deeprootdistribution.com HAT TO EXPECT AS A DRI USER · XPECT AS A DRI®U SER What is DRI? DRI is a simple, affordable device that inserts easily into the ground to deliver water

WHAT TO EXPECT AS A DRI®USER

What is DRI? DRI is a simple,

affordable device

that inserts easily

into the ground to

deliver water and

fertilizer directly to

the root zone.

DRI offers more control:

• Deep Root Irrigation (DRI) offers more controlover your growing experience than ever before.

• DRI is remarkably easy to use. It is different from surface watering. DRI begins water delivery where surface irrigation hopes to end up...at the root zone. You can create a bulb of subsurfacesaturation as large or as small as you want.

• DRI targets the delivery of water and fertilizer directly to the root zone, resulting in dramatically reduced water and fertilizer usage and proportionately less energy to move the water. Typically there is at least a 50% savings in these resources, which represents an elimination of related costs.

Once DRI’s performance is demonstrated and proven, and the related cost savings become obvious, it makes sense to move forward with an adoption plan that will radically improve irrigation efficiency and your bottom line.

• We know this sounds too good to be true. That’s

why we ask you to join us in a sample project in your orchard or vineyard so we can demonstrate and prove our claims as we have done with many other Growers. (See Dot Map on page 23.)

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What to Expect as a DRI User

Some samples of the research:

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Independent Testing

Deep Root Distribution encourages independent testing of DRI, but we also recommend consulting with a DRD field Technician in order for your testing to be meaningful. Too often we’ve seen growers attempting to test DRI before understanding its mechanics, consequently making assumptions that are not pertinent to DRI which then result in frustration and faulty data.

The mechanics of DRI are simple but very different from surface irrigation methods. The primary difference in mechanics is the method of delivery. As you read on, you will begin to see how DRI’s direct, targeted delivery changes many aspects of how the average grower traditionally understands irrigation.

Monitoring

DRI offers more control over the costs of farming:

By reducing water use, many costs are automatically

reduced by the same percentage, some costs are lessened considerably, and some costs are eliminated altogether. When DRI cuts your water use by any percentage, you will see that...

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1. The energy cost of moving that water will be reduced by a similar percentage. According to PG&E, 80% of farms’ electricity cost often is attributable to pumping irrigation water.1.

2. The fertilizer cost will be reduced by that same percentage, because parts per water remain the same.(Note: DRD does not prescribe chemical use)

3. Topical soil amendments used to improve ground absorption and pH of the soil become less necessary because DRI delivers water, fertilizer, and liquid pH modifiers directly to the root zone. Many Growers are eliminating 100 to 200 dollars per acre cost annually on topical soil amendments.

4. Weed abatement costs are eliminated because weeds are a by-product of surface watering.

5. Fungus abatement costs are reduced because in many cases fungus is being created by the humid conditions in orchards caused by excessive surface watering.

6. Pest abatement costs are reduced when weeds and standing water are dramatically reduced or eliminated.

7. The cost of clogged emitters is eliminated because DRI is a closed system, and thus eliminates the evaporation that causes mineralization.

8. The cost of water is very real to many Growers. Some are paying over 2,000 dollars per acre-foot and using 3 to 4 acre-feet of water annually.

9. Fertilizer runoff is eliminated.

For those Growers who purchase water, that’s where

the cost saving begins. But often we give cost savings calculations to Growers who don’t pay for water, and they

are usually surprised to discover how DRI dramatically reduces these other costs that are directly related

to water use. Cumulatively, the costs of using water and the costs created by surface watering represent an enormous part of a Farmer’s budget.

1.Source: Pacific Gas & Electric

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How soon will you be ready to experience all of the benefits and financial advantages of being a DRI Customer?

The following is a cost savings calculator based on 2016 product pricing for an actual customer who has 2915 acres. The initial cost of installation is payed back at 1.4 years with continuing savings per year of $906,000.00.

NOTE: This customer’s estimate does not even factor in any savings in water costs because this customer does not have to purchase water.

If you are purchasing water you will save even more every year. This customer is projected to save

$7,778,406.00 over a ten-year span.

There are numerous factors that affect costs of

production that cannot all be included in this example, such as: energy sources, water sources, fertilizer costs, labor, evapotranspiration rate (radically reduced by DRI), water source cost, production water tables, riparian rights to surface water adjacent to field, electricity cost, pressure requirements due to slope and elevation, total size of irrigated acreage, shape of irrigated acres, cost of three phase electrical power near control panels, and others.

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The greatest advantage to using DRI is that it radically impacts your bottom line. Ask us to show you how.

Plant Response:

One clear indicator of effective irrigation practice is vegetative vigor. Following are visual examples of the results of DRI implementation. (We are currently gathering data on fruit quality.)

One year after planting 30" prune trees, the one irrigated with DRI had outgrown the one irrigated with surface flood water.

← DRI irrigated prune tree

← flood-irrigated tree

Note the absence of weeds around the DRI-irrigated tree!

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← DRI irrigation

citrus sapling after 17 weeks, using

204 gallons of water.

4 gallons per tree

per week

.

