Turf Sprinkler Irrigation
Trenching for turf system mainlines and laterals
A 3-inch mainline supplying a 2 ½-inch lateral
Swing arm plumbing for large turf sprinkler head
A plumbed sprinkler head ready for wiring and backfilling
Hunter® valve-in-head turbine driven rotor sprinkler
P= 70 psi
qs=50.5 gpm
Dw=170 ft
P= 80 psi
qs=53.5 gpm
Dw=176 ft
P= 90 psi
qs=57.4 gpm
Dw=180 ft
P=100 psi
qs=59.5 gpm
Dw=184 ft
#53 (53/128”) range nozzle + #24 (3/16”) spreader nozzle
Valve-in-head sprinkler
Wire to connect controller to valves
Individual “Hot” wires (Red; typically 14 AWG) to each valve
A single “Common” wire (White; typically 12 AWG) for all valves
Gel-filled waterproof connector cover for buried wire splices
Bundling extra wire to ease future repair operations
Newly back-filled turf head
Low pressure drain for lateral lines
Adapter for “Funny Pipe” riser and low pressure drain
Small turf head with “Funny Pipe” connector attached
4.6
Home Landscape
4.6
Irrigation
Separate meter for home landscape irrigation system
Irrigation rate for city water (no sewer charge)
Meter Size, inches
5/8
¾
1
Maximum Capacity, gpm
20
30
50
Recommended Capacity, gpm
15
22.5
37.5
¾-inch Electric Diaphragm Valve
Golf Course Irrigation Zones
Different zones because of differences in• Turf varieties: bent, bermuda, etc.
• Soils: sand-based greens, native soil fairways
• Traffic load: tee boxes, greens, walk-up areas
• Canopy maintenance: fairways, rough
Golf Course Irrigation Zones
- Putting Green Zone
- Walk-up Area Zone
- Fairway Zone
-Tee Box Zone
Lateral Line Layout for Parallel Fairways
(2 conventional sprinklers per valve)
Mainline
Supply
Valve
Water
Flow
Looped Supply Lines on Parallel Fairways
(Valve-in-Head Fairway and Tee Box Sprinklers)
(Conventional Green Sprinklers)
Fairway Runoff Research Plots
at OSU Turf Research Farm
Effect of Slope and Sprinkler Leveling on Coverage
Sprinkler axis perpendicular to ground slope
Sprinkler axis vertical
Irrigation Control Software
Adjustment of Watering Time
Watering time can be increased or decreased according to
prevailing water use conditions (ET). ET can be taken from a
weather station on site provided by the supplier, or taken from
some generic source (eg., Mesonet). Adjustments can be systemwide, or for any subset of zones within the system.
The terminology and capabilities of each controller/software
package will vary. On-the-job training (RYFM) and/or a
training seminar from the manufacturer will be necessary.
Irrigation Timing
The ON/OFF timing of the irrigation system must be coordinated
to avoid interference with play, mowing, and other maintenance
while not exceeding the capacity of the water supply.
Time and Flow Rate Constraints (Q t = kv A d)
Most controller software will allow you to program in
constraints of available water flow rate. Once you program the
on time for each zone, the controller will sequence the zones to
maintain total flow within the constraint. A graphical output
will show the time required to determine if irrigation will be
completed within the available time.
Record Keeping
Most controller software can also be programmed to maintain a
history of on times, depths applied, gallons pumped, etc. These
data can be extremely helpful in budgeting, troubleshooting and
other management decisions.
