Types of Irrigation Pipes In Kenya
Grekkon Limited supplies and installs various types of irrigation pipes in Kenya. These pipes are of different diameter sizes, lengths, and wall thickness. The larger the pipe diameter, the more volume of water it carries, and the lesser the frictional losses. With a longer pipe, a grower requires less connections between pipes. Wall thickness determines the amount of water pressure a pipe will withstand. The thicker the wall, the greater the water pressure withstood. It is indicated as pressure nominal (PN), with a number. The higher the number the thicker the walls
Types of Irrigation Pipes in Kenya
1. HDPE pipes (High density polyethylene pipes)
They are black in colour and are manufactured as rolls of 100M for these diameter sizes below
16mm, 20mm, 25mm, 32mm, 40mm, 50mm, 63mm, and 90mm.
Larger then 90mm, we supply them as 50M rolls. Grekkon Limited’s HDPE pipes are UV treated for surface application. They have a long lifespan because they are not easily degraded by the sun when exposed.
16mm HDPE pipes
HDPE Pipe prices in Kenya
| Size in MM | PN6 | PN8 | PN10 | PN12.5 | PN16 | PN20 | PN25 | Length (M) |
| 16 | 17.00 | 17.00 | 100M | |||||
| 20 | 25 | 28 | 31 | 33 | 36 | 41 | 49 | 100M |
| 25 | 34 | 36 | 40 | 46 | 52 | 64 | 74 | 100M |
| 32 | 49 | 49 | 59 | 71 | 86 | 101 | 120 | 100M |
| 40 | 61 | 76 | 90 | 112 | 132 | 157 | 187 | 100M |
| 50 | 95 | 115 | 139 | 169 | 206 | 243 | 289 | 100M |
| 63 | 151 | 178 | 222 | 269 | 324 | 390 | 454 | 100M |
| 75 | 207 | 255 | 313 | 382 | 453 | 547 | 648 | 100M |
| 90 | 300 | 364 | 450 | 547 | 657 | 789 | 930 | 100M |
| 110 | 441 | 548 | 669 | 810 | 974 | 1,170 | 1,394 | 50M |
| 125 | 568 | 700 | 854 | 1,044 | 1,264 | 1,514 | 1,793 | 50M |
| 140 | 716 | 876 | 1,073 | 1,307 | 1,575 | 1,898 | 2,254 | 50M |
| 160 | 940 | 1,149 | 1,399 | 1,706 | 2,063 | 2,472 | 2,932 | 12M |
| 180 | 1,171 | 1,444 | 1,770 | 2,165 | 2,614 | 3,126 | 3,706 | 12M |
| 200 | 1,451 | 1,789 | 2,183 | 2,655 | 3,223 | 3,866 | 4,584 | 12M |
| 225 | 1,824 | 2,168 | 2,771 | 3,372 | 4,080 | 4,895 | 5,797 | 12M |
| 250 | 2,254 | 2,767 | 3,395 | 4,153 | 5,017 | 6,015 | 7,154 | 12M |
| 280 | 2,819 | 3,492 | 4,265 | 5,205 | 6,291 | 7,560 | 8,972 | 12M |
| 315 | 3,592 | 4,389 | 5,401 | 6,596 | 7,963 | 9,562 | 11,358 | 12M |
| 355 | 4,538 | 5,573 | 6,875 | 8,363 | 10,108 | 12,147 | 14,401 | 12M |
| 400 | 5,755 | 7,106 | 8,688 | 10,605 | 12,833 | 15,408 | 18,288 | 12M |
| 450 | 7,277 | 8,987 | 11,007 | 13,433 | 16,251 | 19,507 | 23,137 | 12M |
| 500 | 8,976 | 11,087 | 13,601 | 16,576 | 20,052 | 24,038 | – | 12M |
| 560 | 11,252 | 13,877 | 17,038 | 20,796 | 25,120 | 30,158 | – | 12M |
| 630 | 14,257 | 17,529 | 21,579 | 26,285 | 31,828 | 38,163 | – | 12M |
2. PVC Pipes (Polyvinyl chloride pipes)
PVC pipes are 6M long, come in different diameter and wall thickness sizes. They have no UV treatment and are thus for sub-surface irrigation application.
