How much water do I need?
This depends on your location, as a general rule three gallons per minute will put down an inch per week per acre. This is sufficient in much of the eastern part of the continent. When we design a system we take into consideration the evapotranspiration during the peak season and look to replace this amount of water with your design.
Example: If you want to apply 1.5" per week to a three-acre parcel...
3 GPM x 1.5" x 1 week x 3 acres = 13.5 GPM
For assistance with an exact number please fill out a consultation request form which can be found here. Request a Consultation
How do I check my water availability?
If you're under 50 gallons per minute, the easiest method is the bucket test which can be done by timing how long it takes to fill a five gallon bucket. Example: If a five gallon bucket fills in ten seconds you would use the calculation 5x60 (seconds in a minute)/10 (seconds to fill)=30 gallons per minute.
What pressure do the sprinklers require?
40-50 PSI at the sprinkler is ideal, however we do have options that can be run down to 25 psi. The amount of pressure required at the supply pump(s) depends upon the size, type, and length of both underground and aboveground pipe, possibly including the rise in terrain that must be overcome
How many acres is K-Line meant to be used on?
Anywhere from 1 acre to thousands of acres!
How long will K-Line systems last?
Considering normal use, K-Line tubing and pods are expected to last at least ten years. However, there are many systems in the United States and abroad that we are aware of that are 20+ years old and have required little to no maintenance requirements outside of occasionally splicing a pipe crack after multiple kinks in the same spot.
What are the maintenance requirements of K-Line?
"Simplicity" was the word in mind while going through the design process of inventing K-Line. Not only is it easy to operate, nearly anyone can repair it (which is rarely even necessary). The only regular maintenance requirements are: draining at season's end, unplugging the occasionally clogged sprinkler nozzle, and splicing the rare break in lines if/when kinked multiple times over.
I want to irrigate an area that may have livestock in it at the same time. Will this be an issue with K-Line?
No. We have “stock guards” available to place over the top of pods which ensures that livestock hoof action will not break sprinklers or fittings and does not hinder water application.
Can I fertigate with a K-Line system?
Yes. You can run fertilizers and other crop chemicals through K-Line just as you would with any other form of irrigation. Furthermore, the true value of fertigating with K-Line is that a field can be micromanaged. With other forms of mainstream irrigation, the only option is to blanket a field with an average amount of chemical. With K-Line, select areas can be pre-wetted with water before or after chemical application and the operator can choose to add more, less, or no chemical to certain areas of a field vs. others. This is just one example of the management flexibility and environmental stewardship benefits that K-Line offers that other irrigation options can’t.
What sort of equipment is needed to move K-Line?
Most operators use an ATV or UTV to relocate K-Line pod lines. However, small lawn tractors and lawnmowers are also sufficient. We’re even aware of some producers who use a horse to move their systems! It is always advisable to move K-Line systems when they are operating so the K-Pipe remains filled with water. This technique provides rigidity to the K-Pipe which permits the system to be moved and manipulated in a more natural manner and prevents kinking of the K-Pipe. Be aware, because of this, systems over 4 or 5 pods long may be too heavy for some lawnmowers and horses to tow.
How do I determine the appropriate pod spacing?
We generally recommend that both line spacing and set spacing be as equal as possible so that each sprinkler serves a near square area. Overlapping is necessary because of the circular nature of each sprinkler's application. A 45 ft. pod spacing on the K-Pipe and a 45 ft. set width is generally considered ideal. However, because of the various lengths and widths of paddocks, it's often more practical to increase or decrease set widths based on the irrigatable area or adjust pod spacing to account for "imperfect" set lengths which are not evenly divisible by 45 ft. All of this is calculated for you in our design process which can be initiated through our Request a Consultation form.
How often are K-Line systems moved?
Typically, systems are relocated to a new “set” once every 24 hours. However, relocation can be done every 12 hours if sufficient water supply and labor are available. Increasing the relocation rate to 12 hours saves on upfront product investment (because you can water 2x as much area in the same amount of time) but increases labor demands.
The 12-hour method is often preferred, or even necessary, for areas where productive forage growth is desired but soil moisture holding capacity is low (sandy soils).