Field testing of a variable rate sprinkler and control system for site-specific water and nutrient application

King, B.A. and Wall, R.W. and Kincaid, D.C. and Westermann, D.T. (2005) Field testing of a variable rate sprinkler and control system for site-specific water and nutrient application. Applied Engineering in Agriculture. 21(5):847-853.

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Abstract

Development and implementation of site-specific sprinkler irrigation management has been limited due to the lack
of variable rate sprinklers. Thirty-two prototype variable rate sprinklers were constructed and field tested on a three-span
linear-move irrigation system. An algorithm was developed for a distributed control network to allow each sprinkler to be
individually controlled in groups of six or seven along the linear-move lateral. Water application uniformity was monitored
over a 36% to 100% range in application rate. Measured application uniformity equaled or exceeded 90%. Variable rate
nitrogen application was monitored over a 1.1-ha area. Measured nitrogen application rate was within 4% of the target
application rate. Results indicate that the prototype variable rate sprinkler and control system allows water and chemical
application to vary over a 36% to 100% range in application rate with minimal effect on water application uniformity.

Item Type:	Article
NWISRL Publication Number:	1176
Subjects:	Irrigation > Site-specific irrigation Irrigation > Irrigation control Irrigation > Sprinkler irrigation Mass Import - autoclassified (may be erroneous)
Depositing User:	Dan Stieneke
Date Deposited:	20 Nov 2010 21:49
Last Modified:	01 Nov 2016 15:52
Item ID:	28
URI:	https://eprints.nwisrl.ars.usda.gov/id/eprint/28