Fan Jet irrigation →

citrus sapling after 20 weeks, using

960 gallons of water

12 gallons per tree

per week

DRI offers control over the adoption process:

At no extra cost to you, Deep Root Distribution (DRD) offers complete customer assistance through the entire DRI adoption process. For your confidence and peace of mind, a customer service Technician will be assigned to your account to provide a seamless, stress free experience from beginning to end.

Initially, we ask you to enter a DRI project with us, wherein we train your field crews and operations managers on the proper installation and implementation of DRI. We work closely with your irrigation specialist using a simple “dial in” process to ensure the correct rate of flow and irrigation cycles for your unique soil conditions. The customer service Tech will also be gathering and documenting data in order to demonstrate and prove DRI’s superior performance.

The primary objective of our assistance through this initial adoption process is to build your knowledge of the product, and to address any remaining questions you may have about the product.

The next section details the events of a DRI project.

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THE DRI PROJECT...

CONTROL

MEASUREMENT...PROTECTION...

PENETRATION...PRESSURE

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The DRI Project Deep Root Distribution’s 4 points of value:

1. Performance: Can we show you how DRI performs?

2. Test results: Can we validate and document with you DRI’s superior performance?

3. Cost savings: Can we calculate, with you, your projected savings using DRI?

4. Unparalleled customer service: Can we offer you support and assistance, necessary to install and implement your DRI units?

In order to ensure the highest degree of success with your farming enterprise, we suggest the following:

1. Allow DRD Management to present cost saving calculations to your CFO or Financial Managers using data they provide regarding your company’s current cost of water, energy, and fertilizer. We suggest that financial decision makers are copied in on all email reports regarding DRI’s progress.

2. Purchase enough DRI units to create an isolated block of crops being irrigated, in order to adequately demonstrate DRI’s superior performance.

3. At no extra cost to you, the customer, a DRD (Deep Root Distribution) representative, will work closely with your field crews, Operations Managers, and Irri- gation Specialists to ensure proper installation and implementation of the DRI units.

A DRD representative will assist in these ways:

A) Train and supervise your field crews for proper installation and ensure that field foremen and operations managers understand installation so they can assume future training.

B) Provide assistance with the “dial in” process, which includes working with your irrigation specialist to determine the correct irrigation and dissipation cycles and appropriate emitter rate of flow for your soil conditions.

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C) Troubleshoot any problems related to DRI.

D) Conduct post installation inspections.

E) Document field assessments at every site visit and provide an emailed report copying in all pertinent parties, including financial decision makers. The report will include comparison data between DRI and existing irrigation methods, including but not limited to: soil moisture readings, plant response, and water and fertilizer use.

F) Maintain communication with your Operations Man- ager and Irrigation Specialist.

When will you experience all of thebenefits and financial advantages of being a DRI Customer?

DRI offers more control over water use...

DRI’s targeted delivery makes water use profoundlymoreefficient, and thereforeeliminates the 2 biggest problems of surface irrigation: penetration and, thus, insufficient subsurface soil moisture retention.

Penetration:

When watering from the surface of the ground, the water competes with the evaporative forces of heat and air. Also, surface watering competes with the ground it- self and delivers water slowly into the ground in small vertical rivulets that encapsulate air molecules, which shorten the lifespan of sub-surface soil moisture content.

DRI targets water delivery directly to the root zone and creates better soil moisture content using a lot less water than used by surface irrigation. Because of depth of installation, it will even penetrate the hardpan that

typically exists at about 14 to 16 inches. See the cutaway demonstration photographs below of a 30- minute irrigation test done with 1 gph emitter.

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The 30-Minute Test:

Deep Root Irrigation’s inventor Jeff Ciudaj tested a DRI-12 and a drip irrigation unit installed near each other and simultaneously operated for 30 minutes, then photographed a cross-section of the soil where each was placed. The soil around the DRI-12 (see image below left) was significantly more saturated than was the soil around the drip device see image below right).

Cross-section of soil after 30 minutes with a

Deep Root Irrigation device. Cross-section of soil after 30 minutes

without a Deep Root Irrigation device.

The longevity of subsurface soil moisture content:

Because the DRI unit delivers water from all directions (360 degrees), it pushes the air molecules away that would otherwise accelerate dissipation. This extends the life of the subsurface saturation created by DRI.

When implemented correctly, DRI will show a 40 to 60 percent reduction in water used per cycle. The longevity of the sub-surface soil moisture content will eliminate the need for more cycles because it takes longer for sub-surface water to dissipate when it is delivered directly to the root zone.

With the elimination of irrigation cycles, DRI’s actual water savings will be realized at the end of the season. This, of course, will translate to a significant cost savings for Growers.

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It is critical that the top of the DRI

unit be inserted 3" below soil level

and the soil be tamped firmly at soil

level to create pressure! Insert at a

45 degree angle for vinestock and

vertically for trees.

The most common error made by new DRI users is overwatering!

Because the average grower has traditionally had the problem of penetration, the tendency is to approach DRI implementation with the same surface watering premise: More water is better. They never, or seldom, have had the problem of over-accumulating a reserve of subsurface soil water content.

So they insist on continuing to use the same cycles

they’ve been using for their surface irrigation methods, but the water that DRI is injecting directly into the ground is not dissipating that quickly and they just keep adding to that reserve of saturation.

