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CH 6

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Chapter Six

Sprinkler
Irrigation
By
Dr. Elsayed Mukhtar
Conditions Favoring the Adoption
of Sprinkler Irrigation Method
1- When the land topography is irregular, and
hence unsuitable for surface irrigation.
2- When the land gradient is steeper.
3- When the soil is highly impermeable.
4- When the water table is high.
5- When the seasonal water requirement is low,
such as near the coasts.
6- When the crops to be grown are having shallow
roots.
7- When the water is available with difficulty.
Advantages of Sprinkler Irrigation

1- Seepage losses are completely eliminated.


Moreover only optimum quantity of water is
used in this method.
2- Land leveling is not required.
3- No cultivation area is lost for making ditches,
as happens in surface irrigation methods. It,
thus, results in increasing about 16% of the
crop area.
4- In sprinkler system, the water is to be applied at a
rat lesser than the infiltration capacity of the soil,
and thus avoiding surface run off.
5- Fertilizers can be uniformly applied, because they
are mixed with irrigation water itself.
6- This method leaches down salts and prevents water-
logging or salinity.
7- It is less labor oriented and hence useful where labor
is costly and scarce.
8- Up to 80% efficiency can be achieved, i.e. up to
80% of applied water can be stored in the root
zone of plants.
Limitations of Sprinkler Irrigation

1- High winds may distort sprinkling pattern,


causing non-uniform spreading of water on the
crops.
2- In areas of high temperature and high wind
velocity, considerable evaporation losses of
water may take place.
3- They are not suited to crops requiring frequent
and larger depths of irrigation.
4- Initial cost of the system is very high, and the
system requires a high technical skill.
5- Only sand and silt free water can be used.
6- It requires larger electrical power.
7- Heavy soil with poor intake cannot be irrigated
efficiently.
8- A constant water supply is needed for
commercial use of equipment.
Types of Sprinkler Systems
1. Classification based on the arrangement for
spraying irrigation water sprinklers may be
classified as:

 Fixed Nozzle:
Parallel pipes are installed at about 15 meters apart and
supported on rows of posts. Water is discharged at right
angles perpendicularly from the pipeline.
The entire 15 m width between pipelines may be irrigated
by turning the pipes through about135°.
 Perforated sprinkler:
Generally, application rates exceeding 20 mm/hr for this
system and pressure heads less than 25m, often as low as
7m. They do not cover a very wide strip.

 Rotating sprinklers:
Extensively used due to its ability to apply water at a
slower rate. It uses relatively large nozzle openings,
which are favorable in water containing silt, and debris
since less stoppage of sprinklers is experienced.
Application rates less than 2 mm/hr are possible with
sprinklers (advantageous for soils with low infiltration
rates). Pressure heads vary from 20m to 70m for large
units.
2. Classification based on the method of
developing pressure:
a) Pump powered system
b) Gravity sprinkler system
c) Hybrid systems (Pumps + Gravity)
(advantageous for soils with low infiltration rates).
Pressure heads vary from 20m to 70m for large
units.
3. Classification based on portability and make-up of
units:
Different types under this group based on portability and
mobility of the different components are indicated.
 Permanent system:
In this system, pipes are permanently buried in such a way
that they do not interfere with farming operations.
 Portable system:
The mains as well as laterals are portable. These portable
networks can be moved from farm to farm.
 Hand move (semi portable system):
The main lines are buried in the ground, while the laterals
are portable.
Permanent system
Portable system
Suitable Crops
Most row, field and tree crops. However, large
sprinklers are not recommended for irrigation of
delicate crops such as lettuce because the large
water drops produced by the sprinklers may
damage the crop.

Suitable Slopes
Sprinkler irrigation is adaptable to any farmable
slope, whether uniform or undulating.
Suitable Soils
Sprinklers are best suited to sandy soils with high
infiltration rates although they are adaptable
to most soils.

