Abstract
The desirable irrigation system applies water at a rate that allows all water to infiltrate and distributes the water in space and time to match crop requirements in each parcel of the field. Various types of irrigation systems and management strategies have been developed in attempts to achieve the “desired” system. Our objective is to review various methods of enhancing irrigation performance. Although the “desired” system has not been attained, considerable improvements have been made based upon selection and management technologies which generate profits within the constraints of environmental prudence. Each irrigation system has inherent opportunities for enhancing irrigation performance. Like-wise, each has limitations in achieving maximum crop productivity per unit of applied water. Methods to improve the performance or surface irrigation can be grouped into those that increase the uniformity of water intake, reduce runoff losses, or decrease spatial variability. Two surface irrigation systems that enhance performance are surge-flow and level-basin. The uniformity and efficiency of sprinkler systems can be enhanced by computer-based design procedures and, in some cases, by applying low-energy, precision application concepts. Advantages of microirrigation are less surface area wetted, which minimizes evaporation and weed growth, and improved application uniformity which is specifically designed into the distribution network. An appropriate management strategy is necessary to attain the potential of an irrigation system engineered to match crop water requirements, and soil and environmental conditions. The best irrigation method applies the amount of water desired at the appropriate time while providing for leaching requirements, agronomic operations, and environmental considerations. With enhanced engineering and computer capabilities and improved knowledge of the soil-plant-water continuum, irrigators will adopt “prescription” irrigation. Prescription systems apply precisely the prescribed amounts of water, nutrients, and pesticides to match the production capacity of each parcel of land.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Arizona Department of Water Resources (1988) Draft management plan, 2nd management period, 1990–2000. Active Management Areas, 363 pp
American Society of Civil Engineering (1978) Describing irrigation efficiency and uniformity. ASCE J Irrig Drain Div 104 (IR1): 35–41
Bautista E, Wallender WW (1985) Spatial variability of infiltration in furrows. Trans ASAE 28:1846–1851, 1955
Bishop AA, Walker WR, Allen NL, Poole GJ (1981) Furrow advance rates under surge flow systems. ASCE J of Irrig Drain Div 107 (IR3): 257–264
Chitale MA (1987) Water management in drought prone areas. Water Supply 5:121–130
Dedrick AR (1990) Level-basin irrigation — an update. Proc. 3rd Intern. Irrig. Symp., Phoenix, Arizona, pp 34–39
English MJ, Musick JT, Murty VVN, (1990) Deficit irrigation. In: [Hoffman GJ, Howell TA, Solomon KH (eds)] Management of farm irrigation systems. American Soc of Agricultural Engineers, St. Joseph, Michigan, pp 631–661
Fipps G, New LL (1990) Six years of LEPA in Texas — less water, higher yields. Proc. 3rd Intern. Irrig. Symp., Phoenix, Arizona, pp 115–120
Gerard CJ (1987) Furrow diking and subsoiling studies in the Rolling Plains. Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Bulletin B-1585
Gilley JR (1984) Suitability of reduced pressure center pivots. ASCE J Irrig. Drain. Div 110 (IR1):22–34
Goldhamer DA, Mohammad AH, Phene RC (1987) Comparison of surge and continuous flow irrigation in California. ASCE Irrig. Drain. Div. Spec. Conf., Portland, Oregon, pp 392–408
Heermann DF, Buchleter GW, Duke HR (1984) Integrated waterenergy management system for center pivot irrigation: implementation. Trans ASAE 27:1424–1429
Humpherys AS (1989) Surge irrigation: 2. Management. ICID Bulletin, Vol. 38, No. 2, pp49–61
Israeli I (1988) Comparison of surge and cablegation to continuous flow irrigation. ASAE Paper No. 88-2014, St. Joseph, Michigan, 14 p
Latimer EA, Reddell DL (1990) Components for an advance rate feedback irrigation system (ARFIS). Trans ASAE 33:1162–1170
Lyle WM, Bordovsky JP (1981) Low energy precision application (LEPA) irrigation system. Trans ASAE 24:1241–1245
Lyle WM, Bordovsky JP (1983) LEPA irrigation system evaluation. Trans ASAE 26:776–781
Maas EV, Hoffman GJ (1977) Crop salt tolerance — current assessment. ASCE J Irrig Drain Div 103 (IR2): 115–134
Manges HL, Hooker ML, Ortel TW (1985) Variable cycle time effects in surge irrigation. ASAE Paper No. 85-2583, St. Joseph, Michigan, 7 pp
Phene CJ, Davis KR, Hutmacher RB, McCormick RL (1987) Advantages of subsurface irrigation for processing tomatoes. ACTA Horticulture 200:101–113
Phene CJ, Davis KR, McCormick RL, Hutmacher RB, Pierro J (1988) Water-fertility management for subsurface drip irrigated tomatoes. Proc. Intern. Symp. on Integrated Management Practices for Tomato and Pepper Production in the Tropics, Shankua, Taiwan, pp 325–338
Phene CJ, Hutmacher RB, Ayars JE, Davis KR, Mead RM, Schoneman RA (1992) Maximizing water use efficiency with subsurface drip irrigation. ASAE Paper No. 92-2090, St. Joseph, Michigan, 22 pp
Phene CJ, McCormick RL, Davis KR, Pierro J, Meek DW (1989) A lysimeter feedback irrigation controller system for evapotranspiration measurements and real time irrigation scheduling. Trans ASAE 32:477–484
Philip JR (1969) Theory of infiltration. Hydro Sci 5:215–296
Pitts DJ, Ferguson JA (1985) A comparison of surge and continuous flow furrow irrigation on clay soil with a flat grade. ASAE Paper No. 85-2584, St. Joseph, Michigan, 12 pp
Soil Conservation Service (1972) Irrigation Guide for Nebraska. Bulletin L-29, 575 pp
Stringham GE, Keller J (1979) Surge flow for automatic irrigation. ASCE Irrig. Drain. Div. Spec. Conf., Albuquerque, New Mexico, pp 132–142
Testezlaf RR, Elliott RL, Garton JE (1987) Furrow infiltration under surge flow irrigation. Trans ASAE 30:193–197
Trimmer WL (1990) Partial irrigation in Pakistan. ASCE J Irrig Drain Div 116:342–353
Walker WR, Malano H, Replogle JA (1982) Reduction in infiltration rates due to intermittent wetting. ASAE Paper No. 82-2029, St. Joseph, Michigan, 14 pp
Wilmes GJ, Martin DL, Supalla RJ (in press) Decision support systems for design of center pivot irrigation systems. Trans ASAE
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hoffman, G.J., Martin, D.L. Engineering systems to enhance irrigation performance. Irrig Sci 14, 53–63 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00208398
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00208398