Sizing a Booster Pump for Gravity-Fed Blueberry Drip Irrigation

Four 250-ft rows, 50 plants each (200 plants total), ½″ drip line with two 0.5 gph pressure-compensating emitters per plant. 25-ft elevation drop top to bottom. 1,200-gal tank above beds. Emitters need 12–15 psi.

Demand Calculation

200 plants × 2 emitters × 0.5 gph = 200 gph ≈ 3.3 gpm total flow. The challenge is pressure, not volume.

Pump Recommendation

• A ½ HP centrifugal pump with a small pressure tank (2–5 gal) and 20/40 or 30/50 psi switch.
• Set switch to maintain 15–20 psi at the tank; pressure-compensating emitters will deliver uniform flow down the slope.
• Avoid running the pump dead-headed against a closed valve—use the pressure tank to buffer cycling.

A small “jet pump + tank” package from a home center is adequate and inexpensive.