Irrigation Science

, Volume 28, Issue 6, pp 479–488 | Cite as

Evaluation of various quick methods for estimating furrow and border infiltration parameters

  • Hamed Ebrahimian
  • Abdolmajid Liaghat
  • Behzad Ghanbarian-Alavijeh
  • Fariborz Abbasi
Original Paper

Abstract

For estimating infiltration properties of surface irrigation, some ‘quick’ and easy methods have been developed. The main objective of this study was to evaluate different ‘quick’ methods and to compare the obtained results with two new methods proposed based on the Shepard one-point approach. For this purpose, data sets measured in six borders and five furrows were used for evaluating different methods. Using the volume balance equation and estimated infiltration parameters, the total infiltrated volume and advance times were predicted to evaluate the accuracy of estimated infiltration parameters. The results showed that the modified Mailapalli and Elliott and Walker methods provided the lowest errors for both furrow and border irrigations. The Elliott and Walker method predicted advance times with highest accuracy. There was very small difference between the Shepard and new proposed one-point methods. The performance of the Elliott and Walker method was slightly better than the new proposed two-point method for the experimental furrows, while a minor difference was found for the experimental borders. The results also showed that the performance of the Elliot and Walker method would be improved using binomial approximation instead of Kiefer approximation.

Keywords

Advance Time Furrow Irrigation Walker Method Infiltration Parameter Cumulative Infiltration 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

Notes

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by The Center of Excellence for Evaluation and Rehabilitation of Irrigation and Drainage Networks in University of Tehran. The authors acknowledge Dr. A. H. Hoorfar, Department of Irrigation and Reclamation Engineering University of Tehran, for his help during this study. We are also grateful to two anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments and suggestions.

References

  1. Abbasi F (1994) Use of the mathematical models for design of border irrigation systems. M.Sc. thesis, Tarbiat Modarres University, Tehran (in Persian)Google Scholar
  2. Abbasi F, Jolaini M, Moayrei M, Rezaee HT, Shooshtari MM (1999) Development of a mathematical model to evaluate and design surface irrigation systems. Technical report, No. 122. Agricultural Engineering Research Institute, Karaj (in Persian)Google Scholar
  3. Abbasi F, Shooshtari MM, Feyen J (2003) Evaluation of various surface irrigation numerical simulation models. J Irrigation Drainage Eng 129(3):208–213CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  4. Abbasi F, Jolaini M, Rezaee M (2008) Examination of fertigation possibility in furrow irrigation systems. Final research report, Agricultural Engineering Research Institute, Karaj (in Persian)Google Scholar
  5. Austin NR, Prendergast JB (1997) Use of kinematic wave theory to model irrigation on a cracking soil. Irrigation Sci 18:1–10CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  6. Benami A, Ofen A (1984) Irrigation engineering: sprinkler, trickle, surface irrigation. principles, design and agricultural practices. Irrigation Engineering Scientific Publication, IIIC Bet DaganGoogle Scholar
  7. Benham BL, Reddel DL, Marek TH (2000) Performance of three infiltration model under surge irrigation. Irrigation Sci 20:37–43CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  8. Blair A, Smerdon ET (1985) Effect of wetted perimeters on infiltration in furrow. In: Proceeding of the ASCE irrigation and drainage specialty conference on development and management aspects of irrigation and drainage systems, pp 162–169Google Scholar
  9. Elliott RL, Walker WR (1982) Field evaluation of furrow infiltration and advance functions. Trans ASAE 25(2):396–400Google Scholar
  10. Gillies MH, Smith RJ, Raine SR (2007) Accounting for temporal inflow variation in the inverse solution for infiltration in surface irrigation. Irrigation Sci 25:87–97CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  11. Holzapfel EA, Jara J, Zuñiga C, Mariño MA, Paredes J, Billib M (2004) Infiltration parameters for furrow irrigation. Agric Water Manag 68:19–32CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  12. Khatri KL, Smith RJ (2005) Evaluation of methods for determining infiltration parameters from irrigation advance data. Irrigation Drainage 54:467–482CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  13. Kiefer FW (1965) Average depth of absorbed water in surface irrigation. Special publication. Department of Civil Engineering, Utah State University, LoganGoogle Scholar
  14. Mailapalli DR, Wallender WW, Raghuwanshi NS, Singh R (2008) Quick method for estimating furrow infiltration. J Irrigation Drainage Eng 134(6):788–795CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  15. Mailhol JC, Baqri M, Lachhab M (1997) Operative irrigation modelling for real-time applications on closed-end furrows. Irrigation Drainage Sys 11:347–366CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  16. McClymont DJ, Smith RJ (1996) Infiltration parameters from optimization on furrow irrigation advance data. Irrigation Sci 17(1):15–22CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  17. Philip JR, Farrell DA (1964) General solution of the infiltration–advance problem in irrigation hydraulics. J Geoph Res 69:621–631CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  18. Rasoulzadeh A, Sepaskhah AR (2003) Scaled infiltration equations for furrow irrigation. Biosyst Eng 86(3):375–383CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  19. Shepard JS, Wallender WW, Hopmans JW (1993) One method for estimating furrow infiltration. Trans ASAE 36(2):395–404Google Scholar
  20. Strelkoff TS, Clemmens AJ, Bautista E (2009) Estimation of soil and crop hydraulic properties. J Irrigation Drainage Eng 135(5):537–555Google Scholar
  21. US Department of Agriculture (1984) National engineering handbook. Chap. 5, Sec. 15, National Technical Information Service, USDA, Washington, DCGoogle Scholar
  22. Upadhyaya SK, Raghuwanshi NS (1999) Semiempirical infiltration equations for furrow irrigation systems. Irrigation Drainage 125(4):173–178CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  23. Valiantzas JD, Aggelides S, Sassalou A (2001) Furrow infiltration estimation from time to a single advance point. Agric Water Manag 52:17–32CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  24. Vatankhah AR, Ebrahimian H, Bijankhan M (2010) Discussion of “Quick method for estimating furrow infiltration” by Mailapalli DR, Wallender WW, Raghuwanshi NS, Singh R. J Irrigation Drainage Eng 136(1):73–75Google Scholar
  25. Walker WR (2005) Multilevel calibration of furrow infiltration and roughness. J Irrigation Drainage Eng 131(2):129–136CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  26. Walker WR, Skogerboe G (1987) Surface irrigation: theory and practice. Prentice-Hall, Englewood CliffsGoogle Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 2010

Authors and Affiliations

  • Hamed Ebrahimian
    • 1
  • Abdolmajid Liaghat
    • 1
  • Behzad Ghanbarian-Alavijeh
    • 1
  • Fariborz Abbasi
    • 2
  1. 1.Department of Irrigation and Reclamation Engineering, University College of Agriculture and Natural ResourcesUniversity of TehranKarajIran
  2. 2.Agricultural Engineering Research Institute (AERI)KarajIran

Personalised recommendations