Sprinkler Irrigation Nov 2014

SPRINKLER IRRIGATION 1
PRESSURIZED IRRIGATION
TECHNOLOGIES
 Sprinkler irrigation
 Micro-irrigation
• Micro-sprinklers, micro-jets, misters
• Drippers, bubblers
 Mechanized irrigation
SPRINKLERS & MICRO-
APPLICATORS
ADVANTAGES (1)
 a. Compatibility with diverse topographic

conditions
 b. Vast selection of emitters and nozzles
 c. Uniform water distribution
 d. Easy and simple operation
 e. Accurate water measurement
 f. High mobility
ADVANTAGES (2)
 g. Minimized labor requirements

 h. Feasibility of frequent applications for
germination, cooling, frost protection, etc.
 i. Closed water delivery system
 j. Convenient blending of fertilizers with the
irrigation water.
 k. Handy integration with automation and
computerized irrigation control devices.
DRAWBACKS AND
LIMITATIONS (1)
 a. High initial investment

 b. Extra cost of energy
 c. Sensitivity to wind conditions.
 d. Water losses by evaporation
 e. Induction of leaf-diseases in overhead
irrigation.
 f. Hazard of salt burns on wetted foliage in
overhead irrigation.
DRAWBACKS AND
LIMITATIONS (2)
 g. Washout of pesticides from the foliage in

overhead irrigation.
 h. Interference of irrigation with farm
activities
 i. Hazard of soil surface encrustation and
enhancement of runoff from soil surface.
 j. Water losses in plot margins.
DEFINITIONS (1)
 Pressure - a force acting on an area

 Water head - the pressure at the base of a water column
 Water amount - measured in volume units
 Water flow-rate (discharge) - the amount of water flowing
through a certain cross-section per time unit
 Wetting diameter - the diameter of a circle of soil surface,
wetted by a certain sprinkler
 Sprinkler spacing - the spacing between the sprinklers
along and between the sprinkler laterals
 Irrigation Intensity - the force of the water drops exerted on
the soil surface during precipitation. The intensity depends
on the number of drops, their size, their velocity and the
impact angle at which they hit the soil surface
DEFINITIONS (2)
 Application rate - the amount of water applied to an area unit

per a unit of time
 Irrigation interval - The time interval between two water
applications
 Irrigation cycle - The period between the beginning and the
termination of one irrigation event of a certain area.
 Wind velocity - expressed in meters per second (m/sec.) or
km/h units.
 Nominal pipe diameter: in steel pipes, up to 10" is the internal
diameter. In wider diameters, as well as in aluminum, plastic
pipes and tubes the nominal diameter is the external diameter
UNITS OF WATER POTENTIAL
AND WATER HEAD
UNITS (continued)
 Water amount – liter, cubic meter (m3)

 Water flow-rate – l/hour, m3/hour
 Wetting diameter – m.
 Sprinkler spacing – m. X m.
 Irrigation intensity – low, medium, high
 Application rate – mm/h, m3/Ha.
 Irrigation interval, cycle – days, hours
 Wind velocity – m./sec., km./ hour
SPRINKLER POSITIONS
IRRIGATION INTENSITY
OLD-FASHIONED
TECHNOLOGIES
SPRINKLER TYPE
CLASSIFICATION
 Function
 Pattern of operation
FUNCTIONAL
CLASSIFICATION
 General use
 Under canopy
 Gun sprinklers (rain-guns)
 Part-circle (sectorial)
 Pop-up
 Static
 Regulated
PATTERN OF OPERATION
 Rotating impact sprinklers

 Turbo-hammer
 Gear driven
 Rotary stream
 Pop-up
 Static
IMPACT HAMMER
SPRINKLER
TURBO-HAMMER SPRINKLER
GUN (RAIN-GUN) SPRINKLER
POP-UP GEAR-DRIVEN
SPRINKLER
POP-UP PART-CIRCLE
IMPACT SPRINKLER
POP-UP SPRINKLER
IRRIGATING A LAWN
STATIC SPRINKLERS
OVERVIEW OF IMPACT
SPRINKLER PARTS
DETAILED
VIEW
IMPACT SPRINKLER
CONFIGURATIONS (1)
SECTORIAL (PART CIRCLE)
SPRINKLER
IMPACT SPRINKLER
CONFIGURATIONS (2)
NOZZLE CHARACTERISTICS
IMPACT SPRINKLER NOZZLE
AND SPREADER TYPES
JET TRAJECTORY ANGLE
 For general use – 300

