Patent ID: 8192109

Claim:
A subsurface irrigation system for an athletic or agricultural field, said irrigation system comprising: means for defining a field for an athletic event with a length and width equal to the length and width of a field for a selected sport with an excavation depth of about 25-50 cm; a generally impervious plastic lining covering said excavation and extending upwardly along each side thereof; a source of water disposed outside of said field, a plurality of distribution pipes disposed in said excavation and extending over said excavation and a main channel connecting said distribution pipes to said source of water; a plurality of water distributors extending upwardly from each of said distribution pipes for receiving a supply of water and said distribution extending through said lining; each of said water distributors comprising an upwardly extending short pipe with an open upper end and plurality of relatively small openings in an upward portion thereof and extending around said upwardly extending pipe; a plurality of covers with one of said covers extending over each of said distributors and downwardly along the sides thereof for covering the relatively small holes to thereby prevent dirt from blocking said openings; and a mass of soil filling said excavation above said lining for supporting the growth of ground cover.