Abstract
Compared to other irrigation methods, drip irrigation systems (DI) are considered one of the most efficient form of irrigation. Subsurface drip irrigation allowed reducing water losses by evaporation, runoff, and deep percolation comparing to other irrigation systems supplying water on soil surface. Field evaluation of Uniformity of water applications and its stability, however, are still a matter of controversy and deserve more investigation, since the collection of water discharged needs to excavate the soil around the emitters. Experiments carried out at the Department of Rural and Agrifood Engineering of Polytechnic University of Valencia allowed describing a methodology to assess the performance of drip irrigation through hydraulic characterizations and an emission uniformity coefficient, using the step by step models. Calculations evidenced that operating pressures on emitters ranged between 127.6 kPa and 131.7 kPa, whereas the corresponding flow rates varied from 4.00 L/h and 4.07 L/h, with an average value of 4.02 L/h. Variability in the emitters’ flow rate resulted very limited due to the short length of the lateral (25.6 m). However, more attention should be paid to this for a longer field dimensions. Consequently, the value of emission uniformity coefficient was equal to 96.3%, testifying the uniform water distribution within the sub-plot.
Highlights
Population is in continuous increase and the amelioration of people's living standard will lead to increase in food demand in the near future
For a fixed pressure, the weight of discharged volumes and the emitter flow rates of different emitters were not constant due to the slight differences caused by the manufacturing process
The performed calculations evidenced that operating pressures on emitters installed in the sub-plot ranged between 127.6 kPa and 131.7 kPa, whereas the corresponding flow rates varied from 4.00 L/h and 4.07 L/h, with an average value of 4.02 L/h
Summary
Population is in continuous increase and the amelioration of people's living standard will lead to increase in food demand in the near future Most of this food need will be met by the irrigated agriculture. Irrigation scheduling aims to determine the correct timing and amount of water, necessary for maintain root moisture within the optimal range for crop growth Irrigation uniformity, in adverse, is related to how equal water is distributed over the field area. Subsurface drip irrigation allowed reducing water losses by evaporation, runoff, and deep percolation comparing to other irrigation systems supplying water on soil surface (Camp, 1998; Alizadeh, 2001; ASAE, 2005). The emitters clogging by roots, soil particles, and ions disturb the flow rate of the emitter of subsurface drip systems (Camp, 1998; Ayars et al, 1999). In particular soil topography and friction losses, among other factors, influence the relationship between flow rate, Q, and operating pressure, P:
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