PVC Pipes by Grekkon Limited
PVC Pipe Prices in Kenya
| Size in MM | PN6 | PN8 | PN10 | PN12.5 | PN16 |
| 379 | |||||
| 425 | 532 | ||||
| 32 | 553 | 588 | 694 | 795 | |
| 40 | 698 | 744 | 877 | 1093 | 1220 |
| 50 | 935 | 1,162 | 1,383 | 1705 | 1760 |
| 63 | 1,475 | 1,833 | 2,177 | 2722 | 3359 |
| 75 | 2,024 | 2,529 | 3,111 | 3839 | 4702 |
| 90 | 2,955 | 3,664 | 4,459 | 5527 | 6755 |
| 110 | 3,508 | 4,388 | 5,951 | 6717 | 8260 |
| 140 | 5,782 | 7,060 | 8,795 | 10805 | 13229 |
| 160 | 7,295 | 9,195 | 11,536 | 14189 | 17032 |
| 200 | 11,566 | 14,538 | 17,915 | 22116 | 27086 |
| 225 | 14,610 | 18,210 | 22,521 | 27991 | 34312 |
3. Delivery/ Lay-flat pipes
They are highly flexible irrigation water pipes made from UV treated PVC material.They are supplied as 30M, 50M or 100M long. The diameters are 2″ and 3″, with thicknesses of PN6, PN8 1nd PN10. These pipes are designed for surface use.
In sprinkler irrigation systems, they are connected to a water pump, or a HDPE or PVC pipe main line, then to a water sprinkler. In drip irrigation systems, it will be a main, or sub main line
Delivery/ Lay-flat pipe
4. Drip Irrigation Pipes
These are 0.3mm, 0.4mm, and 1mm thick pipes with a 16mm diameter. They are the lateral that deliver water to the base of the crop. The 0.3mm and 0.4mm are for vegetable crops, while the 1mm are for hedges and orchards. They all have pre-perforated emitters spaced at 15cm, 20cm, or 30cm. The choice of emitter spacing depends on the crop type; 15cm for closely spaced crops like onion and garlic, 20cm for moderately spaced crops like tomato, and cabbage. 30cm is for further spaced crops
5. Rain Hose Pipes
Rain hose irrigation system with nanotechnology punched holes is an affordable irrigation system for overhead irrigation. Rain hose irrigation system uses nano technology to convey water to the plant. It has a series of holes spaced at intervals which sprays water flow by high gravity, or from a water pump is initiated. Our 0.5mm thick, 100M long rain hose pipes are UV treated to last for 10 years in use
Features of a rain hose irrigation system
- It simulates natural rainfall by delivering water to the base of the crop, with the right droplet sizes
- The overhead water is discharged in a 3 dimensional manner; vertically, horizontally, and diagonally
- It is connected directly to a main line
- It is not easily blocked as the water is delivered under high pressure
- The operating pressure is from 15M head / 1.5 bar
Advantages of Grekkon rain hose irrigation pipes
- It is easy to install and maintain, and more economical to install than sprinklers
- It has anti-UV treatment, so it is not easily degraded by the sun
- These spray holes are made with nanotechnology to ensure uniform flow of water
- Irrigate both under gravity flow, and high water pump pressure
- Irrigate an area in just 10 minutes
- Highly portable
- A variety of diameters to select from depending on the farm size
Downsides of a rain hose system
- It is less water efficient compared to drip irrigation
- Water loss due to evaporation
- It cannot be used on crops, for intance, crops that are highly susceptible to fugal infections due to foliage wetness
- It requires high operating pressure
- Rainhose are more prone to clogging than large sprinklers because the have tiny emitters
- Under extremely high pressure, the pipes get damaged
Ideal crops for rain hose irrigation system
Crops that can be irrigated using the grekkon rain hose are:
- Vegetable such as carrots, brassicas, potatoes
- Closely spaced bulbs such as onion and garlic
- Fruit tress; avocado, pixie orange, macadamia, coffee
- Agro forestry
- Lawns, gardens, pasture, and football pitches
They are idea for tree or vegetable nursery irrigation
Types of Irrigation Pipes In Kenya
How to select your irrigation pipe
- Farm ownership method. A leased farm will have the surface HDPE pipes which will be disconnected when the lease period expires. A permanent farm will have sub-surface PVC pipes
- Irrigation method. Drip and rain hose kits will have HDPE and PVC as the main and sub main line often times. Sprinkler systems are best done with delivery pipes due to sprinkler movement in the farm
- Farm size. A larger farm will have larger diameter pipes because more water is needed to irrigate
- Pressure type. Irrigation water flow by gravity is through less thicker pipes such as PN6 or PN8
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
What is the price of a rain hose irrigation kit?
| Diameter size | Flow rate per 100M | Price in KES |
| 32mm or 1″ | 13 cubic litres per hour | KES 2,500 |
| 40mm or 1-1/4” | 16 cubic litres per hour | KES 5,800 |
| 50mm to 1-1/2″ | 22 cubic litres per hour | KES 6,800 |
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
A well connected rain hose pipe
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
Rain hose fittings from left to right: end cap, connector, rubber, and ball valve
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
How to Install Rain Hose Kits
Components of a rain hose irrigation kit?