Suitable Irrigation Water


A good clean supply of water, free of suspended
sediments, is required to avoid problems of
sprinkler nozzle blockage.
Sprinkler Irrigation
System
Components are:
1. Pump unit.
2. Main line and sub-
main lines.
3. Laterals.
4.Sprinklers (impact
type, defector-plate-
type).
5. Fertilizer applicator
1. Pump Unit
 Is usually a centrifugal pump which takes water
from the source and provides adequate pressure for
delivery into the pipe system.
2. The Main Line and Sub-main Lines
 They are pipes which deliver water from the pump
to the laterals. In some cases these pipelines are
permanent and are laid on the soil surface or buried
below ground. In other cases they are temporary,
and can be moved from field to field. The main
pipe materials used include asbestos cement,
plastic or aluminum alloy.
3. The Laterals
 The laterals deliver water from the main lines or
sub-main lines to the sprinklers. They can be
permanent but more often they are portable and
made of aluminum alloy or plastic so that they can
be moved easily.
4. Sprinklers
 In general, impact sprinklers tend to operate at
higher pressures, have larger wetted diameters and
droplet sizes, and have lower application rates than
deflector-plate-type sprinklers.
When operated within the recommended pressure
range, impact sprinklers generally have triangular
shaped distribution patterns, while most deflector-
plate sprinklers have donut shaped patterns
5. Fertilizer Applicator
 Soluble chemical fertilizers can be injected in to
the sprinkler system; the fertilizer is easily placed
at the desired depth in a soluble and readily
available form to plants, without any danger of
being leached away. The two operations, irrigation
and fertilizer application, are done simultaneously
thus saving the labor required for fertilizer
application.
 Fertilizer can be introduced in to the system either
through the suction side of the pump via a pipe and
regulated by a valve, another pipe is connected
from the discharge side of the pump to the fertilizer
container for the required water supply in the tank
or a venture fixed in the mainline creates a
differential pressure and allows the fertilizer
solution to flow in the main water line. In some
designs, the applicator could have separate
injection pump.
 To calculate the volume of fertilizer tank, this
equation is used:

VL = (W×A)/ Cf

 VL: fertilizer tank volume (lit)


 W: weight of required fertilizer (kgm/feddan)
 A: irrigated area (feddan)
 Cf: concentration of fertilizer solution (kgm/lit)
Wetting Patterns
 The wetting pattern from a single rotary sprinkler
is uniform. Normally the area wetted is circular.
 The heaviest wetting is close to the sprinkler.
 For good uniformity, several sprinklers must be
operated close together so that their patterns
overlap.
 For good uniformity, the overlap should be at
least 65% of the wetted diameter. This
determines the maximum spacing between
sprinklers.
Top View Side View

Wetting Pattern for a Single Sprinkler


The uniformity of sprinkler applications can be
affected by wind and water pressure. Spray from
sprinklers is easily blown about by even a gentle
breeze and this can seriously reduce uniformity. To
reduce the effects of wind the sprinklers can be
positioned more closely together

Overlapping-Wetting Pattern
Prescriptive Sprinkler Design Guidelines
1. Depth of Application
( Fc  WP)  s
d wn  El  [ ]  D
100 w
Where;
dwn: the net irrigation water depth
El: moisture extraction coefficient = 0.3 for drought-
sensitive crops and 0.75 for not drought-sensitive
crops
Fc: field capacity
WP: wilting point
D: root zone depth
2. Gross Irrigation Depth

d wn
d g 
Ea

Where;
dg: Gross irrigation water depth
Ea: Sprinkler irrigation efficiency = 60% - 85%
3. Selection of Sprinklers Spacing and
Wetted Diameter
 Spacing between sprinklers on laterals (Ss) is
selected to conform to the length of pipes (3, 6,
9,….) and It is given in terms of sprinkler wetted
circle diameter (Dw) according to wind speed.

 Space between laterals = sprinkler discharge /


(equivalent irrigation depth × space between
sprinklers)

 The first and the last sprinkler are placed at a


distance (Ss/4) from the beginning and the end of
the lateral.
Wind Speed (mile / hr) Ss / Dw
0-10 0.5 - 0.7
> 10 0.35

 The discharge of sprinkler is calculated from


this equation

Qs  C d  a 2  g  h
 Where
Qs: sprinkler Capacity (m3/sec);
Cd: discharge factor = 0.8 - 0.95;
a: area of sprinkler (m2);
g: Acceleration due to gravity = 9.81 m/sec2;
h: Water pressure at sprinkler (m);