Antenna Transmitting Signals from Main Controller to Satellites
Typical Satellite Irrigation Controller
Electronics Linking Satellite Controller to Main Controller
Connections from Zone Valves to Satellite Controller
24-volt AC hot wires
from each zone valve
on 3 holes
Common wires
from 3 holes
Completed valve-in-head sprinkler installation ready for back-filling
Valve-in-Head Sprinkler Components
Housing/Case
Main Nozzle
Rotor
Cover
Spreader Nozzles
Water supply tube
for valve operation
Solenoid
Large Turbine-Driven Rotor Sprinkler for Fairway Irrigation
Diaphragm Valve (24-v. AC) to Control a Multiple-Head Zone
Electrically Operated Diaphragm Valve Cutaway
Solenoid
Solenoid plunger
Optional flow
control screw
adjustment
Port carrying
pressurized water to
inflate diaphragm
Diaphragm
Port allowing water
trapped behind
diaphragm to be vented
Spring
Valve seat
Manual flow control adjustment
Internal/external
bleed port
24 VAC solenoid
1-inch Electric Diaphragm Valve w/ Flow Control
24-VAC Solenoid Auto
Drain
Port
Solenoid Plunger &
Drain Port Seal
Manual
Bleed Valve Cap
Valve
Diaphragm
Pressurization
Port
Spring
Drain Port
Water Flow
Valve Seat
Valve Body
Topside
Manual External
Bleed Valve
Auto Bleed
Port
Pressurization
Port
Cap
Underside
Diaphragm Valve Seal
Diaphragm
Inexpensive 4-zone controller with transformer
Lateral Lines
Conventional Sprinklers
Electric Valve
Valve-in-head
Sprinklers
Control Wiring
Controller
Mainline
Turf Sprinkler Control
Pumping Plant Installations
Water
Power
Security
Access
Vertical Turbine Surface Water Pumping Station
Allowable
water level
fluctuation
Pond
Intake Gallery
Pump Well
Typical Golf Course Pump House
60-HP Holloshaft Motors on Vertical Turbine Pumps
Electric Pump Control Panel
A complex control panel to
operate and protect an electric
irrigation pump may include:
- over-current protection
- phase protection
-lightning arrestors
-computerized control for:
-soft start
-reduced speed operation
Computerized Motor Control
Computerized motor control
allows soft starts, which reduce the
current flow when the motor rotor
is not yet up to full speed.
Computerized control can also
artificially alter the frequency of
the electric supply, allowing the
motor to operate at speeds other
than nominal synchronous speeds
(3600, 1800, or 1200 RPM).
Computerized control panels can log performance data
Pulse-count Water Meters Provide Feedback to Irrigation Controllers
Signal wire connected
to irrigation controller
Magnetic pick-up counts
meter revolutions
Paddle-wheel water meter
Pressure Regulating Valve Controls Output Pressure from Pump Station
Pressure Gauge
Schrader Valve
Schrader Valve Fitting
Some diaphragm valves are equipped with a Schrader valve that
will allow measurement of pressure in the valve during operation
Pitot Gauge for Measuring Sprinkler Outlet Pressure
USGA Putting Green Profile
Titleist
Root Zone Mix
Coarse grained material
(loamy fine sand – fine sand)
12 in.
(Hyd. Conductivity > 6 in./hr)
Intermediate Layer
4 in.
(coarse sand – fine gravel)
Crushed Stone
4 in.
Native Soil
8 in.
Drainage Lines
Green Irrigation
(USGA Specification Greens)
• Flushing once per week
– Heavy irrigation that wets entire profile depth
and produces leachate to the drainage system
• Hand watering daily
– Concentrate on areas that dry out quickly
• Shoulders of elevated greens
• High spots in undulating greens
• Late summer (August)
– Increase flushing schedule to every 6 days or
even every 5 days
Elevated portions of greens
will dry out quicker
Hand watering will supplement irrigation system watering on
areas which dry out more rapidly due to elevation contours
Fringe areas of elevated greens will dry out more quickly
Backflow Prevention
Protects water source from contamination
by non-potable water in case of unexpected
pressure loss in the system. Required by
plumbing code in the case of permanent
sprinkler systems. Required by federal law
on irrigation systems which apply fertilizer
and pesticides (chemigation systems).
Backflow Preventers
• Gooseneck pipe loop with Pressure Vacuum
Breaker (PVB)
• Reduced Pressure Zone device (RPZ)
• Double check valve (Not approved for
public water systems)
2 ft min. above
highest outlet
Gooseneck pipe loop w/ PVB backflow preventer
Reduced Pressure Zone (RPZ) Backflow Preventer
Electric Piston Valve with Anti-siphon Valve
24-VAC solenoid
Manual
flow control
adjustment
Anti-siphon
AVB valve
Flow Path