A particle tracking velocimetry technique for drop characterization in agricultural sprinklers

A variety of techniques have been proposed in the literature for sprinkler drop characterization. An optical particle tracking velocimetry (PTV) technique is proposed in this paper to determine drop velocity, diameter and angle. The technique has been applied to the drops emitted by an isolated impact sprinkler equipped with two nozzles (diameters 3.20 and 4.37 mm) operating at a pressure of 175 kPa. PTV has been previously used to determine the velocity vector of different types of particles. In this research, PTV was used to photograph sprinkler drops over a region illuminated with laser light. Photographs were taken at four horizontal distances from the sprinkler, which was located at an elevation of 1.65 m over the soil surface. Drop angle and velocity were derived from the displacement of the drop centroid in two images separated by a short time step. Centrality and dispersion parameters were obtained for each drop variable and observation point. Results derive from the analysis of 2,360 images. Only 37.5 % of them (884 images) contained drops which could be processed by the PTV algorithm, resulting in a total of 3,782 drops. A filtering algorithm just validated 1,893 valid drops, which were successfully analyzed. The proposed technique uses expensive equipment requiring continued protection against irrigation water. This methodology has proven valuable to characterize irrigation water drops. Despite its robust measurement procedure, further comparison with other techniques seems necessary before this optical technique can be recommended for practical use in sprinkler drop characterization.     

Kinetic energy in sprinkler irrigation: different sources of drop diameter and velocity

Sprinkler kinetic energy has been linked to a number of problems in irrigated fields. This work presents the characterization of sprinkler drop kinetic energy and specific power from low-speed photographic drop data using a commercial impact sprinkler and three operating pressures. The spatial variability of specific power (W m⁻²) was assessed for different sprinkler spacings, showing different patterns in rectangular and triangular spacings. The specific power uniformity coefficient ranged from 38–77%, depending on sprinkler spacing and operating pressure. An attempt was made to characterize specific power from estimated (measured diameter and estimated velocity) and simulated data (using a ballistic model). While estimated data produced adequate results, simulated data resulted in a large overestimation. Discrepancies in kinetic variables between measured and simulated drop data permit to conclude that it is important to continue experimental drop characterization efforts as well as sprinkler simulation model development.     

Application of a topographic 3D scanner to irrigation research

A topographic three-dimensional scanner is similar to a radiometric total station, but it does not require a reflecting prism, and the optical measurement device is motorized and automated. With this device, very large survey data sets can be collected with moderate effort. In this paper, the application of a 3D scanner to surface and sprinkler irrigation research is presented and discussed. In surface irrigation, the scanner was successfully applied to (1) the survey of soil surface elevation, including furrowed areas; (2) the determination of flow cross-sections; (3) surveying the location of the advancing front and (4) measuring water surface elevation. The device showed some limitations in the measurement range, which was limited to about 35 m for water surface elevation and 50 m for the detail survey of furrowed areas. In sprinkler irrigation, the scanner was applied to the survey of the sprinkler jet and the irrigation drops during their trajectory. The scanner seemed to fail to survey fine drops, since falling drops were rarely scanned in the vicinity of the sprinkler. Despite the reported limitations, the 3D scanner seems to be destined to occupy a relevant place in the irrigation research laboratory.     

Numerical and experimental investigations on internal flow characteristic in the impact sprinkler

An integral 3D numerical model based on the structural characteristics of the impact sprinkler was constructed to simulate the relationship between flow rates and inlet pressures as well as the flow field distribution by computational fluid dynamics (CFD). A commonly used PY₁40 sprinkler in China with three different flow straighteners in lengths of 80, 140 mm and 200 mm respectively and without flow straightener was investigated under inlet pressures ranging from 300 kPa to 500 kPa numerically and experimentally. The simulation results obtained revealed that the predicted relationship of flow rates and inlet pressures was in good agreement with the measurements. Fixing a proper flow straightener can effectively improve the turbulent flow state inside the sprinkler and lead to a more uniform velocity at the nozzle outlet. The sprinkler with a flow straightener resulted in a larger pressure loss within the internal flow than the sprinkler without flow straightener. A longer flow straightener caused a smaller turbulent kinetic energy at the nozzle outlet, which indicated that the length of flow straightener had no significant effect on the flow rate. As well, it was found that reversed flow happened near the nozzle outlet with a diffused angle of 90° could be observed clearly. The decrease of the diffused angle from 90° to 60° can supply a larger flow rate, which was verified by an experiment.     

