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Assembling and Performance Evaluation of Centre Pivot Irrigation System New Hamdab Irrigation Project Northern State, Sudan

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Assembling and Performance Evaluation of Centre Pivot Irrigation System New Hamdab Irrigation Project Northern State, Sudan ASSEMBLING AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF CENTRE PIVOT IRRIGATION SYSTEM NEW HAMDAB IRRIGATION PROJECT NORTHERN STATE, SUDAN By Zuhair Abdalmalik Elhassan B.Sc. (Agric.) Honours University of Khartoum 1999 A Thesis Submitted to the University of Khartoum in partial Fulfillment for the requirement of the Degree of Master of Science in agriculture Supervisor: Dr. Amir Bakheit Saeed Dept. of Agricultural Engineering Faculty of Agriculture University of Khartoum April 2008 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page TABLE OF CONTENTS i LIST OF TABLES iii LIST OF FIGURES iv LIST OF PLATES v LIST OF MAPS vii DEDICATION viii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ix ABSTRACT x ARABIC ABSTRACT xi CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW 3 2.1 Irrigation methods 3 2.1.2 Sub-irrigation system 3 2.1.1 Surface irrigation systems 3 2.1.3 Drip (trickle) irrigation system 4 2.1.4 Sprinkler (overhead) irrigation systems 4 4 2.1.4.1 Advantage of sprinkler irrigation systems 5 2.1.4.2 Disadvantage of sprinkler irrigation systems 5 2.2 Sprinkler system classification 2.2.1 Permanent system 6 6 2.2.2 Semi-permanent system 2 6 2.2.3 Portable systems 6 2.3 Centre pivot irrigation system 2.3.1 Centre pivot with corner attachment 8 2.3.2 Linear move irrigation system 8 9 2.4 System performance 10 2.4.1 The uniformity coefficient (CU) 12 2.4.2 Distribution uniformity or pattern efficiency (DU) 12 2.4.3 Application efficiency (Ea%) 13 2.5 Irrigated agriculture in Sudan 13 2.6 Future prospects of modern irrigation CHAPTER THREE: MATERIALS AND METHODS 18 3.1 Prelude 18 21 3.2 Pivot assembly 36 3.3 Hydraulic performance 3.3.1 Uniformity coefficient (CU) 47 47 3.3.2 Distribution uniformity or pattern efficiency (DU) 47 3.3.3 Application efficiency (Ea%) 48 3.3.4 Overall Irrigation efficiency 48 3.3.5Percentage of loss in the cultivable