Page 53 - Grapevine May-June 2019

Around The Vineyard

leaks, broken or cracked pipes and damaged Handling System Damage
pressure gauges. Leaking packing glands or Due to Excess Water
bearings need to be adjusted—usually tightened
or replaced. Northern California’s heavy rainfall in January
and February caused some of the most problem-
2. Examine filter stations. Screens and disc filters atic floodings in 20 years. Areas of the Midwest hit
need to be pulled and inspected for damage and by “bomb cyclones” and significant snowfall melt
wear. Media filter covers need to be pulled, and triggered what scientists at the National Weather
their sand checked for cleanliness and quantity. Service classified as “major to historic and cata-
Add new sand if levels are low and also check strophic” floods. Some parts of the East Coast are
backflow restrictor valves if sand levels are low. still dealing with the effects of extensive rains and
Clean control water filers, too. flooding from 2018. We asked our experts: how do
these weather events affect vineyards and their
3. Water meters, if present, need to be pulled. irrigation systems?
Paddle or impeller types should be checked for
freedom of movement and re-calibrated if need- “In Texas, where most vineyards use drip irriga-
ed. tion, flooding likely will do extensive damage to
the drip irrigation system and possibly to pumps as
4. Clean site tubes, inspect gauges for freeze dam- well,” said Fipps.
age and accuracy and actuate backflush valves
one at a time to ensure they open and close Hewitt agreed. “This will be a new problem for
completely. growers with low-volume drip systems. Areas that
were under floodwater this winter that have drip
5. All electric solenoids need to be checked to tubing with emitters will need to be very diligent
ensure they’re in good working order—no swell- during flushing after the flood waters recede—and
ing of coils, plungers move freely, and plungers some of these drip lines may not recover,” he told
pull in when energized and deactivated by the The Grapevine Magazine. “Excess water and debris
controller. could have entered into the exit bath areas of the
driplines. If this material is allowed to dry and hard-
When asked what issues managers sometimes en, most likely no amount of line pressure is going
encounter that Rain Bird representatives help them to clean this debris out of the emitter exit path-
solve, Hewitt said, “We’re asked to troubleshoot way.”
everything from the water source to the figure
eights at the end of the drip line laterals. [We help Hernandez added, “Flooding could damage infra-
with] pumps, filters, controllers, valves, hoses and structure like pumping stations, pipes and laterals
emitters. Filters are one of the most common prob- (drip hoses). Carefully inspect any affected equip-
lematic components of a low-volume system, espe- ment. Consider strategies for diverting water to
cially if it’s over three years old,” he said. “Another prevent damage from future flooding episodes,” he
common issue is plugged or low-flowing emission said. “Additionally, my number one concern would
devices. Remember, no dripper will ever be as be the impact of flooding events on my soil health.
clean as it was when it came out of the factory!” How much topsoil did I lose? What was deposited
onto my field? Take soil samples at multiple depths
Purvins uses above-ground drip irrigation tubing throughout the field and start making necessary
suspended 8 inches high on a trellis wire and run amendments as soon as possible.”
down each vineyard row, spaced 8 feet apart. He
has 0.5 gallons/hour emitters every 96 inches, and In part two of our irrigation system maintenance
his system is supplied by a drilled well. Since he and upkeep article, these experts share their views
doesn’t irrigate during the winter, his startup is regarding ongoing system checks, typical problems
simple: “I have underground drain valves that I use often overlooked, monitoring water quality and
to empty the lines before winter. I just check that critter control.
all valves are closed in the spring before using the
system.”
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