Response of alfalfa (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Medicago sativa</Emphasis> L.) to diurnal and nocturnal saline sprinkler irrigations. I: total dry matter and hay quality

Little information is available on the quantitative effects on crops of saline sprinkler irrigations and the presumable beneficial effects of nocturnal versus diurnal irrigations. We measured crude protein content, carbon isotope discrimination and total dry matter (TDM) of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) subject to diurnal and nocturnal saline sprinkler irrigations. The work was carried out in Zaragoza (Spain) during the 2004–2006 growing seasons with a triple line source sprinkler system using synthetic saline waters dominated by NaCl with an irrigation water EC ranging from 0.5 to 5.6 dS m⁻¹. The quality of alfalfa hay assessed through its crude protein concentration was not significantly affected by salinity. Carbon isotope discrimination, an indicator of the effect of osmotic stress on plant water status, tended to decrease with increases in salinity. Based on a piecewise linear response model, alfalfa grown under saline sprinkler irrigation was shown to be more tolerant (threshold soil salinity, EC_e = 3.5 dS m⁻¹) than in previous experiments under surface irrigation (threshold EC_e = 2.0 dS m⁻¹) at relatively low salinity values, but became more sensitive at higher salinity values as shown by the higher absolute slope (13.4%) for sprinkler as compared to surface irrigation (7.3%). No significant differences in TDM were found between diurnal and nocturnal saline sprinkler irrigations. The recommended practice of irrigating at night for sprinkler irrigation using saline water is therefore not supported by our results in alfalfa grown under semiarid conditions.     

Comparison of sprinkler,trickle and furrow irrigation efficiencies for onion production

In the Mesilla Valley of southern New Mexico, furrow irrigation is the primary source of water for growing onions. As the demand for water increases, there will be increasing competition for this limited resource. Water management will become an essential practice used by farmers. Irrigation efficiency (IE) is an important factor into improving water management but so is economic return. Therefore, our objectives were to determine the irrigation efficiency, irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) and water use efficiency (WUE), under sprinkler, furrow, and drip irrigated onions for different yield potential levels and to determine the IE associated with the amount of water application for a sprinkler and drip irrigation systems that had the highest economic return.Maximum IE (100%) and economic return were obtained with a sprinkler system at New Mexico State University’s Agriculture Science Center at Farmington, NM. This IE compared with the 54–80% obtained with the sprinkler irrigation used by the farmers. The IEs obtained for onion fields irrigated with subsurface drip irrigation methods ranged from 45 to 77%. The 45% represents the nonstressed treatments, in which an extra amount of irrigation above the evapotranspiration (Et) requirement was applied to keep the base of the onion plates wet. The irrigation water that was not used for Et went to deep drainage water. The return on the investment cost to install a drip system operated at a IE of 45 was 29%. Operating the drip system at a IE of 79% resulted in a yield similar to surface irrigated onions and consequently, it was not economical to install a drip system. The IEs at the furrow-irrigated onion fields ranged from 79 to 82%. However, the IEs at the furrow-irrigated onion fields were high because farmers have limited water resources. Consequently, they used the concept of deficit irrigation to irrigate their onion crops, resulting in lower yields. The maximum IWUE (0.084 t ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹ of water applied) was obtained using the sprinkler system, in which water applied to the field was limited to the amount needed to replace the onions’ Et requirements. The maximum IWUE values for onions using the subsurface drip was 0.059 and 0.046 t ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹ of water applied for furrow-irrigated onions. The lower IWUE values obtained under subsurface drip and furrow irrigation systems compared with sprinkler irrigation was due to excessive irrigation under subsurface drip and higher evaporation rates from fields using furrow irrigation. The maximum WUE for onions was 0.009 t ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹ of Et. In addition, WUE values are reduced by allowing the onions to suffer from water stress.     