area 3 50 3.4 Irrigation water measurements 50 3.5 Measurement of irrigation water at centre pivot system 51 3.6 Plant parameters 51 3.6.1 Plant height (cm) 51 3.6.2 Crop density 51 3.6.3 Number of tillers 51 3.6.4 Spike length 51 3.6.5 Number of seeds/spike 51 3.6.6 Weight of 1000 grain 51 3.6.7 Stem thickness CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 52 4.1 Technical performance 52 52 4.1.1 Uniformity coefficient 53 4.1.2 Uniformity distribution (DU) 54 4.1.3 Application efficiency (Ea%) 4.2 Plant parameters 55 4.2.1 Plant density, number of leaves, leaf area index, stem size 55 and plant height 4.2.2 Weight of 1000 grain, number of seeds/plant and 61 yield(kg/fd) 4 CHAPTER FIVE:CONCLUSIONS AND 70 RECOMMENDATIONS 5.1 Conclusions 70 5.2 Recommendations 70 REFERENCES 72 APPENDICES 75 5 LIST OF TABLES . Table Title Page 2.1 Agricultural Activities in Sudan 15 3.1 Climate data from Karima metreological station (1941-1970) 19 4.1 Plant density (Number of plants/m2) 56 4.2 Number of leaves per plant 56 4.3 Leaf area index (mm2) 56 4.4 Stem size (mm) 57 4.5 Plant height (cm) 57 4.6 Weight of 1000 grain (gm) 62 4.7 Number of seeds per plant 62 4.8 Yield (kg/fd) 62 4.9 Amount of water applied per feddan (m3/fed) 62 4.10 Center pivot at 100% speed 63 4.11 Center pivot at 40% speed 66 6 LIST OF FIGURS Fig Title Page 3.1 Concrete pad with 4 anchor bolts 27 3.2 Drop pipe and sprinkler 29 4.1 Center pivot at 100% speed 65 4.2 Center pivot at 40% speed 68 7 LIST OF PLATES Plate Title Page 3.1 A boom truck and nylon strap 22 3.2 Center pivot complete package 24 3.3 Center pivot concrete pad and trench 25 3.4 Center pivot head fixed to its legs 26 3.5 The pipes are laid and bolted together 28 3.6 The pipes of span 30 3.7 Complete span 31 3.8 Weldment connected to pivot 32 3.9 Towing wheel 33 3.10 Rubber hose with clamps 34 3.11 Collector ring 35 3.12 Diesel engine with single stage pump 37 3.13 Diesel engine with double stage pump 38 3.14 Suction basin 39 3.15 PVC pipes (∅ 9″) 40 3.16 Zee pipe from single stage pump 41 3.17 Zee pipe from double stage pump 42 8 Plate Title Page 3.18 Flow meter 43 3.19 Pressure gauge 44 3.20 Catch cans 45 3.21 Water measurement 46 3.22 Wheel track 49 4.1 Wheat under center pivot 58 