Em4885 irrigation management practices to protect ground water
Em4885 irrigation management practices to protect ground water
Em4885 irrigation management practices to protect ground water
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4 CHAPTER<br />
IP 2.01.03 - Evaluate the Irrigation System Using SCS or<br />
WSU Cooperative Extension Procedures<br />
Objective<br />
This practice has three major objectives:<br />
1. Ensure that the <strong>irrigation</strong> system hardware is in good operating condition.<br />
2. Ensure that the <strong>irrigation</strong> system design is matched <strong>to</strong> the site conditions.<br />
3. Indicate where system <strong>management</strong> can be improved so that distribution uniformity<br />
and overall potential application efficiency is increased.<br />
Description<br />
Evaluation of an <strong>irrigation</strong> system involves several aspects: 1) the overall condition of<br />
the system, 2) whether essential components are in place, and 3) how the design and<br />
<strong>management</strong> of the system work <strong>to</strong>gether <strong>to</strong> achieve high or low distribution uniformities<br />
and application efficiencies. In many cases the condition of the system directly affects<br />
the performance.<br />
Pacific Northwest Extension publication PNW293, Walk-Through Irrigation Systems<br />
Analysis, contains a checklist that can be used <strong>to</strong> “walk through” the <strong>irrigation</strong> system,<br />
checking on the overall condition and whether vital components, such as pressure gauges<br />
or flow meters, are in place. The publication contains sections for suction systems on<br />
booster pumps and deep wells, pumps in general, electric mo<strong>to</strong>rs and service, pipelines,<br />
sprinkler laterals, and sprinkler heads. Growers wishing <strong>to</strong> do their own evaluation should<br />
obtain a copy of PNW293 and perform the “walk-through.” Even if the <strong>irrigation</strong> system is<br />
a furrow or border strip system, some of the checklist will be applicable.<br />
Two Drought Advisory bulletins from WSU Cooperative Extension, Irrigation System<br />
Evaluation (EM4822) and Set-Move and Permanent Sprinkle Irrigation Systems<br />
(EM4832), contain information on how <strong>to</strong> evaluate the operating performance of <strong>irrigation</strong><br />
systems. For example, an evaluation of a sprinkle system will include checks of pipe<br />
pressure at several spots in the system. If the pressures are <strong>to</strong>o far apart then this indicates<br />
poor pressure uniformity, which may count against the overall distribution uniformity of<br />
the system.<br />
The SCS has also developed evaluation procedures for testing the distribution uniformity<br />
that results from an <strong>irrigation</strong>. Evaluations may be available through SCS, local<br />
Conservation Districts, or local consultants.<br />
The American Society of Agricultural Engineers has several published standards and<br />
<strong>practices</strong> for evaluating systems. These include:<br />
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