Effects of different irrigation methods on shedding and yield of cotton

In general, cotton is irrigated by surface methods in Turkey although sprinkler and drip irrigation have been suggested as a means of supplying most types of crops with frequent and uniform applications of water, adaptable over a wide range of topographic and soil conditions. Recently, sprinkler irrigation systems have been introduced for cotton as a result of increased pressure to develop new irrigation technology suited to limited water supply as well as to specific topographic and soil conditions. In this study, the effects of three different irrigation methods (furrow, sprinkler and drip) on seed-cotton yield, shedding ratio and certain yield components are presented. The research was carried out in The Southeastern Anatolia Region (GAP) of Turkey from 1991 to 1994. The maximum cotton yields were 4380, 3630 and 3380 kg/ha for drip, furrow and sprinkler irrigation, respectively. Drip irrigation produced 21% more seed-cotton than the furrow method and 30% more than the sprinkler method. Water use efficiencies (WUE) proved to be 4.87, 3.87 and 2.36 kg/ha/mm for drip, furrow and sprinkler, respectively. Shedding ratios ranged from 50.8 to 59.0% (furrow), 52.9 to 64.8% (sprinkler), 50.8 to 56.8% (drip), depending on the amount of water applied. The shedding ratio for sprinkler irrigation was significantly higher than that of either furrow (P=0.10) or drip irrigation (P=0.05), resulting in lower seed-cotton yield for sprinkler irrigation. For all methods, a quadratic relationship was found between the amount of water applied and shedding ratios, with the least shedding occurring between 1000 and 1500 mm of water. Both limited and over-irrigation increased the shedding ratio for all methods. Accordingly, a lower boll number per plant and a lower seed-cotton yield were obtained from sprinkler-irrigated cotton; a significantly decreasing linear relationship between the shedding ratio and the total cotton yield and boll number per plant.     

Irrigation management in arid areas affected by surface crust

The effects of supplemental irrigation and irrigation practices on soil water storage and barley crop yield were studied for a crust-forming soil at the University of Jordan Research Station near Al-Muwaqqar village during the 1996/97 growing season. An amount of 0.0, 48.9, 73.3, 122.2 and 167 mm supplemental irrigation water were applied. The 48.9, 73.3 and 122.2 mm applications were applied through surface irrigation into furrows with blocked ends, and the 0.0 and 167 mm applications via sprinkler irrigation. The greatest water infiltration and subsequent soil storage was achieved with the 122.2 mm application followed by the 73.3 mm irrigation, both surface applied. Application efficiency (the fraction of applied water that infiltrated into the soil and stored in the 600 mm soil profile) and soil water storage associated with supplemental blocked furrow irrigation was significantly greater than with supplemental sprinkler irrigation. For arid zone soil, which has little or no structural stability, application of supplemental irrigation water via short, blocked-end furrows prevents runoff and increases the opportunity time for infiltration, thereby increasing the amount of applied water that is infiltrated into the soil and stored in the soil profile. Supplemental irrigation, applied by a low-rate sprinkler system, was not as effective because of the low infiltration rates that resulted from the development of a surface throttle due to dispersion of soil aggregates at the soil surface. The differences in stored water had a significant effect on grain and straw yields of barley. Without supplemental irrigation, barley grain and straw yields were zero in natural rainfall cultivation with a total rainfall of 136.5 mm. Barley yields in the control treatment, with a 167 mm supplemental sprinkler irrigation were low being 0.19 and 1.09 ton/ha of barley grain and straw, respectively. Supplemental irrigation through blocked-end furrows increased barley grain and straw yields significantly compared with supplemental sprinkler irrigation to a maximum of 0.59 and 1.8 ton/ha, respectively. The improvement coming from the increased water storage associated with furrows. Since irrigation water is very limited if available, farmers are encouraged to form such furrows for reducing runoff from rainfall thereby increasing the amount of water available for forage and field crop production.     