Subsequently, the trees begin to show stress and pressure bombs show deficit readings that most growers interpret as a lack of water, when the opposite is true.

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Deep Root Irrigation patented

technology saves water by

delivering it directly to

where it is needed.

What happens when a tree is over watered?

The roots’ ability to uptake water is significantly diminished. This is why it is critical to take soil moisture content readings simultaneously with stem water readings.

If you empty a five gallon bucket of water onto the ground during 100 degree weather, how long will that water last? An hour? Maybe 2 or 3 at the most?

If you place a closed gallon of water (cap on) in the same location, in the same 100 degree weather, how long will that water last? Days? Weeks? More?

It’s undeniable that water will remain intact considerably longer when it is isolated from evaporative forces. When DRI targets its water delivery directly to the root zone, pushing the air away as it emits from 360 degrees, the bulb of saturation it creates has dramatically better longevity than water entering from the surface of the ground. This is why DRI can produce better soil moisture content using radically less water.

Installation: A Deep Root Distribution Technician will be present at

your initial installations to train your field crews, field foremen, and operations managers on proper installation of the DRI units. The Tech will continue to be present at installations until the Tech is certain that the installation crews are completely confident in the process. The Tech will also make some post installation inspections to ensure DRI’s optimal performance at your grow site, and will document and report data important to your DRI project.

• The hole in which the DRI unit is installed is created by a tool modified from a 3/4" steel foundation stake. It has a handle on top and a foot peg at 22 inches up from the bottom. Ideally, the installer will make the

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hole about 22 inches deep, which is deeper than necessary in order to accommodate dirt that falls back in and also to break through the hardpan which is usually around 14 to 16 inches. Automated installation tools are under development.

• All four DRI unit sizes will install so that 3 inches of the ¼ inch tubing is buried. Total burial for the DRI- 12 would then be 15 inches from ground surface to bottom of unit. The DRI-3 would total 6 inches of burial. The DRI-6 would total 9 inches of burial and the DRI-18 would total 22 inches of burial. Burying the first 3 inches of the ¼ inch tubing is important to ensure that the soaker hose part of the unit is not exposed to air and sun. When installed correctly, the DRI unit will last the life of your vine or tree.

• The exposed end of the ¼ inch tubing will attach to any woodpecker or flag emitter.

• The best time of year to install DRI is during the rainy season when the ground is soft. In these conditions a unit can be installed in 30 to 60 seconds. If installation takes place in drier weather, simply irrigate the location well the day or night prior to installation.

• If units are installed just prior to or during the rainy season, we advise you fill the system with water to eliminate the chance of the empty units slightly lifting. Once you’ve filled the system and completed a cycle, the unit will be anchored for good and lifting will never again be a problem.

• If hard wall is laying on the ground, as is the case in many orchards, it’s best to allow the water to run while connecting DRI’s ¼ inch tubing to the emitter. Water flowing from the emitter during installation will ensure that there is no clogging.

• Once the unit is buried it’s important to compact

the soil well around the ¼ inch tubing. This helps to optimize subsurface pressurization.

• Vineyards take 1 DRI-12 unit per vine installed at a

45 degree angle at the base of the vine to offset the bulb of saturation from the main root mass. Tree saplings also take 1 DRI-12 unit installed the same way for the first 3 years of development. At 3 years,

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the unit is moved out to a center point between trunk and dripline of the tree, and another unit is added to the other side of the tree in line with the row.

• Mature orchards take 2 DRI-12 units per tree, one on each side, in line with the row, approximately halfway between trunk and dripline of canopy, ideally targeting the spot where original surface watering occurred. Feeder roots would be established in that location, but not absolutely necessary if not possible.

Typically, DRI is installed vertically for trees.

• Larger trees, such as walnut, take 4 DRI-12 units per tree, requiring two irrigation lines, one on each side of the tree, with emitters spaced in a rectangle around the tree.

• Blueberries, blackberries, and other smaller perennials take 1 DRI-6 per plant. The DRI-6 can also be used as an alternative to the DRI-12 when vineyard or orchard grounds are very rocky or the soil is shallow on a stone bed. Some growers prefer to use the DRI-6 on their starts and saplings in more porous soil types (sand and loam) in order to promote downward root growth while ensuring that enough water remains closer to the surface to aid the small developing roots.

• The DRI-3 is primarily for use in potted plants.

• The DRI-18 is used for large heritage trees such as maples, redwoods, pines, etc. that are drought stressed and need some help with water and nutrient delivery.

Suggestions for hillside installations:

• In vineyards, always install the DRI unit on the

uphill side of the vine for optimal water delivery to the root zone.

• For orchards, always install one unit on the uphill side and another just below the trunk if the

hill is steep. If the hill is not too steep, then install a unit on the lower side at the typically recommended location, about halfway between the trunk and the drip-line of the tree.

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• On hillside vineyards and orchards, back flow check valves are recommended for every 5 feet of rise to ensure that gravity doesn’t create a vacuum, literally pulling water out of the root zone.

• A vent at the top of the hill is recommended in order to relieve the line of air.

• A vent is required for every drip hose. More if there is more than one hill in the row. Flat rowsvent at the end near the figure eight.

• For both long runs and hillsides, we recommend the

use of pressure compensating emitters.