4.2 Wheat in the pilot farm (surface irrigation) 59 4.3 Wheat in the tenant farm (surface irrigation) 60 5.1 Potato under center pivot 72 9 LIST OF MAPS Map Title Page 3.1 New Hamadab agricultural project 20 10 This work is dedicated, To my Father Mother, Brothers Sisters & all my friends 11 ACKNOWLEDGMENT My praise be to Allah, who gave me health to complete this work, also I would like to express my sincere gratitude and thanks to my supervisor Dr. Amir Bakheit Saeed for his guidance, encouragement and help to carry out this work. Finally, I would like to express deep thanks to all those who gave me help during the progress of this work particularly Dr. Ali Widaa, Eng. Abdulbagi Abuagla, Eng. Khalid Mubashar , Shaza Alrayeh & Miss Bilghies. Zuhair 12 ABSTRACT This study was conducted at new Hamdab agricultural project, one of the newly established resettlement projects associated with the implementation of Merowi Dam. The project lies on the western bank of the River Nile in the Northern state about 300 km north of Omdurman. Following the innovation technologies in the irrigation systems world wide, this study has come to make a comparison between modern irrigation systems and traditional ones in aspects of operation costs, irrigation water requirement and expected yield. The study comprised an updated comprehensive survey on the centre pivot systems introduced in Sudan; then assembling five Zimmatic centre pivot systems on predetermined locations on the sandy area (high terrace) of new Hamdab project. The systems were then evaluated for hydraulic performance namely, uniformity coefficient (Cu), distribution uniformity (Du) and application efficiency (Ea). The centre pivot system was then compared with surface irrigated field plots (pilot farm) while considering the traditional method (tenant field) as a control and wheat as an indicator crop. The centre pivot system wwhen run at two speeds (40% and 100%) respectively gave the following results: 1- Uniformity coefficient (Cu) 75% and 85%. 2- Distribution uniformity (Du) 60% and 76%. 