Evaluation of the Performance of Center Pivot Irrigation System for Proper Irrigation Scheduling
Evaluation of the Performance of Center Pivot Irrigation System for Proper Irrigation Scheduling
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Date
2014-02
Authors
Bakheit, Amir
Ibrahim, Mohamed
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
UOFK
Abstract
This study was conducted at Atbara farm of the Arab Company for Crop
Production where center pivots were used for producing alfalfa as a forage crop. The
objectives were evaluation of the performance of the center pivot irrigation system, the
irrigation scheduling practiced in the farm and crop water requirement. The low level of
both macro–and micro – nutrients suggests the need for addition of nitrogenous,
phosphatic and potassic fertilizers together with foliar spray of micro–nutrients. Also, the
results showed that the uniformity coefficients, using Christiansen (Cu) and Heirman and
Hein (CuHH) methods was relatively low being 84.14% and 85.32%, respectively. The
distribution uniformity (Du) was 80% at 50% speed which is below the acceptable value.
The results also revealed that the application efficiency is 77.72%. For proper irrigation
scheduling, a recent innovation having the trade name „„Watermark” coupled with a
special resistance digital meter were used for monitoring the soil moisture. It becomes
evident from these results that when appropriate scheduling programmes are followed, as
by using the “Watermark”, three to four irrigations can be eliminated in one month which
will reduce the fuel cost and finally the total cost of operation of the center pivot
irrigation system.
Description
Keywords
Center pivot; alfalfa; uniformity coefficient; distribution uniformity; scheduling