Assessment of evaluation indicators in sprinkler irrigation using non-dimensional infiltrated depth indexes

The uniformity of water distribution by sprinkler irrigation is an important design factor that affects water use efficiency and leaching of solutes. The irrigation application uniformity is affected by changes in wind speed and its direction, sprinkler characteristics and variations in operating pressure. The purpose of this paper is to present modified equations for evaluating the pressurized irrigation systems based on non-dimensional infiltrated depths. The equations have been obtained by four data groups including the average of the measured depth values in any quarter. Coefficient of uniformity, CU, distribution uniformity, DU, application efficiency, Ea and deep percolation ratio, DPR are selected indicators to evaluate the sprinkler irrigation system. The suggested method is compared to the traditional approach for assessment the evaluation indicators, also collected data from a wheel-move system in Chaharmahal & Bakhtiari province. The relation between CU and DU was analyzed for 3 scenarios of the average depth. The results show that the application efficiency was estimated 12% less than previous equations because of using four average values. Coefficient of uniformity and distribution uniformity in wheel-move system was calculated 0.78 and 0.66, respectively.