Bioresource and Agricultural Engineering Commons^™

District Application Of Hand Held Data Recorder Technology, Stuart Styles, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

A hand held data recorder (HHDR) enables a district to collect field data in a quick and virtually error-free manner. These units can be used to scan bar code location/equipment identifiers or the operator can manually key in this information followed by the current data. Some HHDRs can be programmed with error checking routines that prompt the operator when an entry is inconsistent with regards to the previous reading from that location. Each entry includes a time and date stamp. When the operator has collected all of the data for the day or for a route, the data is downloaded …

Simple, Portable Water Level Monitoring Package, Charles M. Burt, Stuart Styles

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Electronic water level sensing equipment is becoming increasingly important for the implementation of water conservation programs in irrigation districts. A need has risen for information on costs, advantages/disadvantages, required support equipment, and required maintenance for the various options. For this reason, the Water Conservation Office of the Mid-Pacific Region of the USBR contracted with the Cal Poly ITRC to conduct a study on water level sensors and dataloggers and to produce a report.

One application covered in the water level sensor and datalogger report is the need to have a simple, portable water level monitoring package. This paper supplements the …

Fertigation Basics, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Fertigation is widely practiced with drip irrigation, yet remains very unsophisticated. Major areas which need improvement are (i) making certain the irrigation system applies water with a high DU (uniformity), (ii) using proper injection pumps and protection hardware, (iii) recognizing that chemicals can interact with each other and with water to form precipitates which will clog emitters, (iv) understanding of nutrient ratios in plants and soil, (v) recognizing that nitrogen fertilization requires attention to the type of nitrogen, and (vi) developing programs for spoon-feeding chemicals. This paper covers the first 4 topics, plus discusses some specific fertilizers.

Chemicals For Fertigation, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

No abstract provided.

Modern Water Control And Management Practices In Irrigation: Impact On Performance, Charles M. Burt, Stuart W. Styles

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This research addressed the basic questions of what levels of water delivery service are presently provided by irrigation projects having some aspect of modernization; what hardware and software features impact those levels of service; whether modern water control and management practices in irrigation make a positive difference in performance; and what universal lessons can be learned and applied.

Selection Of Irrigation Methods For Agriculture: Drip/Micro Irrigation, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

The ASCE On-Farm Committee has recently completed a draft of a manual (Bliesner et al, 1998) on "Selection of Irrigation Methods for Agriculture." One of the chapters describes drip/micro irrigation methods. Numerous variations of drip/micro designs are discussed, along with advantages and disadvantages. This paper provides an overview of some aspects of that chapter.

Drip/Micro Irrigation Survey For Delano-Earlimart Irrigation District, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Delano-Earlimart ID (DEID) has kept informal statistics on the use of drip and micro-irrigation (drip/micro) within its boundaries for several years. These statistics showed that there has been only a slight increase in the acreage of these systems over the past 10 years. Because the rate and extent of conversion to drip/micro may influence the type of future water delivery service needed from DEID, DEID management is interested in knowing more about farmer perceptions regarding these newer irrigation methods.

DEID obtained a grant from USBR Mid-Pacific region to examine perceptions of its farmers regarding future conversions to drip and micro-irrigation. …

Improving Water Properties To Increase Infiltration Characteristics, Richard W. O. Soppe, Stuart W. Styles

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Water properties, such as the viscosity and surface tension, can be affected by temperature and surfactants to Increase infiltration rates into soils. Specifically, they will change the hydraulic conductivity of the soil. A simple soap solution and the new material PAM (inexpensive polymer chemical) were evaluated as surfactants. Laboratory experiments and field tests on a site in Davis, California were done to quantify the effects of changing the water properties. Additional effects, like the improved soil structure during infiltration and less soil particles in tailwater (reduced erosion due to runoff) were observed and are described in this paper. The conclusions …

On Farm Irrigation - The Shift From Art To Science, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Excellent on-farm irrigation management and design have traditionally been promoted for reasons of improved yields and farm input costs. More recently, external pressures require even more detail to on-farm irrigation. These external pressures include competition for water by urban and environmental interests, plus degradation of aquifers and rivers. As irrigation progresses from an art to a science, new concepts must be adopted. Key points made in the paper relate to flexible water deliveries to farms, improved fertigation practices, the importance of on-farm irrigation evaluations, the use of an Irrigation Consumer Bill of Rights by dealers and farmers, and irrigation system …

Water Level Sensor And Datalogger Testing And Demonstration, A. Burt, Mike Lehmkuhl, Charles M. Burt, Stuart W. Styles

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Electronic water level sensing equipment is becoming increasingly important for the implementation of water conservation programs in irrigation districts. A need has risen for information on costs, advantages/disadvantages, required support equipment, and required maintenance for the various options. ITRC conducted a yearlong study on water level sensors and dataloggers and produced this report.

