Structured Application of the Two-Point Method for the Estimation of Infiltration Parameters in Surface Irrigation
Publication: Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 135, Issue 5
Abstract
The two-point method is one of the best known procedures for estimating empirical infiltration parameters from surface irrigation evaluation data and mass balance, mainly because of its limited data requirements and mathematical simplicity. However, past research have shown that the method can produce inaccurate results. This paper examines the limitations of the method, reviews alternatives for improving two-point method results based on data that are collected or can easily be collected as part of a two-point evaluation, and suggests strategies for estimation and validation of results for different levels of evaluation data. Results show the limitations of formulating the estimation problem with advance data only and the benefits of using instead an advance and a postadvance mass balance relationship in the analysis. Because different combinations of parameters can satisfy the mass balance equations, the estimated function cannot be extrapolated reliably beyond the times used in formulating those relationships. While results can be used with confidence to characterize the performance of the evaluated irrigation event, they need to be used carefully for operational analysis and design purposes.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
Bautista, E., Clemmens, A. J., and Strelkoff, T. (2009a). “Optimal and postirrigation volume balance infiltration parameter estimates for basin irrigation.” J. Irrig. Drain. Eng., 135(5), 579–587.
Bautista, E., Clemmens, A. J., Strelkoff, T. S., and Schlegel, J. L. (2009b). “Modern analysis of surface irrigation systems with WINSRFR.” Agric. Water Manage., 96, 1146–1154.
Bautista, E., and Wallender, W. W. (1993). “Numerical calculation of infiltration in furrow irrigation simulation models.” J. Irrig. Drain. Eng., 119(2), 286–294.
Blair, A. W., and Smerdon, E. T. (1988). “Infiltration from irrigation advance data. II: Experimental.” J. Irrig. Drain. Eng., 114, 18–30.
Christiansen, J. E., Bishop, A. A., Kiefer, F. W., Jr., and Fok, Y. S. (1966). “Evaluation of intake rate constants as related to advance of water in surface irrigation.” Trans. ASAE, 9(5), 671–674.
Clemmens, A. J. (2007). “Simple approach to surface irrigation design: Theory.” e-J. Land Water, 1, 1–19.
Elliott, R. L., and Walker, W. R. (1982). “Field evaluation of furrow infiltration and advance functions.” Trans. ASAE, 25, 396–400.
Esfandiari, M., and Maheshwari, B. L. (1997). “Field values of the shape factor for estimating surface storage in furrows on a clay soil.” Irrig. Sci., 17(4), 157–161.
Fangmeier, D. D., Clemmens, A. J., El-Ansary, M., Strelkoff, T. S., and Osman, H. E. (1999). “Influence of land leveling precision on level-basin advance and performance.” Trans. ASAE, 42(4), 1019–1025.
Gillies, M. H., and Smith, R. J. (2005). “Infiltration parameters from surface irrigation advance and run-off data.” Irrig. Sci., 24(1), 25–35.
Gillies, M. H., Smith, R. J., and Raine, S. R. (2007). “Accounting for temporal inflow variation in the inverse solution for infiltration in surface irrigation.” Irrig. Sci., 25(2), 87–97.
Grismer, M. E., and Tod, I. C. (1994). “Field procedure helps calculate irrigation time for cracking clay soils.” Calif. Agric., 48(4), 33–36.
Hanson, B. R., Prichard, T. L., and Schulbach, H. (1993). “Estimating furrow infiltration.” Agric. Water Manage., 24(4), 281–298.
Hart, W. E., Bassett, D. L., and Strelkof, T. (1968). “Surface irrigation hydraulics-kinematics.” J. Irrig. and Drain. Div., 94, 419–440.
Izadi, B., Heermann, D. F., and Duke, H. R. (1988). “Sensor placement for real time infiltration parameter evaluation.” Trans. ASAE, 31(4), 1159–1166.
Katopodes, N. D., and Strelkoff, T. (1977). “Dimensionless solutions of border-irrigation advance.” J. Irrig. and Drain. Div., 103(4), 401–417.
Khatri, K. L., and Smith, R. J. (2005). “Evaluation of methods for determining infiltration parameters from irrigation advance data.” Irrig. Drain., 54(4), 467–482.
