Solar Water Pumps For Agriculture
Grekkon Limited’s solar water pumps for agriculture have different specifications in pressure rating (head), flow rate, and the motor size (Megawatts). Our solar water pumps for irrigation in Kenya range from small portable to large immobile units. The choice of a farmer’s solar water pump is a factor of acreage because, the area under irrigation determines the water use Our solar water pumps prices are tailored to the well’s depth, yield and head. These solar pump’s costs range from as low as Kes 37,000 to over Kes 1,500,000. For instance, a farmer with a 6M shallow well yielding 0.5 cubic litres an hour will work with a basic solar water pump. Another grower with a deep well of 280M, and a yield of 15 cubic litres per hour will have a large pump installed
Types Of Solar Water Pumps For Agriculture
1. Submersible water pumps
These are the most common ones with farmers installing them in deep or shallow wells. They are also done in rivers and pools. They work when fully immersed in water. Stainless steel submersible solar water pumps are common in every well. There is a more efficient and affordable plastic version. This is for rivers, pools, and water tanks. It works with the same principle as the stainless steel one
Submersible solar water pumps for agriculture prices
Our solar water pumps prices range from as low as Kes 38,000 for small portable units, to over Kes 2,000,000 for large types. The former have a low head, and low water flow rate. The latter is for very deep wells and with lots of water
To recommend and price your right submersible solar water pump, a test pumping report is required. It will show; the well depth, the dynamic head, the static water level, and the pump placement level is necessary. Where such is lacking, then a float switch attached to the water pump is necessary. It ensures that it only works when submerged in water. The motor is damaged when the water pump runs ‘dry’
2. Surface solar water pumps
These solar surface water pumps work without any external contact with water unlike their submersible type counterparts. They are easily portable unless it’s too large to move about.
3. Direct current (DC) water pumps
These are purely solar water pumps that work under a DC current. They will not require an inverter, unless a farmer chooses to install one. This is to modify it to use an alternating current (AC)
4. Alternating current water pumps
These are purely electric water pumps that work under an AC current. To convert it to a solar water pump, an inverter converts the DC to AC. The DC is from the solar panels
Submersible solar water pump prices in Kenya
Solar water pump for irrigation prices (submersibles for shallow, low volume wells below 100M)
Model No | Power (Hp) | Watts | No & Panel Size | Head (M) | Flow rate (liters/ hour) | Price in Kes |
SP 0.5N | 0.6 | 700 | 300W x 1pc | 40M | 5,800 | 37,120 |
SP 0.6N | 0.8 | 1,200 | 300W x 2pcs | 60M | 5,800 | 40,215 |
SP 0.8N | 1.1 | 1,300 | 300W x 3pcs | 70M | 5,800 | 46,400 |
SP 1.0N | 1.3 | 1,400 | 300W x 3pcs | 80M | 5,800 | 52,600 |
For solar submersible water pumps for deep well below 80M, we provided tailored units based on the test pumping results of the borehole
Solar-powered water pumps FAQs
I. How much is solar water pump in Kenya?
The solar water pump price depends on the features listed above; power rating, head, and flow rate. It can be a low-cost solar water pump that costs Kes 15,000, and or a borehole solar water pump as much as Kes 1,500,000
Solar pump prices are varied according to this
II. How much is a solar panel in Kenya?
Our price is Kes 50 per watt
III. What is a DC water pump?
A direct current water pump is one that uses a direct current from a solar panel or battery to push irrigation water
IV. Do you sell any portable solar water pump in Kenya?
Yes our shallow well solar water pumps are portable
V. Is it a low-volume high-pressure water pump?
Not all. Some of our submersible solar water pumps are high volume high-pressure water pumps. They have a high water flow rate. Most are high volume high-pressure pumps with a high water flow rate
VI. What is the best solar-powered water pump?
It depends on the individual’s use
VII. How does a solar pump work?
Solar energy from the sun is received on the panels. This energy as a direct current is fed to the motor to pump out the water
VIII. Do solar pumps work at night?
No, they don’t, unless powered by an external battery
IX. Which solar pump is the best?
To determine the most appropriate submersible solar water pump for a client, the following information will be provided
