Case Studies on the Rural Cultivation of Legumes, Lettuce, Spinach, and Other Open-Field Vegetables in Slovenia
1. Customer Name : Anze CilensekCuk
2. Location & Project Timeline
Country / Region: Slovenia · Styria
Farm Type: Family farm — open-field vegetables
Irrigated Area: 1 hectare (10,000 m²)
Completion Date: FEB 2026 — commissioned for spring planting season
3. Parameter: Pre-drilled Hose + Drip Tapes
| Parameter | Specification |
| Irrigated Area | 1 hectare (10,000 m²) |
| Main Line | DN75 Pre-punched Layflat Hose, 1.2mm wall thickness,500m length, 30cm hole spacing |
| Drip Line | 16mm Flat Emitter Drip Tape, 30cm emitter spacing, 2.0L/h flow rate, 0.1MPa operating pressure |
| Number of Rows | 80 rows, 1.25m row spacing |
| Connection Method | Pre-punched holes with direct threadelboe connection —no field drilling required |
| Target Crops | Beans, lettuce, spinach and other open-field vegetables |
4. Pain point:
Uneven Irrigation — The old sprinkler system was affected by wind, causing significant water variation between field edges and the center, resulting in uneven crop growth and inconsistent harvest timing.
Low Installation Efficiency — Previous PVC rigid pipes were time-consuming to install and dismantle, took up significant storage space in the off-season, and had high transportation costs.
5. Solutions:
Customers connect Elbow directly — no field drilling needed. Installation efficiency improved by 60%.
Uniform emitter flow (deviation ≤ 5%), water and fertilizer delivered directly to crop root zone. Significant water savings plus improved fertilizer utilization.
6. Measurable Results: The water savings were immediately visible — my first monthly water bill dropped by 45% compared to last year with the old sprinkler system. The pre-punched layflat hose was a game-changer; I installed the entire 1-hectare system by myself in one afternoon, no drilling needed. My bean crop is the most uniform I've ever seen, and I've reclaimed almost 2 hours every day that used to be wasted moving pipes around.
7. Measurable Results:
| Metric | Result | Baseline Comparison |
| Water Savings | 0.45 | vs.previous sprinkler system |
| Yield Increase | ~28% | More uniform bean growth， extended harvest window |
| Labor Savings | 0.8 | Irrigation management：from 2 hrs/dayto15min/day |
| Fertilizer Efficiency | +35% | Fertigation delivered directly to root zone |
| Repeat Order | + 2 hectares | Full conversion planned planned for Spring 2027 |
| Referrals | 2 neighboring | Sample testing in progress farmers |