The dial in process: This is the process during which our customer service

Technician assists you, the Grower, in the proper

implementation of DRI for optimal performance. This includes isolation from other methods of irrigation, using the correct rate of flow per soil type, and making sure the right irrigation and dissipation cycles are being used to prevent under- or over-watering.

Isolation:

In order to really demonstrate DRI’s performance, it’s imperative that DRI is able to operate on an isolated irrigation block. Because DRI’s irrigation cycles are radically different from those of surface watering methods, it is important that the grower has control over when the water is turned on and off.

Isolation will make it easy to ascertain the desired irrigation and dissipation cycles in any given soil type. Please refer to our documented “cut away procedures” in order to better understand how long cycles ought to be in each soil type.

Also, isolating DRI from other surface irrigation methods will allow DRI to perform optimally. When DRI units are installed to share a row or a block with open emitters, drip, or fan jet, DRI performance will be compromised. WHEN DRI IS ISOLATED, IT PERFORMS OPTIMALLY BY CREATING PRESSURE THAT PUSHES THE WATER LATERALLY THROUGH THE GROUND. Rate of flow:

Rate of flow is dictated by the emitter to which the

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DRI is connected. When using DRI, the rule of thumb for emitters used in varying soil typesis:

1. ½ to 1 gallon per hour in clay soil.

2. 1 to 2 gallons per hour in loam.

3. 2 to 4 gallons per hour in sand.

Recommended versus standardized rates of flow:

• Emitters should be installed on the side or bottom of the drip hose not on the top.

• Because soil types vary from site to site, or sometimes even within irrigation blocks, some Growers want to use emitters that accommodate those differences. For example, if a vein of heavy clay is running through an otherwise loamy block, the Grower would slow the rate of flow in that vein of clay by using a slower rate emitter. The loamy area may use a 1 or 2 gallon per hour emitter while the clay vein may use a ½ to 1 gallon per hour emitter to optimize performance. The obvious objective is to slow down the rate of flow in denser soils and increase the rate of flow in more porous soils to optimize efficiency.

• The only soil-emitter combinations that really don’t work well are ½ gallon per hour emitter in sand and 4 gallons per hour emitter in clay. The ½ gallon perhour rate is too slow for sand, and the 4 gallon per hour rate is too fast for the clay soil to absorbefficiently.

• Some Growers, for ease of operation, want to use the

same emitter rate of flow regardless of soil type. In this case we recommend a standardized rate of flow of 1 or 2 gallons per hour emitters for orchards, and 1 gallon per hour emitters for vineyards. Irrigation cycles can be adjusted to control the amount of water delivery over a given period of time.

Irrigation cycles:

Take note of the time you turn the water on to begin irrigation. Depending on the soil type, you will see a 4 to 6 inch wet spot within a half hour. Some heavier clay soils may show a larger wet spot of 12 to 24 inches or so. This wet spot tells you that DRI is working. Depending on soil type, that wet spot will expand after several hours of

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irrigating: clay in 4 to 6 hours, loam in 6 or 7 hours, and sand in about 8 or 9 hours. Note, and document the amount of time it took for the wet spot in your soil to expand. The expanding wet spot means you’ve completed subsurface saturation and now the water has nowhere to go but up. In short, you’ve completed your irrigation cycle. After the first irrigation cycle of the season saturation will reach capacity in a shorter period of time due to banking.

DRI →

6 hours @ 2gph 12 gallons of water

DRI →

after 24 hours (same 12 gallons)

← Fan Jet 6 hours @ 10.7gph 64.2 gallons of water

← Fan Jet after 24 hours (same 64.2 gallons)

Dissipation cycles:

A dissipation cycle is the amount of time recommended between irrigation cycles. Knowing and adhering to dissipation time will prevent overwatering. Because of DRI’s targeted delivery, saturation is complete using half, or less than half, of the water normally used in a considerably less amount of time.

The best way to know and understand when to irrigate and when not to is to use monitoring systems and instruments such as:

o Real time subsurface monitoring systems

o Tensiometer and soil moisture probes

o Neutron probes

o Flow meters

o Pressure bombs

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.

The tensiometer (left) shows a wet

reading of 75 at a location that had been irrigated with DRI four days prior.

DRI Clay

6 Hours irrigation

at 2 gph = 12 gallons total.

Fan Jet Clay

6 Hours irrigation at 10.7 gph =

64.2 gallons total.

Both DRI and Fan Jets show a similar saturation and

penetration profile. However, DRI shows a deeper penetration profile

at its core using 80% less water than Fan Jets.

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Please note: There will be a DRI unit on each side of your tree! Two DRI units at each tree represents twice the soil moisture content, while using only 40% of the water used by a single fan jet.

Deficit irrigation with DRI:

Deficit irrigation is conducted at the end of the season just prior to harvest to bring the sugar content up in

the fruit. DRI is perfect for deficit irrigation because you can deliver as much or as little water as you want. Because of the longevity of sub-surface soil moisture content, you will want to start deficit irrigation much earlier than you would with surface watering.

Post harvest irrigation:

A controlled, targeted delivery of water and nutrients before the trees go into dormancy. Is there a better way to ensure a vigorous start for the next growing season?