3- Application efficiency (Ea) 53% and 47%. With respect to wheat growth parameters and yield attributes, the centre pivot irrigation system showed highly significant difference over the pilot farm and the tenant farms, the average productivities of wheat per feddan were respectively: 1532 kg, 464kg, 159 kg for center pivot, pilot farm and tenant farm. 13 On the other hand records of water consumed per feddan per season were 5344 m3 for the centre pivot and 9306 m3 for either one of pilot farm and tenant’s farm. The study clearly shows that center pivot irrigation system has gave prospects particularly in the high terrace soils in north Sudan. 14 اﻟﺨﻼﺻﺔ اﺟﺮﻳﺖ هﺬﻩ اﻟﺪراﺳﻪ ﻓﻲ ﻣﺸﺮوع اﻟﺤﺎﻣﺪاب اﻟﺠﺪﻳﺪة اﻟﺰراﻋﻲ ، اﺣﺪ ﻣﺸﺎرﻳﻊ اﻋﺎدة اﻟﺘﻮﻃﻴﻦ اﻟﺠﺪﻳﺪة اﻟﻤﺼﺎﺣﺒﺔ ﺳﺪ ﻣﺮوي. ﻳﻘﻊ اﻟﻤﺸﺮوع ﻋﻠﻰ اﻟﺠﺎﻧﺐ اﻟﻐﺮﺑﻲ ﻟﻨﻬﺮ اﻟﻨﻴﻞ ﻓﻲ اﻟﻮﻻﻳﺔ اﻟﺸﻤﺎﻟﻴﺔ وﻳﺒﻌﺪ ﺑﺤﻮاﻟﻰ 300 آﻠﻢ ﺷﻤﺎل أم درﻣﺎن. ﻣﻮاآﺒﺔ ﻟﻠﺘﻄﻮر اﻟﻌﺎﻟﻤﻲ ﻓﻲ ﻧﻈﻢ اﻟﺮي اﻟﺤﺪﻳﺜﺔ ﺟﺎءت هﺬﻩ اﻟﺘﺠﺮﺑﺔ ﻟﺘﻮﻃﻴﻦ ﺗﻘﺎﻧﺔ اﻟﺮي اﺣﺪﻳﺜﺔ ﻓﻲ اﻟﺴﻮدان ﺑﻌﺪ ﻣﻘﺎرﻧﺘﻬﺎ ﻣﻊ اﻟﻨﻈﻢ اﻟﺘﻘﻠﻴﺪﻳﻪ اﻟﺴﺎﺋﺪﻩ ﻣﻦ ﺣﻴﺚ ﺗﻜﻠﻔﺔ اﻟﺘﺸﻐﻴﻞ، آﻤﻴﺔ ﻣﻴﺎﻩ اﻟﺮي اﻟﻤﺴﺘﺨﺪﻣﻪ واﻻﻧﺘﺎﺟﻴﺔ اﻟﻤﺘﻮﻗﻌﺔ. هﺪﻓﺖ اﻟﺪراﺳﺔ ﻻﺟﺮاء ﻣﺴﺢ ﺷﺎﻣﻞ ﻋﻠﻰ ﻧﻈﻢ اﻟﺮي اﻟﻤﺤﻮري ﻓﻲ اﻟﺴﻮدان و ﺗﺮآﻴﺐ ﻋﺪد ﺧﻤﺴﺔ أﺟﻬﺰة ري ﻣﺤﻮري ﻣﺎرآﺔ (زﻳﻤﺘﻴﻚ)ﻋﻠﻰ ﻣﻮاﻗﻊ ﻣﺤﺪدة ﺳﻠﻔﺎ ﻋﻠﻰ اراﺿﻲ رﻣﻠﻴﺔ (ﺗﺮوس ﻋﻠﻴﺎ) ﻟﻤﺸﺮوع اﻟﺤﺎﻣﺪاب اﻟﺠﺪﻳﺪة و ﺗﻘﻴﻴﻢ ﺑﻌﺾ اﻟﺨﺼﺎﺋﺺ اﻟﻬﻴﺪروﻟﻴﻜﻴﻪ وﺑﺤﺴﺎب ﻣﻌﺎﻣﻞ اﻟﺘﻮزﻳﻊ(Cu) ، اﻧﺘﻈﺎﻣﻴﺔ اﻟﺘﻮزﻳﻊ (Du) وآﻔﺎءﻩ اﻻﺿﺎﻓﺔ (Ea) ﻻﺟﻬﺰة اﻟﺮي اﻟﻤﺤﻮري. ﺗﻤﺖ ﻣﻘﺎرﻧﺔ ﻧﻈﺎم اﻟﺮي اﻟﻤﺤﻮري ﺑﻨﻈﺎم اﻟﺮي اﻟﺴﻄﺤﻲ اﻟﻤﺘﺒﻊ ﻓﻲ ﻣﺰرﻋﺔ ﺗﺠﺮﻳﺒﻴﺔ ﺑﺎﻟﻤﺸﺮوع واﻋﺘﺒﺎر اﻟﻤﺰارع اﻟﺘﻘﻠﻴﺪﻳﺔ ﻟﻠﻤﺰارﻋﻴﻦ آﻤﺮﺟﻊ ﻣﻊ اﻋﺘﺒﺎر ﻣﺤﺼﻮل اﻟﻘﻤﺢ ﻓﻲ هﺬﻩ اﻟﻤﻮاﻗﻊ ﻣﺤﺼﻮﻵ ﻣﺆﺷﺮﺁ ﻟﻠﺘﺠﺎرب. ﺗﻢ اﺧﺘﻴﺎر اﺣﺪ هﺬﻩ اﻻﺟﻬﺰﻩ اﻟﺨﻤﺲ ﺑﻌﺪ اآﻤﺎل ﻋﻤﻠﻴﺔ اﻟﺘﺮآﻴﺐ و ﺗﺸﻐﻴﻠﻪ ﺑﺎﻟﺴﺮﻋﺘﻴﻦ اﻟﻘﻴﺎﺳﻴﺘﻴﻦ 40 ٪ و 100 ٪ ﻋﻠﻰ اﻟﺘﻮاﻟﻲ وآﺎﻧﺖ ﻧﺘﺎﺋﺞ اﻟﺨﺼﺎﺋﺺ اﻟﻬﻴﺪروﻟﻴﻜﻴﺔ ﻋﻠﻲ اﻟﺘﻮاﻟﻲ آﺎﻻﺗﻲ: 1- ﻣﻌﺎﻣﻞ اﻟﺘﻮزﻳﻊ (Cu) 75 ٪ و 85 ٪ . 2- إﻧﺘﻈﺎﻣﻴﺔ اﻟﺘﻮزﻳﻊ (Du) 60 ٪ و 76 ٪. 3- آﻔﺎءة اﻟﺘﻮزﻳﻊ (Ea) آﺎﻧﺖ 53 ٪ و 47 ٪. ﻣﻘﺎرﻧﺔ ﻋﻮاﻣﻞ اﻟﻨﻤﻮ واﻹﻧﺘﺎﺟﻴﺔ ﻟﻠﻘﻤﺢ ﺑﺎﻟﺮي اﻟﻤﺤﻮري ﻣﻊ آﻞ ﻣﻦ اﻟﻤﺰارع اﻟﺘﺠﺮﻳﺒﻴﺔ واﻟﺘﻘﻠﻴﺪﻳﺔ أﻇﻬﺮت ﻓﺮوﻗﺎ ﻣﻌﻨﻮﻳﺔ ﻋﺎﻟﻴﺔ ﻟﻠﺮي اﻟﻤﺤﻮري ﻋﻠﻲ اﻟﻤﺰراع اﻟﺘﺠﺮﻳﺒﻴﺔ واﻟﺘﻘﻠﻴﺪﻳﺔ، وآﺎﻧﺖ اﻧﺘﺎﺟﻴﺔ ﻓﺪان اﻟﻘﻤﺢ ﻋﻠﻲ اﻟﺘﻮاﻟﻲ آﺎﻟﺘﺎﻟﻲ : 1- اﻟﺮي اﻟﻤﺤﻮري 1532 آﺠﻢ . 2- اﻟﻤﺰارع اﻟﺘﺠﺮﻳﺒﻴﺔ 464 آﺠﻢ . 3- اﻟﻤﺰارع اﻟﺘﻘﻠﻴﺪﻳﺔ 159 آﺠﻢ . وﻣﻦ ﻧﺎﺣﻴﺔ أﺧﺮى ﺗﻢ ﺗﺴﺠﻴﻞ آﻤﻴﺎت اﻟﻤﻴﺎﻩ اﻟﻤﺴﺘﻬﻠﻜﺔ ﻓﻰ اﻟﻤﻮﺳﻢ ﻟﻠﻔﺪان وآﺎﻧﺖ 5344 ﻣﺘﺮ ﻣﻜﻌﺐ ﻟﻠﺮى اﻟﻤﺤﻮرى،9306 ﻣﺘﺮ ﻣﻜﻌﺐ ﻟﻜﻞ ﻣﻦ اﻟﻤﺰارع اﻟﺘﺠﺮﻳﺒﻴﺔ واﻟﺘﻘﻠﻴﺪﻳﺔ. ﻣﻤﺎ ﺳﺒﻖ ﺗﺘﻀﺢ ﻣﻼءﻣﺔ اﻟﺮى اﻟﻤﺤﻮرى ﻟﻈﺮوف اﻟﺴﻮدان ﺧﺎﺻﺔ ﻓﻰ أراﺿﻰ اﻟﺘﺮوس اﻟﻌﻠﻴﺎ ﻓﻴﻤﺎ ﻳﺘﻌﻠﻖ ﺑﺰﻳﺎدة اﻻﻧﺘﺎج وﺗﺤﺴﻴﻦ ﻧﻮﻋﻴﺘﻪ ﻣﻘﺎرﻧﺔ ﺑﺎﻟﻨﻈﻢ اﻟﺘﻘﻠﻴﺪﻳﺔ. 