® Moisture Indicator Reference Book
Contents Checking in Shipments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Preparing IRROMETERS for Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Selecting Locations for Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 IRROMETER Charts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
You have made an investment with your IRROMETER ®, which will repay its cost many times over. This reference book will give you information that will insure the maximum benefit from your investment. Hermetically Sealed Vacuum Gauge Cap Assembly Reservoir #0 Neoprene Stopper (PART OF CAP ASSEMBLY) Hermetically Sealed Vacuum Gauge Air Free Gauge Chamber IRROMETERS are manufactured of the highest quality materials and workmanship.
Checking In Shipments Shipments should be unpacked carefully and checked in immediately upon arrival. Do not remove the plastic tip covering until preparing for installation. Instruments are shipped dry and must be prepared for installation according to the instructions given below. Preparing IRROMETERS for Installation When instruments are received, it is necessary to prepare them for installation as outlined in steps 1 through 6 below.
contact with reservoir bottom, then turn the cap 1/4 turn. Do NOT over tighten, this can damage the IRROMETER gauge or stopper. 50 Remove the plastic tip cover on the instrument, or 0remove from the bucket of sand, and install the IRROMETER in the prepared hole. See section “INSTALLATION” page 6. 6 Pump the IRROMETER as illustrated each day for 3 to 6 days 0or until no further air bubbles appear. Tapping the side of the instrument with cap assembly will facilitate air release.
stop. 9. Tip (body) of instrument can be removed by pulling out from the top housing. Be sure to remove the cap before attempting to pull the tip (body) out to avoid damaging the gauge. Replacement tips (bodies) are available. CAUTION for RSU — use the Test Pump service unit pump (with the gauge attached), as this model IRROMETER does not have a gauge.
Placement of IRROMETERS in Furrow Irrigation Place IRROMETERS approximately 2/3 of the way down the run with tips angled slightly towards the furrow. In tree crops the IRROMETERS are generally placed on the side of the tree which gets the afternoon sun. In row crops they would normally be placed in the row. Since lateral movement of water varies widely with different soils, the closer the tip is located to the side of the furrow, the more representative the results will be.
Installation A good contact between the buried portion of the IRROMETER and the soil is essential in order to obtain accurate readings. If air is permitted to follow down the plastic tube, due to an oversize hole and reach the ceramic tip, false readings on the “high” side will occur. If free water falls/follows down the tube, false readings on the “low” side will occur. The specific suggestions below are offered to prevent either of these conditions.
main tube and pull straight up. Always avoid a lever or a “crow bar” action. It puts a strain on the ceramic tip connection. Specify instruments of suitable lengths. There should be a minimum clearance of about 1 inch between the bottom of the gauge and the soil. This allows the gauge diaphragm to expand and contract freely with temperature fluctuations. Also, not more than about six inches of the main tube should project above ground to avoid damage.
Reference to past charts makes it possible to maintain the most desirable soil moisture content in each section, year after year. The charts are a very important factor in IRROMETER irrigation control, and it is strongly recommended that they be kept up to date. The charts are also useful to keep rainfall information, fertilizer applications and unusual weather conditions posted with moisture readings for future reference. Use of dataloggers makes such record keeping easy and automatic.
and especially if they continue over considerable periods, much more frequent servicing is required. The maximum reading that can be reached is about 85. As this point is approached, a greater amount of air is drawn into the instrument. In this range, the instruments should be “serviced” and the reservoir should be filled, if necessary, about once a week. If servicing is not performed, eventually all the water will be drawn out of the instrument and the vacuum will be lost, giving a “FALSE” zero reading.
Protection of IRROMETERS Growers find that they protect their investment by protecting the instruments. The purposes of protection are: 1. 2. 3. 4. To prevent accidental damage to the instruments resulting from field operation. To facilitate taking readings by keeping the gauge crystal clean. To inhibit the growth of algae by keeping out of sunlight. To provide a measure of frost protection.
It is possible to grow some crops in some fine soils at even higher readings and get good yields. However, we know of no cases where yields or quality have been increased by starting irrigations at higher readings during the vegetable period of growth. On the other hand, there is considerable evidence that this practice results in a substantial loss of yield and delayed maturity with most crops.
Irrigating with IRROMETERS Your charts enable you to determine how soon and how much to irrigate after a rain. Most growers find surprising differences in penetration in different areas, due to variations in soil type and topography. Even in the same areas, infiltration rates often vary considerably depending upon how recently the soil has been cultivated and how wet the soil happens to be at the time rainfall occurs. Wilt starts at the roots.
a number of crops provided there is increased fertilization and proper irrigation. With corn, for example, increased fertilization alone produced no benefits, but with increased – and controlled – irrigation, yields were more than doubled. Controlled irrigation is just as beneficial in increasing quality and insuring early maturities as in increasing yields.
unsuspected run off or subsoil drainage. Radical reduction or even discontinuance of irrigations in the lower sections during some periods often results in material saving in water and at the same time maintains better soil moisture content for crop growth. In soils containing rock or gravel, frequent soil sampling is often either impractical or the cost is prohibitive, yet these are the soils where irrigation control is needed most.
Storage of IRROMETERS – When not in use When IRROMETERS are in continuous use, as with tree crops in moderate climates, they operate for years with no attention except for routine servicing. The few operating problems that have been experienced, have almost all occurred with instruments that have been used intermittently and have been improperly stored. Therefore, the following recommendations are very important. 1. Remove instruments from the ground immediately at the end of the growing season.
4. Prepare the instruments for re-installation the same as new instruments. If a week or so is allowed for the ceramic tips to become thoroughly saturated, subsequent operations will be facilitated. Care of Ceramic Tips If the above directions are followed, years of trouble-free operation can be expected from the ceramic tips. If salt deposits do clog the pores of the tip, the speed of response to irrigations will be slowed. This is when factory reconditioning is recommended.
If the gauge needle sticks in one location, or is too far out of calibration it indicates the gauge has either been frozen or damaged. The gauge should be returned to the factory for repair or replacement, as necessary. The presence of heavy condensation inside the gauge (under the plastic face cover) indicates the gauge seal has been broken. Reconditioning is advisable.
— WARRANTY — The IRROMETER COMPANY warrants its products against defective workmanship or materials under normal use for one year from date of purchase. Defective parts will be replaced at no charge for either labor or parts if returned to the manufacturer during the warranty period.
THIS IS YOUR IRROMETER REGISTRATION CARD Clip out this warranty registration, fill it out completely and mail today. You must return this registration card to obtain factory service under the IRROMETER warranty. Consult Reference Book for complete IRROMETER instructions.
® THE IRROMETER COMPANY, INC. 1425 Palmyrita Ave., Riverside, California 92507-1600 PHONE 951-682-9505 — FAX 951-682-9501 techsupport@IRROMETER.com www.IRROMETER.com (2/15) #714 LITHO U.S.A. PLACE STAMP HERE IRROMETER COMPANY, INC. 1425 Palmyrita Ave.
