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Evaluation Of Drip And Microsprayer Irrigation Systems In California's Central Valley, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

No abstract provided.

Evaporation Estimates For Irrigated Agriculture In California, Charles M. Burt, Daniel J. Howes, Andrew Mutziger

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

All California irrigation districts that receive either federal or state water are now required to prepare Water Conservation Plans. For the first time in the history of most districts, they are developing an elementary water balance. The term "elementary" should be emphasized, because there are significant weaknesses in our knowledge of subsurface flows and some components of Evapotranspiration (ET). Irrigation districts generally use published "typical" values of ET for their water balance computations.

Rapid Appraisal Process And Benchmarking, Charles M. Burt, Stuart W. Styles

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This WORD document [Rapid Appraisal Process (RAP) and Benchmarking] provides an explanation of the Rapid Appraisal Process (RAP), as well as a brief explanation of Benchmarking and the data that must be collected for both endeavors. This document also provides an explanation the EXCEL documents that are used by persons during the RAP. An EXCEL spreadsheet (with 12 internal worksheets) is provided twice:
1. Rapid Appraisal and Benchmarking BLANK.xls
2. Rapid Appraisal and Benchmarking EXAMPLE.xls
As the names suggest, the EXAMPLE has data in it so that users can examine an example before entering data in a blank spreadsheet.

Proceso De Evaluación Rápido (Rap) Y Comparación Con El Patrón De Referencia (Benchmarking): Explicación Y Herramientas, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Este documento WORD [RAP Documento en Español] provee una explicación del Proceso De Evaluación Rápido (RAP), como también una breve explicación de la Comparación con el Patrón de Referencia como también de los datos que deben ser recolectados para ambos esfuerzos. Este documento también provee una explicación de los archivos en EXCEL que son usados durante el RAP. Una planilla de cálculo en EXCEL (con 13 hojas de trabajo internas) es provista dos veces:

1. RAP en Español – EN BLANCO.xls

2. RAP en Español – EJEMPLO.xls

Como lo sugieren sus nombres, el EJEMPLO tiene datos previamente ingresados de manera …

Flap Gate Design For Automatic Upstream Canal Water Level Control, Charles M. Burt, Russdon Angold, Mike Lehmkuhl, Stuart Styles

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

The EXCEL design procedure for a simple hydraulic flap gate for automatic upstream canal water level control is provided. Basic configurations were developed in The Netherlands in the 1920s and have recently been used in Indonesia, the Dominican Republic, and Nigeria. Four irrigation districts in the San Joaquin Valley of California have constructed and installed over 60 properly functioning flap gates. The gates can be installed within 2 h, but require free discharge conditions and in practice are limited to controlling water depths of about 1 m or less.

Bottom Mounted Doppler Flow Meter For Canals, Stuart W. Styles

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Doppler technology, similar to that used by meteorologist to track weather patterns, has been developed and expanded to fill the need for advanced water flow measurement technology that is relatively easy to use, applicable to various hydraulic conditions, and very accurate. This report discusses the operation of doppler units, provides a comparison of the technology, benefits, cost, and use.

Adjustable Magnetic Coupler, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Efficiency in terms of power consumption is vital and continues to be increasingly important. The use of adjustable speed pumps can reduce energy consumption and improve controllability of pressure or flows. One such technology, the MagnaDrive coupler, has been developed for service in a variety of applications.

Pumped Storage: Simple Changes, Big Savings, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Several California irrigation districts achieved savings on electrical energy charges by implementing various types of pumped storage systems. Pumped storage uses some type of reservoir to store pumped water at a higher elevation than the original water supply. During times of peak statewide electricity demand, pumping is reduced while water is withdrawn from the reservoir which acts as a buffer.

Load Monitoring System, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Arvin-Edison Water Storage District received a loan - from the CEC's loan program for the development of new energy conservation technology - in 1995 to develop a program with variable frequency drives. This report discusses the design of the "Load Monitoring System", cost, the need for such a system, initial start-up challenges, configuration options, and benefits.

Evaluation Of Retrievable Drip Tape Irrigation Systems, Charles M. Burt, Jess T. Barreras

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

California growers of lettuce, broccoli, celery, and cauliflower have long been leaders in drip tape applications. Starting in the early 1990s, large acreages of buried, subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) were installed with the intent of leaving the tape in the ground for up to 10 years (Burt and Styles, 1999). Tape burial depths were typically 20 - 25 cm below the soil surface. Although yields and irrigation efficiencies typically increased, there were numerous challenges with SDI. Since the tape was buried, such issues occurred as gopher damage, problems with root intrusion, soil back-siphonage when the system was shut off, damage …