 Under-canopy – 40 – 70
JET TRAJECTORY ANGLE
NOZZLE FLOW-RATE
NOZZLE HEAD-DEPENDENT
FLOW-RATE
LOW-VOLUME UNDER-CANOPY
SPRINKLERS
MICRO-EMITTERS
TYPES OF MICRO-EMITTERS
 Static micro-emitters
 Vortex emitters
 Vibrating emitters
 Micro-sprinklers
STATAIC MICRO-EMITTERS
SPRAYERS FOR MECHANIZED
IRRIGATION
MULTIPLE-JET (RAY-JET) EMITTER'S
DISTRIBUTION PATTERNS
SUPER-SPRAY PAD
OPTIONS
VORTEX AND VIBRATING
EMITTERS
MICRO-SPRINKLERS
MICRO-SPRINKLERS
SUPPORT OPTIONS
MODULARITY OF
MICRO-SPRINKLERS
WATER SPREADING PATTERNS OF
MODULAR MICRO-SPRINKLER
MOUNTING OPTIONS OF
MICRO-EMITTERS
THE IRRIGATION SYSTEM
TYPICAL CONTROL HEAD
PIPES
 Steel, cast iron

 PVC, UPVC
 PolyEthylene
 PolyPropylene
 Fibreglass, GRP
PVC PIPES FOR IRRIGATION
AND WATER SUPPLY
POLYETHYLENE PIPES
DENSITY GRADE
 Type I – Low Density (LDPE), 910 – 925 g/l
 Type II – Medium Density (MDPE), 920 –
940 g/l
 Type III – High Density (HDPE), 941 – 959
g/l
 Type IIII – High Homo-polymer, 960 g/l and
above
 Carbon black 2% is added to reduce the
sensitivity of the pipes to ultraviolet (UV)
sun radiation
POLYETHYLENE PIPE TYPES
PIPE WALL THICKNESS
ALUMINUM PIPE AND
ACCESSORIES
ALUMINUM COUPLERS
SINGLE-LATCH COUPLERS
POLYPROPELENE
COUPLERS
LOCK-FASTENED
POLYPROPELENE COUPLERS
ON-LINE SADDLES
REGULATION AND CONTROL
VALVES
VALVE ACTUATORS
 Manual
 Hydraulic
 Pneumatic
 Electric
MANUAL ACTUATORS
GLOBE VALVES
GLOBE VALVE
CONFIGURATIONS
GATE VALVE
BALL VALVES
BUTTERFLY VALVE
DIAPHRAGM VALVE
DIAPHRAGM VALVE
WORKING PATTERN
CONTROL VALVES
 Normally Closed (NC)

• High safety
• Relatively high head-losses
 Normally Open
• Lower safety
• Low head-losses
CONTROL VALVE
ACTUATORS
SOLENOID VALVE
NORMALLY CLOSED (NC)
SOLENOID VALVE
HYDRAULIC VALVE
CHECK-VALVES
(BACKFLOW PREVENTERS)
PRESSURE REGULATORS
AIR-RELEASE VALVES
ATMOSPHERIC VACUUM
BREAKERS
FLOW-METERS
HYDROMETER – MEASURING
CONTROL-VALVE
SCADA CONTROL SYSTEM
FLOW-RATE – PRESSURE
RELATIONSHIP
HEAD (PRESSURE) CONSTITUENTS

 Elevation head (z)
 Dynamic head
 Velocity head
PRESSURE AND WATER
POTENTIAL UNITS
HEAD-LOSSES IN WATER
FLOW
 Longitudinal head-losses
• Caused by the friction of water
molecules with pipe walls
 Local head-losses
• Caused by the friction of water molecule
with the inner surface of accessories
TOTAL DYNAMIC HEAD
(TDH)
 The total head requested in the pump

is comprised of:
• Operating pressure
• Friction head losses
• Topography difference
• Pump suction lift
HEAD LOSSES FACTORS
 Pipe length
 Pipe inner cross-section
 Pipe wall smoothness
 Water flow-rate
 Water viscosity
LONGITUDINAL HEAD-LOSSES
HAZEN-WILIAMS EQUATION
C (Hazen-Williams)
COEFFICIENT
MINOR (LOCAL) HEAD-LOSSES
FLOW FACTOR (Kv) IN
VALVES AND ACCESSORIES
FLOW FACTOR (Kv)
CALCULATION EXAMPLE
 Kv = 50; What is the head loss when

Q = 30 m3/h
 Manipulation of the above given
equation:
 Δp = (Q/Kv)2
 Δp = (30/50)2 = (0.6)2 = 0.36 bar = 3.6
m
TOTAL DYNAMIC HEAD
(TDH)
 The total dynamic head is the sum

of:
 The vertical distance that the water is
lifted
 The pressure required in the
emitters' inlets
 The friction losses that are created
by the water flow
THE POWER INPUT
REQUIRED BY THE PUMP
CALCULATION OF THE REQUIREED
POWER INPUT - EXAMPLE
 Q = 200m3; H = 150 m; η = 0.75
 N = 200 X 150/(270 X 0.75) = 148 HP
OPERATING AND
WORKING PRESSURE
 Operating pressure (OP):

• The pressure required at the emitters to
guarantee effective performance and uniform
water distribution
 Working pressure (PN):
• the maximal allowed pressure in a component
of the irrigation system (pipe, filter, etc.) that will
not result in damage to the element by
excessive pressure
CHRISTIANSEN FRICTION
FACTOR (F)
VALUES OF THE OUTLET
FRICTION FACTOR (F)
HYDRAULIC CHARACTERISTICS
OF EMITTERS

