e Journal of Land and Water: Vol. 1. (1)

Article

Simple approach to surface irrigation design:
Theory

Clemmens, A.J. ^(A)

First published: 2007

Citation

Clemmens, A.J., 2007:
Simple approach to surface irrigation design: Theory -
e-Journal of Land and Water, Vol. 1, p.1-19.
https://www.sakia.org/ejlw_2007_01_01_i

Abstract

The movement of water over the soil surface under surface irrigation has been studied extensively over the last century. However, irrigators are still faced with significant challenges in making surface irrigation systems efficient. In the past, each surface irrigation method was treated differently because of differences in the simplicity with which different phases of the irrigation could be described. This has tended to make surface irrigation analysis and design appear disjointed. In this paper, the same basic procedures are applied to the design of various surface systems, deviating where needed to make the procedures both straightforward and sufficiently accurate. The basis for these designs is the ability to predict advance, recession, the distribution of infiltrated water, and the performance for a given set of conditions. Conservation of mass is the main concept, with empirical approximations used where needed. This paper presents the relevant equations. A companion paper provides solution procedures for hand calculation and discussion of how to apply these in a design setting. Spreadsheets to perform these calculations are available on the Sakia.org e-journal web site http://www.sakia.org/ejlw

Keywords

• Surface irrigation, design, management, application efficiency, irrigation performance

Full text

• Clemmens, A.J., 2007:
  Simple approach to surface irrigation design: Theory. -
  e-Journal of Land and Water, Vol. 1, p.1-19.
  https://www.sakia.org/ejlw_2007_01_01_i  

Document locator

• https://www.sakia.org/ejlw/ejlw_2007_01_01_i

Companion paper and spreadsheets

• Clemmens, A.J., 2007:
  Simple approach to surface irrigation design: Spreadsheet applications -
  e-Journal of Land and Water, Vol. 1, p.20-43.
  https://www.sakia.org/ejlw_2007_01_01_i

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