Engineering Commons^™

Grass Referenced Based Vegetation Coefficients For Estimating Evapostranspiration For A Variery Of Natural Vegetation, Daniel J. Howes, Mariana Pasquet

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

In arid and semi-arid regions, evapotranspiration from vegetation results in the significant utilization of available water. Accurate estimates of evapotranspiration are required for surface and subsurface hydrologic evaluations as well as irrigation district water balance studies. A significant amount of transferable information exists for irrigated agricultural crops through past and current research in the form of grass or alfalfa reference based crop coefficients (Kc) and basal crop coefficients (Kcb). However, transferable evapotranspiration information on natural vegetation is limited. Much of the work was conducted in the early to mid-1900’s and is presented as actual evapotranspiration from the vegetation at the …

Low-Pressure Testing: Pressure Regulating Valves, Charles M. Burt, Kyle Feist

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

ITRC tested performance characteristics of pressure regulating valves from a variety of manufacturers. The purpose of the testing was to evaluate the ability of different models of valves to regulate the pressure in a low-pressure system. The testing concentrated on three specific valve performance characteristics: minimal variance from the target downstream pressure caused by changes in flow rate or inlet pressure; minimal hysteresis in outlet pressures; minimal pressure loss (at low inlet pressures) across the valve.

Low-Pressure Testing: Microirrigation Emitters, Charles M. Burt, Kyle Feist

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

ITRC tested 28 different pressure-compensating (PC) models of microirrigation emitting devices from a total of nine manufacturers in order to compare independent laboratory testing with manufacturer specifications. It is the intention of this report to investigate the ability of currently marketed products to operate in a truly low pressure irrigation system where energy inputs, in the form of pump discharge requirements, can be minimized.

Practical Irrigation Scheduling Program, Dominic Sween

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This senior project discusses the design, construction, and evaluation of an irrigation scheduling program that aids users in alfalfa irrigation management, with the potential for application with other crops. The program uses a very accurate irrigation prediction model that forecasts what the estimated irrigation need of each week will be, as well as the number of irrigations needed to satisfy the requirement. The model was found to predict the sum of the actual required weekly irrigation amount within less than 1% of the true value. The program was based off the single crop coefficient approach that was outlined previously by …

Micro Sprinkler Irrigation Design On Almonds, Scott Trinta

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This project is to design a micro sprinkler system with a cost analysis for a 17 acre field. This type of irrigation will allow for a more uniform distribution of water, with more water being beneficially used at low flow rates. This design should minimize unwanted runoff water and save the farmer money in the long run.

Design Of Vineyard Irrigation System And Reservoir Enlargement, Matthew M. Moore

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

The goal of this project is to design a drip irrigation system for a 25 acre vineyard in Potter Valley, Ca. This allows water to be efficiently delivered to the plants in a timely manner in order to maximize yield or fruit quality. This design will also include the resizing of the current reservoir in order to accommodate for the new water requirements; however this design will not include the overhead sprinkler system needed for frost protection.

Evaluation And Modernization Of The Scott Valley Irrigation District, Ashley Parry

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

The Scott Valley Irrigation District (SVID), located in Etna, California, is a small water district that serves 25 users and runs approximately 14 miles. The district was established in the 1920’s, and few modifications have happened since then. The district approached the Natural Resource and Conservation Service (NRCS) about possible improvements to the system and how do go about making decisions and implement improvements. As an outreach project the NRCS decided to pursue the evaluation and modernization plan.

The project was done in multiple phases from research, evaluation, surveying and design portions. This report will discuss the current state of …

Vineyard Drip Irrigation Design, Roman Ferro

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

The goal of this project is to develop a cost and water efficient drip irrigation system. This irrigation system will deliver irrigation needs to a future 2.5 acre vineyard owned by the Jaqua family. The design accounts for the specifics of the field such as soil type, slope, crop water requirement, etc. A detailed design was created which includes part specifications, cost estimate and field map.

Unique Replogle Flume Installations At The Truckee-Carson Irrigation District, Stuart Styles, Brandon Downing, Walter Winder

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

The Water Measurement Program (WMP) for Truckee-Carson Irrigation District (TCID) began in 1997, when the Irrigation Training and Research Center (ITRC) of Cal Poly State University was asked to develop a volumetric measurement plan for TCID, funded by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Mid-Pacific Region. This program was intended to develop and install reasonably accurate turnout delivery measurement techniques in the district. As part of the WMP, TCID was required to install a number of new open-channel measurement devices. TCID opted for the Replogle flume as its primary flow measurement device using the newly developed WinFlume computer program.

A few …

Design And Evaluation Of An Irrigation System For Meyer Lemons, Anthony Atchley

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This senior project discusses the design and implementation procedures for an irrigation system for Meyer lemons. The irrigation system is designed from an economical standpoint incorporating limitations set by the ranch manager such as the use of existing pipe lines and emitter selection preference. Within this project there are the steps taken to ensure a healthy crop utilizing the data and advice collected from other fields and their managers in the same area.

The entire field is run as a single set with two manifolds to supply the Western and Eastern ends of the field. A total of 555 trees …

Pressure Regulating Valve Pilot Characteristics - 2-Way Vs. 3-Way Pilots, Charles M. Burt, Kyle Feist

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Pressure regulation valves, with 3” – 6” diameters, are commonly found at the entrance to agricultural irrigation blocks and manifolds. These valves are typical of a “hydraulic” design, in which a chamber above a flexible disc/diaphragm is filled or emptied. As the chamber is filled or emptied, the irrigation water passes through a smaller or larger orifice, and the pressure downstream of the valve is lowered, increased, or maintained at a constant target pressure. The flow in/out of the chamber is controlled by a small “pilot valve”. The characteristics of these pilot valves are discussed here, in general terms. Of …

Pipeline And Canal Downstream Control System For Recirculation - Patterson Id Case Study, John Sweigard, Charles M. Burt, Peter Rietkerk

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Patterson ID in Central California has five long, along-the-contour lateral canals that flow northward from a main canal. The main canal operates on downstream control, providing excellent flexibility to heads of the laterals. The lateral canals operate with manual upstream control and have little storage. The classic tail-ender problem existed; spill from the tail end was necessary to avoid under-supplying tail-end customers.

To eliminate the spill and to provide better flexibility, a system was designed and constructed to tie the ends of the five laterals together with pipes and pumps, with one central regulating reservoir. The automatic control system allows …