EMITTER DISCHARGE EXPONENT AND THE
PRESSURE – FLOW-RATE RELATIONSHIP

MANUAL PRESSURE
MEASUREMENT

SINGLE EMITTER FLOW-RATE

SINGLE EMITTER FLOW-
RATE
CALCULAION EXAMPLE

HEAD-LOSSES IN NON-DISTRIBUTING
ALUMINUM PIPES - %

HEAD-LOSSES IN
DISTRIBUTING LATERALS
 Discharge of water from outlets along the

pipe decreases the accumulating total head-
loss in the pipe, compared with a non-
distributing pipe
 The calculation of head-losses in
distributing pipes is done by multiplication
of the head-losses in non-distributing pipes
by the F coefficient
HEAD-LOSSES IN DISTRIBUTING
LATERALS
CALCULATION EXAMPLE

HEAD LOSSES IN PVC AND
PE PIPES

NOMOGRAM FOR DETERMINATION OF
THE HYDRAULIC GRADIENT IN PIPES

HEAD-LOSSES IN LDPE
PIPES

HEAD-LOSSES IN HDPE
PIPES

SOIL WETTING PATTERNS
Key factors affecting the pattern of water

distribution in the wetted soil volume are:
 Soil properties
 Emitters' position and spacing
 Emitter water distribution pattern
 Emitter flow-rate
 Water dosage
 Chemical composition of the Water

IRRIGATION EFFICIENCY
(IE)

PRINCIPAL PATTERNS OF WATER
DISTRIBUTION IN IRRIGATION
 Full and uniform wetting of the soil

surface
• Overhead sprinkler irrigation and border
surface irrigation.
 Localized water application
• Drip irrigation, furrow irrigation and
under-canopy orchard sprinkler
irrigation.

DISTRIBUTION UNIFORMITY IN FULL
WETTING OF THE SOIL SURFACE

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
CU AND DU

SCHEDULING COEFFICIENT
(SC)

DISTRIBUTION UNIFORMITY
TESTS

DISTRIBUTION
UNIFORMITY TEST

CATCH CANS
ARRANGEMENT

MEASUREMENT
REGISTRATION FORM

CALCULATION OF CU
EXAMPLE

WIND EFFECT ON THE DISTRIBUTION
PATTERN OF A SINGLE LATERAL

DISTRIBUTION UNIFORMITY IN
LOCALIZED IRRIGATION

SPRINKLER IRRIGATION
TECHNIQUES
 Set systems
• Fixed
• Periodic-move
 Mobile systems
• Intermittent-move
• Continuous-move

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF THE
SPRINKLER IRRIGATION METHOD

HAND-MOVE OF
ALUMINUM PIPES

SOLID-SET DESIGN
LAYOUT ALTERNATIVES

SOLID-SET UNDER-CANOPY IN
ORCHARDS

UNDER-CANOPY SOLID-
SET LAYOUT

OVERHEAD ORCHARD
IRRIGATION

MINI-SPRINKLERS SOLID-SET
SYSTEMS IN VEGETABLES

MECHANIZED IRRIGATION
 Towline
 Wheel-move
• Side-roll systems
• Side-move systems
 Traveling-gun (traveler)
• Hose-reel traveler
• Cable-tow traveler
 Continuous-move Sprinkler Systems
• Center-Pivot
• Linear-Move

TOWLINE

SIDE-ROLL

SPRINKLER VERTICALLY STABILIZED
BY SWIVEL AND BALLAST

SIDE-ROLL OPERATING
SCHEME

TRAVELING-GUN - HOSE-
REEL TRAVELER

HOSE-REEL TRAVELER
OPERATING SCHEME

CABLE-TOW TRAVELER

CABLE-TOW TRAVELER
SIDE VIEW

CABLE-TOW TRAVELER
OPERATING SCHEME

CONTINUOUS-MOVE
SPRINKLER SYSTEMS
 Specific Longitudinal Discharge (SLD) –

• the hourly flow-rate per length unit, along the moving
lateral
• The higher the SLD of the system, the more area the
system can irrigate in a given time period, provided no
runoff occurs
• The common SLD range is 0.5 - 2 m3/h. Common
advance velocity is 50 - 100 m/h
 Example:
• System flow-rate - 600 m3/h, lateral length - 400 m.
• SLD = 600/400 = 1.5 m3/m/h.

