How to choose a soaker hose?

Drip tape is one of the most commonly used solutions for drip irrigation of vegetable gardens, agricultural crops, greenhouses, and row crops.

It is practical, flexible, and allows water to be distributed directly near the plant roots, limiting waste and making irrigation more efficient.

But how do you choose the most suitable drip tape?

It's not enough to just look at the price or the diameter. To achieve good irrigation uniformity, you need to consider above all diameter, thickness, dripper spacing, dripper flow rate, operating pressure, and line length.

In this guide, we'll look at how to navigate your choice.

What is drip tape?

Drip tape, also known as light drip line, is a flexible polyethylene tube with integrated drippers.

Water enters the tubing and is distributed through the drippers directly along the row of crops.

Unlike a normal irrigation hose, therefore, drip tape does not merely transport water: it progressively distributes it along its path.

It is particularly suitable for:

• vegetables;

• tomatoes;

• zucchini;

• melons;

• row crops;

• nurseries;

• greenhouses;

• open-field agricultural crops.

The drip tapes in the Giuliano Santagata & C. catalog are available in different configurations, with varying diameters, thicknesses, spacings, and flow rates.

How to choose drip tape?

To correctly choose a drip tape, it is necessary to consider mainly 5 characteristics:

1. diameter;

2. thickness;

3. dripper spacing;

4. flow rate of each dripper;

5. line length.

In addition to these, there is the available pressure, soil type, and crop water requirements.

The choice should therefore start from the needs of the plant and the system, not simply from the drip tape diameter.

1. Which diameter to choose?

One of the most important parameters is the diameter.

Drip tapes can be available in different diameters. In the Giuliano Santagata & C. catalog, for example, we find solutions of 16 mm and 22 mm, in addition to other diameters for specific applications.

But beware: a larger diameter does not mean the dripper delivers more water.

The diameter mainly influences the drip tape's ability to transport water along the line and, consequently, the length that can be achieved while maintaining good distribution uniformity.

For example, with other characteristics being equal, a 22 mm drip tape can reach greater distances than a 16 mm one.

16 mm or 22 mm?

In general:

16 mm drip tape

• suitable for many garden applications;

• practical and easy to manage;

• suitable for lines of limited length;

• available with various spacings and flow rates.

22 mm drip tape

• greater water transport capacity;

• suitable for longer lines;

• useful when it's necessary to reach greater distances while maintaining good uniformity.

For example, the catalog indicates for a 16 mm drip tape with 40 cm spacing and 1.2 l/h flow rate a maximum recommended length of approximately 190 meters at 1 bar on flat ground, while a 22 mm solution with 40 cm spacing and 1.5 l/h can reach approximately 230 meters under the conditions indicated by the manufacturer.

2. How thick should the drip tape be?

Another fundamental parameter is the thickness, generally expressed in Mill or Mils.

In the catalog, for example, there are drip tapes of 8 Mill and 10 Mill.

In general, the greater the thickness, the greater the robustness of the drip tape and its resistance to stress during installation, use, and retrieval.

A lighter drip tape can be particularly convenient for seasonal systems, while a greater thickness can be interesting when seeking a more resistant and potentially reusable solution.

The choice must therefore also take into account how the drip tape will be used and the soil conditions.

3. What dripper spacing should I choose?

The spacing, i.e., the distance between one dripper and another, is essential for adapting irrigation to the crop.

On the market, for example, drip tapes are available with drippers every:

• 20 cm;

• 30 cm;

• 40 cm.

The Giuliano Santagata & C. catalog offers various configurations, including 30 and 40 cm.

20 cm spacing

It can be interesting when a very close water distribution is necessary, for example in certain crops with specific needs.

30 cm spacing

It is a versatile solution for numerous row crops.

40 cm spacing

It can be indicated when plants are more spaced out or when a very close delivery point is not necessary.

However, the ideal distance must be evaluated considering the crop and soil characteristics.

4. How many liters should each dripper deliver?

The dripper flow rate, expressed in liters/hour (l/h), indicates how much water is distributed by each individual delivery point.

The catalog includes drip tapes with different flow rates, for example 0.8, 1.2, 1.5, and 2.4 l/h.

