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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #113628
Title: ARS SOFTWARE FOR SIMULATION AND DESIGN OF SURFACE IRRIGATION

Author
item STRELKOFF, THEODOR - UNIV OF AZ, TUCSON, AZ
item Clemmens, Albert
item Schmidt, Baran

Submitted to: Decennial National Irrigation Symposium
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/16/2000
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: About half of the irrigation systems in the U.S. are surface types. In other parts of the world, the figure approaches 100%. Many surface irrigation systems apply water nonuniformly and discharge excessive amounts of contaminated water into ground and surface waters. Economics often preclude conversion to pressurized irrigation systems. Part of the reason for poor performance is that design and operation are often based simply o experience with similar systems or on empirical formulas with little physical justification. Many systems are constructed and operated with little technical consideration. The current generation of personal computers allow fast, accurate simulation of surface irrigation with given field conditions, physical layout, and operation. Performance can be predicted for a given set of physical and management design parameters imposed upon given field conditions. User-friendly software has been written at the U.S. Water Conservation Laboratory to aid in the design and management of surface irrigation systems that are more economical and conserve and protect the water resource. The new software has been distributed to consultants, extension specialists, and NRCS field-office personnel.

Technical Abstract: ARS surface-irrigation design methodology is based on simulations of irrigation-stream flows over the field surface. One- and two-dimensional ARS simulation models are reviewed herein. Computer programs aiding in the design of both layout and operation of level basins and of sloping borders utilize static databases storing thousands of previously obtained simulation results. Both simulation and design programs require users to input field topography, infiltration, and flow resistance, along with the target depth of application. ARS software aiding the effort to evaluate field conditions is described. The simulation programs also require input of system geometry and inflow hydrograph. The basin-design program allows exploration of the interplay between performance and length, width, and inflow. The border program displays possible performance levels with given field characteristics and application depth, as well as the combinations of design parameters that will yield a given level. A new approach introduced for furrow design utilizes a dynamic database developed interactively for the specified field conditions and furrow cross-section.