- Depth of the well or borehole
- The water level in the well or borehole
- Water requirement or use per day
X. What are the disadvantages of solar water pumping?
- The initial set up cost is expensive
- If placed in an insecure location, the risk of theft is high
- It does not pump at night or when it gets very cloudy
XI. Can I connect a pump directly to a solar panel?
No you cannot because they both require different voltages and current
JD Diesel Water Pumps
JD (Jiang dong) diesel water pumps in Kenya by Grekkon Limited are of varying specifications for agricultural use in irrigation. This specifications are in regards to; the engine power, the head, and the flow rate. Our JD diesel water pumps consist of a diesel engine, and a horizontal single-suction, single-stage, centrifugal water pump. The water pump is made from cast iron
JD Diesel Water Pumps Characteristics
- high efficiency
- wide performance range
- safe and stable operation
- long service life because the cast iron impeller and volute reduce vibration and wear on the mechanical seal and engine
- convenient installation and maintenance
- can channel hot water, abrasive or corrosive liquids by changing the material of the water pump’s flow-through components, the form of the seal and adding a cooling system
Working Principal
After the start, the impeller rotates rapidly so that the water in the impeller channel flows towards the volute. During this time, a vacuum is formed in the inlet, and water flows from the suction pipe to the pump through the impeller channel
The right most critical terms when identifying the right pump performance is water volume and the lift/ head. Generally, a trade -off occurs between head and flow with an increase in one causing a decrease in the other and vice versa. Head refers to the gains or losses in pressure caused by gravity and friction as flows through the system. The lift is the vertical distance from the water line to the center line of the impeller
The greater the lift and the water volume required, the larger the engine power. For instance, to achieve a flow rate of 80 cubic litres per hour, at a head of 100M, then the engine power must be from 22Hp and above
JD Diesel Water Pumps Prices
Model | Specs; head, flow rate, outlet size, and horsepower | Price in KES |
JD | 65M, 38cubic per hour, 2″ and 14Hp | KES 113,000 |
JD | 65M, 38cubic per hour, 2″ and 16Hp | KES 116,000 |
JD | 65M, 38cubic per hour, 2″ and 18Hp | KES 129,000 |
JD | 65M, 38cubic per hour, 2″ and 22Hp | KES 141,000 |
JD | 100M, 80 cubic per hour, 3″ and 22Hp | KES 148,000 |
JD | 65M, 38cubic per hour, 2″ and 24Hp | KES 158,000 |
JD | 100M, 80 cubic per hour, 3″ and 24Hp | KES 165,000 |
JD | 65M, 38cubic per hour, 2″ and 30Hp | KES 172,000 |
JD | 100M, 80 cubic per hour, 3″ and 30Hp | KES 180,000 |
Pixie Orange Farming And Irrigation
Pixie orange farming and irrigation in Kenya is a high investment, high returns farming venture. Pixies originate from California, USA where they were developed as a cross between oranges and tangerines. They are yellow-orange in colour, sweet and seedless fruits rich in vitamin C. They boost the immune system and increase collagen production which is great for the skin. In this piece, we answer commonly asked questions on pixie orange farming and irrigation by growers in Africa
1.How do you grow pixie oranges in Kenya?
They grow in most soils, but the best are deep (at least 18 inches or 42 cm deep) fertile sandy loams with a pH range of 6.5 – 7.3
2. How do you plant pixie oranges?
The dimensions of the planting holes are 2ft x 2ft x 2ft. This allows for water conservation and deep root penetration as the tree grows. mix the top soil thoroughly with well decomposed manure especially in weak soils
3. What is the spacing for pixies?
Row to row 5M, plant to plant 4M to give an average population of 200 plants per acre. A mature full-sized tree tree is 6M – 9M tall, and equally wide with an extensive root system
4. How long do pixie oranges take to grow out?
Pixie oranges take 2 years to their first fruiting season, but full maturity is between 3 -5 years
4. How many oranges will one tree produce?
The first fruits (30 – 50 fruits) come in the second year, then 250 -300 in the third to fifth years. By the eighth year, the tree bears 500 -600 fruits annually. To produce this commercial quantity all year round, irrigation must be undertaken
