Hemp, or industrial hemp, is a strain of the Cannabis sativa plant species that is grown specifically for the industrial uses of its derived products. It is one of the fastest growing plants and was one of the first plants to be spun into usable fiber 10,000 years ago. It can be refined into a variety of commercial items, including paper, textiles, clothing, biodegradable plastics, paint, insulation, biofuel, food, and animal feed.
Although cannabis as a drug and industrial hemp both derive from the species Cannabis sativa and contain the psychoactive component tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), they are distinct strains with unique phytochemical compositions and uses. Hemp has lower concentrations of THC and higher concentrations of cannabidiol (CBD), which decreases or eliminates its psychoactive effects. The legality of industrial hemp varies widely between countries. Some governments regulate the concentration of THC and permit only hemp that is bred with an especially low THC content.
Source: Wikipedia
Drip Tape
Drip tape is the most cost effective form of irrigation, costing as little as 1.5 cents/foot while putting the water right by the plants to reduce water waste and weed pressure. Drip tape usually comes in long rolls, up to 10,000’ and is flat when initially rolled out. Due to the thin walls typically used with drip tape, it’s designed to be ran between 6 & 12 psi. One of the downsides to drip tape is it’s not easy to roll up and re-use, creating lots of waste.
Drip Tube
Drip tube is more expensive, anywhere from .10 cents/foot to .20 cents/foot based on size and emitter spacing. It typically comes in 1,000’ coils and can handle pressures up to 50 psi. It’s more commonly used on long term crops like blueberries, hops, wine grapes, etc… However, some of the advantages of drip tube are being able to irrigate steeper slopes and the ability to roll up and re-use year after year. Another benefit of drip tube over drip tape is with the wall being much thicker, it tends to get nicked/cut less, thus needing less labor to fix than drip tape.
Filtration
Regardless of whether you use drip tube or drip tape, manufacturers recommend you filter the water to prevent particulates from plugging the emitters. Screen, sand media, and disc filters are the most common types of filtration. The type and size used would be determined by the flow rate and water quality.
Mulch
Mulch is commonly used for Hemp with the drip tape placed underneath to reduce weed pressure and better utilize the water since there would be less evapotranspiration with the soil being covered.
Lay Flat
Most Hemp irrigation systems utilize lay flat to feed the laterals. The common blue lay flat is heavier and the fittings more difficult to install. Netafim makes a product called Flex Net that you can order with pre-installed ports based on your row spacing. The Flex Net is more expensive but is lighter and requires much less labor to install.
Call or Email Us
Clearwater Irrigation Supply is Located in Salem, OR. We offer customized irrigation designs from the pump to the drip device and everything in between. All of our systems include system training and future support to ensure the system runs at its best. Give us a call or send an email to see how we can help you.
503-951-7887 akaya@clearwaterirr.com