DESIGN AND EVALUATION OF TRICKLE IRRIGATION LATERALS WITH SINGLE AND VARING PIPE SIZES

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Professor of Agricultural Engineering Dept ., Cairo University, Egypt.

2 Lecturer, Agricultural Engineering Dept., Menoufiya University, Egypt.

3 associate professor, Agricultural Engineering Dept., Menoufiya University, Egypt.

4 Master researcher, Agricultural Engineering Dept., Menoufiya University, Egypt.

Abstract

In trickle irrigation system, uniformity of emitter flow rate along lateral depends on lateral length and size, emitter discharge, operating pressure, and manufacturing variation of emitters. The purpose of the study was to evaluate a trickle lateral based on its design criteria to reach minor friction loss and high water uniformity. Three different single trickle laterals as 13, 15, and 17 inner diameters all had 60 m long and 0.5 m spacing was tested under 100, 150, and 200 kPa inlet pressure for 2, 4, and 8 l/h emitter flow rate. A 60 m-lateral with three varying sizes (f17 in 1st, f15 in 2nd, and f13 in 3rd equaled sections) was tested and compared with a 15 mm-single lateral for 8 l/h, both of them were equal in material cost. Friction loss and flow variation were significantly reduced by increasing lateral size and reducing emitter inflow rate. Flow variation as well as uniformity was insignificantly influenced by inlet pressure. Varying sizes-lateral with 150 kPa inlet pressure highly achieved power saving and uniformity compared to single lateral.
Abbreviations: f means lateral diameter in mm.

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References

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Misr Journal of Agricultural Engineering
Volume 26, Issue 4
October 2009
Pages 1836-1854

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