Author
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Clemmens, Albert |
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Submitted to: Irrigation Associations Exposition and Technical Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings Publication Acceptance Date: 4/1/1998 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Irrigated agriculture is under pressure from other water users and environmentalists to improve its water management. Central to irrigation water management is proper selection and design of irrigation systems. An inappropriate irrigation method or a poor irrigation system design often results in poor water management, poor system performance, excessive or unnecessary erosion, degradation of receiving waters, etc. Irrigation methods are often used in an area because of tradition, rather than effectiveness. Many in the irrigation industry assume that improvements in irrigation performance requires conversion to pressurized irrigation systems. However, a variety of modern, highly efficient surface irrigation methods are in use that achieve efficiencies that are competitive with pressurized systems. This paper briefly describes these modern surface irrigation methods. It also presents software that can be used to help to design and operate these systems so they can reach their potential. The paper should be of interest to agriculturalists, consulting engineers, irrigation designers, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and others. Ultimately, more appropriate irrigation methods will conserve water and benefit the environment. Technical Abstract: Surface irrigation has the reputation for having low irrigation efficiencies. While surface irrigation performance continues to be very low in some places, there are also many conditions under which surface irrigation efficiencies rival those of pressurized systems. There are conditions under which pressurized irrigation systems are more efficient and more economical. There are also conditions under which surface irrigation is both efficient and economical, thus resulting in higher net returns. All irrigation systems require an appropriate design to achieve a high efficiency. However, surface irrigation systems are much more subject to poor operating decisions, while pressurized systems demand a high level of maintenance. Good management with surface irrigation requires systems that are designed with simple operations that are less subject to the whim of the irrigator, who in many cases is not highly trained. A good example of a highly-efficient, easy-to-operate, low-capital-investment surface- irrigation system is the new drain-back level-basin system which is rapidly expanding in central Arizona. |