Lewis, M. R., and Milne, W. E. (1938). “Analysis of border irrigation.” Agric. Eng., 19(6), 267–272.
Monserrat, J., and Barragan, J. (1998). “Estimation of surface volume in hydrological models for border irrigation.” J. Irrig. Drain. Eng., 124(5), 238–247.
Perea, H. (2005). “Development, verification, and evaluation of a solute transport model in surface irrigation.” Ph.D. dissertation, Dept. Agric. and Biosystems Engr., The Univ. of Arizona, Tucson, Ariz.
Philip, J. R., and Farrell, D. A. (1964). “General solution of the infiltration-advance problem in irrigation hydraulics.” J. Geophys. Res., 69(4), 621–630.
Scaloppi, E. J., Merkeley, G. P., and Willardson, L. S. (1995). “Intake parameters from advance and wetting phases of surface irrigation.” J. Irrig. Drain. Eng., 121(1), 57–70.
Serralheiro, R. P. (1995). “Furrow irrigation advance and infiltration functions for a Mediterranean soil.” J. Agric. Eng. Res., 62, 117–126.
Strelkoff, T. S., and Clemmens, A. J. (1994). “Dimensional analysis in surface irrigation.” Irrig. Sci., 15(2–3), 57–82.
Strelkoff, T. S., Clemmens, A. J., and Bautista, E. (2009). “Estimation of soil and crop hydraulic properties.” J. Irrig. Drain. Eng., 135(5), 537–555.
Strelkoff, T. S., Clemmens, A. J., and Schmidt, B. V. (1998). SRFR, version 3.31—A model for simulating surface irrigation in borders, basins, and furrows, USDA-Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Water Conservation Laboratory, Phoenix, USWCL Report #17.
Tabuada, M. A., Rego, Z. J. C., Vachaud, G., and Pereira, L. S. (1995). “Modeling of furrow irrigation. Advance with two-dimensional infiltration.” Agric. Water Manage., 28, 201–221.
Trout, T. J. (1992). “Flow velocity and wetted perimeter effects on furrow infiltration.” Trans. ASAE, 35(3), 855–863.
Trout, T. J., and Mackey, B. E. (1988a). “Furrow flow measurement accuracy.” J. Irrig. Drain. Eng., 114(2), 244–255.
Trout, T. J., and Mackey, B. E. (1988b). “Inflow-outflow infiltration measurement accuracy.” J. Irrig. Drain. Eng., 114(2), 256–265.
USDA Soil Conservation Service (USDA-SCS). (1984). National engineering handbook. USDA-SCS, Washington, D.C.
Valiantzas, J. D. (1997). “Volume balance irrigation advance equation: Variation of surface shape factor.” J. Irrig. Drain. Eng., 123(4), 307–312.
Walker, W. R. (2005). “Multilevel calibration of furrow infiltration and roughness.” J. Irrig. Drain. Eng., 131(2), 129–136.
Walker, W. R., and Kasilingam, B. (2004). “Correcting the volume balance equation for shape factors during advance.” Proc., 2004 World Water and Environmental Resources Congress, ASCE, Reston, Va., 1690–1695.
Walker, W. R., Prestwich, C., and Spofford, T. (2006). “Development of the revised USDA-NRCS intake families for surface irrigation.” Agric. Water Manage., 85(1–2), 157–164.
Warrick, A. W., Lazarovitch, N., Furman, A., and Zerihun, D. (2007). “Explicit infiltration function for furrows.” J. Irrig. Drain. Eng., 133(4), 307–313.
Wöhling, T., Fröhner, A., Schmitz, G. H., and Liedl, R. (2006). “Efficient solution of the coupled one-dimensional surface—Two-dimensional subsurface flow during furrow irrigation advance.” J. Irrig. Drain. Eng., 132(4), 380–388.
Wöhling, T., Schmitz, G. H., and Mailhol, J. -C. (2004). “Modeling two-dimensional infiltration from irrigation furrows.” J. Irrig. Drain. Eng., 130(4), 296–303.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 135 • Issue 5 • October 2009
Pages: 566 - 578
Copyright
© 2009 ASCE.
History
Received: Jul 21, 2008
Accepted: Jan 16, 2009
Published online: Jan 27, 2009
Published in print: Oct 2009
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.