** By using the tables sprinkler type, sprinkler area,


and sprinkler discharge can be determined.
Diameter of Sprinkler Opening Sprinkler Pressure kg/cm2 Diameter of Spray Circle Discharge (lit/sec)
(mm)

2.8 33.8 0.5775


3.2 34.5 0.609
3.96 3.5 35.1 0.6374
3.9 35.7 0.6609
4.2 36.6 0.6795
2.8 30.8 0.4206
3.2 31.4 0.4472
4.76 3.5 32.0 0.4737
3.9 32.6 0.4964
4.2 33.5 0.5177
2.8 34.8 0.6685
3.2 35.4 0.7072
5.95
3.5 36.0 0.7428
3.9 36.6 0.7731
4.2 37.5 0.7981
2.8 35.4 0.758
3.2 36.0 0.8049
6.35 3.5 36.6 0.8513
3.9 37.2 0.8893
4.2 38.1 0.9247
2.8 36.3 0.864
3.2 36.9 0.9111
3.5 37.5 0.955
6.75
3.9 38.1 0.9929
4.2 39.0 1.0157
2.8 36.9 0.9702
3.2 37.5 1.0157
7.14 3.5 38.1 1.055
3.9 38.7 1.0945
4.2 39.6 1.1285
Diameter of Sprinkler Opening Sprinkler Pressure kg/cm2 Diameter of Spray Circle Discharge
(mm) (lit/sec)
2.8 32.3 0.6753
3.2 32.9 0.7132
5.16 × 3.2 3.5 33.5 0.7511
3.9 34.2 0.7883
4.2 35.1 0.8102
2.8 33.8 0.7011
3.2 34.5 0.7996
5.56 × 3.2 3.5 35.1 0.8391
3.9 35.7 0.877
4.2 38.6 0.9096
2.8 34.8 0.8398
3.2 35.4 0.8906
5.95 × 3.2 3.5 36.0 0.9338
3.9 36.6 0.977
4.2 37.5 0.0134
2.8 35.4 0.9149
3.2 36.0 0.9717
6.3 × 3.2 3.5 36.6 1.0225
3.9 37.2 1.0733
4.2 38.1 1.1165
2.8 36.3 1.0157
3.2 36.9 1.0756
6.75 × 3.2 3.5 37.5 1.1309
3.9 38.1 1.1832
4.2 39.0 1.3309
2.8 36.6 1.0975
3.2 37.5 1.1673
7.14 × 3.2 3.5 38.1 1.2302
3.9 38.7 1.2878
4.2 39.6 1.3454
4. Design of the Laterals
a. Mean velocity (VL)≤ 2.0 m/sec;
b. Diameter of laterals pipe (DL) ≥ 7.5 cm;
c.Length of lateral pipe 100m < Ll ≤ 300m;
d. Design discharge (QL) = No. of sprinklers ×
sprinkler discharge
e. QL = AL × VL AL: area of lateral cross
section = (π/4) × DL2
f. Design pressure = sprinkler pressure + sprinkler
height + the difference between the start of line
and its end + 75% of friction losses.
g. Friction losses = Correction factor × friction
factor× line length /100
h. Total losses in lateral / design pressure < 20%
Friction Factor (for each 100m)
Lateral Diameter (cm)
Discharge (lit/sec)
5.0 7.5 10 12.5 15
1.26 0.32
1.89 2.53
2.52 4.49 0.585 0.13
3.15 6.85 0.858 0.198
3.79 9.67 1.21 0.28
4.42 12.9 1.63 0.376 0.122
5.05 16.7 2.1 0.484 0.157
5.68 20.8 2.63 0.605 0.196
6.31 25.4 3.2 0.738 0.24 0.099
7.57 4.84 1.040 0.339 0.14
8.83 6.09 1.4 0.454 0.188
10.1 7.85 1.8 0.59 0.242
11.36 9.82 2.26 0.733 0.302
12.62 12 2.76 0.896 0.37
13.88 14.4 3.3 1.07 0.443
15.14 16.9 3.9 1.26 0.522
16.41 19.7 4.54 1.47 0.608
17.67 22.8 5.22 1.7 0.7
18.93 25.9 5.96 1.93 0.798
20.19 29.3 6.74 2.18 0.904
21.45 32.8 7.56 2.45 1.02
22.72 36.6 8.4 2.74 1.13
23.98 40.6 9.36 3.03 1.26
25.24 44.7 10.3 3.34 1.38
26.5 11.3 3.66 1.51
27.76 12.3 4.0 1.66
29.03 14.6 4.35 1.8
30.29 15.8 4.72 1.95
31.55 18.9 5.1 2.12
34.7 22.2 6.12 2.52
37.86 25.9 7.22 2.98
41.0 29.8 8.4 3.46
44.17 33.8 9.68 3.99
47.32 11.0 4.54
50.48 12.5 5.15
Correction Factor
No of Sprinklers 1 2 3 4 5
Correction Factor 1 0.634 0.528 0.48 0.451
No of Sprinklers 6 7 8 9 10
Correction Factor 0.48 0.419 0.41 0.402 0.396
No of Sprinklers 11 12 13 14 15
Correction Factor 0.392 0.388 0.384 0.381 0.379
No of Sprinklers 16 17 18 19 20

