CH 6
CH 6
CH 6
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
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.
VL = (W×A)/ Cf
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.
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);
No of Sprinklers 21 22 23 24 25
No of Sprinklers 26 27 28 29
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);
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