UNDERGROUND IRRIGATION SYSTEM

摘要

Systems and methods to supply water to plants in a direct and efficient manner by employing aboveground plumbing to individual plants, but not allowing the water to be dispersed aboveground. The water is directed to an underground container or cartridge assembly that dispenses the water through a dissipater (e.g., wick) into the surrounding soil. The cartridge assembly of the underground irrigation system may be installed in-line with supply water lines and deep enough that the dispersed water does not return near the surface which allows for working the soil over the underground irrigation system. Each of the cartridge assemblies of the underground irrigation system may be installed in line between two plants in a narrow trench at a depth of approximately 6 to 12 inches (e.g., 8 inches), so that each end of each cartridge assembly supplies water to one side of one of the two plants.

主权项

1. An underground irrigation system for irrigating plants in a row of plants, the underground irrigation system comprising:
a plurality of independent cartridge assemblies, each of the cartridge assemblies including:
an elongated cartridge body having a length dimension that extends between a first cartridge body end portion and a second cartridge body end portion, the length dimension less than a distance between two adjacent plants in the row of plants, the cartridge body positionable below a surface of soil between the two adjacent plants in the row of plants such that a longitudinal axis of the cartridge body that extends in a direction of the length dimension is axially aligned with the two adjacent plants in the row of plants with the first cartridge body end portion relatively proximate a first one of the two adjacent plants to provide irrigation thereto and the second cartridge body end portion relatively proximate a second one of the two adjacent plants to provide irrigation thereto, the cartridge body having a sidewall that includes a plurality of perforations that extend between an inner surface of the sidewall to an outer surface of the sidewall, the cartridge body further includes a water supply aperture;a feed tube having a first end and a second end, the first end of the feed tube coupleable to an aboveground irrigation system to receive water from the aboveground irrigation system, the second end of the feed tube coupled to the water supply aperture of the cartridge body; anda fluid dissipation layer having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface of the fluid dissipation layer positioned adjacent to and surrounding the outer surface of the sidewall of the cartridge body and in fluid communication with the perforations in the sidewall of the cartridge body.