Correction Factor 0.377 0.375 0.373 0.372 0.371

No of Sprinklers 21 22 23 24 25

Correction Factor 0.37 0.369 0.368 0.367 0.366

No of Sprinklers 26 27 28 29

Correction Factor 0.365 0.364 0.363 0.362


5. Design of the Sub-main Line
a. Mean velocity (Vs.m) ≤ 2.0 m/sec;
b. Design discharge (Qs.m) = No. of laterals × lateral
discharge;
c. By selected velocity and design discharge, the
diameter of sub-main line (Ds.m) is calculated
from :
Qs.m = As.m × Vs.m
As.m: area of lateral cross section = (π/4) × Ds.m2
d. Design pressure = design pressure of lateral + Total
losses of sub-main line;
e. Total losses of sub-main line = friction losses (h) +
connection losses (10% of friction losses);
2
L v
hf  4 f  
D 2g

Where;
hf: Friction losses (m);
f: Friction factor (= 0.005);
L: Total length of sub-main or main line (m);
D: Diameter of sub-main or main line (m);
g: Acceleration due to gravity = 9.81 m/sec2;
V: Water velocity in the line (m/sec);

f. Total losses in sub-main line / design pressure <


20%
6. Design of the Main Line
a. Mean velocity (Vm) ≤ 2.0 m/sec;
b. Design discharge (Qm) = No. of sub-main lines ×
sub-main line discharge;
c. By selected velocity and design discharge,
the diameter of main line (Dm) is calculated
from: Qm = Am × Vm
Am: area of lateral cross section = (π/4) × Dm2
d. Design pressure = design pressure of sub-main
line + Total losses of main line;
e. Total losses of main line = friction losses (h) +
connection losses (10% of friction losses);
f. Total losses in main line / design pressure < 20%
7. Design of Pump
a- Total discharge =No. of main lines×main line discharge;
b- Total pressure = 1.1× design pressure of main line + pump
pressure (3m assumed);
c- Pump capability (HP) and its electric energy (Pw) are
determined from these equations:
HP = (Q× Htot× γ) / (75 × ηp)
Pw = (HP×0.746) / (ηE)

Where; HP: Pump capability (horse);


Q: Discharge which is needed (m3/sec);
Htot: Total pressure (m); γ: Specific weight (kg/ m3);
ηp: Actual efficiency of the pump (75 – 85%);
Pw: Electric energy (kilowatt/hr);
ηE: Actual efficiency of the motor (85 – 95%);
Example (1)
Design a half fixed sprinkler irrigation method for an
area 885m×448m, if the main and sub-main lines
are fixed and laterals and sprinklers are movable,
where:
Diameter of effective circle = 40m;
Space between the sprinklers = 0.55 of effective circle
diameter;
Sprinkler discharge = 4.3 m3/hr;
Equivalent irrigation depth = 7.0 mm/hr;
Total pressure of sprinkler =32m of water;
Required water depth = 30 mm/irrigation;
Irrigation period = 4 days/irrigation;
Irrigation efficiency = 75%;
Solution
1- Space between sprinklers on lateral = 0.55 × 40 =
22m;

2- Actual irrigation depth = required water depth /


irrigation efficiency
= 30 / 0.75 = 40 mm/irrigation;

