Abstract:
The experiments were conducted at the experimental site near the Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, Sindh, Agriculture University, Tandojam. A trickle irrigation system was installed in a 25 m long and 14.5 m wide plot. The hydraulic performance of emitters was based on water flow, uniformity coefficient, application efficiency, and water losses through deep percolation. The flow volumes along the lateral length were fairly consistent and the variation was diminutive under both types suggesting uniform distribution of water. The system achieved rationally high Du, Cu, Ea. The Cu values for randomly selected laterals with smooth emitters averaged to 81.7% and spiral emitters averaged to 87.4%. The Du values averaged to 75.4% for smooth and averaged to 81% for spiral emitters. The overall Ea achieved were 82.7% and 89.4% for smooth and spiral emitters, respectively. The higher values of Cu, Du, and Ea with spiral emitters as compared to smooth emitters suggest that they performed better and could be preferred to achieve uniform water distribution. Water movement below the emission point was more pronounced in the vertical. In most cases, the wetting front followed an axially symmetric patter. The water laterally moved to about 0.35m while it moved to a 0.56 m depth. The root zone for many short rooted crops is located in this range hence the percolation losses would practically be negligible under such situations.
Page(s):
1-15
DOI:
DOI not available
Published:
Journal: Pakistan Journal of Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering and Veterinary Sciences, Volume: 26, Issue: 1, Year: 2010