5. How many pixie orange trees per acre?
200 trees on average
How To Irrigate Pixie Oranges In Kenya
Pixie oranges require a high amount of water to grow because they are ever green. Under rain fed production, it will be at least 1,000mm of rain annually. However, to produce commercially, irrigation will be done to supplement rain. A tree will have 20 litres at planting, and thereafter, ensure that the soil is consistently moist, but not soggy. The root system must not be allowed to dry out, and neither should there be standing water. Irrigation is at the root zone, away from the trunk
Pixie Orange Farming And Irrigation
Methods
I. Sprinkler Irrigation
Micro sprinklers at the base of the plant are the most efficient or all overhead irrigation methods. Micro sprinklers are low-pressure, low to medium volume irrigation equipment that deliver water directly to the crop root zone. They provide full scale surface irrigation, and localised watering of trees
II. Button drippers
This is the most water conserving and efficient irrigation system. The water loss to evaporation is less than that of micro-sprinklers, and it requires lower pressure to operate
Water Pumps In Kenya
Water pumps in Kenya by Grekkon Limited are varied for different purposes. This provides a wide choice to select from for growers according to irrigation use. Below are water pumps by Grekkon Limited
Water pumps in Kenya
Categorisation
1. By displacement
1.1. Centrifugal pumps work through centrifugal force to drive water that enters the impeller. They use the rotational energy from the spinning impeller to produce hydrodynamic energy
1.2. Positive displacement water pumps use a piston, a diaphragm, or a rotating cog or gear to mechanically move a fixed volume of water through the pump chamber
2. By Location
2.1. Surface pumps suck water through an inlet pipe, then pump it out from an outlet pipe. They are set horizontally on dry surface. Theses are; electric surface pumps including booster pumps, solar surface pumps, diesel and petrol generator water pumps
2.2. Submersible water pumps work under water in wells. The size and power depends on the well depth, and discharge rate. They are either solar or electric powered
3. By power output
3.1. Electric motor powered pumps are either electric (AC current), or solar (DC current) water pumps
3.2. Generator powered water pumps are either diesel or petrol types. These are available as high pressure, high volume, low pressure and low volume
Water Pumps In Kenya
What To Consider When Buying Your Water Pump
1. The head/ pressure rating
This is the vertical pumping distance in meters or bars. The higher it is, the higher the pressure needed, and the more powerful is the engine or motor. Fuel engine (generator) or electric motor power is horse power (Hp), or in Kilowatts (kW) for the latter
2. The flow rate
This is the amount of water pumped evacuated per unit time. It is in litres per minute or per hour. The higher it is, the larger the water pump inlet and outlet size
For agricultural use, PVC or HDPE water pipes are connected to these pumps. The pipes evacuate water to the crops
3. The power rating
The motor or engine size provided in kilowatts (kW) for the former, and in horse power (Hp) for the latter determines the water pump’s efficiency. The larger the flow rate and the discharge, so will the engine or motor be
Drip Irrigation Lines and Pipes
In this drip irrigation lines and pipes piece, we will answer commonly asked questions in relation to drip irrigation
1.What is drip irrigation tape?
This is a flat thin walled LLDPE material tube with sequential emitters for irrigation
2. How long do you water with drip tape?
This depends on the crop water need at the time of irrigation. It ranges from 25 minutes to 1.5 hours. It is recommended to irrigate daily over a short duration with the same amount of water to keep the crop happy
3. Can you re-use drip tape?
Yeas you will over several growing seasons. The thicker the wall size, the longer the re-use period
4. What is the maximum length of a drip irrigation line?
1,000M
5. How much water does drip tape put out?
This depends on the emitter specifications. We supply 1.5L/ hour, 2L/hour, and 3L/hour emitters in our drip tapes
6. How much do drip lines cost?
Grekkon Limited’s double emitter drip irrigation lines and pipes for sale in Kenya tapes are categorised by thickness; 0.3mm, and 0.4mm. Both are 16mm in diameter, 1,000M long and with a choice of emitter spacing as 15cm, 20cm, and 30cm
Cost of drip irrigation tapes
Thickness | 0.3mm | 0.4mm |
Price | KES 7,500 | KES 8,500 |
The choice of drip line thickness depends on
- is it for out door or greenhouse installation? 0.3mm is fine in the greenhouse because it is no directly exposed to sunlight