DRI offers more control over nutrient management:

• More Growers are turning to DRI as the obvious tool

for better nutrient delivery. Many Growers interested in attaining more control over yield and consistency of fruit quality are implementing the advantages of DRI’s targeted delivery.

• While nitrates move easily through the soil, potassium

and phosphates do not. It is the potassium and phosphates that are responsible for quantity of yield and quality of fruit. With DRI, these critical nutrients can be transported directly to the root zone.

• Because DRI cuts water use by a considerable

percentage, it reduces fertilizer use by the same amount. This is because fertilizer parts per water remain the same regardless of the amount of water used. Again, DRI allows the Grower to be more effective using less. Also, the related cost savings will be notable even to the smallest farmer and reflect in the bottom line.

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DRI offers more control oversalinity:

DRI eliminates the need for topical soil amendments:

DRI’s targeted delivery will flush salt from the root zone. Also, many Growers use DRI to deliver their sulfuric acid or liquid gypsum to regulate the pH of the soil by neutralizing the over-alkaline effects of salt in the soil.

Because many Growers are using DRI to deliver liquid

pH amendments, like sulfuric acid and liquid gypsum, they are reducing or eliminating the need for topical soil amendments. At 100 to 300 dollars per acre per year for topical applications, this represents a huge cost savings for the Grower.

DRI offers more control over environmental concerns:

• Currently, the average DRI user is cutting water use in half and proportionately reducing fertilizer and energy amounts.

• Because of DRI’s subsurface delivery of water and fertilizer, the concern for hillside runoff is greatly mitigated. Some scientists have also noted the advantages of eliminating surface fertilizing for the reduction of nitrous oxide emissions. This will result in significant reduction of emissions for Growers who farm multiple thousands of acres.

• Many Growers are required to report on the nitrate levels in their soil. A large reduction in water use will result in a large reduction of nitrate use because parts per water remain the same regardless of water used.

DRI offers more control over energy use:

When DRI cuts a Grower’s water use, the amount of energy used to transport that water is reduced by a close percentage. Therefore, a Grower will see a significant reduction in costs for energy.

DRI offers more control over weed abatement:

DRI eliminates the surface water that provides a climate for weed growth.

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DRI offers more control overinsects and pests:

• Standing surface water attracts insects and pests because it provides a food (weeds) and water source. Eliminating the attraction will go a long way to eliminating the presence of insects and pests.

• One question that’s often asked is, “Will gophers chew on the DRI unit?” Our answer is that we haven’t seen it happen very often and we believe it is because the fertilizers and other pH amendments added to the water make the sub-surface water very unpalatable.

• We have had reports of Coyotes biting the ¼ inch tubing, but not very often.

DRI offers more control over evapotranspiration monitoring:

DRI’s elimination of surface water will dramatically improve ET monitoring because there is significantly less surface water evaporation in the reading. Most of the reading will be transpiration which will provide a truer representation of what the tree is losing.

DRI offers more control over fungus:

• Because DRI delivers water directly to the root zone there will be considerably less of the surface water that contributes to the buildup of humidity that promotes fungus in orchards.

• Some Growers have asked if the excellent saturation

achieved by DRI will create a climate conducive to wet root disease like Phytophthora or Pythium. The answer is no. The most obvious advice to folks concerned about too much water would be to water less. The tendency of people who’ve been surface watering for years is to believe that “more is better.” But that’s not true with DRI. Because DRI provides a targeted delivery, you will have more control over water and fertilizer delivery than you ever had before.

• With DRI, you can irrigate as much or as little as you want.

• With vines, the DRI unit is installed at an angle in order to offset the bulb of saturation so the roots are not sitting in constant saturation. This allows the roots to get the oxygen they need and still have a continuous water source available.

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• Similarly in orchards, DRI is installed vertically on two sides of the tree and there is enough water available to the tree without compromising oxygen availability. Roots are drawn to the closest source of water, but they are particularly attracted to that zone at the edge of the bulb that contains oxygen.

DRI offers more control over resistance to drought and disease:

DRI promotes downward root growth, reducing the likelihood of J-root or shallow root development making the tree more vulnerable to disease.

Every day we are proving to more and more Growers that DRI is the future of irrigation. These early adopters are learning quickly the advantages of being out in front of this movement.

DRI already is cutting growing costs in 11 U.S. states and 8 countries.

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Success stories:

Frequently asked DRI questions:

• “I’ve been able to dial in the irrigation cycles so that the water is completely underground,” comments Vineyard Engineer John Kiely. “It’s a substantial savings in water & energy…about 60 percent from mynormal drip.” He adds that DRI nearly has eliminated the weed problem.

• Vineyard Designer Greg Maness said that a new vineyard planted in June 2016 and irrigated with DRI was flourishing within two months. “We even had grapes on two-month-old vines,” he said.

1. What is DRI?

DRI means Deep Root Irrigation. It is a simple,

affordable device that inserts easily into the ground to

deliver water and fertilizer directly to the root zone. It

attaches directly to your existing emitter. DRI has been

tested and shown to use 61.51% less water compared to

surface drip irrigation, while allowing more water to be

available to the roots of the plant.

2. What is the most important thing that DRI offers that other forms of irrigation do not?

The DRI system offers more control: more control

over your water and fertilizer delivery, more control over

your maintenance costs, and more control over your

ability to monitor when your tree or vine needs water.

