Uniformity of water distribution in a central pivot with the use of the Time Domain Reflectometry technique on surface and soil

摘要

> size="2" face="Verdana">The evaluation of the uniformity of water distribution in an irrigation system is done above the surface of the soil. The main objective of this work was to evaluate the uniformity of water distribution in a central pivot under field conditions, through the use of the CUD and CUC coefficients. On the surface, the uniformity was obtained with the use of the ABNT methodology, therefore placing two collector lines displaced three degrees from the initial pivot position. In order to obtain the uniformity in the soil, the water content was determined with the TDR (Time Domain Reflectometry), which is a simple and fast technique. The results demonstrated that uniformity in the soil was greater than on the surface and above the recommended range. The water arrangement in the soil promotes that condition. Therefore in the economic design of irrigation systems, the uniformity coefficients in the soil should be considered.