- radiation level. where the sun’s radiation is high, 0.4mm is better
7. How much does it cost drip irrigation for 1 acre?
This depends on the crop type. Different crops have different drip irrigation piping requirements
Drip irrigation lines and pipes
By acreage pricing
Crop Type | Lines Per Bed | Acreage | Cost in Kes |
Watermelon, cucumber, butter nut | 1 | 0.125 | 15,000 |
0.25 | 25,000 | ||
0.50 | 45,000 | ||
1 | 85,000 | ||
Tomato, cabbage, chilies, capsicum | 2 | 0.125 | 25,000 |
0.25 | 40,000 | ||
0.50 | 75,000 | ||
1 | 140,000 | ||
Onion, garlic, herbs, spices, strawberry | 0.125 | 27,500 | |
3 | 0.25 | 45,000 | |
0.50 | 85,000 | ||
1 | 160,000 |
8. What time of day is best for drip irrigation?
Early morning is highly recommended. If not, then in the evening
9.How much pressure does a drip irrigation system need?
The minimum operating pressure is 3M or 0.3 bar
10. What pipes size should I use for drip irrigation?
There are 3 lines in an irrigation set-up
- main line. This one delivers water to the farm from the source; tank, water pan, lake or river. It is the largest
- sub-main line. It is connected to the main line to supply water to the drip irrigation tubes. It is lesser in diameter than the main line
- drip irrigation tape. it supplies water directly to the crop
The pipe size is a factor of acreage. The main line diameter size on 10 acres is larger than the main line diameter size on half an acre of drip irrigation. These pipes are either HDPE or PVC types
11. How do I start my own drip?
Our technical team guides new drip irrigation farmers on starting out. These are the steps to follow
- identify the area to undertake drip irrigation. It will have a close water source
- what crop is to be grown? this will guide on the number of drip rows per bed
- what is your budget? it determines the acreage to set up the system
Solar Water Pump Prices
Solar water pump prices in Kenya by Grekkon Limited are provided based on the pump specs. Our submersible solar water pumps for sale in Kenya are categorised as;
- Motor size. This is given in kilo watts (kW) or horse power (Hp). The motor operates on direct current (DC) generated by the solar panels, or from a battery. The larger the motor size, the more the power a motor consumes, and provides to the pump
- Head. This is the pressure rating provided in meters (M) or bar. It determines how far vertically that pump will push water. The higher the pressure rating, the higher the push. Deep wells use higher pressure rated submersible solar pumps than shallow wells
- Flow rate. It is the volume of water evacuated over a given time unit. This is given as litres per second, or per minute, or as cubic litres per hour. This determines the size of the outlet pipe. A pump that evacuates more water has a larger outlet
Smaller domestic water pumps are portable solar water pumps. It is easy to move them from one shallow well to another. This is not the case for large, permanent, deep well solar water pumps
Solar Water Pump Prices In Kenya
Model No | Power Hp | Watts | No & Panel Size | Head (M) | Flow rate (liters/ hour) | Price in Kes |
SP 0.5N | 0.6 | 700 | 300W x 1pc | 40M | 5,800 | 37,120 |
SP 0.6N | 0.8 | 1,200 | 300W x 2pcs | 60M | 5,800 | 40,215 |
SP 0.8N | 1.1 | 1,300 | 300W x 3pcs | 70M | 5,800 | 46,400 |
SP 1.0N | 1.3 | 1,400 | 300W x 3pcs | 80M | 5,800 | 52,600 |
The prices shown above are for solar water pumps for wells less than 100M. Beyond this, we provide specific pumps that match the borehole’s water specs. We install submersible solar water pumps across east Africa for all well sizes. Before an installation is made, a well analysis is conducted to ensure the right solar submersible water pump is provided.
How To Install Rain Hose Kits
Grekkon Limited’s manual on how to install rain hose kits in Kenya is an easy to read step by step guide. It details every aspect of rain pipe assembly in the farm to provide understanding to farmers. As the pioneer of rain hose kits in Kenya, we are keen to that farmers receive the full benefit of rain pipe irrigation. Rain hose pipes work under high gravity pressure (from 6M or 0.6bar), and with high volume water pumps. The discharge rate of the water pump is from 40 cubic litres per hour. These water pumps are surface solar, electric, petrol or diesel powered
How To Install Rain Hose Kits
- Trench where the poly vinyl chloride (PVC) main line will be laid. This is not necessary for the high density polyethylene (HDPE) which are surface pipes. PVC pipes are sub-surface pipes because they have no UV-treatment, and will thus degrade easily under the sun. HDPE pipes have UV treatment and will be surface pipes
- Connect the PVC or (HDPE) main line to the water pump or high tank. This pipe evacuates water from the source to the farm and is the largest in diameter. The larger the pipe diameter, the more the water it delivers. .
