Cycle Soaking Irrigation

saves water and promotes healthier landscapes

What is Cycle-and-Soak Irrigation?

Cycle soaking is an efficient irrigation technique that divides watering into multiple short intervals with breaks in between, allowing water to properly soak into the soil.

Close-up of rich, textured soil with scattered particles.

Ideal for Clay Soils

Clay soils have slow water absorption rates. Cycle soaking prevents water runoff by allowing time for proper infiltration.

 

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Perfect for Sloped Areas

On slopes, water tends to run off before absorption.Cycle soaking minimizes the waste by applying water in intervals.

 

Water surface with bubbles, creating a tranquil blue scene.

Water Conservation

By reducing runoff and promoting deeproot growth, cycle soaking can save upto 30% of outdoor water usage

 

When Does Your Landscape Need Cycle Soaking?

Identify if your landscape would benefit from cycle soaking irrigation based on these common scenarios.

Situation Problem Solution

Clay Soil

Slow water absorption leads to puddling and runoff

Divide irrigation into shorter intervals with breaks

Sloped Landscapes

Water runs off before being absorbed by plant roots

Implement cycle soaking with adequate pause periods

Slow Absorption Areas

Water application rate exceeds soil infiltration rate

Use cycle soaking to match application to absorption

Water-Scarce Regions

Need to maximize every drop of irrigation water

Cycle soaking reduces waste and improves efficiency

Cyclic Irrigation Scheduling Guide

Based on the measured pooling time, program each zone to irrigate in multiple short intervals, with each interval's runtime not exceeding that duration. Incorporate a 30-minute to 1-hour soak period between each interval to allow water to penetrate the soil. The total daily irrigation runtime remains unchanged.
 
Example: Zone 1 (15 min total) can be set for three 5-minute cycles, each separated by a 30-minute break.
Irrigation schedule table for two zones with controller settings.
117 Timer - Cycle & Soak Calculator

Cycle & Soak

Calculate total watering time and valve shut-off time

Watering Plan Results

Valve Shut-off: --:--
Total Watering Time: 0 minutes
Number of Cycles: 0
Active Watering Time: 0 minutes
Total Soak Time: 0 minutes

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