3. How does DRI reduce irrigation water use? Controlled testing confirms that direct delivery of

water to the root zone is profoundly more efficient than

are traditional surface watering methods. Surface

watering loses a lot of water to evaporation and runoff.

DRI does not. A six-hour saturation test comparing DRI

with drip showed that DRI almost stopped emitting water

once the soil column around the unit was fully saturated.

Flow of water is significantly reduced once a full level of

saturation has occurred in the column of soil, resulting in

61.51% savings of water versus standard drip.

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4. How does DRI dramatically reduce maintenance costs?

Consider how many of your maintenance costs are

actually created by surface watering:

• Energy. The biggest cost of irrigation is energy. If you cut

your water consumption by 61.51%, you will effectively

reduce the energy required to pump it by 61.5%.

• Soil amendments. Many orchards are spending, on

average, 135 USD per acre, every year, for soil

amendments intended to enhance the soil’s ability to

absorb water and fertilizer. That cost translates to

about 27,000 USD each year for a 200-acre orchard.

This cost could be completely eliminated because DRI

delivers water and fertilizer directly to the root zone.

Soil pH can be achieved in a liquid form through DRI.

• Weed abatement. Weeds are a by-product of

excessive surface watering.

• Pest abatement. Insects and rodents are attracted

to the food and water source provided by surface

watering.

• Clogged emitters. Some vineyards and orchards

are replacing thousands of drip emitters every year

because of mineralization clogging due to evaporation.

This form of calcification clogging does not happen

with DRI because the DRI unit seals off the air flow

from the drip emitter, thereby preventing evaporation.

Minerals in the water remain soluble and pass

through the emitter and DRI into the ground, becoming

food for the plant.

• Fungus. Fungus thrives in areas of high humidity. The

use of DRI can represent considerable savings in the

cost of fungicide and saving of crops lost to fungus-

related problems. By using DRI, you eliminate high

humidity caused by surface irrigation and evaporation.

• Fertilizers. With DRI, you should see a significant

reduction in use of fertilizers because they aredelivered

directly to the root zone instead of displaced on the

ground surface and lost to evaporation andrunoff.

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5. How long does DRI last in the ground? The DRI units are made from materials that have been

used in the irrigation industry for decades. Manufacturers

of the soaker hose used for DRI report that soaker

hose installed in subsurface irrigation in the mid 1990s

still is operating at full flow rate today.

6. Will DRI units clog? DRI manufacturers are in their 5th year of field testing

the DRI units. Regular inspections for possible clogging due

to sediment back flow, root intrusion, and mineralization

buildup have shown no clogging of the DRI unit.

• Silt. Silt from surrounding soil has no way of entering

the DRI unit because of the positive pressure coming

from inside the unit, which will not permit back-flow

of silt into the DRI.

• Calcification. Mineral buildup is a by-product of

evaporation. The DRI unit is not affected by

evaporation because it is sealed off from air flow.

• Root Intrusion. At the point from which water is

released from the supply tube inside the DRI, there

is a copper element that acts as a root deterrent for

capillary roots. Copper screening has long been used

as a root control for roots from bamboo and other

invasive landscape plants.

7. Is DRI pressure compensating? Do I need to use pressure compensating emitters?

DRI units need to be attached to pressure

compensating emitters when pressure compensation

is necessary, such as for hillside planting and long

runs of irrigation hose where the friction coefficient is

a factor.

8. How many DRI units should I use? We recommend using one DRI unit per vine in the

vineyard and two per tree in orchards. One DRI unit per

tree is recommended for saplings. Consult your arborist

for large heritage trees which might require more than

two units per tree. Some larger orchard trees, such as

walnuts, also might require more than two units per

tree. Consult your crop advisor.

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9. With sprinklers and drip irrigation I see water, but how do I know if the DRI units are working?

You should see a 4- to 6-inch wet spot where the

quarter-inch tube of the DRI enters the ground.

10. What if I don’t see the wet spot on top of the ground during irrigation?

If you don’t see the wet spot, check first to make

sure the top of the soaker hose is buried about 3 inches

below the surface of the ground. Then check to make

sure you’ve closed the hole where the DRI unit enters the

ground. This is important to ensure necessary compaction

that will cause the water to build up pressure to rise to

the surface.

If that doesn’t work, check you emitter to make sure

water is flowing. It is likely that, if water is not flowing,

you have a clogged emitter. Flag emitters can be cleaned

out individually while others may need to be replaced.

Your main line may need to be flushed.

Depending on soil profile, you may need to change

emitters to increase or reduce rate of flow.

11. Can I fertilize through the DRI unit? Yes, you can run any liquid through the DRI that

you can run through your emitter.

12. How will the DRI system affect evapotranspiration monitoring?

If the intent of evapotranspiration monitoring is to

assess how much water the plant, tree, or vine needs,

then DRI will provide a more realistic reading because

there will no longer be the ambiguity caused by the

evaporation of excessive surface watering.

13. What size emitter should I use? Emitter size will depend on your soil type. Heavier

clay soils require a slower-flowing emitter like a half-gallon-

or one-gallon-per-hour emitter. The more porous and

sandy soils will use two- to four-gallon-per-hour emitters.