Spatial and temporal distributions of nitrogen and crop yield as affected by nonuniformity of sprinkler fertigation

Deep percolation and nitrate leaching are important considerations in the design of sprinkler systems. Field experiments were therefore conducted to investigate the influence of nonuniformity of sprinkler irrigation on deep percolation and spatial distributions of nitrogen and crop yield during the growing season of winter wheat at an experiment station in Beijing, China. Three experimental plots of a sandy clay loam soil in the 0–40 cm depth interval and a loamy clay soil below 40 cm were irrigated with a sprinkler irrigation system that had a seasonal averaged Christiansen irrigation uniformity coefficient (CU) varying from 72 to 84%. Except for the fertilizer applied before planting, fertilizer was applied with the sprinkler irrigation system. The corresponding seasonal averaged CU for fertigation varied from 71 to 85%. Daily observation of matrix water potentials in the root zone showed that little deep percolation occurred. Consequently, the effect of sprinkler uniformity on deep percolation was minor during the irrigation season for the soil tested. Intensive gravimetric soil core samplings were conducted several times during the irrigation season in a grid of 5 m × 5 m for each plot to determine the spatial and temporal variation of NH₄-N and NO₃-N contents. Soil NH₄-N and NO₃-N exhibited high spatial variability in depth and time during the irrigation season with CU values ranging from 23 to 97% and the coefficient of variation ranging from 0.04 to 1.06. A higher uniformity of sprinkler fertigation produced a more uniform distribution of NH₄-N, but the distribution of NO₃-N was not related to fertigation. Rather it was related to the spatial variability of NO₃-N before fertigation began. At harvest, the distribution of dry matter above ground, nitrogen uptake, and yield were measured and the results indicated that sprinkler fertigation uniformity had insignificant effects on the parameters mentioned above. Field experimental results obtained from this study suggest that sprinkler irrigation if properly managed can be used as an efficient and environment-friendly method of applying water and fertilizers.     

Soil water storage and surface runoff as influenced by irrigation method in arid soils with surface crust

The effects of irrigation methods, application rates and initial moisture content on soil water storage and surface runoff were studied in soils liable to surface crust formation during 1995–1996 at the University of Jordan Research Station near Al-Muwaqqar village. Four irrigation methods were tested (sprinkler, furrow, basin and trickle) and four application rates (6.2, 14.4, 24.4 and 28.4 mm/h). Two runs were performed (soil initially dry and soil initially wet). Basin irrigation provided the highest application efficiency followed by trickle, sprinkler and furrow irrigation methods. Entrapping water by the basin borders increased soil water storage by allowing more water to infiltrate through the surface crust. Decreasing the application rate from 28.4 to 6.2 mm/h increased soil water storage significantly in all 150 mm layers to a depth of 600 mm. If the soil was already wet, soil moisture storage decreased owing to siltation during the prewetting and formation of a surface crust and low soil water storage capacity. A sedimentary crust formed at the bottom of the furrows in the furrow irrigation treatment, which reduced soil water storage and increased surface runoff significantly owing to the reduction in infiltration. Increasing the application rate from 6.2 to 28.4 mm/h in the furrow surface irrigation treatment increased the runoff discharge 10-fold. Even with the lowest application rate the runoff coefficient under sprinkler irrigation was 20.3% indicating high susceptibility of Al-Muwaqqar soils to surface crust formation.     

Role of transpiration suppression by evaporation of intercepted water in improving irrigation efficiency

Sprinkler irrigation efficiency declines when applied water intercepted by the crop foliage, or gross interception (I_gross), as well as airborne droplets and ponded water at the soil surface evaporate before use by the crop. However, evaporation of applied water can also supply some of the atmospheric demands usually met by plant transpiration. Any suppression of crop transpiration from the irrigated area as compared to a non-irrigated area can be subtracted from I_gross irrigation application losses for a reduced, or net, interception (I_net) loss. This study was conducted to determine the extent in which transpiration suppression due to microclimatic modification resulting from evaporation of plant-intercepted water and/or of applied water can reduce total sprinkler irrigation application losses of impact sprinkler and low energy precision application (LEPA) irrigation systems. Fully irrigated corn (Zea Mays L.) was grown on 0.75 m wide east-west rows in 1990 at Bushland, TX in two contiguous 5-ha fields, each containing a weighing lysimeter and micrometeorological instrumentation. Transpiration (Tr) was measured using heat balance sap flow gauges. During and following an impact sprinkler irrigation, within-canopy vapor pressure deficit and canopy temperature declined sharply due to canopyintercepted water and microclimatic modification from evaporation. For an average day time impact irrigation application of 21 mm, estimated average I_gross loss was 10.7%, but the resulting suppression of measured Tr by 50% or more during the irrigation reduced I_gross loss by 3.9%. On days of high solar radiation, continued transpiration suppression following the irrigation reduced I_gross loss an additional 1.2%. Further 4–6% reductions in I_gross losses were predicted when aerodynamic and canopy resistances were considered. Irrigation water applied only at the soil surface by LEPA irrigation had little effect on the microclimate within the canopy and consequently on Tr or ET, or irrigation application efficiency.     

