Subsurface irrigation system
OwnerAlfonso P. Elenainventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for irrigating the roots of plants below the surface of the ground in which a narrow irrigation tube is connected at its upper end to a water distribution source. The irrigation tube extends below the surface of the ground from the water distribution source in generally vertical alignment with the stalk of the plant, and its lower end opens vertically downwardly below the roots of a plant, so that water may be discharged from the opening in the lower end in a downwardly direction. The soil in the planting site is broken up to a depth of at least five feet below ground surface.
Claims19
A system for irrigating the roots of plants below the surface of the ground, comprising
- a water distribution source;
- feeder tubing connected to said water distribution source and disposed above the surface of the ground proximate plants to be watered, said feeder tubing having a plurality of valve means disposed along its length for the controlled release of water;
- and
- a plurality of flexible irrigation tubes having an outer diameter narrower than the outer diameter of the feeder tubing and generally uniform over its length, each of said irrigation tubes having an upper end connected to said valve means and a lower end forming a vertically downward opening for the discharge of water proximate the roots of a plant, each of said irritation tubes extending for at least a portion of its length below the surface of the ground in a generally vertical alignment with the stalk of a plant to a depth below the lower end of the plant stalk proximate the roots of the plant whereby water may be discharged from the opening in the lower end in a downwardly direction.
A method of irrigating the roots of plants below the surface of the ground, comprising the steps of:
- a) preparing a planting site by breaking up the soil to a depth of at least five feet below the ground surface;
- b) selecting a plant to be planted;
- c) removing soil from the planting site to a depth greater than the preselected depth of the plant;
- d) situating the stalk of said plant generally vertically in the planting site to a predetermined depth;
- e) situating a flexible irrigation tube in the planting site adjacent the stalk of said plant, said irrigation tube having a generally uniform outer diameter, an upper end for connection to a water distribution source and a lower end forming an opening for the discharge of water in a vertically downward direction, a portion of the irrigation tube disposed below the surface of the ground in close proximity to the plant stalk, the lower end of said irrigation tube being disposed at least one inch below the lower ends of the roots of said stalk;
- f) replacing the soil around said plant and said irrigation tube;
- g) connecting said irrigation tube to a water distribution source, said water distribution source having control means for the release of water;
- and
- h) introducing water under pressure to the water distribution source and controlling the discharge of water to the roots of the plant at a desired rate.
A method of irrigating the roots of plants below the surface of the ground, comprising the steps of:
- a) preparing a tubular opening in soil proximate a plant to be irrigated by breaking up the soil to a depth of at least five feet below the ground surface;
- b) inserting an irrigation tube having a lower end with an opening for the discharge of water in a vertically downward direction into the tubular opening adjacent to said plant along the depth of said plant and toward the lower end of said plant, said irrigation tube having an upper end for connection to a water distribution source;
- c) connecting said irrigation tube to said water distribution source, said water distribution source having control means for the release of water;
- and
- d) introducing water under pressure to the water distribution source and controlling the discharge of water to the roots of the plant at a desired rate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.