Glossary of Irrigation Terms

Galvanization is the process of applying a coating of zinc to iron or steel to prevent corrosion. Most commonly, the metal to be treated is hot-dipped by submersion in a vessel of extremely hot, molten zinc.

All irrigation systems lose a small volume of water via evaporation, water run off or leakage. The gross capacity of an irrigation system is a measure of its ability to deliver sufficient water after all such losses are taken into account.

HDPE is high-density polyethylene, a polymer made from petroleum. It's extremely versatile, durable and flexible. Its properties make it very useful for large irrigation projects where its flexibility can cope with sharper bending radii for example and the kind of fluctuations in pressure, movement and external factors like UV rays and heat or cold, more easily than PVC. Because the joints are heat-fused, they are extremely strong and are more likely to create a leak-free system.

The amount of water pressure lost as water travels through an irrigation system. The head loss of a specific system can be divided into major head loss; caused by friction in the pipes themselves, and minor head loss; caused by components such as vales, backflow preventers, bends and tees.

An irrigation zone hydraulic valve is a type of control valve. Water is fed under pressure through small hydraulic control tubes to actuate a signal from the controller to the valve.

Infiltration rate is a measure of the speed at which water applied to the surface of an irrigation field moves through the soil. It is usually given as the depth (in mm) of the water layer able to enter the soil in an hour. The infiltration rate can be impacted by factors such as the structure and texture of the soil. Knowing the infiltration rate allows for irrigation to be planned with increased precision.

Water losses which are not able to be recovered, as the water in question becomes unavailable. Water loss of this kind might take the form of evaporation, groundwater recharge or phreatophytic transpiration. A certain percentage of the water delivered by any irrigation system will be subject to irrecoverable loss.

An area of land which is able to be irrigated. The factors governing the ability to irrigate a specific area will include the topography of the landscape, the suitability or otherwise of the soil and the availability of water. Any calculation of the total irrigable area should also factor in the equipment which is available for the task.

The practice of providing water to an area through artificial means, for example, pipes, sprinklers, canals, and ditches. Irrigation is used to supply water to plants, maintain or increase moisture levels in soil, or manage an area's water resources. It is also used to prevent soil erosion.

An irrigation controller manages how much water an irrigation system delivers to a landscape. A controller uses input from sensors to create a watering program controlling the frequency, duration, and amount of water applied. This means irrigation can be adapted to weather conditions or seasonal changes for example. Using controllers assists in effective use and delivery of water which in turn helps maintain healthy plant growth. Some controllers also have "smart" features such as remote access, real-time monitoring, and system diagnostics.

The process of planning and creating an irrigation system, considering factors such as water availability, landscape and turf requirements, and the terrain.

Measuring how effectively an irrigation system uses water, taking factors such as the application rate, uniformity of distribution, and system losses into account. For example, a high irrigation efficiency will indicate that a significant proportion of the water applied is used by the plants being irrigated, while a low efficiency indicates a significant amount of water wastage.

The number of times water is applied to a specific area, whether this is a a yard, a community landscape, a golf course, or a field, over a certain period of time - usually a week or a month. In short, it is a measure of how often irrigation is performed in a certain area. The factors that can influence the chosen frequency of application include weather, soil moisture, plant type and stage of growth, terrain. Irrigation frequency is often related to irrigation scheduling, the process of determining when irrigation should occur to meet plant watering requirements and optimize water use efficiency.

An irrigation pump station houses the pumps and equipment that deliver water from a source (for example, a lake or canal) to the wider irrigation system. It includes control systems and valves that regulate the flow and pressure of the water. It is crucial for regulating water pressure at the correct levels to operate irrigation equipment efficiently, particularly in areas with low pressure water sources or those located far from the irrigation area.

Like any schedule, this is a plan outlining when and how much water should be applied to a specific area such as a lawn or a field. The schedule considers factors such as weather forecast, microclimate, soil moisture, type and growth stage of plants being watered, to determine the optimal timing for irrigation. A good irrigation schedule aims to meet the water needs of plants and at the same time, maximize water use efficiency. A schedule can be implemented manually, automatically or by smart irrigation systems, timed to turn on and off according to the schedule.