- Join the HDPE or PVC sub-main line to the main line. The sub-main line is smaller in diameter, and so carries less water. It is joined to the main line through PVC or HDPE accessories such as; tees, elbows, saddle clamps, adaptors or valve sockets
- Connect the rain pipe to the sub-main line or the main line where a sub-main line does not exist. This is done with a rain hose connector or a saddle clamp
- Spread the rain hose along the length, and close the terminal end with an end cap
- Connect one rain pipe to another with a connector
A drilling tool is the only tool used when installing a rain hose kit. This is to create an opening on the main or sub-main line to insert the rain pipe ball valve
Types Of Dam Liners
As a dam liner company, Grekkon Limited supplies and installs 3 types of dam liners in Kenya by thickness, and 2 types of dam liners by material. In this article, we answer many water harvesting using dam liners questions posed to us by growers
1. What type of dam liner is best?
1.1. Types of dam liners in Kenya – by material
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High density polyethylene (HDPE) dam liners
This is what we supply and install most. This is because it is thin and lightweight which makes it easy to carry. They are tough with high tensile strength, hard to puncture, and stiff, which makes them less prone to sudden length tears. However, this stiffness makes welding more difficult. HDPE dam liners have the best UV resistance, and are safe for the environment because they do not emit chemicals. Their disadvantage is that they’re more difficult to repair when perforated. Our HDPE dam liners are in rolls from which we cut and tailor weld it to a water pan’s specifications
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Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) dam liners
We supply and install these but at a lessor scale. PVC dam liners are highly flexible, impermeable and tough. They are heavier than HDPE dam liners, but easier to weld as the material joins together more easily. They have the best resistance to chemicals and acids and so they are not easily corroded. This makes them the most suitable for land fills and chemical containment sites. Our PVC dam liners are factory fabricated panels that eases installation. The downside with PVC dam liners is environmental safety because they release chemicals as the PVC material degrades. This in the long-term is toxic to fish
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Low density polyethylene (LLDPE) dam liners
They are made from the same plastic as HDPE dam liners, and so share similarities. Being less dense than their HDPE cousins, they are softer, more flexible and more pliable. Being softer makes them less susceptible to stress cracking. High flexibility allows for easier under installation, and molding them around corners, nooks and crannies. Pliability means they conform best to rough terrain with little wrinkles
1.2. Types of dam liners in Kenya – by thickness
- 0.5mm. This is for smooth surfaces and to hold lesser water volume (5,000 cubic liters and below)
- 0.75mm and 0.8mm. Works well in rough surfaces with few stones or murram. It will hold any water capacity
- 1mm. Best for stony or rocky surfaces, and any water capacity
2. Which is better: PVC or HDPE dam liner?
HDPE is better because it has greater tensile strength, and does not contaminate the environment
3. What is a good thickness for a dam liner?
The choice of thickness is determined by the surface and water volume. For instance, a 0.5mm dam liner is more appropriate for a concrete water tank holding 100 cubic litres than a 1mm dam liner
4. What are the 2 main types of dam liners?
HDPE and PVC dam liners are the most common dam liners in Kenya
5. How long does a dam liner last?
This depends on the thickness, material type and use. As a guideline though, 0.5mm thick dam liners last to 15 years, 0.75mm to 25 years, and 1mm to 36 years
6. Can I put a new dam liner over an old one?
The simple answer is yes, but remove any liquid, and solid debris on the old liner’s surface. Note that once the new one is placed, you cannot shift the old liner without affecting the new one. The new dam liner is not joined to the old dam liner in any way
7. How often do dam liners need to be replaced?
So long as the dam liner is functioning well, it is unnecessary to remove it. There is no replacement timeline
8. What is the best liner for a large water pan?
Large is relative. But for any water reservoir holding beyond 5,000 cubic litres, we recommend the 0.75mm or the 1mm thick dam liners
9. How do you hold a dam liner in a water pan?
There are 2 ways.
