Factors Which Affect Furrow Intake Rates

Trout, Thomas J. and Kemper, W.D. (1983) Factors Which Affect Furrow Intake Rates. In: Proc. ASAE Conf. on Advances in Infiltration. 1983.

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Abstract

To apply irrigation water efficiently, the water must be absorbed evenly
across the field. In surface irrigation systems, this requires either that
the water be spread quickly across the soil surface so that each portion of
the field has a nearly equal time to absorb water, and that all portions of
the field absorb water at the same rate; or that water intake rate varies
across the field to compensate for differences in intake opportunity time.

Water distribution in surface irrigation systems is determined by: 1) the
water application system capabilities and management, and 2) the infiltration
characteristics of the field soils. Improved application systems and design
procedures for surface irrigation are being developed. But unless soil
infiltration rates can be managed to achieve uniform water intake at desireable
rates, high surface irrigation application efficiencies cannot be achieved.
Although the problem of nonuniform soil water intake can be solved by applying
the water through sprinkler or trickle systems at rates lower than the
lowest intake rates, with the present high energy costs, this option is often
not economical.

The objective of this study is to evaluate several farmer manageable factors
which can affect water intake rates into irrigated furrows. The long term
research goal is to quantify the effects of farmer practices which decrease
intake uniformity, practices he can apply to improve uniformity, and practices
which can change intake rates. Intake rate modification can be useful to
accelerate advance (thus decreasing variations in intake opportunity times),
counteract the effects of variations in intake opportunity times, or better -
adapt a field to a fixed or desireable water application system or schedule.
The manageable factors which will be discussed are:
1) wheel compaction of furrows
2) surface soil water content
3) flow rates, and
4) intermittent application, such as "surge" irrigation.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
NWISRL Publication Number:	0509
Subjects:	Irrigation > Furrow irrigation > Infiltration Mass Import - autoclassified (may be erroneous)
Depositing User:	Dan Stieneke
Date Deposited:	20 Nov 2010 21:57
Last Modified:	19 Jan 2017 18:28
Item ID:	1032
URI:	https://eprints.nwisrl.ars.usda.gov/id/eprint/1032