Feb. Issue Extra: Get Into the Zone

Take this short test to see if your irrigation zoning and and installation knowledge is on the mark. The answers are located in the box below.

1. At what slope ratio should the irrigation designer be concerned about control?

2. What is the allowable pressure variation within a lateral zone?

3. One foot of electation change equals how much PSI?

4. If the pressure within a zone is increased, will the precipitation rate increase too?

5. What is the best location for a zone-control valve?

6. Is it a good practice to route the lateral line pipe through cultivated planting beds?

7. How should a 4-foot high berm be watered?

8. Should the caluclated maximum safe flow rate be exceeded when zoning the sytem?

9. Should singe row zones with 30 to 40 pop-up spray heads be end feed?

10. How is zone size determined?

ANSWERS

1. 4:1 2. 15 percent 3. 0.433 PSI 4. Yes 5. The center of the zone 6. No 7. The top should be watered with a separate zone 8. No, cheat on the maximum safe flow and it may come back to haunt you in high water costs, additional liability and water waste 9. No, this can delay by minutes the time it takes for the first and last head on the line to pop up. Center feeding the line will also reduce surge potential. 10. Safe maximum flow rate, plant water requirements and slope conditions.

This test can be found in Larry Keeson's book, The Complete Irrigation Workbook, which can be purchased in the Lawn & Landscape Online store.