The objective is to complete saturation at the root zone

and still see that 4- to 6-inch wet spot on the ground,

which tells you that the DRI is working. If the wet spot

becomes excessive too quickly, it means you’re putting

water into the ground more quickly than the ground can

absorb it. In such a case, you need to reduce to an

emitter with a slower rate of flow.

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14. Can I just use a coupler instead of a flow-regulating emitter to connect my DRI unit to the irrigation supply line?

No, in all soil types you need to regulate flow.

Otherwise, you will create excessive, uncontrolled

flow, resulting in too much water being lost by perking

to the surface.

15. Is DRI compatible with my micro sprinklers? Yes, many growers are turning to DRI as their only

method of irrigation, but keeping their micro sprinklers to

use for winter season frost control.

16. If I use DRI, will I need to change my irrigation cycle?

You might need to reduce irrigation frequency. We

have found a high probability that heavier soil types,

when irrigated with DRI, hold water for a longer period

of time than they did with surface drip.

17. Can DRI be used to control salt concentration at the root zone?

Yes, you can run fresh water through the DRI to

flush the salt concentration from the root zone.

18. How is DRI more environmentally friendly than traditional forms of surface irrigation?

Using DRI reduces energy used to pump water. DRI

significantly cuts water and fertilizer use. And it

dramatically reduces the need for herbicides, pesti- cides,

and fungicides.

One scientist with whom we spoke was enthusiastic

about the idea that using DRI would significantly lessen

the nitrous oxide emissions that are a by-product of

ground surface fertilizing. Also, that a fertilizer delivered

directly to the root zone is less apt to end up in our

rivers, streams, and lakes.

It is also important to note that the soaker hose part

of DRI is made from recycled tire rubber.

19. I just bought a sulfuric acid machine. Can I run sulfuric acid through DRI?

Yes, you can run sulfuric acid through DRI. You can

run anything through DRI that you’ve been running

through your existing irrigation system.

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20. What if a coyote or rodent bites a DRI unit? Spraying a little chlorine bleach on the DRI typically

will repel animals forever. In addition, delivery of liquid

fertilizers, fungicides, and sulfuric acid through the DRI

unit will make the root zone unpalatable to gophers. DRI

reduces standing water and weeds which attract pests.

21. Can I reuse the DRI units? Yes, just irrigate an hour or so before pulling the DRI

unit up in order to moisten the soil around it, and then it

should pull up just like a carrot.

22. DRI claims to promote downward root growth. How do I know that’s what I want?

From an engineering standpoint, a deeper root system

makes for a structurally stronger tree or vine. In the right

conditions, trees and vines will create both a downward

growing and lateral root structure. But roots tend to grow

toward water, and if the water is coming from the surface

of the ground, the roots will be more inclined to grow

toward the surface of the ground. This creates conditions

like J-root that make the tree or vine more susceptible to

disease. A tree or vine with a deeper root, like those that

are dry farmed, will be less vulnerable to disease and

more drought resistant.

23. How is DRI different from other forms of subsurface irrigation?

There have been many attempts by growers and

irrigation manufacturers to increase water penetration to

the root zone. Buried inline emitters is one way growers

have attempted to accomplish this. They bury the lines 6

to 8 inches below the surface of the ground. This can’t

be done in mature orchards and vineyards without

damaging existing root structures because it would require

trenching through a mature root system. Also, buried

inline emitters are prone to clog and there’s no way of

knowing whether the system is working.

Growers have also run the drip tubing into perforated

p.v.c. pipe that they’ve inserted into the ground. But this

method actually accelerates evaporation at those points of

water delivery.

Also, manufacturers have made products with

subsurface delivery that are vaguely similar to DRI, but

these products are more labor intensive to install and

are 7 to 15 times more expensive.

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24. How do I install a DRIunit? On the average, we can install one DRI in 30 to 60

seconds, using a simple tool with a ¾-inch-thick steel

rod. This tool was adapted from a 4 foot long foundation

stake that can be bought at any lumber yard.

After making a hole about 22 inches deep, we

straighten the DRI unit and insert it into the hole until the

top of the soaker hose is buried 3 inches below the surface

of the ground. The ¼-inch tubing that extends up from

the ground is then attached to the existing ‘woodpecker

style’ or flag emitter. Try to avoid large loops in your ¼-

inch tubing that can easily be caught with tools.

It’s important to remember to compact dirt into the

hole where the DRI unit was inserted into the ground.

25. How much does a DRI unit cost? The DRI units vary in price based on size and

quantities purchased. Please ask us for a quote.

26. How should I store the DRI units? We actually prefer that you don’t store them. We

prefer to deliver them to you when you’re ready to install

them. If you need to store DRI units for a period of time,

please store them in a cool shaded area. Do not leave

them exposed to sun or extreme heat, such as

in a vehicle or the bed of a truck. Sun and

heat will damage DRI. Once installed underground,

the DRI units will last indefinitely.

27. Can I use DRI with my inline emitters? No. The inline hose will need to be replaced with

standard hard wall hose, and Woodpecker type or flag

emitters will need to be installed.

28. Will using DRI affect mypumps? No. The DRI system uses the same principles of

physics as buried drip. As with any other form of subsur-

face irrigation, farmers have not found the need

to change or recalibrate their pumps. Nor have they ex-

perienced damage to their pumps.

