Irrigation
Grupo IEP’s irrigation systems offer advanced, customized solutions to optimize watering for greenhouse crops and open-field farms, ensuring efficient use of water and nutrients. From drip irrigation and micro-sprinklers to misting and recirculating hydroponic systems, our installations include fertigation, automation, and remote control to meet each crop’s needs. With technologies like desalination and drainage disinfection, we promote sustainable and productive agriculture. Discover how our irrigation systems can transform your farm.
General Features
IEP Invernaderos designs and installs different types of irrigation systems for crops, both in open-field farms (extensive and intensive) and in enclosed greenhouses.
The irrigation installations carried out by IEP vary in complexity and can be complemented with fertilization equipment (fertigation) and computerized systems for programming and remote control.
IEP supplies and installs the complete irrigation system according to the needs of each type of operation: support structures, pumping units, pipeline networks, filtration units, storage tanks, valves, and accessories for water and fertilizer application (heads, nozzles, sprinklers, drippers, dosing devices, etc.), including all necessary control equipment.
Sprinkler and Micro-sprinkler Irrigation
Sprinkler irrigation is mainly used in extensive crops. These irrigation systems adapt well to uneven terrain and are employed in areas without water restrictions. Installations can include both fixed equipment and mechanized systems (such as pivots for outdoor irrigation).
A variant of the traditional sprinkler irrigation system for open-field farms is the micro-sprinkler irrigation equipment used in greenhouses, where irrigation carts mounted on rails are operated by a motor.
Drip Irrigation
Grupo IEP’s drip irrigation systems provide a localized irrigation solution that delivers water and nutrients directly to the base of plants through drippers or emitters, optimizing resources in areas with water scarcity. Widely used in outdoor crops such as vineyards and fruit orchards, as well as in greenhouses for horticultural production, these systems stand out for their precision and efficiency. Among their advantages, they enable significant water savings by minimizing evaporation and preventing waterlogging, reduce weed growth, and facilitate the use of higher salinity water.
Additionally, irrigation integrated with fertigation ensures optimal nutrient management, eliminating losses due to leaching and promoting healthy growth. Their adaptable design, featuring adjustable flow drippers and advanced filtration systems, guarantees uniform and customized distribution even on uneven terrain, while the inclusion of automation and remote control allows for real-time monitoring and adjustment of irrigation, maximizing productivity and sustainability of the agricultural operation.
Misting Irrigation
Grupo IEP’s mist irrigation systems are installed on the greenhouse roof to generate a fine mist that evenly moistens the crops, optimizing irrigation and the microclimate. Operating at low pressures (generally below 4-5 bar), they produce droplets of an ideal size, adjustable to incorporate fertilizers or phytosanitary products with precision, ensuring efficient application without damaging the plants. These installations not only irrigate but also act as a cooling system, increasing relative humidity and reducing temperature in a controlled manner, creating a uniform and favorable environment for the growth of sensitive crops such as vegetables or ornamental plants.
Equipped with high-quality nozzles covering up to 4 m² per unit, IEP’s misting systems can be low or high pressure (up to 40–60 bar depending on needs) and are integrated with automation for precise control. This versatility makes them ideal for both high-tech greenhouses and operations seeking to combine irrigation, nutrition, and climate control, promoting sustainable and high-yield agriculture.
Recirculated Hydroponic Irrigation Systems
Hydroponic crops are grown without any solid substrate, with their root system directly in contact with an aqueous medium where nutrients are dissolved.
This technique offers significant advantages for plant development, as the roots have a constant moisture level at all times, regardless of the climate or the growth stage of the crop. This also allows different plants at various vegetative stages to be cultivated within the same greenhouse.
In hydroponic crops, it is possible to collect the drainage water for reuse in the irrigation process, after disinfecting it to avoid microbial contamination risks (disinfection methods include ozone, chlorine, or UV radiation). Recirculating the nutrient solution is an effective way to save water and also helps reduce environmental problems associated with disposing of drainage water containing high levels of chemical elements.
Automatic Irrigation – Remote Control Systems
They allow adaptation to the specific needs of each crop and optimize water consumption, resulting in increased yields.
An automatic irrigation system consists of the irrigation network itself (pipes, valves, nozzles, pumps, tensiometers, pressure gauges, flow meters, safety devices, motors, etc.), an electrical control panel, electronic equipment to operate mechanical devices, software and hardware for system monitoring and automatic programming, and finally, a communication device with local access and remote control capability.
Automatic irrigation scheduling can be based on different control parameters, such as time (using timers), water volume (using flow meters), soil and plant water status analysis (using sensors), or data provided by a weather station.
Remote control systems: the irrigation equipment installed by IEP Invernaderos can be monitored via the internet through remote management software platforms, accessible from a PC, tablet, or mobile device (compatible with any operating system).
Fertigation Systems
Fertigation is a technique that allows the simultaneous application of water and fertilizers through the irrigation system, supplying the necessary nutrients to the soil or substrate for the crop. Fertigation equipment is specially designed for localized drip irrigation systems and is particularly useful in hydroponic crops.
For the correct design of a fertigation system, it is essential to know the characteristics of the water used (such as pH and electrical conductivity) and the specific nutritional requirements of each crop.
At IEP Invernaderos, we analyze the particular needs of each crop to design and install the most suitable fertigation system, whether for a new operation or to adapt existing compatible irrigation systems.
The standard installation includes all components of a conventional drip irrigation system (pumps, pipes, filters, valves, heads, and drippers), complemented with fertilization tanks (nutrient and nitric acid tanks), dosing and injection equipment (by circular Venturi or magnetic pumps), and a mixing tank.
Desalination Systems
These systems complement fertigation systems, although they can also be used to supply treated water to evaporative cooling systems.
They are employed to enable the use of water with high salt content and elevated electrical conductivity in irrigation systems. The treatment of saline water is carried out through a reverse osmosis process.
Drainage Collection and Disinfection Systems
It is a system that enables the reuse of drainage water that is not absorbed by the roots. To do this, a drainage disinfection system must be installed to eliminate pathogens in the water, thereby reducing the risk of disease transmission. There are various disinfection methods, each with its own advantages and disadvantages, allowing the grower to choose the system that best suits their needs. Among these, the most widely used is the ultraviolet (UV) disinfection system.
This system uses ultraviolet radiation to inactivate microorganisms in the water. It relies on the ability of UV light to penetrate the DNA of bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens, preventing them from replicating and thus eliminating their capacity to cause infections in plants.
