Potential runoff and erosion comparison of center pivot sprinklers on three Idaho soils

King, B.A. and Bjorneberg, D.L. (2008) Potential runoff and erosion comparison of center pivot sprinklers on three Idaho soils. Proceedings of the 2008 International Irrigation Show, November 2-4, 2008, Anaheim, California. pp. 1-12.

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Abstract

The operational characteristics of center pivot sprinklers are well documented but few
studies have been conducted to evaluate the effects that operating characteristics of a particular
sprinkler have on infiltration, runoff, and erosion of specific soil types. The objective of this
study was to evaluate potential runoff and erosion from common commercial center pivot
sprinklers on three widely distributed, south central Idaho soils. A modified commercial
irrigation boom system was used to emulate center pivot irrigation on experimental runoff plots.
Sprinklers used in the study were: 1) Nelson R3000 with brown plate, 2) Nelson R3000 with red
plate, 3) Nelson S3000 with purple plate, and 4) Senninger I-Wob with standard 9-groove plate.
There were significant differences in runoff and erosion rates between sprinkler types for the
soils tested and experimental conditions. The I-Wob exhibited the highest overall runoff and
erosion rates and the R3000 sprinklers exhibited the lowest rates for the three soils tested. In
general, sprinkler types that visually appear to more uniformly distribute sprinkler droplets over
the wetted area with respect to time exhibited the highest runoff and erosion rates. The relative
differences in runoff between the sprinklers tested for the three soils were not directly
proportional to droplet kinetic energy. This outcome is in conflict with conventional theory on
soil surface sealing from droplet impact.

Item Type:	Article
NWISRL Publication Number:	1278
Subjects:	Irrigation > Sprinkler irrigation > Center pivot
Depositing User:	Users 6 not found.
Date Deposited:	18 Dec 2008 21:52
Last Modified:	18 Oct 2016 15:24
Item ID:	1301
URI:	https://eprints.nwisrl.ars.usda.gov/id/eprint/1301