Effect of Pulse Drip Irrigation Duration on Water Distribution Uniformity

Abstract

Developing an appropriate irrigation schedule is essential in order to save water while at the same time maintaining high crop yields. The standard procedures of the field evaluation of distribution uniformity do not take into account the effects of the filling and emptying phases of the irrigation system. We hypothesized that, in sloping sandy soils, when short drip irrigation pulses are applied it is important to take into account the total water applied from the beginning of irrigation until the emptying of the irrigation system. To compute distribution uniformity, we sought to characterize the filling, stable pressure, and emptying phases of a standard strawberry irrigation system. We found that the shorter the time of the irrigation pulse, the worse the distribution uniformity and the potential application efficiency or zero deficit are. This effect occurs because as the volume of water applied during filling and emptying phases increases, the values of the irrigation performance indicators decrease. Including filling and emptying phases as causes of non-uniformity has practical implications for the management of drip irrigation systems in sloping sandy soils.

Improvement of Strawberry Irrigation Sustainability in Southern Spain Using FAO Methodology

“…In addition, in these conditions of very sandy soils, a daily frequency of irrigation is required to maintain an adequate level of soil moisture in the root zone. On the other hand, the minimum irrigation pulse duration to achieve a water distribution uniformity higher than 85% is 15 min, assuming a standard flow of 5 L h −1 m −1 [19]. However, the daily irrigation time required from October to January was less than 15 min of irrigation per day.…”

“…During the 2015/16 and 2016/17 irrigation seasons, experiences of efficient irrigation application were carried out on a commercial scale (40 ha) in farms from Almonte, Rociana del Condado, and Lepe. Furthermore, more than 100 evaluations of irrigation systems were carried out in strawberry, raspberry, and blueberry crops for estimating irrigation distribution uniformity [19].…”

“…The identification of the optimal duration of irrigation pulse for the production conditions of Huelva based on criteria of distribution uniformity, irrigation application efficiency and strategy to obtain potential production. For the most commonly used tape, 5 L h −1 m −1 , the optimal duration of irrigation pulse to achieve a uniformity greater than 80% is in the vicinity of 15 min [19].…”

“…The development of a methodology for evaluating the localized irrigation system considering the filling and emptying phases of the irrigation system [19].…”

Household survival and resilience to food insecurity through the drip irrigation scheme in dry rural areas

“…The drip irrigation system is favoured in dry regions because of its effective water use capability as well as lower maintenance requirements and the potential to function on any gradient (Adamala 2016 ; FAO 2016 ; Lozano et al 2020 ). However, the device has large maintenance costs and can operate poorly if users are inexperienced or unaware of simple maintenance procedures, such as the cleaning of filters (Adamala 2016 ; Ruban et al 2020 ).…”