Inventor
Sajive Kayalampallath Sambukumaran
I found out a simple and effective method for irrigating all types of plants, irrespective of where they are planted either in ground soil (or) using soil filled containers like once used plastic bags or pots placed over terrace.
This irrigation method can be adopted to plantains and even for big trees like coconut trees and arecanut trees where they require irrigation during summer season. For this purpose I have designed special types of tanks in various sizes and arrangement. Out of which one is described below. It works on the principle of capillary action. THIS IS MY ANSWER FOR GLOBAL WARMING, POVERTY AND UNEMPLOYMENT.
The main parts consists of a moderate basin like water tank of about 3 feet diameter x 1 ½ feet height. A ring with a height 3½ feet x 2 ½ feet diameter size is placed to the centre of the tank. This rests on a round platform of 1 inch thickness made of ferrocement having several holes drilled to it giving a grill like appearance. This platform is placed on 3 or 4 supports of ¼ feet height from the bottom of the tank. This ¼ feet from bottom level to the platform (in between area) is filled with river sand. The space between the outer sides of the ring and the tank walls is also filled with river sand. This areas were river sand is filled up always kept wet and spread to the soil . This will attract plant roots to grow in search of water towards the tank. A float valve is fitted on a small beam like structure built from the centre and base of main tank, this beam passes through a hole made to the centre of the platform holding the ring. Float valve is fixed to maintain a fixed level of water inside the main tank and not to spill the water outside when the basin tank is fully filled up. This float valve is connected to the main water supply system through pipes.
In the installation process the whole unit is buried underground and the upper open end of the ring can be seen above the ground level. The ring is exposed ¼ feet to ½ feet outside the ground level.
Further we can use this tank as a fish tank to grow some fishes together with irrigation. So, it works like plants growing near a pond. The movement of fishes inside the tank accelerates capillary action of water through the sand and also prevents the growth of harmful mosquitoes inside it.
Plants are grown surrounding to the tank. Since the plant roots are hydro tropic some of its roots will be visiting the wet areas surrounding the tank in search of water. The surroundings of tank will be always kept wet by the presence of river sand and water inside it raises up through capillary action from the tank. The water level inside the tank always kept constant by using the float valve. I f any problem happens to the float valve it can be noticed by the excessive rise in the level of water above a certain level or it will be over flown to outside. The chances of complaint will be very rare. The constructive material used is mostly ferrocement. Plastic and fiber glass can be used instead of ferrocement. But it is not environment friendly materials.
1.) How to install this types of tanks?
Just burying them beneath the ground level. Only the open end of the ring is only seen above to ground level at a height of ¼ feet to ½ feet. We can see the water inside and float valve fitted beam through this open end of the ring while viewing inside. Just as we are looking into a pit having water inside. We can see fishes if they were put inside the tank.
2.) Where to plant the plants and trees?
It is planted anywhere surrounding and near to the tank keeping a moderate distance (or) the tank is installed near to the plant.
3.) How to apply this in terrace plantations?
In this case the whole system can be viewed outside. But the basic principle on which it works is the same. We can use a single small tank with float valve, connected with PVC pipes and once used plastic gunnies for planting the plants. This will reduce the cost of planting rather than using costly pots. No need of irrigation as the water will be supplied to the plastic gunnies where plants are planted through PVC pipes connected between them. Water to the small tank comes from the main water tank and the small water tank fitted with a float valve is connected between plastic gunnies by PVC pipes. Below the plastic gunnies small specially made structures are made to hold the water inside like that I used in the big unit described above.
4.) Is there any restrictions in the size of tanks used?
There is no restriction in size. But we have to design the size of the tanks as per our needs and for which type of plants and trees we are going to use it.
Note:(The above invention has been modified and made more advanced)
This irrigation method can be adopted to plantains and even for big trees like coconut trees and arecanut trees where they require irrigation during summer season. For this purpose I have designed special types of tanks in various sizes and arrangement. Out of which one is described below. It works on the principle of capillary action. THIS IS MY ANSWER FOR GLOBAL WARMING, POVERTY AND UNEMPLOYMENT.
The main parts consists of a moderate basin like water tank of about 3 feet diameter x 1 ½ feet height. A ring with a height 3½ feet x 2 ½ feet diameter size is placed to the centre of the tank. This rests on a round platform of 1 inch thickness made of ferrocement having several holes drilled to it giving a grill like appearance. This platform is placed on 3 or 4 supports of ¼ feet height from the bottom of the tank. This ¼ feet from bottom level to the platform (in between area) is filled with river sand. The space between the outer sides of the ring and the tank walls is also filled with river sand. This areas were river sand is filled up always kept wet and spread to the soil . This will attract plant roots to grow in search of water towards the tank. A float valve is fitted on a small beam like structure built from the centre and base of main tank, this beam passes through a hole made to the centre of the platform holding the ring. Float valve is fixed to maintain a fixed level of water inside the main tank and not to spill the water outside when the basin tank is fully filled up. This float valve is connected to the main water supply system through pipes.
In the installation process the whole unit is buried underground and the upper open end of the ring can be seen above the ground level. The ring is exposed ¼ feet to ½ feet outside the ground level.
Further we can use this tank as a fish tank to grow some fishes together with irrigation. So, it works like plants growing near a pond. The movement of fishes inside the tank accelerates capillary action of water through the sand and also prevents the growth of harmful mosquitoes inside it.
Plants are grown surrounding to the tank. Since the plant roots are hydro tropic some of its roots will be visiting the wet areas surrounding the tank in search of water. The surroundings of tank will be always kept wet by the presence of river sand and water inside it raises up through capillary action from the tank. The water level inside the tank always kept constant by using the float valve. I f any problem happens to the float valve it can be noticed by the excessive rise in the level of water above a certain level or it will be over flown to outside. The chances of complaint will be very rare. The constructive material used is mostly ferrocement. Plastic and fiber glass can be used instead of ferrocement. But it is not environment friendly materials.
1.) How to install this types of tanks?
Just burying them beneath the ground level. Only the open end of the ring is only seen above to ground level at a height of ¼ feet to ½ feet. We can see the water inside and float valve fitted beam through this open end of the ring while viewing inside. Just as we are looking into a pit having water inside. We can see fishes if they were put inside the tank.
2.) Where to plant the plants and trees?
It is planted anywhere surrounding and near to the tank keeping a moderate distance (or) the tank is installed near to the plant.
3.) How to apply this in terrace plantations?
In this case the whole system can be viewed outside. But the basic principle on which it works is the same. We can use a single small tank with float valve, connected with PVC pipes and once used plastic gunnies for planting the plants. This will reduce the cost of planting rather than using costly pots. No need of irrigation as the water will be supplied to the plastic gunnies where plants are planted through PVC pipes connected between them. Water to the small tank comes from the main water tank and the small water tank fitted with a float valve is connected between plastic gunnies by PVC pipes. Below the plastic gunnies small specially made structures are made to hold the water inside like that I used in the big unit described above.
4.) Is there any restrictions in the size of tanks used?
There is no restriction in size. But we have to design the size of the tanks as per our needs and for which type of plants and trees we are going to use it.
Note:(The above invention has been modified and made more advanced)