Irrigation

Increases yields

Optimises plant health, strengthens root structures and increases crop yield

Reduces costs

Saves labour, water, fertiliser and maintenance

Unlocks value

Uncultivated land can be brought into use and food production increased on existing land

Fully automated

Hydrorock irrigation systems can be fully automated, and remotely controlled and monitored

Hydrorock natural aquifer blocks are an extremely efficient and sustainable way of storing and releasing water to plants and crops as and when they need it.

Our irrigation solutions are purposed-designed to suit local ground conditions, crop and yield requirements whether new installations or retrofitted projects using existing pipework infrastructure.

Hydrorock natural aquifer irrigation systems have been proven to deliver higher crop yields, as well as conserving water. Moreover, they can be used to bring uncultivated land into productive use.

Increases crop yield
Optimises plant health
Very high hydraulic conductivity (Ks) of around 750 cm/d
Strengthens root structures
Saves labour, water, fertiliser and maintenance
Increases land value
Can bring uncultivated land into agricultural use
Fully scalable and can be fully automated
Can be installed in phases
Delivers fertiliser and nutrient exactly when and where needed
Can utilise existing pipework
Simple and fast to install
100% sustainable solution

Design detailing

Potential configurations

Hydrorock can be installed in multiple configurations, according to project needs.
Hydrorock blocks are mainly recommended for the subsurface irrigation of orchards and other fruit bearing trees, either as a new irrigation system or as individual elements to be connected to the existing irrigation system (plug & play).
Hydrorock blocks are available in different sizes and volumes, to suit the type of crop, water requirement and the capacity of the existing irrigation system.
Hydrorock blocks can be installed in line or in parallel to the piping network and the number of elements per tree can be calculated according to the site irrigation requirements.
The size and number of blocks per tree should be at least sufficient to supply the water demand of 1 day’s irrigation during the peak season.
It is important to note that the Hydrorock blocks are sealed, with only one lateral and the top of the block unsealed. When the blocks are placed underground, the unsealed lateral side should be placed against or near the tree roots.
The pipe can be connected in two ways:
• Connecting the open end of a waterline to the top of the block by inserting the end of the waterline between the stone wool and the protective geotextile membrane. This is mainly recommended for D20, D40 and D45 blocks and for an “in parallel” configuration.
• Connecting the blocks through a 50 mm non-perforated pipe, by connecting these pipes to the integrated perforated drainage pipe inside the blocks. This is mainly recommended for BD112 blocks and for an “in line” configuration

Increase yield through full automation

Hydrorock users can monitor water dispersing and control irrigation control using Smart Farm Sensing’s AgrIOT sensors, mobile apps and web portals, in real-time, anywhere, anytime.

The aim is to increase global agriculture productivity and sustain the future food chain with fully operational satellite, aerial and ground remote sensing data supply chains.

Installation

Installation is very simple and quick with minimal disruption.
Blocks are pre-wrapped with filter membrane, so the excavation needs to be only as large as the system (no access is required to fit the membrane).

No specialist installation engineering or equipment is needed, with simple push-together blocks and snap-together fittings which require no special skills or tools
Hydrorock natural aquifer blocks can be used in single or multiple layers, on a 100 mm layer of sand. This increases the surface area of the bottom of the system
Multiple block configurations are possible to suit site requirements
Extra capacity is provided by adding further blocks, which, on contact with others, become unitary aquifers
Hydrorock BD blocks have integrated perforated pipes allowing rapid inflow and storage water in each block underground.
Additional capacity can be rapidly and easily achieved by the addition of further Hydrorock BD blocks or Hydrorock B blocks (pre-wrapped but without integrated pipes)