15 CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION Irrigation is the artificial application of water to the soil for the purpose of crop production. Irrigation water is applied to supplement the water available from rainfall and the contribution to soil moisture from the ground water. In many areas of the world, the amount and timing of rainfall are not adequate to meet the moisture requirement of crops and irrigation is essential to raise crops necessary to meet the needs of food and fiber.
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  • MF2870 Kansas Center Pivot Survey
    Introduction road and not directly from the field, the A road survey of center pivot exact type of nozzle packages could not irrigation systems was conducted in be determined. Therefore, they were select counties across Kansas on two generally characterized as impact sprin- separate occasions. A county road map klers, fixed plate nozzles, or moving for the selected counties was divided plate nozzles, which were recognizable into three north/south transects and configurations. Example nozzle package three east/west transects. The survey configurations are shown in Figures 2 was conducted in the fall of 2003 in through 5. Barton, Edwards, Pawnee, and Staf- The results of the survey are pre- ford counties. The counties surveyed in sented in two groups: the south central 2006 were Finney, Ford, Grant, Gray, survey and the western survey. Haskell, Scott, Stevens and Thomas. South Central Kansas The surveyed counties are highlighted in Figure 1. Center Pivot Survey Results The purpose of the survey was to The summary of observations from obtain information to characterize the the south central region of Kansas is types of center pivot nozzle packages in shown in Table 1a-g. Most of the 325 use. The survey information consisted systems that were observed were typi- of observations on field location, degree cal quarter section center pivots (Table of rotation, number of spans, nozzle 1a), and 95 percent of those systems type, pressure regulation, general nozzle could make a complete revolution, as type, nozzle height, number of spans shown in Table 1b. The most com- and overhang, outlets on overhang, and mon type of nozzle package in the Kansas end gun presence and type.
