Optimization of Field Topography in Surface Irrigation
Publication: Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 142, Issue 8
Abstract
This work presents and applies a new methodology to find the optimal topography of a surface irrigation field, achieving a theoretically uniform surface irrigation. For any variant on surface irrigation (basin, border or furrow, with open or blocked end), the method’s result is a particular curved topographical shape of a field. This shape distributes water evenly over the field so that distribution uniformity is theoretically 100% and deep percolation disappears. The methodology was applied to two theoretical cases: (1) a one-dimensional blocked-end field, and (2) a two-dimensional square field with corner inflow. For each case, the methodology reached a particular topography in which distribution uniformity was near 100%. To put this methodology into practice, the optimized topography (which has a curved shape) can be fitted with two or more different slopes. An example is shown in which a real field was laser-levelled with two consecutive slopes to fit the optimized topography; it previously was calculated with the methodology presented in this paper. The irrigation was evaluated before and after the optimization. The results indicated an increase of distribution uniformity from 82 to 96%. The topographic optimization methodology offers new information about topography influence on irrigation performance indicators. The main practical conclusion is that this method can be useful to determine the best slope, set of slopes or curved shape when levelling any field for surface irrigation.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
This work was supported by the Government of Aragón (Spain) and the European Social Fund (European Union).
References
Bautista, E., Schlegel, J., and Clemmens, A. (2015). “The SRFR 5 modeling system for surface irrigation.” J. Irrig. Drain. Eng., 04015038.
Dholakia, M., Misra, R., and Zaman, M. S. (1998). “Simulation of border irrigation system using explicit MacCormack finite difference method.” Agric. Water Manage., 36(3), 181–200.
FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization). (2002). “Irrigation manual—Planning, development, monitoring and evaluation of irrigated agriculture with farmer participation.” Harare, Zimbabwe.
García-Navarro, P., Alcrudo, F., and Savirón, J. M. (1992). “1-D Open-channel flow simulation using TVD-McCormack scheme.” J. Hydraul. Eng., 1359–1372.
González-Cebollada, C., Cervera, L., and Moret-Fernández, D. (2011). “Basin irrigation design with longitudinal slope.” Agric. Water Manage., 98(10), 1516–1522.
Hoffman, G. J., Evans, R. G., Jensen, M. E., Martin, D. L., and Elliot, R. L. (2007). Design and operation of farm irrigation systems, American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, MI.
Khanna, M., and Malano, H. M. (2006). “Modelling of basin irrigation systems: A review.” Agric. Water Manage., 83(1–2), 87–99.
Khanna, M., Malano, H. M., Fenton, J. D., and Turral, H. (2003). “Design and management guidelines for contour basin irrigation layouts in southeast Australia.” Agric. Water Manage., 62(1), 19–35.
Kostiakov, A. N. (1932). “On the dynamics of the coefficient of water-percolation in soils and on the necessity for studying it from a dynamic point of view for purposes of amelioration.” Transactions of 6th Committee Int. Society of Soil Science, Russia, Part A, International Union of Soil Sciences, Vienna, Austria, 17–21.
Playán, E. (2006). “Design, operation, maintenance and performance evaluation of surface irrigation methods.” International course on land and water resources management: Irrigated agriculture, Istituto Agronomico Mediterraneo-CIHEAM, Bari, Italy.
Playán, E., Faci, J. M., and Serreta, A. (1996). “Characterizing microtopographical effects on level-basin irrigation performance.” Agric. Water Manage., 29(2), 129–145.
Playán, E., Walker, W. R., and Merkley, G. P. (1994a). “Two-dimensional simulation of basin irrigation. I: Theory.” J. Irrig. Drain. Eng., 837–856.
Playán, E., Walker, W. R., and Merkley, G. P. (1994b). “Two-dimensional simulation of basin irrigation. II: Applications.” J. Irrig. Drain. Eng., 857–870.
Walker, W. (1998). SIRMOD—Surface irrigation modeling software, Utah State Univ., UT.
Walker, W. R., and Skogerboe, G. V. (1987). Surface irrigation: Theory and practice, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 142 • Issue 8 • August 2016
Copyright
© 2016 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Sep 15, 2015
Accepted: Feb 4, 2016
Published online: Apr 13, 2016
Published in print: Aug 1, 2016
Discussion open until: Sep 13, 2016
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.