PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF LOW-HEAD MICROIRRIGATION SYSTEMS IN MAIZE FIELDS

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assist. lecturer, Ag. Eng. Dept., Fac. Ag., Suez Canal Univ., Egypt.

2 Assistant Prof., Ag. Eng. Dept., Fac. Ag., Suez Canal Univ., Egypt.

3 Assoc. Prof., Ag. Eng. Dept., Fac. Ag., Suez Canal Univ., Egypt.

4 Prof., Ag. Eng. Dept., Fac. Ag., Suez Canal Univ., Egypt.

5 Prof., Ag. Eng. Dept, Fac. of Ag., Ain Shams Univ., Egypt.

Abstract

The effect of the emitter type and lateral length of low-head microirrigation systems in maize fields were determined on discharge uniformity, water use efficiency (WUE) and cost analyses. Five different emitters (manufactured on-line ‘Em1, Em2; Em3’, in-line ‘Em4’ and microtube ‘Em5’) were evaluated with different lateral lengths (15, 20, 25 and 30 m) at operating pressure of 50 kPa. The results indicated that the coefficient of uniformity (CU) decreased with increasing lateral length. The WUE as well as return of water unit (RWU) increased by increasing the uniformity. Em4 was the highest values of yield consequently WUE and RWU, but Em5 was the highest net seasonal income (NSI) and BC ratio, due to it has a lowest total cost. The cost analysis take into account the effect of inflation rate (Inf.) increasing by 5 or 10%. NSI and RWU were increased by the same ratio of Inf. increasing, but BC ratio remain in the same values.

Keywords

References

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