Hydraulic Performance of Three Types of Imported Emitters Used in Drip Irrigation Systems in Sudan

Abstract

Drip or Trickle irrigation system is designed to apply precise amount of water near the plant with a certain degree of uniformity. This study was conducted at the Experimental Farm of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Gezira, during March, 2018. The study was aimed to design and evaluate the hydraulic performance of drip emitters including: average discharge (Qavg), discharge variation (Qvar %), coefficient uniformity (CU %), coefficient of manufacture variation (CV %), distribution uniformity (DU %), statistical uniformity (Us %), clogging (%) wetted diameter (cm) and wetted depth (cm). Three emitters type were used under drip irrigation system namely regular gauges (RG), high compensating pressure (HCP) and low compensating pressure (LCP). The treatments were laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Results showed that there were significant differences (P≤0.05) in all tested parameters except clogging, wetted diameter and wetted depth. Discharge variation (Qvar %) values were 12.71, 15.57 and 19.17 for RG, LCP and HCP, respectively it consider quite good and found to be within the acceptable range. Results of coefficient of manufacture variation (CV %) were 10.9, 27.8 and 52.7 for RG, LCP and HCP, respectively it consider within the unacceptable range except RG type it‟s excellent. Statistical uniformity (Us %) values were 89.1, 72.2 and 45.7 for RG, LCP and HCP, respectively it consider good, acceptable and unacceptable, respectively. Results of coefficient of coefficient uniformity (CU %) were 91.3, 77.7 and 56.7 for RG, LCP and HCP, respectively it consider excellent, fair and unacceptable, respectively. Distribution uniformity (DU %) were 90.2, 67.9 and 36.5 for RG, LCP and HCP, respectively it consider excellent, poor and poor, respectively. Thus the study recommended regular gauges (RG) type emitters under the heavy clay soil conditions of the Gezira State, Sudan.