Even application can save water, reduce energy costs and prevent plants from being submerged or submerged.

No matter what type of irrigation system you use, growers should strive to understand their application uniformity. This is important because it not only helps save water, but also helps improve plant quality by preventing plants from being submerged or submerged.

Uniformity is affected by nozzle selection, spacing and height, water pressure, pipe size, and system maintenance. Uniformity of distribution (DU), measured in percentage, is a simple method of checking and provides a visual picture of how to apply water.

The irrigation industry has developed the following DU ratings. More than 90% = excellent, 80-90% = good, 70-80% = fair, less than 70% = poor.

The DU method of drip irrigation systems involves sampling the output from multiple transmitters. Depending on the application and manufacturer, the output of the transmitter can range from ½ to 16 gallons per hour (gph). The size of the collection container should be able to collect 1 minute of system operation. In one minute, a 1 gph transmitter will emit about 1/8 pint (60 milliliters), and a 16 gph transmitter will emit about 1 quart.

Three or four sampling positions should be selected for each side line in the area, one near each end, and one or two evenly spaced in the middle. Place a container under each emitter. Turn on the irrigation system for one minute, then turn it off.

Prepare a data sheet to record the water volume of each transmitter. Use a graduated cylinder or beaker to measure the volume.

Next, the dischargers are ranked in order of discharge water volume. Now add up and record the lowest 25% of the output. Divide it by the number of transmitters. To calculate DU, divide this number by the average rate of all transmitters and multiply by 100. See the industry DU rating above to see how your systems compare.

To calculate the amount of water (in gph) discharged by any transmitter or average, multiply the milliliter reading by 0.0159. For example, 60 ml/min x 0.0159 = 0.95 gallons/hour.

If the DU rating is fair or poor, clean and check the filter/screen, nozzle or emitter with the lowest output.

When the system is running, use an online pressure gauge to check the pump pressure based on the pressure at the beginning and end of the side line. Low pressure at the end may indicate a leak, too small supply pipe, or too many nozzles/emitters. Water supply to ½” pipes should be limited to approximately 4 gallons per minute (gpm), 8 gpm for ¾” pipes, and 12 gpm for 1” pipes to keep friction losses at an acceptable level.

You may need to add new nozzles, replace worn nozzles, or change to a closer pitch to achieve higher overhead system uniformity.

More even watering will result in more even plugs, seedlings and mature plants. Checking your system will help you understand where changes should be made.

Shading your greenhouse can have a significant impact on your energy costs and plant quality.

In terms of plastic and polyethylene film, there are many options for nurseries designed to grow under cover. From hoop houses to glass greenhouses, there are different levels of structure and several types of materials can be used to cover these structures.

What is right for you depends on the crops you grow or the level of investment you want to make.

Shading is a popular technique for greenhouse growers, especially in warm climates. The most common materials are woven or knitted shade fabrics made of polypropylene, polyethylene or polyolefin. They are lightweight, easy to apply, and available in a variety of shades from 10% to 90%. Most materials are UV stabilized. The average life span of knitted materials is 7 to 10 years, and the average life span of knitted materials is 10 to 12 years.

Shading will reduce light levels and heat gain while saving energy. It can also reduce leaf temperature. Although it is best on glass, it can be effectively used internally with a retractable screen system.

John Bartok is an agricultural engineer, professor emeritus of extension at the University of Connecticut, and a regular contributor to greenhouse management. He is an author, consultant, and certified technology service provider who conducts greenhouse energy audits for a USDA grant program in New England.

The following are Bartok's views on different types of popular shade materials.

Polypropylene is strong, tough, and highly resistant to bending, abrasion, and chemical attack. It will shrink by about 1% when placed in a greenhouse. The knitted material is tear-resistant and the edges will not fall apart. Aluminum strips can be added to reflect heat. When used outdoors, this can result in lower roof temperatures. The internal use of an open weave allows heat to escape through the roof vents.

Woven polypropylene requires the edges to be taped to prevent unraveling. Grommets are usually placed along the edges and fixed to the outside of the greenhouse with ropes or tethers. Woven materials are generally heavier than knitted materials.

High-density polyethylene is usually used as a knitted material and made of monofilament yarn to improve strength and service life. It can resist tears, mold and mildew. Aluminized knitted materials are also provided. When used outdoors, it reflects sunlight and does not transfer heat to the glass. Both indoor and outdoor materials are available. They are UV resistant and recyclable.

Polyolefin is made of monofilament yarn and interwoven with aluminum strips to reflect heat. It also provides a combination of a black surface for heat preservation and a white surface for heat reflection. Polyolefins provide strength and longevity with limited stretch.

Color shading material is a new tool with specific advantages. Light selective shading affects the morphology and physiology of plants. Shading materials can also provide some pest control. By changing the color ratio, vegetative growth, flowering, fruit quality and yield can be improved.

When choosing shade levels, keep in mind that the greenhouse structure and glass have significantly reduced light levels. Usually in a single-layer glass greenhouse, the glass and structure may reduce the light transmittance by 20% to 30%. In dual-polymer houses, Goldsberry and van der Salm found a reduction of 35% to 40%. Adding a 50% shadow will reduce the level by 20% to 30%.

The lighting system can provide performance, flexibility and high lumen output in any growing environment

Choose the right polyethylene or plastic to provide protection from sun, wind, rain, frost and snow.

Commercial-grade greenhouse plastics are indispensable for nurseries and professional gardeners looking for excellent protection from sun, wind, rain, frost and snow. AM Leonard collaborates with Ginegar to provide horticultural professionals with high-quality greenhouse supplies, including greenhouse films that can withstand various factors and are truly cost-effective. 

AM Leonard's best-selling Ginegar Overwintering Plus polyethylene greenhouse film is stronger than standard polyethylene film and is designed to provide protection for an entire season. This 3-mil film has a unique UV stabilizer packaging and unparalleled mechanical strength. It is very durable and can replace the standard 4-mil overwintering film. Really save money!

For your floor covering needs, please check out our 3 mil Ginegar Cover Plus film. Use this sturdy greenhouse plastic as a weed barrier, floating bed lining or structural covering for the orchard. It can withstand multiple seasons and provide better value than standard covering films. Available in black and white colors.

Click here to see all options.

The results will be announced at Cultivate'20 in Columbus, Ohio this summer.

what happens? Robots, drones, automation... will these become part of the garden of the future? The National Garden Service (NGB) is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2020, and looking forward to the future, they need your opinion! Last fall, NGB conducted a survey of consumers and got some very interesting results.

Now, NGB asks you, the industry, to tell them what you think is the future direction of gardening by completing this survey. The survey can be completed in just a few minutes. The results will be announced at Cultivate'20 in Columbus, Ohio this summer.

Here is the future of gardening surveys.

For more information: contact Diane Blazek of the National Garden Service via email.

Founded in 1920, the National Bureau of Landscape Architecture is a non-profit organization whose mission is to spread basic instructions to backyard gardeners and those who want to garden. This will inspire them to spend more time outdoors and enjoy everything that nature has to offer.

For more information, please visit the website of the National Bureau of Landscape Architecture.