9.1. Trenching
This is where a 2feet deep by 1 foot wide trench is excavated all round the circumference of the water reservoir. This trench is 0.75M to 1M from the edge of the water pan. The dam liner is tucked in here then covered with soil, gravel or rocks/ stones
9.2. Sand bags
Bags filled with soil, sand or gravel are laid on top of the dam liner edges to anchor it in place
The different types of dam liners does not affect the holding method
10. Can you join 2 dam liners together?
Yes. Pieces of dam liner welded together make a continuous sheet
11. Can you glue 2 dam liners together?
The best way to join dam liners is by welding because it is permanent
12. Can you cut a dam liner?
Yes. We cut and weld together dam liner sheets from large rolls to tailor it to the water pan’s dimensions
13. Can you put gravel on top of a dam liner?
Yes you can especially if it is for support on the edges
What to consider when choosing a dam liner
- The surface texture. Install a thicker liner for rougher surfaces
- Water volume. The larger it is, the thicker the dam liner
- Purpose. If it will hold chemicals or acids, then the PVC dam liner is best because it is the most resistant
Water Harvesting With Dam Liners
Water harvesting with dam liners in Kenya is a an important aspect of effective and consistent all year round irrigation. Grekkon Limited is the largest provider of the 3 main types of dam liners in Kenya. This is for water harvesting and aquaculture to smallholder and medium commercial farmers. We encourage every commercial crop farmer to excavate a water pan for off-season production. We then line this water pan with geomembrane material to hold water. Dam liners prevent water loss in the reservoir through seepage into the soil below. Produce cultivated during the off-season fetches better prices, and ensures a consistent farm income. Our dam liners have anti-UV treatment to protect them from long-term solar degradation, which extends their lifespan
Water Harvesting With Dam Liners
Steps:
- Work out the area under irrigation, or to irrigate
- Determine the irrigation method. Each method consumes different amounts of water. We recommend drip irrigation as the most water efficient method
- Understand how long the dry off-season period is
- The 3 workings above will give an indication of the water quantity needed
- Work out the size of the water pan to excavate to hold this amount of water
- Calculate the dam liner size to install in this water pan
An illustration
An acre of strawberry measures 4,048 meters square. The method of irrigation is drip, and strawberry require 100 cubic litres weekly per acre (averagely). The dry period lasts for 32 weeks, so the amount of water needed is 3.2million litres or 3,200 cubic liters to last this long. This assumes zero rainfall in these 8 months, and that there is a shade net covering to prevent evaporation losses
The reservoir dimensions are 36M length x 36M width x 2.5M depth. The total liner needed for this is 1,849 meters square
Dam Liner Types In Kenya
1. By material
1.1. High density polyethylene (HDPE) geomembrane. These are the most common types because they have additional use in making urban multi-storey gardens
1.2. PVC dam liners. The are soft but heavy. This makes them easier to weld and install
1.3. Low density polyethylene (LDPE). They are soft and light, hence the least popular because they have a short lifespan
2. By size
2.1. 0.5mm. For smooth surfaces or soil with light murram particles. It has a lifespan of 15 years
2.2. 0.75mm. For lightly stony or rocky surfaces. It has a life span of 25 years
2.3. 1mm. Applied on moderately stony or rocky surfaces. Period of use is 35 years
Overhead Sprinklers For Irrigation
Grekkon Limited is an irrigation equipment supplier in Kenya. We design, supply, and install all types of overhead sprinklers for irrigation systems, for every acreage and crop. Our overhead sprinklers for irrigation in Kenya are of different types, for different crops, acreage and locations. This is why our technical or agronomy team will visit a grower who needs to install one. It is to assess the land layout and size, topography, water location, water volume, existing water pump if any, and the crop. Through this survey, we recommend the most appropriate sprinkler irrigation kit for the grower based on their budget. For instance, a grower with 100 acres of orchard will have a different sprinkler from a 100 acres of a park covered with grass. Similarly, a farmer on an 1/8 acres of cabbage will have a different sprinkler irrigation kit than the one with 30 acres of cabbage
