thirty-month study. Thus, if this advice have been accompanied, massive water savings are possible for slight to high irrigators. The “FAWN urban irrigation scheduler " makes use of these recommendations in a consumer-pleasant style to encourage users to regulate irrigation time clocks to better modify for climatic demand at some stage in the 12 months.
Q47. How To Protect The Drip System From Rat?
By imparting raised beds over the laterals.

