Pressure regulation

Sprinklers and emitters function best within certain pressure ranges according to application type, such as the following:

• Spray nozzles apply water through multiple small orifices in a sheet, requiring typical pressure ranges from 25 to 35 pounds per square inch (psi).
• Rotor nozzles apply water through a single large orifice and function best at a range of between 40 psi and 55 psi.
• Microirrigation requires a much lower pressure range due to lower application rates per emitter and smaller, more vulnerable components.

When pressures supplied through the valve are not within the manufacturer’s recommended range, sprinklers and emitters will not perform efficiently. The following four practices address irrigation system pressure regulation.