How To Design A Football Field Lawn Irrigation System !

The design of a football field lawn irrigation system needs to comprehensively consider factors such as lawn type, climate conditions, soil characteristics, drainage requirements, and usage frequency to ensure uniform water distribution and avoid waterlogging. The following are the key design points compiled based on multiple professional materials:

1. Composition and Equipment Selection of the Irrigation System

- Sprinkler Irrigation Type: The buried automatic - lifting sprinkler irrigation system is preferred, which consists of sprinkler heads, automatic controllers, solenoid valves, and PVC pipes to avoid corrosion and blockage of metal pipes.

- Sprinkler Head Layout:

- Select the number and type of sprinkler heads according to the size of the field. For example, a standard football field can be equipped with 24 360° sprinkler heads and 12 180° side - spraying heads. The range should cover the entire field, and the working pressure should be controlled at around 0.55MPa.

- When installing the sprinkler heads, they should be 2cm below the ground surface to prevent injury to athletes or interference with mechanical operations.

- Pipeline Material: UPVC plastic pipes with a pressure resistance greater than 1.0MPa are used, which are corrosion - resistant and have a long service life.

2. Co - design of the Drainage System and Irrigation

- Drainage Structure:

- The underground drainage network adopts a "herringbone - shaped" blind ditch, with φ100mm permeable branch pipes and φ150mm main pipes buried. The longitudinal slope is 3‰ to ensure rapid drainage.

- Layers of pebble layer, gravel layer, coarse sand layer, and sandy soil layer are laid to form a permeable structure, with a drainage capacity of up to 150mm/h.

- Combination of Irrigation and Drainage:

- The sprinkler irrigation system needs to be coordinated with the location of the drainage ditch to avoid irrigation water seeping into the blind ditch and causing waste of resources.

- In rainy seasons or high - humidity areas, the soil moisture is adjusted through the drainage system to prevent rotting of the lawn roots.

3. Control of Irrigation Time and Water Quantity

- Time Selection: The best irrigation time is in the early morning or evening to avoid excessive water evaporation during high - temperature periods or freezing during low - temperature periods.

- Water Quantity and Frequency:

- Each irrigation amount should moisten the soil to a depth of 10 - 15cm. In summer when it is hot, the interval can be shortened to once a day, and in winter, it can be reduced to 1 - 2 times a week.

- Use a sprinkler irrigation system with a sprinkling intensity of 15mm/h to ensure uniform water penetration.

4. Matching of Grass Seed Selection and Irrigation Requirements

- Natural Grass: Grass seeds that are resistant to trampling and have strong recovery ability (such as Zoysia japonica cv. Lanyin No.3, ryegrass) should be selected. The irrigation frequency is relatively high, and it needs to be combined with fertilization management.

- Artificial Grass: It does not need frequent irrigation, but it needs to be regularly sprayed with water to clean the surface dust and cool down.

- Mixed - seeding Strategy: Cold - season and warm - season grass seeds are mixed (such as Bermuda and ryegrass), and differential irrigation is used to cope with seasonal changes.

5. Construction and Maintenance Points

- Construction Steps:

Set out and locate the positions of the drainage ditch and sprinkler heads.

Excavate the blind ditch and lay gravel, geotextiles, and permeable pipes.

Install the sprinkler irrigation pipes and conduct a pressure test (1.5 times the working pressure for half an hour).

Backfill the planting soil and sow grass seeds.

- Maintenance Management:

- Regularly clean the sprinkler heads and pipes to prevent blockage.

- Empty the pipes in winter to prevent freezing, and check the solenoid valves and control systems in summer.

- Adjust the irrigation plan through soil moisture sensors or manual detection.

6. Standardization and Environmental Protection Requirements

- Design Specifications: Refer to standards such as "15SS510 Green Space Irrigation and Water Supply and Drainage Facilities for Sports Fields" to ensure that the sprinkler irrigation and drainage systems meet the FIFA's field hardness, elasticity, and other indicators.

- Environmental Protection Measures: Give priority to using rainwater or reclaimed water sources, and design water storage facilities in line with the concept of sponge cities to reduce water waste.

Through the above design, the football field lawn can achieve efficient irrigation and scientific drainage, extend its service life, and ensure the safety of athletes. The specific plan needs to be adjusted according to the actual conditions of the site. It is recommended to entrust a professional team for construction and long - term maintenance.