Q. Should drip irrigation run during daylight hours or at
night? I'm assuming there would be less water loss from evaporation if they run
at night but that makes finding bad emitters more difficult.
A. Time of day doesn’t matter if you’re using real drip
emitters and not adjustable emitters that flood water on the soil surface. If
there is standing water after using your drip emitters, then evaporation is a
problem and it’s best if it’s done at night.
Drip irrigation like from this drip tubing releases water slowly over periods of hours so that it is less likely to puddle and run to low spots. |
Drip irrigation is designed to slowly release water in
one small area so this water enters the soil and doesn’t puddle on top. When adjustable emitters are used, the kind
that can be adjusted to release more or less water, then this water may form water
puddles on top of the soil.
The key to evaporation is whether there is standing
water. If it is truly drip and not adjustable drip emitters which flood the
area, then evaporation is minimal.
Always check first with local laws, regulations or
policies regarding when it is lawful or advisable to irrigate.
Consider applying wood chips to the soil surface instead
of rock to conserve water. Wood chips on the surface of the soil where water is
released will slowly “rot” wood chips and improve the soil in only a few months.
This soil improvement helps water released from drip emitters to enter the soil
more quickly and reduce puddling and evaporation.
Free woodchips are available from the University Orchard
in North Las Vegas or the Cooperative Extension office south of the airport.
Call the Master Gardener helpline at 702-257-5555 to get directions where to
get it.
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