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  • The Historically Evolving Impact of the Ogallala Aquifer: Agricultural Adaptation to Groundwater and Drought
    Harvard Environmental Economics Program DEVELOPING INNOVATIVE ANSWERS TO TODAY’S COMPLEX ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES September 2012 Discussion Paper 12-39 The Historically Evolving Impact of the Ogallala Aquifer: Agricultural Adaptation to Groundwater and Drought Richard Hornbeck Harvard University and NBER Pinar Keskin Wellesley College [email protected] www.hks.harvard.edu/m-rcbg/heep The Historically Evolving Impact of the Ogallala Aquifer: Agricultural Adaptation to Groundwater and Drought Richard Hornbeck Harvard University and NBER Pinar Keskin Wellesley College The Harvard Environmental Economics Program The Harvard Environmental Economics Program (HEEP) develops innovative answers to today’s complex environmental issues, by providing a venue to bring together faculty and graduate students from across Harvard University engaged in research, teaching, and outreach in environmental and natural resource economics and related public policy. The program sponsors research projects, convenes workshops, and supports graduate education to further understanding of critical issues in environmental, natural resource, and energy economics and policy around the world. Acknowledgments The Enel Endowment for Environmental Economics at Harvard University provides major support for HEEP. The Endowment was established in February 2007 by a generous capital gift from Enel SpA, a progressive Italian corporation involved in energy production worldwide. HEEP receives additional support from the affiliated Enel Foundation. HEEP is also funded by grants from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Foundation, Chevron Services Company, Duke Energy Corporation, and Shell. HEEP enjoys an institutional home in and support from the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government at the Harvard Kennedy School. HEEP collaborates closely with the Harvard University Center for the Environment (HUCE).
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  • Agricultural Algebra: Pivot Irrigation – Circles in the Field High School Geometry and Area
    Agricultural Algebra: Pivot Irrigation – Circles in the Field High School Geometry and Area Objectives Students will calculate the circumference of field irrigation pivots. They will also calculate irrigation rates for multiple pivot scenarios. Vocabulary Center pivot irrigation – a method of irrigation, used mainly in the western U.S., in which water is dispersed through a long, segmented arm that revolves about a deep well and convers a circular area from a quarter of a mile to a mile in diameter. Drip irrigation – a system of crop irrigation involving the controlled delivery of water directly to individual plants through a network of tubes or pipes. Field capacity – the point at which gravity has drained all the free water down through the root zone, and the remaining water is held by the soil particles Furrow – a narrow groove made in the ground, especially by a plow Irrigation – application of water to help plants (especially in agriculture) grow Background Irrigation is the number one use of water in Oklahoma. Many of the crops that grow in our state could not survive without an alternative to rainfall and other precipitation. The average annual precipitation for Oklahoma is about 37 inches, but that amount varies a great deal from southeast to northwest and from spring to fall. Annual average precipitation for the eastern part of the state averages between 35 and 57 inches, while the average in the west averages between 15 and 35 inches. Irrigation fills in the gap by providing water stability, which allows Oklahoma farmers to grow a wider diversity of crops.
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  • Hydraulic and Economic Evaluation of a Center Pivot Irrigation System in West Omdurman District, Sudan
    Hydraulic and Economic Evaluation of a Center Pivot Irrigation System in West Omdurman District, Sudan Zechariah Jeremaiho Othong Loung B.Sc. (Honor) in Agricultural Science (Agricultural Engineering) Faculty of Agriculture University of Khartoum September, 2013 A Dissertation Submitted to the University of Gezira in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Master of Science in Agricultural Engineering (Irrigation Engineering) Department of Agricultural Engineering Faculty of Agricultural Sciences August, 2016 1 Hydraulic and Economic Evaluation of a Center Pivot Irrigation System in West Omdurman District, Sudan Zechariah Jeremaiho Othong Loung Supervision Committee Signature Main Supervisor: Dr. Muna Mohamed Elhag Musa ….…………............. Co- Supervisor: Dr. Elsadig Ahmed Elfaki Abdalla ……………………… Date: August, 2016 2 Hydraulic and Economic Evaluation of a Center Pivot Irrigation System in West Omdurman District, Sudan Zechariah Jeremaiho Othong Loung Examination Committee: Name Position Signature Dr. Muna Mohamed Elhag Musa Chairperson………................... Dr. Bashir Mohammed Ahmed External Examiner.……………... Dr. Sami Ibrahim M. N. Gabir Internal Examiner ………………. Date of Examination: 15, August, 2016 3 Dedication To: Soul of my father who taught me the Meaning of life. My mother, brothers and sisters. My friends and all who encouraged me to Carry out this research work, May God bless them… 4 Acknowledgment Praise is to God who gave me health; I would like to express my sincere gratitude and thanks to my main supervisor Dr.Muna Mohamed Elhag for her guidance, and encouragement and help to carry out this work. Greater thanks are due to Dr. Elsadig Ahmed Elfaki my co- supervisor of his guidance. Sincere thanks are due to Mr.
