Technical Evaluation of Sprinkler Irrigation Systems
in Arak Region, Iran

S. Boroomand Nasab¹, F. Baradarane- Hezave, and M. Behzad

Faculty of Water and Sciences Engineering, Shahid Chamran University, Ahwaz, Iran

¹ Corresponding Author: Prof. Dr. S. Boroomand-Nasab
e-mail: boroomandsaeed@yahoo.com

Abstract

The scarcity of water resources is one of the crises most commonly experienced in different regions of the world especially in Iran. By the implementation of pressurized irrigation project in these regions, it is likely to enhance the consumption efficiency and saving water. One of the indispensable components in any irrigation exercise in order to improve the irrigation systems is evaluation activity. In the present study, 9 different sprinkler irrigation systems i.e. the solid system with moving sprinklers and wheel move systems in the agricultural region of Arak, central of Iran were selected, tested and evaluated. Values of uniformity coefficient(CU), distribution uniformity(DU), potential efficiency of water application (PELQ), actual potential efficiency of water application(AELQ) and maximum pressure differences (∆Pmax) in the solid systems are 76.2, 64.5, 55.6, 51.5, 45.2 percent respectively and for the wheel move sprinkler systems are 82.9, 76.0, 67.0, 67.0, 29.0 percent respectively. Average sprinkler evaporation losses and deep percolation values were determined as 12.8, 32.8 percent respectively for the solid systems and 12.2 and 2.5 percent respectively for the wheel move systems. In the solid systems all of the parameters failed to meet the expected values however the wheel move sprinkler systems showed a better performance in the mild wind conditions. In order to better evaluation the water distribution patterns an irrigation efficiency curve was plotted. In the all wheel move sprinkler irrigation systems by applying low irrigation amounts, potential efficiency and actual efficiency of water applications were of the same value which indicates excessive irrigation exercises in some cases and an increase of deeper percolation losses in the solid systems than wheel move sprinkler systems. In general, it can be recognized that the main problems of sprinkler irrigation systems, are deficient design and implementation, low distribution uniformity, low water pressure, deficient distribution of pressure, insufficient lengths of side pipelines in addition to poor quality equipment utilized and deficient management and maintenance processes.

Keywords: sprinkler, distribution uniformity, potential efficiencies, actual efficiency, solid system, wheel move system