Page 105 - GRIHA Manual Volume II - Introduction to National Rating System
P. 105
Sustainable site planning 97
water table levels, and the characteristics of surrounding land areas. Application efficiencies are
significantly increased if the excess irrigation water is reused.
Flood
Flood irrigation is a practice that ponds water in the entire field rather than just down furrows such
as in crown flood irrigation. This type of irrigation is common for rice production.
Eficient central systems
An auto-irrigation system with programmed time schedule can be installed for optimal use of
water. To avoid over watering particularly during the rainy season, a rain shut-off device and soil
moisture sensor should be used. It is also advisable to group the plants based on their water needs
to minimize water loss.
Installation advisory
# Water the grass separately from other plants. Use spray heads for lawn and low-volume drip for
trees, shrubs and flower beds.
# An efficient spray system for turf includes matched components, properly spaced sprinkler heads
and pressure regulators as needed to avoid over spraying or misting. Again, group plants with
similar water needs together and provide each with a separate irrigation valve (‘station’ or ‘zone’).
# Slopes will have separate valves for different rows, since water requirements of plants at the
top will be different from those at the bottom of the slope.
# An irrigation system always needs regular upgrading. Plants mature and change the elements
surrounding them. A plant may grow to block the spray requiring that the sprinkler be moved.
# Too much water produces wasteful run-off. Just enough water means it is soaked into the root
system and promotes deeper root growth (Figure 5). So, monitoring soil moisture to optimize
irrigation running time becomes important.
Figure 5 Tree water use
water table levels, and the characteristics of surrounding land areas. Application efficiencies are
significantly increased if the excess irrigation water is reused.
Flood
Flood irrigation is a practice that ponds water in the entire field rather than just down furrows such
as in crown flood irrigation. This type of irrigation is common for rice production.
Eficient central systems
An auto-irrigation system with programmed time schedule can be installed for optimal use of
water. To avoid over watering particularly during the rainy season, a rain shut-off device and soil
moisture sensor should be used. It is also advisable to group the plants based on their water needs
to minimize water loss.
Installation advisory
# Water the grass separately from other plants. Use spray heads for lawn and low-volume drip for
trees, shrubs and flower beds.
# An efficient spray system for turf includes matched components, properly spaced sprinkler heads
and pressure regulators as needed to avoid over spraying or misting. Again, group plants with
similar water needs together and provide each with a separate irrigation valve (‘station’ or ‘zone’).
# Slopes will have separate valves for different rows, since water requirements of plants at the
top will be different from those at the bottom of the slope.
# An irrigation system always needs regular upgrading. Plants mature and change the elements
surrounding them. A plant may grow to block the spray requiring that the sprinkler be moved.
# Too much water produces wasteful run-off. Just enough water means it is soaked into the root
system and promotes deeper root growth (Figure 5). So, monitoring soil moisture to optimize
irrigation running time becomes important.
Figure 5 Tree water use
