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A new method for the mathematical modelling of water movement in a surface irrigation system: method and application

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Abstract

Surface irrigation methods need less capital investment and energy than pressurized systems, and therefore they have a wide range of use in many regions. However, inaccurate system design and irrigation applications lead to non-uniform distribution of water in the soil profile. Therefore, the water loss caused by deep percolation increases, and the water application efficiency decreases. In this investigation, a new method was devised for the optimum design of a blocked end furrow system. The new method simulates the movement properties of water in the soil. It analyzes interactively and simultaneously the infiltration characteristics of the soil, the inflow to the furrow and the irrigation water requirement of the crop. The spatio-temporal variation of the wetting pattern which occurs during the water application period and of the components of the wetting pattern can be determined momentarily for any time point during the irrigation application. This process is carried out by running the movement equations of water in the soil, which are described in this investigation. The proposed method was run for two different sample applications of blocked end furrow systems without slope. In the verification process of the model, the sample applications were compared with the results of the USDA SCS method. The results from the two different methods were compared and analyzed in detail. In conclusion, the results from the proposed method gave the optimum solution for different conditions.

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  1. Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Structures and Irrigation, Ege University, B/Block, 35100, Bornova, Izmir, Turkey

    Murat Kilic

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Kilic, M. A new method for the mathematical modelling of water movement in a surface irrigation system: method and application. Irrig Sci 40, 359–378 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-022-00782-2

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