Becky Davis, Savannah Valley Water Resources Agent
As plans for the upcoming growing season move into equipment maintenance, be sure to include the irrigation systems! The first step is to assess the electrical safety. Before touching any part of the system or even limbs that have fallen on the structure, be sure that it has not been energized, meaning electricity is flowing through it. This can be accomplished by using a voltage meter or, more simply, with a non-contact voltage tester (figure 1). Also, visually check the grounding wires and ground rod (figure 2). The wires should be snug at the connections with no breaks at any point. Observe all wiring for rodent damage or vandalism.
Next, clear any fallen trees and limbs from the pathway of the pivot. Check the tires, drops, and nozzles for any missing or broken parts. Grease the pivot point bearing and check the oil in the gearboxes and the drive shaft safety shields. Replace sand traps and plugs that were removed for winter drainage. Once everything has passed the maintenance check, walk the system and check the stop switches and stop bar. Observe the alignment. Run the water to check for leaks and to see if any nozzles are plugged and that the end gun is working properly. Clean clogged and partially clogged nozzles and replace cracked ones with the correctly sized nozzle. Finally, after the system is up and running and appears to be working satisfactorily, have it assessed for uniformity to determine if the water is being applied evenly across the field and that the timer chart matches the output.
To sign up for an assessment, register online by clicking here or call your county extension office for more information.
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