30PY摇臂式喷头掺气与掺液的抽吸性能试验

为了实现摇臂式喷头在较低的工作压力下工作,在原有结构基础上设置掺气管结构,形成水气两相射流开展喷灌作业.掺气管的吸气功能也可用于抽吸叶面肥液、药液,从而实现摇臂式喷头的多功能用途.为了掌握该结构的抽吸能力,选择掺气管的内径d,伸缩长度L以及摇臂式喷头喷嘴的收缩角度θ为影响因素,试验研究30PY摇臂式喷头掺气管堵住时形成的真空度以及抽吸水时的质量流量.结果表明:在相同喷头工作水压力下,喷头的喷嘴收缩角θ在30°~65°的试验范围内增大时,喷头的工作水流量减小,从而影响掺气或掺液时的混合比例;掺气管缩距离L相对喷嘴出口端面为0,当L从-4~6 mm移动时,掺气管的抽吸能力从0逐渐增大到最大,L取值2 mm为推荐值;掺气管内径d越大,摇臂式喷头的工作水压力越高,则掺气管抽吸流体的流量越大.     

Trickle and sprinkler irrigation of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) in the Middle Anatolian Region in Turkey

The potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is widely planted in the Middle Anatolian Region, especially in the Nigde-Nevsehir district where 25% of the total potato growing area is located and produces 44% of the total yield. In recent years, the farmers in the Nigde-Nevsehir district have been applying high amounts of nitrogen (N) fertilizers (sometimes more than 900 kg N ha⁻¹) and frequent irrigation at high rates in order to get a much higher yield. This situation results in increased irrigation and fertilization costs as well as polluted ground water resources and soil. Thus, it is critical to know the water and nitrogen requirements of the crop, as well as how to improve irrigation efficiency. Field experiments were conducted in the Nigde-Nevsehir (arid) region on a Fluvents (Entisols) soil to determine water and nitrogen requirements of potato crops under sprinkler and trickle irrigation methods. Irrigation treatments were based on Class A pan evaporation and nitrogen levels were formed with different nitrogen concentrations.The highest yield, averaging 47,505 kg ha⁻¹, was measured in sprinkler-irrigated plots at the 60 g m⁻³ nitrogen concentration level in the irrigation treatment with limited irrigation (480 mm). Statistically higher tuber yields were obtained at the 45 and 60 g m⁻³ nitrogen concentration levels in irrigation treatments with full and limited irrigation. Maximum yields were obtained with about 17% less water in the sprinkler method as compared to the trickle method (not statistically significant). On the loam and sandy loam soils, tuber yields were reduced by deficit irrigation corresponding to 70% and 74% of evapotranspiration in sprinkler and trickle irrigations, respectively. Water use of the potato crop ranged from 490 to 760 mm for sprinkler-irrigated plots and 565–830 mm for trickle-irrigated treatments. The highest water use efficiency (WUE) levels of 7.37 and 4.79 kg m⁻³ were obtained in sprinkle and trickle irrigated plots, respectively. There were inverse effects of irrigation and nitrogen levels on the WUE of the potato crops. Significant linear relationships were found between tuber yield and water use for both irrigation methods. Yield response factors were calculated at 1.05 for sprinkler methods and 0.68 for trickle methods. There were statistically significant linear and polynomial relationships between tuber yield and nitrogen amounts used in trickle and sprinkler-irrigated treatments, respectively. In sprinkler-irrigated treatments, the maximum tuber yield was obtained with 199 kg N ha⁻¹. The tuber cumulative nitrogen use efficiency (NUE_cu) and incremental nitrogen use efficiency (NUE_in) were affected quite differently by water, nitrogen levels and years. NUE_cu varied from 16 to 472 g kg⁻¹ and NUE_in varied from 75 to 1035 g kg⁻¹ depending on the irrigation method. In both years, the NH₄-N concentrations were lower than NO₃-N, and thus the removed nitrogen and nitrogen losses were found to be 19–87 kg ha⁻¹ for sprinkler methods and 25–89 kg ha⁻¹ for trickle methods. Nitrogen losses in sprinkler methods reached 76%, which were higher than losses in trickle methods.     