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29. Which DRI model should I use? Recommendations:

• DRI-3. Potted plants, tomato plants, etc.

• DRI-6. All shrubs andbushes

• DRI-12. All vines and tree crops

• DRI-18. Large Heritage type or landscape shade trees

30. Are there any special considerations for installing DRI on a hillside?

We recommend installing the DRI units to promote

more water flow to the uphill side of the tree or vine.

31. Does the soil type affect DRI’s effectiveness? DRI has been tested at over 500 locations, all with

varying soil types and environmental influences. DRI

always provides more water to the root zone while

demonstrating significant savings in water use over

standard drip irrigation.

32. How often does the DRI unit require maintenance?

Once your DRI unit is properly installed, it should

last for the life of your plant. Your drip hose, however,

should be flushed at the beginning of each season to

remove sediment that might clog your emitters.

33. Would the excellent saturation achieved by using DRI create a climate conducive to wet root disease like Phytophthora or Pythium?

No. The most obvious advice to folk concerned about

too much water is to water less. The tendency of people

who have been surface watering for years is to believe

that “more is better,” but that is not true with DRI. Because

DRI provides an immediate and targeted delivery, you

have more control in water (and fertilizer) delivery than

you have ever had. With DRI, you can irrigate as much or

as little as you want.

With vines, the DRI unit is installed at an angle in

order to offset the bulb of saturation so the roots are not

sitting in constant saturation. This allows the roots to get

the oxygen they need and still have a continuous water

source available. Similarly in orchards, although DRI is

installed vertically on two sides of the tree, there is

enough water available to the tree without compromising

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oxygen availability. Roots are drawn to the closest source

of water, but they are particularly attracted to that zone

at the edge of the bulb that contains oxygen.

34. Now that I’m using DRI, my existing emitters may not provide the correct rate of flow for my soil profile. Do I absolutely need to change them?

No. You do not need to change them, but for optimum

performance you will want to change your irrigation

cycle. You are no longer competing with the ground as

you were when you were surface watering. Because DRI

provides an immediate and targeted delivery, you are

going to use half the water in a considerably shorter

period of time.

To determine the amount of time needed for irrigation

cycles, you can use Sentek™ probes and monitor the

IrriMAX Live images online. Another way is to document

the amount of time it takes for the 4- to 6-inch wet spot

to start expanding where the ¼-inch tubing enters the

ground. If, for example, the 4- to 6-inch wet spot begins

growing after 2 hours, then you will know that either you

have reached desired saturation or you are close.

To verify that you have reached desired saturation,

run a test with DRI in that soil type independent of the

tree or vine. Once the 4- to 6-inch wet spot begins

expanding to 8 or 10 inches, dig down into the soil with

a backhoe to observe the subsurface saturation profile.

We call this the “backyard test.”

35. Can DRI be used for deficit irrigation? Yes. Deficit irrigation (watering a lot less) is conducted

at the end of the season, just prior to harvest, to bring

the sugar content up in the fruit. DRI is perfect for deficit

irrigation because you can deliver as much or as little

water as you want. Because of the longevity of the

subsurface bulb of saturation created by DRI, you may

want to start your deficit irrigation earlier.

36. If I am using DRI, how will I continue frost protection?

Most growers are opting to keep their existing line

of fan jets, micro sprinklers, and impact sprinklers for

frost protection.

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Content Index Page # Concepts

1 DRI Defined

DRI Control

2 Sentek Drip vs DRI Test

Six-Hour Test

3 Six-Hour Test Graph

Independent Testing

Control Over Cost of Farming

4 Control Over Cost of Farming

5 Sample Cost Savings Calculator

Factors that Affect Costs of Production

6 Plant Response Examples

7 Plant Response Examples

DRI offers Control over Adoption Process

8 DRI Project Summary

9 DRI Four Points of Value

DRD Representative Assistance

10 DRI Control over Water Use

Targeted Delivery

Penetration

11 The 30-Minute Test

Dissipation–Longevity of subsurface soil moisture content

12 Proper installation to create PRESSURE

Overwatering

13 Diagram of DRI device operation

Overwatering

Installation

14 Installation

15 Installation on hillside

16 Dial in process

Isolation

Rate of Flow

17 Recommended vs Standard Rates of Flow

Irrigation Cycles

18 Clay Soil Cutaway

Dissipation Cycles

19 DRI Sand Cutaway

DRI 6 hour Clay Cutaway.

20 Deficit Irrigation with DRI

Post Harvest Irrigation

Nutrient Management with DRI

cont’d...

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Content Index (cont’d)

21 Salinity Control with DRI

Eliminating Topical Soil Amendments

Environmental Concerns Controlled

Energy Use Controlled

Weed Abatement Control

22 Insects and Pests Control

Evapotranspiration Monitoring Control

Fungus Control

23 Resistance to Drought and Disease

DRI Growth Map

24 Success Stories

Frequently Asked Questions

25-32 Frequently Asked Questions

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Documents

deeprootdistribution.com HAT TO EXPECT AS A DRI USER · XPECT AS A DRI®U SER What is DRI? DRI is a simple, affordable device that inserts easily into the ground to deliver water