scholarly journals Adoption of site-specific variable rate sprinkler irrigation systems

2012 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 871-887 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert G. Evans ◽  
Jake LaRue ◽  
Kenneth C. Stone ◽  
Bradley A. King
2015 ◽  
Vol 159 ◽  
pp. 123-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan A. O’Shaughnessy ◽  
Steven R. Evett ◽  
Paul D. Colaizzi

2019 ◽  
Vol 62 (5) ◽  
pp. 1409-1415
Author(s):  
Freddie R. Lamm ◽  
Dana O. Porter ◽  
James P. Bordovsky ◽  
Steven R. Evett ◽  
Susan A. O’Shaughnessy ◽  
...  

Abstract. This article is an introduction to an ASABE Special Collection of ten articles concerning center pivot (CP) technology transfer that appears in this issue of and in . The year 2018 marked the 40th anniversary of research and development of low-energy precision application (LEPA) for use with CP sprinkler irrigation systems. Since 1978, researchers, extension specialists, and industry have continued development of multiple technologies that are suitable for mobile lateral irrigation platforms. A two-year technology transfer effort with funding from the USDA-ARS Ogallala Aquifer Program (OAP) was initiated in January 2017 to promote adoption of advanced and efficient irrigation technologies and to highlight recommended practices for mobile irrigation platforms, including both CP and lateral-move (LM) systems. The articles in this Special Collection address five major topic areas: in-canopy and near-canopy irrigation application from moving platforms, site-specific variable-rate irrigation (VRI) and associated sensor technologies for moving platforms, the use of variable-frequency drives (VFDs) with CP systems, and uniformity evaluations for CP systems. While these ten articles are not inclusive of all the important advances in irrigation from moving platforms since 1978, they illustrate that continued improvement in irrigation management occurs by combining engineering and agronomic sciences. Pressurized irrigation from moving platforms is increasing in the U.S. and will be an important tool for meeting global food and water challenges. In addition to introducing and summarizing the Special Collection, this article provides additional rationale for the CP technology transfer effort. Keywords: Center pivot, Irrigation uniformity, Lateral-move sprinkler, LEPA, Linear-move sprinkler, Low-energy precision application, Site-specific irrigation, Sprinkler irrigation, Variable-frequency drives, Variable-rate irrigation, VFD, VRI.


2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 837-852 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan A O’Shaughnessy ◽  
Steven R. Evett ◽  
Paul D. Colaizzi ◽  
Manuel A Andrade ◽  
Thomas H. Marek ◽  
...  

Abstract. Variable rate irrigation (VRI) sprinklers on mechanical move irrigation systems (center pivot or lateral move) have been commercially available since 2004. Although the number of VRI, zone or individual sprinkler, systems adopted to date is lower than expected there is a continued interest to harness this technology, especially when climate variability, regulatory nutrient management, water conservation policies, and declining water for agriculture compound the challenges involved for irrigated crop production. This article reviews the potential advantages and potential disadvantages of VRI technology for moving sprinklers, provides updated examples on such aspects, suggests a protocol for designing and implementing VRI technology and reports on the recent advancements. The advantages of VRI technology are demonstrated in the areas of agronomic improvement, greater economic returns, environmental protection and risk management, while the main drawbacks to VRI technology include the complexity to successfully implement the technology and the lack of evidence that it assures better performance in net profit or water savings. Although advances have been made in VRI technologies, its penetration into the market will continue to depend on tangible and perceived benefits by producers. Keywords: Center pivots, Crop water use efficiency, Irrigation, Management zones, Moving sprinkler irrigation systems, Precision irrigation, Sensor based systems.


2021 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 1295-1302
Author(s):  
Junping Liu ◽  
Umair Gull ◽  
Daniel H. Putnam ◽  
Isaya Kisekka

HighlightsUsing different nozzle sizes on a linear-move sprinkler irrigation system is a simple method for implementing VRI.This study established a variable-rate sprinkler irrigation model for a linear-move system with different nozzles.Uniformity parameters were predicted for different tests, and prediction accuracy ranged from 1.6% to 13.0%.The simulation model can be applied to other sprinkler systems with variable-rate irrigation.Abstract. Variable-rate irrigation (VRI) can vary the application rate by either changing the amount of water flowing through sprinkler nozzles (zone control) or varying the speed of a moving irrigation system across parts of a field, referred to as speed/sector control. The uniformity of sprinkler irrigation in each management zone under VRI directly affects crop growth and yield. The use of different nozzle diameters on a linear-move sprinkler irrigation system is a simple and affordable method for achieving VRI. There are few studies on modeling the uniformity of VRI on linear-move sprinkler irrigation systems. In this study, a cubic spline difference-value model was used to simulate the variable-rate water distribution and uniformity of a linear-move system. Nine tests were designed to evaluate VRI uniformity with different nozzle diameters. A simulation and corresponding field experiments were carried out. The application rate of the simulation model was higher than the experimental values because of wind drift. The uniformity coefficients of the simulation with nozzle diameters of 1.98, 2.97, and 4.17 mm in tests 1, 2, and 3 were 86.56%, 85.24%, and 79.94%, respectively. The uniformity coefficients of the VRI simulations with combinations of nozzle diameters in tests 4 through 9 were 76.89%, 80.70%, 76.67%, 69.58%, 76.64%, and 81.87%, respectively. The smallest error between the simulation and experiment was 1.6%, and the largest error was 13.0%. The simulation model and prediction method can be applied to other sprinkler irrigation systems. Keywords: Linear move, Simulation model, Sprinkler irrigation, Uniformity, VRI.


2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 370-378
Author(s):  
JÚLIO JUSTINO DE ARAÚJO ◽  
VANDER MENDONÇA ◽  
MARIA FRANCISCA SOARES PEREIRA ◽  
MATHEUS DE FREITAS SOUZA

ABSTRACT The banana tree is grown in an extensive tropical region throughout the world, usually by small producers. The present work had the objective of evaluating irrigation systems in banana production in the Açu-RN Valley, aiming at alternatives so that they can be recommended to farmers in the Açu Valley region. The experiment was carried out in the area of the School Farm of the IFRN Campus Ipanguaçu, located in the municipality of Ipanguaçu-RN. The experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design with subdivided plots and eight replications. The irrigation systems were: irrigation, drip irrigation, micro sprinkler and alternative irrigation. The plots were composed of eight useful plants with spacing in double rows 4 x 2 x 2 m. Eight characteristics related to production were evaluated: bunch mass (MC); number of leaves (NP); number of fruits per cluster (NFC); mean mass of the leaves (MMP); diameter of the fruit of the second seed (DF2P); length of the fruit of the second seed (CF2P); mean fruit mass (MMF); productivity (Prod). The data were submitted to analysis of variance and the means were compared by the Tukey test at 5% of probability. In the first cycle of production the sprinkler irrigation system was the one that presented better results the productivity of the Pacovan banana tree; in the 3rd cycle the alternative irrigation system was the one that showed better results the productivity of the banana tree; where the electrical conductivity correlated with the sodium adsorption ratio in the irrigation water, contributed to a moderate limitation of use.


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