In most parts of the Western U.S., irrigation season begins in March and will end in October/November. Some crops and regions in CA and AZ have multiple seasons and continue irrigating despite the weather changes but for many, post-harvest nutrition and off-season planning is around the corner. Our irrigation systems have been operating for several months and in many instances, maintenance has not been performed due to labor and time constraints.

Despite our best efforts to plan, many irrigation systems will have damage after harvest, especially in permanent crops where shaking, sweeping and other multi-pass activities occur. The first step should be to operate the irrigation system and check for damage to emission devices and other system components. These in-field materials include:

• Dripline/Tubing: Cuts, knicks, spraying or even missing segments.
• Micro-Sprinklers: Damaged leads, barbed connections, sprinklers knocked over, damaged supply tubing.
• Riser Connections: Damaged fittings
• Manifold & Mainline Flushouts: Damaged ball valves & air vents
  
  

Fixing these issues will allow for post-harvest nutrition and irrigation to be applied evenly across the field, maximizing the investment you are making for next year’s crop.

Pressure Mapping and Data

Once the major and minor issues are fixed, the next step would be taking a pressure map across your fields. Collecting the pressure data is important for diagnosing where potential issues are in the irrigation system. Areas of low pressure or low flow from your samples should be evaluated further to identify root cause. Supplying this information to your irrigation dealer can allow for additional insight and corrective actions. At AvidWater, our Agronomy department offers consulting services to help customers obtain and use this information to improve their irrigation systems.

At the filter station, a low PSI with high flow rate means there are likely multiple small field leaks or one large leak. On the contrast, high PSI and a low flow rate means that field emission devices are plugged or valves are not open or fully functional. When reviewing pressure in the field, low PSI indicates plugging at the filter station, pump wear or low flow, or too many valves open. High PSI indicates that too many valves are closed or that other areas of the field are plugged.

Filter Station Inspection

Now that the field repairs are done, utilizing data from your field pressures and flows, the next step should be to inspect the filter station. Throughout the course of a season filter stations experience changing water quality, various flow rates, wearing of filtration elements, and chemical reactions. Inspect your media levels in each tank, and add media if necessary. Most sand media tanks have a “fill line” that is easily identifiable and makes adding the correct amount of media simple. While quantity of the media is important, make sure you also inspect the quality of your media as it wears during use, losing its filtration capabilities. AvidWater service crews are trained and able to change your filtration media efficiently .

Run the irrigation system after media maintenance is complete and check that the controller and solenoids are all in working order. Make sure that all air vents are operating, and all leaks are fixed. Also check all “cam-lok” and hose connections for cracking, leaks, etc. Record your flow rate and pressure during operation. This can help track changes in well performance and irrigation system operations.

Water Treatment & Chemical Maintenance

Even if the system seems to be performing well, chemical maintenance is always a good step in making sure your system is ready to perform headed into the next irrigation season. The Water Treatment team at AvidWater provides continuous and shock treatments for all irrigation systems and crop types across California. Our experienced staff will collect a water sample and diagnose the root cause of any emitter or pipeline plugging, making a certified recommendation on the right product and the right rate for each of your fields. Contact the AvidWater team today to get your system evaluation and per acre price on chemical treatment.

Harvest marks the end of a season for most growers, but the beginning of next year’s operations start soon after. Post-harvest irrigation maintenance is a crucial piece to making next year’s crop a profitable one. From system repairs, filtration inspection and chemical water treatment, any investment in your field today means better harvest in twelve months.