CENTER-PIVOT

CENTER-PIVOT – CIRCULAR
WETTING PATTERN

CENTER-PIVOT IRRIGATION
ADVANTAGES
 Water delivery is simplified through the use of a stationary

pivot point
 Guidance and alignment are controlled relative to the fixed
pivot point
 Speed is set by the exterior tower of the base circle
 High water application uniformities are easily achieved
with the moving emitters
 After completing one irrigation, the system is at the
starting point for the next irrigation
 Irrigation management is improved by accurate and timely
application of water
 Capability of accurate and timely applications of fertilizers
in the irrigation water
CENTER-PIVOT IRRIGATION
DRAWBACKS
 High friction losses occures in the lateral since the

concentric band irrigated increases with each
increment of radius, most of the water must be
carried toward the end of the lateral
 Pressure regulation or flow control nozzles have
to be used to eliminate large variations in emitters
discharge when elevation differences between
uphill and downhill lateral positions are significant

CENTER-PIVOT MAIN TOWER

CORNER-ARM

SPRINKLER POSITIONING
OPTIONS ON CENTER-PIVOT

SPRINKLER PACKAGE

TOWABLE CENTER-PIVOT

UNIVERSAL SYSTEM

COMPONENTS OF CENTER-
PIVOT/LINEAR- MOVE SYSTEM

BOOM-BACKS BEHIND CENTER-
PIVOT TOWERS

BI-LATERAL BOOM APPENDAGE
WITH END-GUN ON CENTER-PIVOT

END-GUNS

LINEAR-MOVE SYSTEMS

ADVANTAGES OF LINEAR-MOVE SYSTEMS
(COMPARED WITH CENTER-PIVOT)
 Suitable for irrigation of rectangular

fields
 Uniform emitters and their intervals
on the laterals

DRAWBACKS OF LINEAR-MOVE SYSTEMS
(COMPARED WITH CENTER-PIVOT)
 The need of “dry transfer” from the end-line

of an irrigation event to the start-line of the
next event in the other end of the field
 The extra labor requested for that action and
connecting/disconnecting the lateral to
risers
 Soil drying requested between irrigation
events

OVERCOMING THE DIFICULTY
OF LATERAL TRANSFER
 Dividing the field into two sub-plots in its middle.

Irrigation starts on one edge and continues to the
center of the field. The lateral then is moved dry to
the other end where second step of irrigation
starts
 Operating the Linear-Move system in both
directions, applying half of the water in each
 Lateral legth is half of the width of the irrigated
area. First, the lateral irrigates half of the field,
pivots at field end and returns, irrigating the other
half

LINEAR-MOVE SYSTEM WITH ON-TOP HIGH-
PRESSURE IMPACT SPRINKLERS AND END-GUN

ON-LATERAL INSTALLED
DEVICES

LINEAR-MOVE SYSTEM WITH
SPRAY EMITTERS ON DROPS

LINEAR-MOVE OPERATING SCHEME
MAIN-LINE IN FIELD MARGIN

LINEAR-MOVE SYSTEM
PUMPING WATER FROM DITCH

OPERATION SCHEMES OF DITCH-
FED LINEAR-MOVE SYSTEMS

CONTROL AND AUTOMATION
DEVICES
 Sensors
 Monitors
 On-off switches
 Pressure and flow regulators
 Wired and wireless (RF radio, Cellular,
internet) communications
 Controllers and control panels
 GPS systems
 VRI (Variable Rate Irrigation) controllers

CONTROL AND AUTOMATION
FUNCTIONS
 Control of the velocity of motion, flow-rate,

irrigation start and water shut-off
 Protection against pressure surges and bursting
of pipes
 Audio and visual alarms about system or water
supply malfunction
 Remote control and data acquisition
 Synchronization of water and fertilizer application

VRI WITH INDIVIDUAL
EMITTER CONTROL

PARTIALLY IRRIGATING
LATERAL

CONTROL-PANEL POSITIONED
IN THE PIVOT POINT

ON-SCREEN OPERATION
PRESENTATION

WATER EMITTERS IN
MECHANIZED IRRIGATION
 Impact sprinklers
 Static low-pressure emitters
• Sprayers
• Bubblers
 Dynamic low-pressure emitters
• Rotators
• Spinners
• Accelerators
• Low-Drift-Nozzles (LDN)
• Wobblers

DEFINITIONS
 Low-pressure emitter - device equipped with a nozzle and a

stationary, rotating or oscillating deflection pad
 Stationary pad - a deflection pad that does not move when
impacted by the water stream leaving the nozzle. Water is
ejected in spray pattern
 Rotating pad - a deflection pad that rotates in a 360
degrees when impacted by the water stream. Water is
ejected as many distinctive streams.
 Oscillating pad - a deflection pad that oscillates when
impacted by the water stream. The water is ejected in
uniform relatively big drops
 Drop tubes – plastic hose, rubber hose, or metal tube used
to deliver water to an emitter mounted below the pivot
pipeline
IMPACT SPRINKLERS

UPSIDE-DOWN LOW-PRESSURE
EMITTERS AT WORK

WATER-LOGGING BY
SPRAY EMITTERS

STATIONARY DEFLECTION-PAD
EMITTERS

NOZZLE AND DEFLECTION PAD
OPTIONS FOR STATIONARY SPRAY

ROTATORS

UPSIDE-DOWN ROTATOR

SPINNERS

SPINNERS’ ROTATING
PADS
 Convex plates are mounted upright on top

of the lateral with higher trajectory angles,
rendering larger wetting diameter and better
uniformity of application-rates, but are more
susceptible to wind drift
 Concave plates create jet trajectory angles
of 60 – 350. Usually the emitters are inverted
for use on drops
DISTINCTIVE EMITTERS

