Abstract
The Cal Poly ITRC irrigation evaluation programs have been widely used to assess the global distribution uniformity (DU) of drip and microsprayer irrigation systems. The field procedures and formulas used in the program are presented in this paper. The system DU is estimated by mathematically combining the component DU values. DU components include pressure differences, “other causes” (such as manufacturing variation, plugging, and wear), unequal drainage, and unequal application rates. Results are presented from evaluations by several entities, including Cal Poly ITRC. Cal Poly evaluations of 329 fields provided an average DUlq of 0.85 for drip and 0.80 for microspray. Approximately 45% of the non-uniformity was due to pressure differences, 52% was due to “other causes”, 1% due to unequal drainage, and 2% due to unequal application rates. The data show that with good design and management, it is possible to have high system DU values for at least a 20-year system life.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
Bliesner, R.D. 1977. Field evaluation of trickle irrigation efficiency. Proceedings of the ASCE I & D Specialty Conference on Water Management for Irrigation and Drainage (pp 382–393), Reno, NV.
Bralts, V.F. & Kesner C.D. 1983. Drip irrigation field uniformity estimation. Transactions of ASAE 26(5): 1369–1374.
Burt, C.M., Clemmens, A.J., Strelkoff, T.S., Solomon, K.H., Bliesner, R.D., Hardy, L.A., Howell, T.A. & Eisenhauer, D.E. 1997. Irrigation performance measures–-efficiency and uniformity. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering ASCE 123(6): 423–442.
Burt, C.M., Walker, R.E. & Styles, S.W. 1985. Irrigation System Evaluation Manual. Department of Agricultural Engineering, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA.
Burt, C.M. & Styles, S.W. 1999. Drip and Micro Irrigation for Trees, Vines, and Row Crops (p. 292). Irrigation Training and Research Center, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, California.
Cachuma Resource Conservation District. 1994. Final Report. Irrigation Water Management Program Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties. Cachuma RCD. Santa Maria, California.
Clemmens, A.J. & Solomon, K.H. 1997. Estimation of global irrigation distribution uniformity. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering ASCE 123(6): 454–461.
Dahlgren, K.M. 1987. Estimating Emission Uniformity in Drip Irrigation. M.S. Thesis, Agricultural Engineering Department California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, California.
Fry, R.A. 1985. Trickle system evaluation findings in the San Joaquin Valley, California. Proceedings of the Third International Drip/Trickle Irrigation Congress Held in Fresno (pp. 288–293, Vol. 10–85(I)), ASAE Publication, California.
Handley, D., Vaux, H.J.Jr. & Pickering, N. 1983. Evaluating low-volume irrigation systems for emission uniformity. California Agriculture January–February: 10–12.
Hanson, B., Bowers, W., Davidoff, B., Kasapligil, D., Carvajal A. & Bendixen, W. 1996. Field performance of microirrigation systems. Proceedings of the Fifth International Microirrigation Congress (pp. 769–774), Orlando, Florida.
Karmeli, D. & Keller, J. 1974. Trickle Irrigation Design. Rain Bird Sprinkler Manufacturing Corp., Glendora, California.
Lamm, F.R., Storlie, C.A. & Pitts, D.J. 1997. Revision of EP-458: Field evaluation of microirrigation systems. ASAE Paper 972070, p. 20.
Merriam, J.L., Keller, J. & Alfaro, J.F. 1973. Irrigation Systems Evaluation and Improvement. Agricultural and Irrigation Engineering Department, Utah State University, Logan,UT.
Merriam, J.L. & Keller, J. 1978. Farm Irrigation System Evaluation: A Guide for Management (p. 271). Agricultural and Irrigation Engineering Department, Utah State University, Logan, UT.
Nakayama, F.S. & Bucks, D.A. 1981. Emitter clogging effects on trickle irrigation Uniformity. Transactions of ASAE 24(1): 77–80.
Nakayama, F.S., Bucks, D.A. & Clemmens, A.J. 1979. Assessing trickle emitter application uniformity. ASAE Paper, pp. 78–2017.
Parchomchuk, P. 1976. Temperature effects on emitter discharge rates. Transactions of ASAE 19: 690–692.
Raphael, F. 1993. A Hydraulic Evaluation of Permanent Subsurface Drip Irrigation Laterals. M.S. Thesis, Department of Agricultural Engineering, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, California.
Solomon, K. & Keller, J. 1978. Trickle irrigation uniformity and efficiency. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering ASCE 104(IR3): 293–306.
USDA. 1956. Methods for Evaluating Irrigation Systems. Agriculture Handbook 82. Soil Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, p. 24.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Burt, C.M. Rapid field evaluation of drip and microspray distribution uniformity. Irrig Drainage Syst 18, 275–297 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10795-004-2751-x
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10795-004-2751-x