Designing Trickle Irrigation Systems in Sloping Fields without Pressure-Compensating Emitters: Application of the IRRILAB Software
Publication: Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 148, Issue 12
Abstract
When designing trickle irrigation systems in sloped fields, the use of pressure-compensating (PC) emitters is generally preferred to ensure the emitter distribution uniformity regardless of the land topography and the variable operating pressures. However, the cost of PC emitters is generally higher than non-pressure-compensating (NPC) ones; moreover, the compensating membrane installed inside the emitters can lose elasticity due to the exposition to solar radiation, water quality, and chemical applications. Recently, the irrigation laboratory (IRRILAB) version 1.0 software application was developed to design microirrigation systems for rectangular and planar sectors when using NPC emitters under any field slope and by neglecting the local losses due to the emitter connections. The objective of this work is to demonstrate that even in sloped fields and neglecting the local losses, it is possible to use NPC emitters by maintaining acceptable values of field distribution uniformity. In addition, the influence of local losses caused by the emitters installed in the laterals is also investigated to assess their role in the examined applications. The IRRILAB software was initially used to design a microirrigation sector, to suggest the optimal operating pressure, and to simulate the operating pressure heads and flow rates. The latter values were compared with the corresponding values measured in the field. The software was additionally assessed based on a second experimental campaign, after limiting the length of the laterals to account for local losses. For both experimental campaigns, the values of the commonly used uniformity coefficients were deemed acceptable according to the American Society of Agricultural Engineering (ASAE). However, the introduction of minor losses in the hydraulic design showed an improvement in terms of the emitters’ flow rate distribution in the whole sector and uniformity coefficients.
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Data Availability Statement
All data, models, and code generated or used during the study appear in the published article.
Acknowledgments
The contribution to the manuscript has to be shared between authors as follows: Prof. Baiamonte set up and outline the research and wrote the original draft. Dr. Palermo and Elfahl carried out the experimental measurements. All the authors analyzed the results and reviewed the text. The Authors wish to thank the anonymous reviewers for the helpful comments and suggestions provided during the revision stage.
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Published In
Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 148 • Issue 12 • December 2022
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© 2022 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jan 10, 2022
Accepted: Jun 3, 2022
Published online: Oct 13, 2022
Published in print: Dec 1, 2022
Discussion open until: Mar 13, 2023
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