The effects of pressure, nozzle diameter and meteorological conditions on the performance of agricultural impact sprinklers

This study evaluates agricultural impact sprinklers under different combinations of pressure (p), nozzle diameter (D) and meteorological conditions. The radial curve (Rad) of an isolated sprinkler, i.e., the water distribution along the wetted radius, was evaluated through 25 tests. Christiansen's uniformity coefficient (CUC) and the wind drift and evaporation losses (WDEL) were evaluated for a solid-set system using 52 tests.The Rad constitutes the footprint of a sprinkler. The CUC is intimately connected to the Rad. The Rad must be characterized under calm conditions. Very low winds, especially prevailing winds, significantly distort the water distribution. The vector average of the wind velocity (V’) is recommended as a better explanatory variable than the more popular arithmetic average (V). We recommend characterizing the Rad under indoor conditions or under conditions that meet V’ < 0.6 m s⁻¹ in open-air conditions.The Rad was mostly affected by the sprinkler model. V’ was the main explanatory variable for the CUC; p was significant as well. V was the main variable explaining the WDEL; the air temperature (T) was significant, too.Sprinkler irrigation simulators simplify the selection of a solid-set system for farmers, designers and advisors. However, the quality of the simulations greatly depends on the characterization of the Rad. This work provides useful recommendations in this area.     

20PY2摇臂喷头掺气情况下的低压喷灌效果

20PY₂掺气喷头是以20PY₂摇臂喷头结构为基础,引入气液两相流理论得到的一种喷头.以20PY₂掺气喷头为研究对象,研究其低压下的喷灌效果,并对比摇臂喷头的喷灌效果.试验评价指标:平均喷灌强度、蒸发漂移量、喷灌均匀系数及分布均匀系数;变量:工作压力和组合间距.试验结果表明:与摇臂喷头相比,掺气喷头的射程变化不大,但掺气喷头的平均喷灌强度随工作压力递增,随着组合间距递减;低压下,掺气喷头在风速为1 m/s时的蒸发漂移量约为5%,其组合喷灌的最佳工作压力和组合间距分别为300 kPa和1.1R.掺气喷头喷灌强度峰值与谷值的阶梯性较好,同等数量测点的喷灌强度峰值区间和谷值区间平均值趋向于平均喷灌强度,峰值区间和谷值区间喷灌强度在灌溉总强度中的占比分别低于和高于摇臂喷头.因此,喷灌效果优于摇臂喷头.     

施肥浓度对摇臂式喷头喷灌施肥均匀性的影响

为了研究施肥浓度对喷灌施肥均匀性的影响规律,选用摇臂式喷头10PY₂H,测量其喷灌施肥时肥液体积、施肥浓度、施肥量3种参数的径向分布.试验中,氯化钾溶液质量浓度(即母液浓度)分别为0,20,35,50,65,80 g/L.采用叠加法计算组合喷洒时3种施肥参数的均匀度CU、分布均匀度DU和统计均匀度U_s.分析表明施肥浓度对摇臂式喷头的灌水施肥影响呈现非线性特点.增加母液浓度对肥液体积分布和施肥浓度分布均匀性的影响相对较小,但对施肥量分布均匀性的影响十分显著.组合喷灌加剧了不同测点的数值差异.随着母液浓度增大,施肥量径向分布变化增大,当母液质量浓度增大到80 g/L时,施肥量主要集中在20%~60%射程处,导致施肥均匀性急剧下降;当母液质量浓度小于等于35 g/L时,远端90%~100%射程处的施肥浓度相对更高,与前人得出的滴灌施肥系统施肥浓度沿管道方向递减的规律相反.3个评价指标中,均匀度CU数值最高,分布均匀度DU总体数值最低、变化最大,且以DU变化最为明显,这说明了DU能反映低值区的施肥情况.喷灌施肥等值线图表明肥液与施肥量的分布规律相似,但施肥浓度的分布情况则相反,这可能与射程远端施肥浓度更大有关.     

