Finca Pepe, a one-acre farm in Los Pacos, Spain.
Finca Pepe is located outside Fuengirola in the hills of Los Pacos. The farm has been run by Pepe and his brother since they both retired a couple of years ago. Water is scarce and electricity is expensive in this area. Perfect prerequisites for micro-irrigation in combination with a solar-powered water distribution system.
Farm architecture
Pepe is a Spowdi superuser and one of the pioneers in using Spowdi Mobile Pro. Pepe has been part of the development team and has long term tested the system at his “Finca”.
Finca Pepe
Size: One acre divided into four irrigation zones
Plants: Vegetables, fruit, berries, spices, and corn
Water source: 5000 L water tank
Irrigation: Spowdi Mobile Pro connected to 16 mm Turbo drip lines (1,5 – 4 L/h) and off-line drippers 2 – 8 L/h.
Irrigation set-up
Pepe’s farm is quite big, and the water is collected from a natural water source in the mountains. The water runs through a 25mm hose to a 5000 L water container. The container is automatically filled, and every morning Pepe has enough water for another day of irrigation. Spowdi Mobile Pro is installed in the container which is located in the middle of the farm. Here is also the switchboard set up.
Growing Area
The farm is divided into four irrigation zones all powered by one system – Spowdi Mobile Pro managed from one switchboard.
Irrigation zone 1 & 2
– Fruit trees and avocado
About 60 trees and bushes. Drip irrigation built for every tree to have their individually tailored water levels set through off-line drippers. This gives the option to close or increase the water flow for every plant individually to optimize irrigation and control harvesting patterns.
Irrigation zone 3 & 4
– Vegetables
These zones are flat and located below the water source. We installed turbo driplines to maximize the system performance and thereby reduce irrigation time. Turbo lines release water variably depending on the installation. Turbo lines release water in intervals between 1,4 up to 3,8 L/h depending on installation. The size of the irrigation zone and water used in other zones at the same time will give the farmer different output.
The Spowdi effect
When Pepe shifted from his old irrigation system, which was mostly manual, to his Spowdi Mobile Pro set-up, the benefits are many. Below are the three main perks.
1. Time-saving
Pepe can irrigate his whole farm from his switchboard, zone by zone whilst working on the farm caring for his crops.
2. Water savings
With the switchboard, Pepe now can control the water flow. The combination of driplines and turbo lines maximize water usage and optimize irrigation.
3. Full Organic
Fertilization has become much more efficient since all crops are irrigated with micro-irrigation which means that the fertilization blend is used much more efficiently. Pepe has also chosen to go “full organic” and has since he installed the system used his own produced compost for soil fertility. Pepe is also planning for a “Bokashi” fermentation system where he will produce his own organic fertilizers and high-grade topsoil.