Investigating the Performance Indicators in Sprinkler Irrigation Projects Implemented with Government Subsidies in Malekan Plain

Subject Areas : Farm water management with the aim of improving irrigation management indicators

Fariborz Ahmadzadeh Kaleybar ¹ (Assistant Professor, Department of Water Sciences and Engineering, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran)
Shahram Shahmohammadi Kalalagh ² (Associate Professor, Department of Water Sciences and Engineering, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran.)
Sina Fard moradi nia ³ (Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran. )

Received: 2024-07-10 Accepted : 2024-08-14 Published : 2024-10-02

Keywords: Sprinkler, Potential efficiency, Application efficiency, Uniformity coefficient, Deep percolation,

Abstract :

Introduction: The conventional methods of traditional irrigation are not responding to the ever-increasing needs of mankind for water and the development of new irrigation systems is increasing day by day, so that large sums of money are spent annually in countries as government subsidies for irrigation projects under pressure. Sums of money are spent annually in countries as government subsidies for pressurized irrigation projects. In these circumstances, field evaluation of implemented systems is necessary to reveal weak points and improve their performance. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the performance indicators of classical fixed sprinkler irrigation systems with mobile sprinklers implemented with government subsidies in the Malekan Plain in the northwest of Iran.

Methods: To evaluate the irrigation systems implemented in Malekan Plain, seven farms equipped with classical fixed sprinkler irrigation systems from the list of projects implemented with government subsidy in East Azerbaijan province were selected with different conditions in terms of location, crop pattern, year of implementation, and the model and layout of sprinklers. Performance evaluation indices included potential efficiency of lower quartile, actual efficiency of lower quartile, Christiansen uniformity coefficient and distribution uniformity. To evaluate the fixed sprinkler irrigation system, 14 cm diameter and 9.5 cm tall catch-cans were arranged in the distance between three risers in a 3x3m square grid. The measurement of the sprinkler flow rate was measured by volumetric method. To record the pressure in the working sprinkler, the riser was installed with a pressure gauge in the next automatic valve, and the pressure was measured instantly. Finally, the evaluation indices were calculated using the relationships related to each and compared with the proposed standard values.

Results: The pressure changes of the irrigation network, which should be less than 20%, are not in the allowed range in any of the farms, although the P3 farm has better conditions with 22% pressure changes. The main reason for the deviation of the average output flow of sprinklers from the value specified in their catalog is also related to this matter. In terms of high pressure changes, which indicate non-observance of hydraulic principles in system design, incorrect implementation or unfavorable operation, farm P1 has the worst conditions and P3 has the best conditions.The values of Christiansen's uniformity coefficient and distribution uniformity (CU and DU) in all farms except P1 are lower than the values suggested by Merriam and Keller (0.67 ≤DU ≤ 0.80 and 0.81≤ CU ≤ 0.87). The highest amount of CU and DU is related to P1 with 82.39% and 73.29%, respectively, and the lowest is related to P4 and P7 with 55.43% and 39.70%, respectively. The values of PELQ and AELQ are equal in all fields, which indicates incomplete irrigation of part of the field. The highest value of these indicators is related to P1 with 63.31% and the lowest value is related to P7 with 37.66%.

Conclusion: The results of the evaluation of the sprinkler irrigation systems of Malekan Plain, which were implemented with government subsidies, showed that these systems are not in a properly functioning state. The calculations showed that the evaluation values were lower than the recommended values in all systems. The low uniformity of water distribution has led to low irrigation efficiency in some systems along with high deep penetration. Important reasons for reducing the evaluation indices was detected in the three parts of design, implementation and operation includes low pressure of pumps, non-verticality of risers, leakage in valves, use of unauthorized, damaged and worn sprinklers and disobedience of designed Irrigation period and time. Finally, solutions were separately stated to improve the operation of each farm so that they can be used in similar cases.

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