LDN (LOW-DRIFT-NOZZLE)
CONFIGURATIONS

EMITTERS WITH OSCILLATING
PADS/PLATES

OSCILLATING EMITTERS
COMPONENTS AND POSITION

CONFIGURATIONS OF
INVERTED WOBBLERS

QUAD-SPRAY WATER
APPLICATION MODES

EMITTERS’ MOUNTING
OPTIONS
 Overhead
• On lateral top
• On drops
 MESA (Mid Elevation Spray Application)
 LESA (Low Elevation Spray Application)
 LEPA (Low Energy Precision Application)
 LPIC (Low Pressure In Canopy)

POSITIONING OPTIONS OF LOW-
PRESSURE EMITTERS ON DROPS

LEPA EMITTERS
OPERATION MODES
 Bubble Mode
 Drag-Socks or Hoses
 Horizontal Spray Mode
 Upward-Spray Mode

ADVANTAGES OF THE
LEPA SYSTEM
 Lower pressure requirements and the
derived savings in energy costs.
 Higher irrigation application efficiency due
to decreased wind drift, higher distribution
uniformity, and reduced wetting of the
foliage
 95% - 98% of the irrigation water is applied
to the active root-zone. Water
 Application is precise and intense in limited
soil surface
DISADVANTAGES OF THE
LEPA SYSTEM
 Higher equipment and installation costs

 Saturated soil conditions and runoff that may
occur without proper management
 More intensive maintenance is requested to repair
and replace worn nozzles
 d. Frequently, furrow diking – mechanical
placement of small dikes down each furrow, is
requested
 e. For Center-Pivots, in certain circumstance, the
field has be planted in a circled rows

FURROW DIKES

WETTING DIAMETER OF EMITTERS
AT 1.8 M3/H FLOW-RATE

PRESSURE REGULATORS (PR)
FOR SINGLE EMITTERS

USING PRESSURE REGULATORS IN
SLOPY TERRAIN

WIDTH OF THE WETTED COVERAGE (W) AND
APPLICATION INTENSITY RELATIONSHIP

SELECTING NOZZLE SIZES ALONG
A CENTER-PIVOT LATERAL
 Determining the discharge required from

each emitter for uniform water application
 Determining the pressure available at each
sprinkler outlet, starting with a design
pressure at the end
 Selecting the appropriate nozzle size
conforming with the required discharge and
the available pressure
REQUIRED EMITTER
FLOW-RATE

REQUIRED APPLICATION INTENSITY AND
TIME OF APPLICATION RELATIONSHIP

IRRIGATION OF ORCHARDS BY
CENTER-PIVOT

MAINTENANCE
 Installation
 Routine maintenance
 Periodical inspections

INSTALLATION
 Mains and sub-mains

• Bury PVC pipes in the soil
• Padding the trench with sand
 Laterals
• “Snaking” of LDPE laterals
• Precise punching of laterals for insertion of
emitters and connecting tubes
 Flushing of the system prior to operation

LATERAL PUNCHING AND
CONNECTING AIDS

INSERTION OF EMITTERS
INTO HDPE LATERAL

COUPLING OF PE PIPE

ROUTINE MAINTENANCE
 Visual monitoring of emitters’ operation

 Reading water-meters
 Comparison of actual flow-rate with the
nominal design flow-rate
 Checking the pressure regime
 Checking the functioning of control
devices
 Flushing laterals and filters

COMPONENTS OF HYDRAULIC
AND METERING VALVES

SPRINKLER AND ALUMINUM
PIPES MAINTENANCE

MAINTENANCE OF MICRO-JETS
AND MICRO-SPRINKLERS

MAINTENANCE OF
ACCESSORIES

MAINTENANCE OF
FILTRATION SYSTEMS

MAINTENANCE OF
FERTIGATION EQUIPMENT
 Evaluating System Performance

• Collecting water samples from the emitter laterals downstream from
the injection point and comparing the sample analysis with the
desired concentration.
• Analyzing an extracted sample of soil solution.
• Analyzing the nutrient content of soil samples.
 Maintenance of the injectors
• Checking the integrity of epoxy coating on tanks
• Checking the performance of pumps and venturi devices
• Checking pressure gauges
• Lubricating moving parts according to manufacturers' instructions
• Replacing inflexible diaphragms