Assessing whole-field sprinkler irrigation application uniformity

In order to assess whole-field sprinkler irrigation uniformity, an experiment was conducted to obtain water distribution profiles at 23 different pressures for each of five different sprinklers: Nelson R33, Nelson R33LP, Nelson R33 with road guard, Nelson R33LP with road guard, and Rainbird Mini Paw/LG-3. A mathematical model was developed to account for pressure variation throughout a fixed sprinkler system on a 10-ha field and to evaluate sprinkler irrigation uniformity for the whole field using interpolated water distribution profiles from the experimental data. The relationships between irrigation application uniformity and sprinkler pressure, sprinkler spacing, pressure variation, sprinkler type, and field topography were studied using the model. The results show that the coefficient of uniformity, CU, decreases rapidly when the pressure is below the low end of the manufacturer-recommended range; however, CU changes very little with pressure within the manufacturer-recommended range. The system application uniformity, CU_sys, is usually less when pressure variations at different locations in a field are considered, and a simple previously published equation to predict CU_sys is shown to closely approximate the CU from a more stringent calculation method. It was found that the impact of pressure variation (within the tested ranges) on application uniformity is less than that of the sprinkler spacing. Also, the effect of field topography on sprinkler application uniformity is relatively small for the cases tested herein.     

基于弹道轨迹方程的折射式喷头水量分布计算模型

针对折射式喷头水量分布模拟研究较少的问题,通过高速摄像技术测得了不同工作压力和喷嘴型号下水滴射流速度和射流弧度,构建了折射式喷头水束射流速度及弧度的指数模型,在此基础上基于弹道轨迹方程和水滴蒸发模型,采用Eclipse作为开发工具编写出折射式喷头水量分布的计算程序。该软件能够在已知喷头工作参数及环境条件下,模拟出水滴粒径分布、水量分布、能量分布等指标。采用软件计算出不同工况下Nelson D3000型喷头喷洒水力特性,并依据模拟出的单喷头水量分布数据,以24 m平移式喷灌机为例进行多喷头组合叠加,与实测值进行对比,结果表明:基于3种模型下开发出的单喷头水量分布计算软件模拟出的水滴粒径分布及单喷头水量分布与实测值变化的规律相符,模拟准确度较高。不同间距下多喷头组合叠加时,喷灌均匀度相对误差在0.04%~14.77%,变化规律的差异性较小。该软件能够为移动式喷灌机优化设计提供技术支持。     

大坡度山地果园双向全方位农药喷洒机设计与试验

传统农药喷洒机在大坡度山地作业时会大幅降低效率,因此针对大坡度山地果园研发了一款双向全方位农药喷洒机,并进行了试验验证.结果 表明:当农药喷洒机具行进速度为1m/s、送风强度为8m/s、喷头与树冠层间距为0.5m时,竖直喷药模式的施药效果较好.按照相同条件下,对45°倾斜式喷药模式与竖直喷药模式的喷药效果进行试验比较,...     

射流式喷头水量分布动态仿真及试验

【目的】研究工作压力,喷头组合间距、组合斱式和旋转速度对射流式喷头及多喷头组合喷灌均匀性系数(CU)和分布均匀系数(DU)的影响。【斱法】采用不同工作条件下单喷头和多喷头组合喷灌水量分布的动态仿真代码,对射流式喷头开展了水力性能试验;研究了射流式喷头在不同工作压力及安装高度条件下对喷灌强度、水量分布的影响;建立了水量峰值强度与工作压力的回归关系式;模拟了单喷头在正斱形和三角形组合喷灌下的空间水量分布。【结果】喷头在1.5 m安装高度、100~300 kPa压力条件下,水量峰值集中在5 mm/h附近,标准偏差(STD)为0.23。喷头在100 kPa工作压力,安装高度为1.1、1.3 m的水量峰值强度分别可高达8.9、10.5mm/h。不同工作压力下的单喷头喷灌的DU和CU标准偏差分别为15.5%、9.3%,且DU对压力的变化相对更为敏感。【结论】在实际喷灌工程中正斱形组合喷灌的间距应小于8m,三角形组合喷头之间的间距应布置在8m附近,此时的喷灌均匀度最高,单个喷灌设备覆盖范围最广,成本最低。