Rivulis SuperTif PC Drippers: Pressure-Compensating On-Line Drip Irrigation for Professional Growers

Rivulis SuperTif PC Drippers: Pressure-Compensating On-Line Drip Irrigation for Professional Growers

Introduction

Rivulis is one of the world's leading manufacturers of drip irrigation products, with a product range trusted by professional growers across horticulture, agriculture, and amenity sectors globally. The SuperTif PC is Rivulis's flagship on-line dripper for greenhouse and nursery applications — a pressure-compensating, non-drain emitter that delivers consistent, accurate flow rates to every plant on the bench, regardless of pressure variation along the supply line.

IrriSmart stocks the full Rivulis SuperTif PC range, including bare drippers and complete sets with stakes, in two series to suit different application requirements. This guide covers the full range, explains the key technical features, and helps you choose the right dripper and set configuration for your operation.

Key Technical Features of the SuperTif PC

Pressure Compensating (PC)

The SuperTif PC uses a flexible silicone membrane that automatically adjusts the flow path to maintain a consistent output flow rate across a wide operating pressure range. This means every dripper on the bench delivers the same volume of water regardless of where it sits on the supply line — whether it is the first dripper near the inlet or the last dripper at the far end of a long bench run.

Pressure compensation is particularly important in:

  • Long bench runs where friction loss causes pressure to drop along the supply pipe
  • Tiered or multi-level growing systems where elevation differences create pressure variation between levels
  • Systems fed from variable pressure sources such as header tanks with fluctuating water levels
  • Large nurseries where multiple zones operate simultaneously and pressure at any individual zone may vary

Non-Drain (ND)

The non-drain feature incorporates a check valve within the dripper body that closes automatically when system pressure drops below a set threshold at the end of an irrigation cycle. This prevents water from draining back out of the supply pipe and drippers when the system is switched off, keeping the lateral primed and ready for the next cycle.

The benefits of non-drain are significant in practice:

  • No drainage puddles — water does not drain onto the bench or floor when irrigation stops, keeping the growing environment cleaner and reducing disease risk from standing water
  • Faster cycle start — the supply pipe is already full of water at the start of each cycle, so drippers begin flowing immediately without a delay while the pipe refills
  • Consistent first-flush volume — particularly important for short, frequent irrigation cycles where the refill delay of a non-ND system would represent a significant proportion of the total cycle time
  • Slope suitability — on sloped benches, non-drain prevents gravity drainage from emptying the supply pipe after each cycle

Colour-Coded Flow Rate Identification

Rivulis uses a colour-coding system on the SuperTif PC to allow quick visual identification of the flow rate fitted to each plant position. The dripper body and cap colours indicate the flow rate, making it easy to verify the correct dripper is installed and to identify mixed flow rates on a bench at a glance.

The SuperTif PC Range: Two Series

SuperTif PC HND — High Non-Drain Series

The HND (High Non-Drain) series features an enhanced non-drain mechanism designed for applications where preventing any drainage from the supply line is critical — such as overhead or elevated supply pipe installations, or systems where even small amounts of drainage would cause problems.

Available flow rates in the HND series:

  • 1.6 L/hr — Brown/Dark Grey — for standard pot plant production and medium water demand crops
  • 3.1 L/hr — Brown/Blue — for larger pots, grow bags, and higher water demand crops

HND drippers are available as bare drippers or as complete sets with a 50cm lead tube and either a snap peg or barb peg stake.

View SuperTif PC HND Dripper Sets

SuperTif PC ND-MOP — Medium Opening Series

The MOP (Medium Opening) series features a medium-sized flow path opening that provides a good balance between clog resistance and filtration requirement. The medium opening is less susceptible to blockage than fine-opening drippers while still delivering precise, consistent flow rates — making it a practical choice for operations using surface water or water with moderate particle loads.

The MOP series covers a wider flow rate range than the HND, making it suitable for a broader range of crop types and pot sizes:

  • 1.1 L/hr — Light Blue/Light Grey — for seedlings, small pots, and low water demand crops
  • 1.6 L/hr — Blue/Dark Grey — for standard pot plant production
  • 2.2 L/hr — Light Blue/Brown — for medium pot plants and moderate water demand crops
  • 3.1 L/hr — Blue/Blue — for larger pots and higher water demand crops
  • 3.85 L/hr — Light Blue/Black — for large containers and high water demand crops

MOP drippers are available as bare drippers or as complete sets with a 50cm lead tube and either a snap peg or barb peg stake.

View SuperTif PC ND-MOP Bare Drippers | View SuperTif PC ND-MOP Dripper Sets

Outlet Options

The SuperTif PC is available with two different outlet configurations, giving you flexibility in how water is delivered from the dripper to the plant:

Multi-Function Port — Straight Conic-Barb Outlet (Conic + Barb)

The multi-function port is a versatile straight outlet that can be used in three ways:

  • Stand-alone — used without any tube, delivering water directly from the dripper outlet into the growing medium or pot
  • Direct 3x5mm tube connection — connects directly to standard 3x5mm micro-tube without any adaptor, allowing the water to be directed precisely to the root zone via a short lead tube
  • Branching adaptor connection — connects to branching adaptors, allowing a single dripper to feed multiple outlets and serve more than one plant or pot from a single supply pipe connection

The conic-barb design provides a secure connection to micro-tube while remaining easy to disconnect and reconnect when repositioning plants or adjusting the system layout.

Barbed Side Outlet (SOL) — A Unique Rivulis Solution

The SOL (side outlet) is a unique Rivulis innovation that directs water sideways from the dripper body rather than straight down. This design drives water directly into the plant's root zone, reducing surface evaporation and the risk of surface salt accumulation (desalination effect) that can occur when water is applied to the growing medium surface.