CHEMICAL WATER TREATMENTS
OXIDATION
 Oxidizing agents – chlorine compounds

 Oxidation objective - decomposing of sustained organic
matter and preventing development of algae and colonies
of microorganisms as clogging factors
 Oxidation is essential In micro-irrigation systems irrigating
with water containing organic matter, iron, sulfur and
manganese
 Continuous chlorination - 2 – 5 ppm of active chlorine in
the water
 Intermittently chlorination (“shock treatment”) - 15 – 30
ppm chlorine for 20 – 30 minutes
 Indication for adequate treatment - residual chlorine level
in the distal ends of the laterals is above 0.5 – 1 ppm
CHEMICAL WATER TREATMENTS
ACIDIFICATION
 Acidification lowers water pH. This eliminates precipitation

of insoluble salts of the cations calcium, magnesium, Iron
and manganese with the anions bi-carbonate, carbonate,
sulfate and phosphate
 In low pH levels, the solubility of these salts is relatively
high and the rate of precipitation is reduced significantly
 The required concentration of acid in irrigation water for
attaining satisfactory results depends on the levels of bi-
carbonates and sulfates in the water. The customary range
is 0.5% - 1.5% in continuous acidification
 Acid injection is used also to dissolute precipitates that
clog emitters

OVERWINTERING OF THE
IRRIGATION SYSTEM - a

IRRIGATION SYSTEM - b

IRRIGATION SYSTEM - c

IRRIGATION SYSTEM - d

IRRIGATION SYSTEM - e

IRRIGATION SYSTEM - f

GRAVITY AND PRESSURIZED
IRRIGATION
 With gravity irrigation water flows on

the plot’s surface only due to the
force of gravity at atmospheric
pressure
 With pressurized irrigation water
flows within a closed pipe system
 The water is released only at fixed
points from the pipe to the emitter

IRRIGATION SYSTEMS
GRAVITY PRESSURIZED
Better know-how. Better design
Land leveling. No leveling
Harder work. Easier work
Big water volume.
Any water volume
Heavy applications
Any irrigation depth
Uneven application
Higher uniformity

WETTED SURFACE BY
A ROTATING SPRINKLER
Application Rate
[ A.R. ] =
q / (
 x r²)
[ in mm/h ]

APPLICATION RATE
Sprinkler discharge
A.R. = —————————————
Area covered
 1 mm per hour =
 1 Liter per hour / m2 =
 10 m3 / hour / Hectare
1 Ha = 10 000 m² 1 m³ = 1000 Lt
1 Lt / m² = 10 000 Lt/ Ha = 10 m³ / Ha

APPLICATION RATE
The sprinkler application rate

must never exceed
the soil infiltration rate.
units = mm / hr

THE ROTATING
SPRINKLER
A sprinkler throws a stream of

water
into the surrounding air.
 the streams breaks up into jets,
and then into individual drops
that fall to the ground.
 the sprinkler turns around its
shaft and covers a circle.
HOW DOES AN IMPACT DRIVEN
SPRINKLER IRRIGATE ?
 The sprinkler turns when the water

jet
hits the “spoon” on the hammer.
 The hammer is thrown back by the
force of the jet.
 The hammer is attached to a spring.
 The movement of the hammer loads
the spring.
 The spring returns the hammer till it
hits the stop and meets the jet
again.
HOW DOES AN IMPACT
DRIVEN
 Every time the arm hits the
body - the nozzle changes
position
 The sprinkler covers a new

arc of the irrigated circle

HOW DOES AN IMPACT
DRIVEN
 The speed of rotation depends
on the tension on the spring.
 The tension of the spring may
be adjusted.
 Best results are obtained with
one revolution per minute

what happens if the
hammer returns
Too fast Too slow

The hammer deflects The hammer deflects
the stream too often. the stream very little.
The sprinkler spins. The sprinkler turns
slowly – run-off
More small drops. More large drops.
More water near the Less water near the
sprinkler. sprinkler.

objectives of
sprinkler irrigation
To apply as uniformly as

possible
the required amount of water
[ the irrigation "depth" ],
at the proper time,
at adequate rate, [ without run-
off ].

SPRINKLERS:
ADVANTAGES
 Water saving
no surface run-off
 Soil conservation
reduces soil erosion by wind/water
 Micro-climate control
with overhead irrigation
 Application of fertilizers [ fertigation ]
 Disposal of treated sewage water.
SPRINKLERS:
ADVANTAGES
Versatility :
• man, topography, soil, climate
No canals :
• no obstacles, transportability
Flexibility [of water application]
• intensity, frequency, depth

SPRINKLERS:
LIMITATIONS
Dependable water supply

Physical / chemical water
quality
• Dependable energy supply
Labour requirements vs.
investment
Equipment maintenance

SPRINKLERS:
LIMITATIONS
 Wind duration & intensity

 Temperatures:
High and low
 Humidity:
 Plant pathogens / diseases.
 Water salinity & contamination.
 Interference with other jobs.
SPRINKLER
PERFORMANCE
1. Nozzle design
number
diameter
angle
height
2. Pressure
3. Wetted diameter (“range”)
4. Droplet size
5. Slope
6. Wind

SPRINKLER DISCHARGE
The relationship between sprinkler

discharge and pressure is given by :
Q = c x d2 x P1/2
Q = sprinkler discharge
d = nozzle diameter
P = operating pressure
c = sprinkler constant – its
geometry
and the units used

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE
DISCHARGE WHEN THE nOZZLE
DIAMETER INCREASES ?
The discharge increases

d²
Double the diameter from 2 to 4
The discharge increases from 2² to 4²
[from 4 to 16]
FOUR TIMES !!
The wetted diameter also increases

INFILTRATION
 Water penetrating the soil

surface
and filling the voids between
particles
 Infiltration rate [ Ir ] is measured
in mm/h
 Percolation
 The flow of water within the soil

INFILTRATION RATE

RUN-OFF AND EROSION
 Run-off
 Water flowing on the soil’s surface.
 Erosion
 Run-off carries with it soil particles,
organic matter and nutrients.
A thinner layer of soil remains
behind,
 The soil left behind is less fertile.
 Run-off  drainage and sediment
removal

EVAPORATION
 Evaporation :
water on the soil’s surface and
near it absorbs heat and
changes phase to water-vapour.
 Evaporation is measured in mm.

