Forum Groups

 

Forums / Talking Turf / Irrigation green head spacing

Irrigation green head spacing

8 posts
  1. Matthew Ponte
    Matthew Ponte avatar
    0 posts
    10/3/2011 8:10 PM
    I converted the Rainbird 41 impacts over to Toro 835 series for greens. Part circles are not part of the design. Anyway, the spacing between the heads are not a perfect square. Each head spacing is off by a couple yards to a couple feet. I use different size nozzles to better fit the head to head spacing. The problem is the amount of overlap and excess moisture in the center of the green. The nozzles are able to throw 35 gal or more. What do you recommend for better greens irrigation uniformity. Thank you



  2. Ronald Conard
    Ronald Conard avatar
    4 posts
    10/4/2011 6:10 AM
    Square spacing is terrible even if it is perfectly spaced. Triangulation is the only way to have decent distribution. Most of the time, around greens, spacing is just thrown willy-nilly, without thought, in order to fit the perimeter of the green. At this point hand watering is the only way to make up the difference, without making a mushpot out of the rest of the green.



  3. Matthew Ponte
    Matthew Ponte avatar
    0 posts
    10/4/2011 2:10 PM
    Thanks Conrad, but how is triangulation better?



  4. Keith Pegg
    Keith Pegg avatar
    0 posts
    10/4/2011 3:10 PM
    Irrigation layout on square spacing or triangular spacing both work, I like triangular better on the golf course, however no matter how good you are you will end up with some square spacing areas. You may have to do some rain cups to understand any areas that give you a problem. Then I would look at the nozzles and even moving some head if needed. With square spacing you will be likely to see problem wet and dry spots than you will with good triangle spacing. A lot of information is on the web dealing with this.
    On my course here, done some years ago the greens are spaced from 16 meters to 22 meters (20m was perfect) not square or rectangular just heads around the greens. I have a few areas wetter than I would like and a few dryer, I have tried nozzles with some luck and I have moved some heads. Most areas it did not seem to matter and I do not have dry or wet problems even knowing the water amounts are wrong, it still works. In the computer I have set each head on a percentage of a fixed number, I use 20 min. as a base line on greens. I have heads (20% of the heads) at up to 150% or down to 30% of normal. This balances things just fine 99% of the time.

    Keith Pegg
    Zama Golf Japan



  5. Ronald Conard
    Ronald Conard avatar
    4 posts
    10/4/2011 5:10 PM
    EastonCC said: Thanks Conrad, but how is triangulation better?


    It's simply a matter of coverage. No matter what you do a circle, which is what a sprinkler pattern is, cannot cover a given area better in a square pattern vs. a triangular pattern. It's basically a fact of life.

    http://ohioline.osu.edu/b912/step_4.html

    http://tieroneirrigation.com/blog/?p=51



  6. Daniel Stover
    Daniel Stover avatar
    0 posts
    10/5/2011 9:10 AM
    Irrigation Services Group doesnt seem to know this fact either...if you can find a worse irrigation designer you're wrong. Ive got a 5000sqft green with 4 heads (square spaced, and always have to send a guy to hand water) and then a 5000sqft green with 6 heads (triangular spaced). Ive got full circle heads paired up with parts on the same station in my fairways and roughs. Also several holes with full circle heads on the perimeters, so i have to over water my interior just to keep the exterior alive.



  7. Michael Vogt
    Michael Vogt avatar
    2 posts
    10/5/2011 11:10 AM
    [attachment=0">Sprinkler spacing.JPG[/attachment">



  8. Larry Allan
    Larry Allan avatar
    0 posts
    10/5/2011 1:10 PM
    I think Mr Conard is right. There may be no perfect way but triangular does give the best of a bad situation



View or change your forums profile here.