An analysis of water consumption rates in agricultural irrigation systems
type: CreativeWork
description: To provide a background for the discussion of the high water consumption rates found in irrigation systems which use projectile-type sprinkler heads, the history and evolution of irrigation systems is discussed. The effect of evaporation is studied as as explanation for the water losses, but it is found to be insignificant. Having discovered that evaporation is negligible, air motion caused by either wind or entrainment resulting from water droplets is examined. Data resulting from a two dimensional model which uses Seginer's equations of droplet motion showed that air movement is a major cause of water consumption. To give a more realistic set of results, a three dimensional model which describes the water loss from the center-pivot and lateral move irrigation systems is used. Again it is found that wind and entrainment effects result in significant water losses.
abstract: To provide a background for the discussion of the high water consumption rates found in irrigation systems which use projectile-type sprinkler heads, the history and evolution of irrigation systems is discussed. The effect of evaporation is studied as as explanation for the water losses, but it is found to be insignificant. Having discovered that evaporation is negligible, air motion caused by either wind or entrainment resulting from water droplets is examined. Data resulting from a two dimensional model which uses Seginer's equations of droplet motion showed that air movement is a major cause of water consumption. To give a more realistic set of results, a three dimensional model which describes the water loss from the center-pivot and lateral move irrigation systems is used. Again it is found that wind and entrainment effects result in significant water losses.
author: Newman, Jon C
language: eng
keywords: Irrigation efficiency, Sprinkler irrigation
date published: 1986-12
date modified: 2026-07-24T05:04:54Z
provider: Texas Technology University
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Texas Tech University

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: http://hdl.handle.net/2346/14215