Assessing Pressure Changes in an On-Demand Water Distribution System on Drip Irrigation Performance—Case Study in Italy
Publication: Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 136, Issue 4
Abstract
The hydrant pressure head in an on-demand water distribution system can be subject to high fluctuation depending on the discharge flowing inside the pipes, with consequent impacts on the performance of on-farm irrigation systems. In this work, an Italian water distribution system was analyzed using the AKLA model at upstream discharges of 1,200 and to estimate the range of hydrant pressure variation. A computer model was developed, calibrated, and used to evaluate the performance of a drip irrigation system by relating the on-farm network with the hydrant characteristic curve at a certain operating status. The flow regulator within the hydrant played an important role in stabilizing the performance of the network at hydrant pressures higher than 27 m. At lower hydrant pressures, to apply the same amount of water, irrigation time must be extended by 17 and 95% for pressure heads of 20 and 12 m, respectively. These approaches described have great utility to ensure adequate irrigation management when water is delivered by pressurized on-demand systems.
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Acknowledgments
The writers acknowledge the assistance provided by Dr. Jerry Knox, senior researcher at Cranfield University, who has collaborated in the correction and the reviewing of the paper.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 136 • Issue 4 • April 2010
Pages: 261 - 270
Copyright
© 2010 ASCE.
History
Received: Mar 18, 2009
Accepted: Aug 20, 2009
Published online: Sep 3, 2009
Published in print: Apr 2010
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