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  • Changing Irrigation Systems and Management in the Harvey Water Irrigation Area
    FINAL REPORT PROJECT DAW45: CHANGING IRRIGATION SYSTEMS AND MANAGEMENT IN THE HARVEY WATER IRRIGATION AREA AUTHORS Ken Moore, Principal Investigator David Chester Robin Kuzich Dario Nandapi Mark Rivers ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors of the report wish to acknowledge the assistance of the following individuals whose knowledge and inputs contributed to the report. Project Steering Committee members: Andrew McCrea (Western Australian Department of Environment) Murray Chapman (Rural Plan, NPSI Coordinator) Danny Norton (Chairman, Harvey Water) Geoff Calder (General Manager, Harvey Water) Wayne Bell (Bell Dairy) Joe Foley (Research Fellow, CRC for Irrigation Futures) Matthew Bethune (Institute for Sustainable Irrigated Agriculture, DPI, Victoria) Arthur Mostead of Queanbeyan, New South Wales, provided many of the photographs shown in the report and these capture the images of the Project. Horizon Farming Pty Ltd provided the methodology used for pasture sampling and measurement. Finally, the Project team would like to thank the National Program for Sustainable Irrigation and Land & Water Australia for having the vision to fund this Project and to make a substantial contribution to the future of irrigation in the Harvey Water Irrigation Area. PROJECT TEAM Ken Moore, Principal Investigator, Boorara Management Dale Hanks, Taylynn Farms Robin Kuzich, Rob Kuzich & Co. Dario Nandapi, Smart Cow Consulting (and also representing Horizon Farming) Mark Rivers, Department of Agriculture David Chester, Harvey Water Disclaimer The information contained in this publication is intended for general use, to assist public knowledge and discussion and to help improve the sustainable management of land, water and vegetation. It includes general statements based on scientific research. Readers are advised and need to be aware that this information may be incomplete or unsuitable for use in specific situations.
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  • Center Pivot Sprinkler Application Depth and Soil Water Holding Capacity
    Proceedings of the 21st Annual Central Plains Irrigation Conference, Colby Kansas, February 24-25, 2009 Available from CPIA, 760 N. Thompson, Colby, Kansas CENTER PIVOT SPRINKLER APPLICATION DEPTH AND SOIL WATER HOLDING CAPACITY D.O. Porter T.H. Marek Associate Professor and Senior Research Engineer Extension Agricultural Engineer Texas AgriLife Research Texas AgriLife Research and Amarillo, Texas and Texas AgriLife Extension Service Superintendent, North Plains Lubbock, Texas Research Field Voice:806-746-4022 Etter, Texas Fax: 806-746-4057 Voice: 806-677-5600 Email:[email protected] Fax: 806-677-5644 Email:[email protected] SUMMARY Advanced irrigation technologies, including center pivot irrigation, are excellent tools that make it possible to meet crop water requirements with a high level of water and energy efficiency and distribution uniformity. Within constraints of available water capacity and other site-specific limitations, a well designed, maintained and managed irrigation system provides for a high level of flexibility and precision to meet crop water requirements with minimal losses. The key to optimizing center pivot irrigation is management, which takes into account changing crop water requirements and the soil’s permeability and water holding capacities. LOW PRESSURE CENTER PIVOT IRRIGATION SYSTEMS Center Pivot irrigation systems are used widely throughout the Central High Plains, including the Texas High Plains where most of the systems are low pressure systems, including Low Energy Precision Application (LEPA); Low Elevation Spray Application (LESA); Mid-Elevation Spray Application (MESA) and Low Pressure In-Canopy (LPIC). Low pressure systems offer cost savings due to reduced energy requirements as compared with high pressure systems.
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