Improved Proportional-Integral (Pi) Logic For Canal Automation, Charles M. Burt, R S. Mills, Ram Dhan Khalsa, V. C. Ruiz

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Successful implementation of Proportional-Integral (PI) control logic for gate automation on irrigation canals has been problematic because of difficulties in tuning the PI controllers for a wide range of flows. This research shows that successful and relatively simple tuning for upstream controllers can be accomplished if one uses the velocity form of the PI logic. The velocity form must be modified with a newly-developed Universal Factor (UF) concept, which accounts for the nonlinearity of the upstream water level response to gate movement. The UF function is unique for each check structure, and can be determined with a steady state simulation …

Influence Of Canal Geometry And Dynamics On Controllability, Theodor S. Strelkoff, Jean Luc Deltour, Charles M. Burt, Albert J. Clemmens, Jean Pierre Baume

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This paper presents the results of the Task Committee on Canal Automation Algorithms with regard to the influence of canal properties on the controllability of irrigation canals. While the control provided by individual algorithms was not evaluated, studies were performed to illustrate inherent hydraulic limitations—the inability of canal pools to recover rapidly from disturbances or flow perturbations. Studies were performed in nondimensional form to develop a better understanding of how pool properties influence pool response. Three such studies were performed. First, nondimensional backwater curves were developed for a range of canal conditions. The second study involved the propagation of waves …

Accuracy Of Irrigation Efficiency Estimates, A. J. Clemmens, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Evaluation of actual irrigation system performance should rely on an accurate hydrologic water balance over the area considered. In a companion paper, water uses are categorized as consumptive or nonconsumptive, and beneficial or nonbeneficial. Real performance is based on water uses over a specified period of time, rather than observation of a single irrigation event (with associate potential, but not yet actual, consumptive and/or beneficial uses). Once the components in the water balance have been determined, it is shown that the accuracy of irrigation performance parameters can be determined from the accuracy of the components in the water balance, using …

Irrigation Performance Measures: Efficiency And Uniformity, Charles M. Burt, Albert J. Clemmens, Theodor S. Strelkoff, Kenneth H. Solomon, Ronald D. Bliesner, Leland A. Hardy, Terry A. Howell, Dean E. Eisenhauer

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

It is essential to standardize the definitions and approaches to quantifying various irrigation performance measures. The ASCE Task Committee on Defining Irrigation Efficiency and Uniformity provides a comprehensive examination of various performance indices such as irrigation efficiency, application efficiency, irrigation sagacity, distribution uniformity, and others. Consistency is provided among different irrigation methods and different scales. Clarification of common points of confusion is provided, and methods are proposed whereby the accuracy of numerical values of the performance indicators can be assessed. This issue has two companion papers that provide more detailed information on statistical distribution uniformity and the accuracy of irrigation …

Drip Irrigation Technology: A Resource Management Tool For Farmers, John C. Roberts, Stuart W. Styles

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

No abstract provided.

Fertigation Chemicals, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

When deciding what chemicals to inject, there are numerous considerations to be made. This paper addresses some of the more common factors which should be considered, but which are often overlooked. Because nitrogen fertilizer is injected more widely than any other nutrient, special attention is given to it

Modern Water Control And Management Practices In Irrigation: Methodoloy And Criteria For Evaluating The Impact On Performance, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

No abstract provided.

Row Crop Drip Irrigation On Peppers Study, Charles M. Burt, Stuart Styles

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

High Rise Farms, located just north of Morgan Hill installed a new buried row crop drip irrigation system in 1993. The amount of the CEC loan was $42,700.

The installation of the drip irrigation system on the Peppers did provide significant improvements in the amount of water use, energy required and yield increases especially in the first year of operation (1993) and the third year of operation (1995). The second year of the project (1994) did not have yield increases. The primary lessons learned from this project included:

• The yield differential between drip and the furrow irrigation methods was attributed …

Row Crop Drip Irrigation On Bell Peppers Study, Charles M. Burt, Stuart Styles

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Underwood Ranches, located near Oxnard, installed a buried drip system on 50 acres of peppers in 1993. The amount of the CEC loan was $50,000.

The buried drip system provided sufficient advantages in water management, energy savings, and yield increases to convince the farm to expand its drip acreage to 140 acres in June 1995, and 320 acres in Sept. 1996. The farmer was an ideal cooperator.

