Inspection of the sprinkler system before using the pivot in the new watering season

For most farmers, the irrigation season is over and the crop is harvested. Their hard work also contributed to good results in harvesting and storing the crop. For growers who use irrigation pivots, proper sprinkler maintenance is also of utmost importance for a good harvest. Like every part of agricultural machinery and the sprinkler system as part of a pivot, it is necessary to be inspected every year to ensure its proper operation. It is imperative to do this inspection after harvest or in the spring before the new watering season. There are several steps to follow: 1. Use the “Sprinkler System Location Report” — it describes each sprinkler and pressure regulator by location in the pivot2. Make sure each sprinkler by location from the report matches the actual location from the pivot.3. If there are damaged or missing sprinklers, install them according to the “Sprinkler System Location Report” .4. After all the sprinklers have been inspected, then the pivot can be filled with water. Make sure that the pressure of the pivot center meets the design pressure.5. Visually inspect each sprinkler for its proper distribution of water in shape and scope. In the event that someone does not respond, it should be dismantled and checked for clogging. Very often the question is asked “How long will sprinklers work?”. The life of the sprinkler components depends on the quality of the irrigation water. When using water containing sand and abrasive material — this will reduce the life of the sprinklers compared to using clean water for irrigation. Based on research, it is accepted that after 10 000 hours of use of the system, some of the sprinkler components may not work correctly, as a result of which crop yield will be reduced.