Maintaining a high level of soil moisture for germination of seed is one reason this technique may be used.
When the decrease in water pressure reaches a predetermined level the valve closes to resume the charging phase.
Constant and frequent irrigation applications have been cited as one way to reduce water demand.
Mineral nutrients added to media with a high void content, such as coarse grained sand, will provide more oxygen to roots than ordinary soil and share some of the advantages with aeroponics.
[citation needed] Pulse drip irrigation has the following advantages:
Illustration of a pulse drip irrigation system.
Magnets
hold the valve closed while water comes in through the inlet and drip flow controller to charge the reservoir. When the building pressure finally overcomes the attractive force of the magnets the top set of magnets are forced upward to open the valve. As the water is released, the pressure decreases to a point where the magnets drop back down and the charging phase begins anew.
One of two pulsing impact sprinkler at The Crescent Grange in
Broomfield, Colorado
providing 5,000 square feet (460 m
2
) of coverage of their
permaculture
garden. The sprinklers were run continuously, delivering 5-second pulses per minute for the first twelve days to
germinate
the seeds. Thereafter, it was gradually cut back to 8- to 10-hour watering periods three times a week.
Landscaping in sand with
in situ
seed
germination
. A one-US-gallon-per-hour (3.8 L) drip flow controller feeding an 82-foot-long (25 m) drip line with check valves comprising 82 drip points along its length so each drip point is putting out about
1
/
82
US gallon (46 mL) per hour.
Crimson clover
sprouts
grown on
1
/
8
-inch (0.32 cm) urethane foam mats and flagstone. Four micro-sprinklers cycle pulsing continuously over a 7-day period, each putting out about
1
/
2
US gallon (1.9 L) per hour. The four micro-sprinklers were each fitted with an LPD to keep the lines fully charged between pulses.