TRANSPIRATION
 Transpiration :
water absorbed by plant roots
reach the leaves absorbs heat,
changes phase to water-vapour
and evaporates.
 Transpiration is measured in
mm.
GRAVITY AND PRESSURIZED
IRRIGATION
 With gravity irrigation water flows on

the plot’s surface only due to the
force of gravity at atmospheric
pressure.
 With pressurized irrigation water
flows within a closed pipe system.
 The water is released only at fixed
points from the pipe to the emitter.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE
DISCHARGE WHEN THE PRESSURE
AT THE NOZZLE INCREASES ?
The discharge increases

P1/2
Double the pressure from 2 to 4
The discharge increases from 21/2 to 41/2
[1.44 to 2]
An increase of 40%
The diameter of the drops decreases

NOZZLE DESIGN
ORIFICE CONICAL SPRAYER

NOZZLE NOZZLE NOZZLE

NOZZLE NUMBER

WHAT HAPPENS IF WE
CHANGE THE NOZZLE’S
ANGLE ?
 The nozzle’s angle is measured from
near the horizontal ( ~ 10° )
up to a maximum of 45°.
 As the angle increases,
the range of throw increases.
 The higher the angle, the higher the
stream and the stronger the effect of
wind.

RISERS
Height of nozzle above the crop

canopy
 Uniform height of risers

 Position perpendicular to
ground
- with the aid of stabilizers
DROPLET SIZE
Mean droplet size and

sprinkler range are a function
of :
 nozzle design
 nozzle diameter
 operating pressure

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN
THE
DROPS HIT THE SURFACE
?
 Big and heavy drops may damage
the foliage and break up soil clods . .
...
 Causing soil sealing, run-off, erosion.
 Small drops drift with the wind.
 Therefore the size of the drops is an
important component of sprinkler
irrigation design and management.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE SIZE OF THE
DROPLETS WHEN THE PRESSURE AT
THE NOZZLE INCREASES ?
 At a higher the pressure, the

water stream breaks up into
smaller droplets.
 The smaller the droplets –
the smaller the range
the stronger the effect of wind.

DROPLET SIZE
Small droplets drift away

with the wind and are carried
beyond the irrigated plot.
reducing irrigation "depth" and
lowering irrigation efficiency.

MAXIMUM APPLICATION
RATE
[ mm / hr ] ON SLOPES
SLOPE 0-5% 5-8% 8 - 12 % > 12 %
WITH WITH WITH WITH
SOIL COVER COVER COVER COVER
BARE BARE BARE BARE
50 50 38 25
SAND
50 38 20 12
LOAMY 45 32 25 18
SAND 25 20 15 10
SANDY 32 25 18 13
LOAM 18 13 10 8
SILTY 25 20 15 10
LOAM 13 10 8 5
4 3 2 2
LOAM
4 3 3 0
WIND
 Wind enhances evaporation

 Wind distorts the water
distribution pattern of the sprinkler.
 Wind carries small droplets
beyond the plot's borders [ drift ].
 Under windy conditions the spacing
between sprinklers and between
laterals
must be reduced
REDUCTION COEFFICIENT FOR
EMITTER SPACING IN WIND
Multiply sprinkler spacing by the coefficient

Ss = coefficient between sprinklers
SL = coefficient between laterals
SPRINKLER WETTED
DIAMETER
 The maximum distance covered

by the stream of water is the
sprinkler’s range
or wetted diameter expressed
in m.
 The range expresses the
diameter
[ D ] covered by the sprinkler.
SPRINKLER WETTED
DIAMETER
The wetted diameter is a

function of:
a) Nozzle
b) Pressure
c) Slope
d) Wind

WATER DISTRIBUTION
PATTERN
BY A SINGLE SPRINKLER
 The volume of water applied as
a function of distance from the
sprinkler
 Expressed as a depth [ in mm ].

water distribution by a
single sprinkler

SPRINKLER SPACING
 All sprinklers irrigation systems

must operate in "team", by
overlapping the areas covered by
adjacent sprinklers.
 To understand sprinklers operating

in team - we start with the
description
of the operation of a single sprinkler

SINGLE SPRINKLER
 Single sprinkler at fixed position

 Fixed position during irrigation
[ moves between applications ]
• Hand move
• Drag-hose
• Frog leap along supply pipe
 Moving continuously during
application
• Traveling sprinkler
• Hose pull sprinkler

SINGLE SPRINKLER &
HOSE

LARGE SPRINKLER

TRAVELLING SPRINKLER

THE LATERAL
 When more than one sprinklers

are installed on a single pipe,
this pipe is known as a lateral .