The primary lessons learned on this project were:

• A grower needs approximately two years of experience and technical assistance in order to feel comfortable with a buried drip system. Even after that time, …

Sizing Of Header And Flushing Manifolds For Row Crop Drip, Charles M. Burt, Stuart W. Styles

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

No abstract provided.

Status And Needs Assessment: Survey Of Irrigation Districts - Usbr Mid-Pacific Region, Charles M. Burt, Kris O'Connor, Stuart W. Styles, Mike Lehmkuhl, Chad Tienken, Robert Walker

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

ITRC gathered data from 61 agricultural districts in the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation's (USBR) Mid-Pacific Region by interviewing irrigation district personnel and studying their Water Conservation Plans. These districts comprise about 90% of the irrigated acreage in the Mid-Pacific Region. Data were analyzed to determine general demographic information, the degree of water delivery flexibility provided to farmers, and the extent of existing and planned district modernization.

Incorporation Of Reservoirs Into Irrigation Supply Systems To Simplify Flexible Operations, John L. Merriam, Stuart W. Styles

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

No abstract provided.

Buried Drip Irrigation On Pistachios Study - Munger-Poonian Land And Farming Co., Charles M. Burt, Stuart W. Styles

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

A multi-year study and technical support were conducted on commercial fields of pistachios, apples, table grapes, wine grapes, and blueberries in central California. The learning curve required by growers, and energy and irrigation efficiencies was documented. (Note: Appendices 1-6 are not included in this document.)

Fertigation Techniques For Different Irrigation Methods, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

- The irrigation method influences whether or not chemicals must be injected at a constant rate.
- The irrigation method influences the optimum duration of chemical injection.
- Chemical injection rates may inadvertently vary during an irrigation set for many reasons: improper mixing, system flow rate fluctuations, and system pressure fluctuations
- Drip systems must account for the disposal of filter flush water.

Irrigation Water Conservation - Benefits And Tradeoffs, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Water conservation must be examined within the context of a water balance for a zone of specified boundaries. On-farm conservation may not result in basin conservation, and may actually damage water supplies within the basin, especially if groundwater supplies dwindle. Conservation must also take place with recognition of water rights, and therefore concepts such as Irrigation Efficiency and Irrigation Sagacity must be well understood. Because of the diversity of hydrology, there is no single menu of water management improvements which are applicable in all cases. In the future, more emphasis will be placed upon improving crop yields with a given …

Essential Water Delivery Policies For Modern On-Farm Irrigation Management, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Successful on‐farm irrigation scheduling requires that water delivery projects adopt a service concept, and that water deliveries be made with a high degree of reliability. An arranged delivery schedule and seasonal volumetric allocations are additional requirements. Until these conditions are met, attempts to implement modem on‐farm irrigation scheduling techniques to maximize water use efficiency and yields will be only partially successful.

Guidelines For Establishing Irrigation Scheduling Policies, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Successful on-farm irrigation scheduling requires that water delivery projects adopt a service concept, and that water deliveries be made with a high degree of reliability. An arranged delivery schedule and seasonal volumetric allocations are additional requirements. Until these conditions are met, attempts to implement modern on-farm irrigation scheduling techniques to maximize water use efficiency, and to maximize yields will be only partially successful.

Identification And Quantification Of Efficiency And Uniformity Components, Charles M. Burt, Albert J. Clemmens, Kenneth H. Solomon

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Proper usage of irrigation performance indicators such as uniformity and efficiency require standardized definitions and equations, specification of vertical and horizontal boundaries, inclusion of all pertinent components, and accurate measurement and estimation of those components. The quantification of some critical components is a challenge, and errors always exist.

Fertigation - The Next Frontier, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Just as irrigation dealers presently should specify pressure relief valves and air vents on all pipelined irrigation systems, future irrigation designs will incorporate a new generation of FERTIGATION (fertilization through the irrigation system) hardware. And farmers will use sophisticated techniques to monitor plant nutrient status and to determine the proper level of nutrients to spoon feed through fertigation.

Delano-Earlimart Irrigation District: Variable Frequency Drive Study, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This report was conducted to study the pump station operation at Delano-Earlimart Irrigation District (DEID) after the installation of a variable frequency drive (VFD) control. The district is currently involved with the California Energy Commission's low-interest loan program for the installation of VFD units on their pump stations near Delano, California. Delano-Earlimart Irrigation District is a special water district organized under Division 11 of the California Water Code and encompasses 56,500 acres in Southern Tulare County and Northern Kern County. DEID has 18 individual pumping stations. DEID installed VFDs on key pumps at three different plants (D-3, D-12, and D-14).