Overhead Sprinklers For Irrigation
Types
We have these 5 overhead sprinklers for sale types shown below available. For most, there are both metallic and plastic versions. Metallic sprinklers have a longer lifespan, but are costlier and heavier. Plastic sprinklers are lighter, cheaper, but have a shorter period of operation. The body material does not affect the pressure rating, inlet and outlet sizes or the water discharged. For technical details on each type, click on the title links given for every sprinkler
- Rain gun sprinklers for medium-sized to large acreage. Available sprinkler sizes are; 1″, 1-1/4″, 1-1/2″, 2″, and 2.5″. We supply and install the double nozzle PY, Atom, and flange type rain guns. The latter are for broad acreage and require very high water volume, and high operating pressure
A flange type rain gun video at work
2. Plastic or brass impact sprinklers for small to medium sized acreage. Our sizes are; 1/2″, 3/4″ and 1″ which have either 2-way, 3-way or 4-way nozzles
3. Mega-net sprinklers for small to medium-sized areas. We have the 1/2″, 3/4″ and 1″ which have a spray angle of 180 degrees
4. Micro sprinklers for orchards and small areas with a spray angle of 360 degrees
5. Pop up sprinklers for lawn irrigation. Our sizes are1/2″ and 3/4″ which spray up to 360 degrees
6. Butterfly mini sprinklers for small gardens or and lawns available as 1/2″
How to choose your overhead sprinklers in Kenya
- Land size. Rain guns for large acreage, and micro-sprinklers for small plots of land
- Crop type. Pop-ups for lawn irrigation, all other sprinklers for field crops
- Ground elevation. Gravity power from high elevations will swing micro and impact sprinklers. Rain guns, Meganets, and pop-ups work with water pumps
- Grower’s budget. It determines the sprinkler type and number of units to install
Our sprinkler irrigation system design considers the above 4 factors during our site visits conducted before a sprinkler irrigation system is installed
Components of an overhead sprinkler irrigation system
- Mainline. This is PVC, HDPE, or GI to supply water from the source. It will be connected directly to the sprinkler riser pipe, or to the sub-main line
- Sub mainline. This one is connected directly to the sprinkler rise pipe, or to the sprinkler itself from the mainline. It is also PVC, HDPE, GI or a delivery/ layflat pipe
- Riser pipe. This receives water from the main line or sub-main line to the sprinkler It is also PVC, HDPE, or a GI
- Tripod or pipe stand. It is the sprinkler’s support structure
- Gate valves. They allow or block water flow to the sub mainline
Overhead sprinkler prices in Kenya per acre
- Rain gun sprinkler system from Kes 65,000
- Impact and Mega-net sprinklers from Kes 50,000
- Butterfly and Micro jet sprinklers from Kes 85,000
- Pop-up sprinklers from Kes 120,000
FAQs
A. What are the pros and cons of an overhead sprinkler irrigation?
I. Overhead sprinkler irrigation advantages
- There is a wide choice to select from
- It is easy to install
- It is cheaper than drip irrigation
- Easy to move from one point of the farm to another
II. Disadvantages
- It is water wasteful
- During strong winds, water distribution is uneven
- High running cost because a water pump is needed
- It requires labour to move it from one location to another if it’s a portable system
B. How does an overhead sprinkler irrigation system work?
- Water is pumped under high pressure from the source; tank, reservoir, lake, river to the mainline
- From the mainline, it is distributed to the sub-main lines
- From the sub-mainlines, it enters the sprinklers under pressure. This pressure swings the sprinkler in a circular motion
- The sprinkler breaks the water into fine droplets, which fall on the crop
C. How do I choose a water pump for my sprinkler system?
Consider the following when selecting a sprinkler water pump
i. Pressure rating of the sprinkler. The water pump’s pressure rating must exceed that of the sprinkler to compensate for pressure losses in the piping system. Grekkon Limited’s technical team advises growers on the best match. The larger the pipe diameter, the lower the pressure loss along the horizontal pumping distance. The longer the horizontal and vertical pumping distance, the greater the pressure loos. Pressure loss during irrigation water reticulation is also as a result of leakages along the piping system
ii. Discharge rate of the sprinkler. Like the pressure rating above, this will be higher for the water pump to cater for any fluid losses
iii. Inlet diameter of the sprinkler. That of the pump has to match this