1. End-caps. They close the end of the pipe to prevent further water flow
2. Starter off-takes. They connect the rain pipe to the PVC or HDPE main line that supplies water to the rain hose from a water pump or highly elevated water tank
3. Pipe connectors. To connect one rain hose pipe to another
4. Mini valves. To control water flow to the rain hose pipe
The diameter of the pipe are; 25mm, 32mm, 40mm and 50mm. A grower chooses the preferred size based on crop water needs and area of irrigation. For instance, a farmer with 1 acre of the crop will comfortably water with the volume delivered through a 32mm rain hose pipe.
Another grower with 5 acres will better irrigate with a 50mm rain hose pipe. An acre of crop uses 1,000 meters of 25mm, 800 meters of 32mm rain hose pipes, 600M of 40mm pipes, and 400M of 50mm pipes
How To Install rain Hose Kits
Rain hose irrigation system requirements
- The system requires a pressure head of 30M, and above
- When using a water pump to power the rain hose irrigation kit, the discharge rate should be from 45 cubic litres per hour
- The rate of water discharge is determined by the diameter size, and number of pores on the rain pipe. For instance, a rain pipe with 5 holes per cluster discharges less water than the one with 7 holes in a cluster
- It irrigates in opposite directions at a radius of 3M for the 32mm pipe, 5M for the 40mm pipe, and 7M for the 50mm pipe
- The vertical height of this water jet is 1M
Rain Hose Versus Drip Irrigation
- Rain pipes irrigate in an overhead fashion, drip lines irrigate to the root zone
- Drip tapes are water efficient, rain hose kits require large water volume
- Rain pipes have a higher pressure requirement than drip pipes
- Drip lines have emitters, while rain hose kits have pores done with nano technology
- The discharge rate for drip lines is 1.2 to 4 litres per hour per emitter, while the rain hose pore’s is from 7 litres per hour per emitter
- The cost of a drip kit installation per acre is from Kes 100,000, while the rain hose is from Kes 75,000
- The rain hose pipe’s minimum diameter is 25mm/ 3/4″, while drip tape’s is 8mm
Advantages Of A Rain Hose
- water saving and cost effective
- It is easy to install, use and maintain
- Ran hose nanotechnology punched holes are less prone to clogging
- It is used in a broad range of crops
- Rain hose pipes are light and easy to move about
- It irrigates uniformly
- It works under both low gravity and high water pump pressure
Rain hose irrigation system is for the following areas and on these crops
- Crop nurseries; vegetables, fruit trees, forestry
- Short vegetable crops (knee-high and below); cabbage, lettuce, broccoli, kales, spinach, collards, broad beans, carrot, strawberry, and others
- Pasture; grass and legumes
When choosing the crop to irrigate using this method, consider its susceptibility to foliage fungal infections predisposed by leaf surface wetness. Tomato, potato, peppers, peas, green beans, and chili easily succumb to foliage fungal infections when overhead or a rain hose system is used for a long time
Pasture irrigation with a rain hose
How To Install Rain hose Kits
FAQs
a. What is the difference between a rain hose irrigation system and a sprinkler system?
- The technology. The rain pipe irrigation system is designed using nano technology
- The mode of spray. A sprinkler sprays its water in one direction, a rain hose pipe sprays in 3 directions (vertically, horizontally, and diagonally)
- Placement. A sprinkler is placed upright on the surface or sub-surface (for pop up sprinklers). A rain hose is laid on the ground
b. What is the pressure in a rain pipe?
The minimum operating pressure is 30M head / 3 bars
c. What is the spacing for rain hose irrigation?
The distance from one rain pipe to another is from 1.5M depending on the operating pressure, and pipe diameter
Grekkon limited is the largest supplier and installer of rain hose irrigation systems in Kenya, and in the east and central Africa region