3- Space between laterals = sprinkler discharge /


(equivalent irrigation depth × Space between
sprinklers) = 4.3 ×1000 /(7×22) = 28m;
4- The lateral can make two movements in the day
(space between laterals =28m, the total space = 28 ×
2 × 4 = 224m in one irrigation (4days));
5- Assume no. of sprinklers on the lateral = 10 sprinklers;
(221 / 22 = 10.05)

6- The lateral length = 9 × 22 + 11 = 209m, and irrigate


220m;

7- No. of laterals = Total area / the area which irrigated


by the lateral = (885×448) / (224×220) = 8, as shown :
8- Sprinkler design:

Qs = Cd × a ×(2 ×g×h) 0.5

4.3 /(60×60) = 0.95 × a ×(2×9.81×32) 0.5


a (π r2) = 0.502 cm2, r= 0.4 cm sprinkler opening
diameter = 0.8 cm = 8 mm
4.3 m3/hr = 1.19 lit/sec

From the table (1), we the largest open for the sprinkler
with one opening is 0.714 cm, thus we must select
the sprinkler with two openings.
From table (2), we select the sprinkler with two
openings 7.14mm × 3.2mm which gives discharge =
1.1673 lit/sec, pressure =3.2 kg/cm2 =32 m of water
height.
9- Design of the laterals
The length of lateral = 209m;
The discharge of lateral = (4.3/60×60) × 1000 × 10
sprinklers = 11.9 lit/sec;
Select the lateral diameter = 10cm;
From tables (3), (4): the friction factor = 2.5 m for 100
m of lateral length, and correction factor = 0.396;
The friction losses = 2.5 × 0.396 × 209 /100 = 2.07 m;
Design pressure = sprinkler pressure + sprinkler height
+ the difference between the start of line and its end
+ 75% of friction losses = 32 + 0.7 + 0 + 0.75 ×2.07
= 34.25 m.
Total losses in lateral / design pressure = 2.07/34.25 =
0.06 < 20%
10- Design of the sub-main line
Sub-main line length = 448m
Design discharge = No. of laterals × lateral discharge
=11.9× 4 =47.76 l/sec = 171.94 m3/hr
The mean velocity = 1.5m/sec < 2.0 m/sec
Q = A×V
A=171.94/(60×60×1.5) = 0.032m D = 0.2m
Total losses of sub-main line= h + 10% ×h = 4 × f ×
(L/D) × (V2/2g) + 10%*h = 4 × 0.005 × (448/0.2) ×
((1.5)2/(2×9.81)) + 10%×h = 5.14 + 0.1×5.14 = 5.7 m
Design pressure = design pressure of lateral + Total
losses of sub-main line = 34.25 + 5.7 = 40 m
Total losses in sub-main line / design pressure = 5.7 / 40
= 0.14 < 20 %
11- Design of the main line
Main line length = 220 m
Design discharge = discharge of one sub-main line =
47.76 l/sec=171.94 m3/hr
Q = A×V
A=171.94/(60×60×1.5) = 0.032m D = 0.2m
Total losses of main line = h + 10% ×h = 4 × f × (L/D) ×
(V2/2g) + 10%*h =
4×0.005×(220/0.2)×((1.5)2/(2×9.81)) + 10%×h = 2.52
+ 0.1×2.52 = 2.77 m
Design pressure = design pressure of sub-main line +
Total losses of main line = 40 + 2.77= 42.8 m
Total losses in sub-main line/design pressure = 2.77/42.8
= 0.06 < 20 %
12- Design of pump
HP = (Q× Htot× γ) / (75 × ηp)
The pump pressure = 3.0m of water depth (assumed)
Total pressure = 1.1× design pressure of main line +
pump pressure = 1.1 × 42.8 + 3 = 50 m
Total discharge = No. of main lines × main line
discharge = 2 × 171.94 = 343.9 m3/hr = 0.096 m3/sec
Take efficiency of the pump75% and efficiency of the
motor 85%
HP = (Q× Htot× γ) / (75 × ηp) = (0.096 × 50 ×1000) / (75
× 0.75) = 85.3 horse
Pw = (HP×0.746) / (η E) = (85.3 × 0.746) / (0.85) = 75
kilowatt/hr

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