A higher flow rate does not automatically mean better irrigation.

You must consider:

• crop needs;

• soil type;

• dripper spacing;

• line length;

• operating pressure;

• total available water quantity.

A high flow rate can, in fact, reduce the maximum recommended line length for the same diameter and pressure.

For example, a 16 mm drip tape with 40 cm spacing is indicated by the manufacturer with a maximum recommended length of approximately 190 m with 1.2 l/h drippers, while with 2.4 l/h drippers, the distance decreases to approximately 120 m, considering 1 bar and the specified conditions.

5. How long can a drip tape be?

This is one of the most important aspects to evaluate before purchasing.

You shouldn't simply buy a reel and use its entire length on a single line.

The maximum length depends on the combination of:

diameter + spacing + flow rate + pressure + slope.

For example, for a 16 mm drip tape, 30 cm spacing, and 0.8 l/h flow rate, the catalog indicates a maximum recommended distance of approximately 180 meters at 1 bar on flat ground. With the same drip tape and a flow rate of 2.4 l/h, the recommended distance decreases to approximately 120 meters when the spacing is 40 cm.

For this reason, it is important not to confuse the reel length with the maximum recommended length of a single line.

Pressure: be careful not to overdo it

Light drip tapes generally operate at relatively low pressures.

For Eolos products available on the Giuliano Santagata & C. website, the recommended pressure for uniform distribution on flat ground is indicated as 1 bar, with a required filtering of 120 Mesh.

Using excessive pressure does not necessarily mean better irrigation.

On the contrary, incorrect pressure can alter the flow rate of the drippers and compromise the uniformity of distribution.

For this reason, it is always important to check the technical specifications of the chosen drip tape.

What filter is needed for drip tape?

Water filtration is fundamental in drip systems.

The small passages in the drippers can indeed be clogged by impurities and particles present in the water.

For the Eolos drip tapes on the website, the indicated filtration is 120 Mesh for all flow rates.

An adequate filtration system therefore helps maintain the performance of the system over time.

Normal or pressure-compensating drip tape?

Another choice concerns the type of dripper.

Normal drip tape is particularly suitable for relatively simple systems with controlled pressure and length conditions.

The pressure-compensating solution, on the other hand, is designed to maintain a more uniform flow rate as pressure varies along the line.

The choice depends on the system configuration, the length of the rows, the terrain slope, and the crop needs.

Therefore, it is not always necessary to use pressure-compensating drip tape: for many agricultural and horticultural systems, a properly sized traditional drip tape can be an effective solution.

Drip tape: which to choose based on use?

A practical example

Imagine having to irrigate a vegetable garden with several rows of vegetables.

A possible configuration could include:

main pipe → filter → branches → drip tape → end of line

The drip tape is positioned along the crop rows, while the main pipe carries water to the different areas of the garden.

Depending on the distance between the plants, a spacing of 20, 30, or 40 cm can be chosen.

Next, the dripper flow rate is evaluated and, based on the length of the rows, the most appropriate diameter.

In this way, the system is sized based on the actual needs of the garden.

Which drip tape to choose?

There is no single best drip tape.

The correct choice depends on the entire system.

Before purchasing, it is therefore advisable to check:

• crop type;

• distance between plants;

• soil type;

• row length;

• available pressure;

• required flow rate;

• drip tape diameter;

• thickness;

• dripper spacing;

• water quality and filtration system.

A correctly sized drip tape ensures more uniform water distribution and better utilization of the irrigation system.

Discover Giuliano Santagata & C.'s drip tapes

In the Giuliano Santagata & C. catalog, you can find various solutions for drip tape and light drip line, with different diameters, thicknesses, spacings, and flow rates.

Solutions are available in 16 and 22 mm, with thicknesses of 8 and 10 Mill, and various dripper configurations, so you can choose the most suitable solution for your system's characteristics.

Fittings, couplings, caps, T-fittings, and other components are also available for building and maintaining your irrigation system.

Are you unsure about which drip tape to choose? Contact Giuliano Santagata & C.: knowing the length of the rows, available pressure, crop, and distance between plants will help identify the most suitable configuration.

Photo by Anil Sharma on Unsplash