The SOL outlet can be used in two ways:

  • Stand-alone — used without any tube, with the dripper positioned so the side outlet directs water directly into the growing medium at root level
  • Direct 3x5mm tube connection — connects directly to standard 3x5mm micro-tube for precise placement of the water delivery point within the pot or growing medium

The SOL configuration is particularly beneficial for:

  • Crops sensitive to wet foliage or crown rot, where keeping the growing medium surface dry is important
  • Operations in high-evaporation environments where surface water loss is a concern
  • Substrate growing systems where directing water to the root zone rather than the surface improves nutrient uptake efficiency
  • Reducing surface salt build-up in recirculating or high-EC growing systems

Snap Peg vs Barb Peg: Which Stake Type Do You Need?

Complete SuperTif PC sets are available with two stake types, each offering a different method of anchoring the dripper outlet in the growing medium:

Snap Peg

The snap peg uses a clip mechanism to secure the micro-tube and dripper outlet at the correct position in the pot or growing medium. Snap pegs are quick to install and reposition, making them ideal for operations that frequently move plants or adjust dripper positions. The snap mechanism holds the dripper securely without requiring the peg to be pushed deeply into the growing medium.

Barb Peg

The barb peg uses a barbed stake that is pushed into the growing medium to anchor the dripper outlet. Barb pegs provide a more secure, permanent anchor than snap pegs and are less likely to be dislodged by plant handling. They are the preferred choice for permanent or semi-permanent installations and for growing media that holds the barb firmly, such as peat, coir, and bark-based substrates.

Choosing the Right SuperTif PC for Your Operation

HND vs MOP: Which Series?

  • Choose HND if you need the highest level of non-drain performance — for example, on overhead supply pipe installations, elevated bench systems, or where any drainage from the supply line is unacceptable
  • Choose MOP if you need a wider flow rate range (1.1 to 3.85 L/hr), or if your water source has moderate particle loads and you want the additional clog resistance of the medium opening design

Outlet Selection

  • Choose the Multi-Function Port (Conic + Barb) if you want maximum flexibility — use stand-alone, with micro-tube, or with branching adaptors to serve multiple plants from one dripper
  • Choose the SOL (Side Outlet) if reducing surface evaporation, keeping foliage dry, or directing water precisely to the root zone is a priority for your crop or growing system

Flow Rate Selection

Match the flow rate to your crop's daily water requirement and irrigation duration:

  • Seedlings and small pots (up to 1 litre): 1.1 L/hr
  • Standard pot plants (1 to 2 litre pots): 1.6 L/hr
  • Medium pot plants (2 to 5 litre pots): 2.2 L/hr
  • Larger pot plants and shrubs (5 to 10 litre pots): 3.1 L/hr
  • Large containers and high water demand crops: 3.85 L/hr

Bare Dripper vs Complete Set

  • Bare drippers are the right choice if you already have stakes and micro-tube from a previous installation, or if you are replacing worn drippers on an existing system
  • Complete sets are the most convenient option for new installations — everything you need in one part number, ready to install directly onto the supply pipe

SuperTif PC vs NDJ ClickTif HD: How Do They Compare?

Both the Rivulis SuperTif PC and the NDJ ClickTif HD are professional pressure-compensating, non-drain on-line drippers suitable for greenhouse and nursery bench irrigation. Key differences:

  • Flow rate range: The NDJ ClickTif HD covers a wider range (1.3 to 12 L/hr including tapered versions), making it more suitable for large containers and trees. The SuperTif PC MOP covers 1.1 to 3.85 L/hr, well suited to standard pot plant production.
  • Outlet options: Rivulis offers the unique SOL side outlet for root-zone targeted delivery and reduced evaporation — a Rivulis-exclusive feature
  • Series options: Rivulis offers the HND series for maximum non-drain performance; NDJ offers a single series
  • Colour coding: Rivulis uses a two-colour body/cap system for easy flow rate identification on the bench
  • Both are suitable for: standard greenhouse and nursery bench irrigation with 16mm or 20mm PE supply pipe

System Design and Installation

Filtration

Always filter irrigation water to at least 120 micron before the supply pipe to protect dripper flow paths. Our Amiad Filters range includes inline options suitable for greenhouse and nursery supply lines.

Supply Pipe

SuperTif PC drippers connect to standard 16mm or 20mm PE supply pipe via a barbed inlet. Use a correctly sized punch tool to create clean holes at the required spacing before threading the pipe through the bench.

Installation Steps

  1. Lay and secure the supply pipe along the bench
  2. Mark and punch holes at the correct spacing for your pot layout
  3. Flush the supply pipe before inserting drippers
  4. Insert drippers with a firm push until fully seated
  5. Connect the 50cm lead tube and position the stake in the growing medium
  6. Run a test cycle and check all drippers are flowing correctly
  7. Cap the end of the supply pipe for periodic flushing

Conclusion

The Rivulis SuperTif PC range is a professional, reliable choice for on-line drip irrigation in greenhouses and nurseries. With pressure compensation for uniform distribution, non-drain to keep the system primed and the bench clean, colour-coded flow rate identification, a choice of HND and MOP series, and the unique SOL side outlet for root-zone targeted delivery, the SuperTif PC delivers the performance and flexibility that professional growers demand.

Browse the full Rivulis SuperTif PC range at IrriSmart: HND Dripper Sets, MOP Bare Drippers, and MOP Dripper Sets. Contact our team for advice on choosing the right series, outlet type, flow rate, and stake configuration for your crop and bench layout.

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