THE LATERAL
A pipe of uniform diameter

with a single inlet and
one closed end
with equidistant outlets
carrying emitters with
uniform discharge

COMPONENTS OF THE
LATERAL
Pipe
Connectors
Riser
Sprinkler
Accessories

THE LATERAL
 Fixed position Solid Set

• Rotating boom
 Fixed during irrigation
moves between turns
• Side roll = frontal movement
• Tow = longitudinal movement
 Moving continuously during irrigation
fixed between irrigations
• Linear move = frontal movement
• Rotating around center pivot

Single sprinkler
• Only one sprinkler that is moved or

automatically moves
 Examples:
• Single lawn sprinkler
• Large gun on a trailer that is moved or
automatically moves (“traveler”)
 Often used for irregularly shaped areas
 Pressure and energy requirements can be
high

Traveling Gun Sprinkler

Solid Set
 Laterals are permanently placed

(enough to irrigate the entire area)
 Laterals are usually buried, with
risers or pop-up sprinklers
 Easily automated and popular for turf
and some ag/hort applications
 Capital investment can be high

Portable Solid-Set
Sprinkler System

Periodically Moved Lateral
 Single lateral is moved and used in

multiple locations
 Examples:
• Hand-move
• Tow-line/skid-tow (lateral is pulled across the
field)
• Side-roll (lateral mounted on wheels that roll to
move the lateral)
 Fairly high labor requirement

Side-Roll Sprinkler Lateral

Moving Lateral
 Single lateral moves automatically

(mounted on wheeled towers)
 Examples:
• Center pivots (lateral pivots in a circle)
• Linear or lateral move systems (lateral
moves in a straight line)
 Fairly high capital investment

Center Pivot with Spray
Pad Sprinklers

System Components
 Sprinklers
• Devices (usually brass or plastic) with one or
more small diameter nozzles
 Impact sprinklers
• Drive or range nozzle (hits sprinkler arm and
throws water out farther)
• Spreader nozzle (optional; Applies more water
close to the sprinkler)
• Trajectory angles
• Part-circle sprinklers
• Used in all types of irrigation, but especially
agricultural crops

Two-nozzle, bronze impact
sprinkler

Pop-up, part-circle impact
sprinkler head

System Components
Cont’d
 Spray Pad devices

• Water jet strikes a plate or pad
• Pad spreads the water and may be
smooth or serrated
• Popular on center pivot and linear move
systems

Spray Pad Sprinklers

System Components Cont’d
 Gear-driven rotors (rotary heads)

• Energy in the water turns a turbine that
rotates the nozzle through a gear train
• Typically used in large, open
turf/landscape areas

Turbine-driven rotor w/
adjustable spray angle

System Components
Cont’d
 Spray heads
• Heads do not rotate
• Nozzle is shaped to irrigate a certain
angle of coverage
• Typically used for small or irregularly
shaped areas
• Pop-up heads are installed flush with
ground and rise when pressurized

Pop-up spray head with
adjustable coverage
angle from 1º - 360º

System Components Cont’d
 Laterals
• Pipelines that provide water to the sprinklers
• May be below, on, or above the ground
 Risers
• Smaller diameter pipes used to bring water from the lateral to
the sprinkler
• Purposes
• Raises the sprinkler so that the plants won't interfere with the
water jet
• Reduces turbulence of the water stream as it reaches the
sprinkler
 Mainlines and submains
• Pipelines that supply water to the laterals
• May serve several laterals simultaneously

Pressure Distribution

Allowable Pressure Variation
 Based on uniformity considerations,

recommendation is that (qmax - qmin) not
exceed 10% of qavg
 Because of square root relationship
between pressure and discharge, this is
the same as saying (Pmax - Pmin) should not
exceed 20% of Pavg:
Maximum Pl < 0.20 x Pa

Sprinkler Irrigation Nov 2014

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SPRINKLER IRRIGATION 1

 a. Compatibility with diverse topographic

 g. Minimized labor requirements

 a. High initial investment

 g. Washout of pesticides from the foliage in

 Pressure - a force acting on an area

 Application rate - the amount of water applied to an area unit

 Water amount – liter, cubic meter (m3)

 Rotating impact sprinklers

 For general use – 300

 Steel, cast iron

 Normally Closed (NC)

HEAD (PRESSURE) CONSTITUENTS

 The total head requested in the pump

 Kv = 50; What is the head loss when

 The total dynamic head is the sum

 Q = 200m3; H = 150 m; η = 0.75

 N = 200 X 150/(270 X 0.75) = 148 HP

 Operating pressure (OP):

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 Discharge of water from outlets along the

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Key factors affecting the pattern of water

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 Full and uniform wetting of the soil

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