Performance of Linear Move Irrigation System under Egyptian Conditions

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Agricultural Engineering, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt

2 Water Relations and Field Irrigation Department, National Research Center, Cairo 12622, Egypt

3 Department of Soil and Water Sciences, Faculty of Technology and Development, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt

Abstract

The efficiency of irrigation as a standard engineering measure has been traditionally used to assess water use management. The objective of this study was to evaluate the technical performance of linear move sprinkler irrigation such as operating speeds for different specifications. Catch cans method was conducted to evaluate the distribution uniformity (DUlq) and the Christiansen coefficient uniformity (CU), evaluation was done at a private farm for two linear move irrigation systems: LM1 (linear move, 6" diameter number of the nozzle orifice 17 attached with 10 L min⁻ˡ flow) and LM2 (linear move, 8" diameter number of the nozzle orifice 25 attached with 20 L min⁻ˡ flow) under three different system speeds. The collected water after the irrigation system full passing over the can’s lines was measured using the graduated funnel to calculate the DUlq and CU. Ideal operating LM1 at the intermediate system speed (75% of the standard irrigation system speed equivalent to 22.5 m h⁻ˡ), operating LM2 at the lowest system speed (50% of the standard irrigation system speed equivalent to 15 m h⁻ˡ) recommended for the uniform irrigation water distribution. The results will improve the selection of travel speed when the water application uniformity of linear move irrigation system is evaluated.

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