Author
 |
Replogle, John |
|
Submitted to: Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Systems
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 2/18/1997 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Practical technologies can encourage farmers to adopt practices that support sustainable irrigated agriculture. Important among these are simple, practical water measurement and control techniques that can conserve water and bring considerable convenience to farmers and irrigation delivery system operators. These technologies languish, however, because of operational complexities, some very real and some only perceived. Several are new technologies and some are improvements on older technologies; many can be implemented with small expense; and some are superior replacements for current practices. This paper discusses seven such techniques and devices whose use would significantly improve irrigation water management, to the benefit of farmers, irrigation districts, and ultimately the public through soil and water conservation. Technical Abstract: Practical technologies can encourage farmers to adopt practices that support sustainable irrigated agriculture. Important among these are convenient water measurement and control techniques. Many simple constructions or operating procedures are available that can bring considerable convenience to farmers and irrigation delivery system operators. Some are new technologies and some are improvements on older technologies. Many can be implemented with small expense. Some are superior replacements for current practices. The techniques and devices discussed included: (a) accurate and convenient zero setting for weirs and flumes (b) pressure-transducer field checks, (c) easy-to-use scales for orifice and Venturi meters, (d) flow-profile improvers to assist accurate meter operations in irrigation pipelines, (e) floor sills and wave suppressors for canals that usually flow at variable depths of flow, (f) water surface slope measurements--based on static-pressure tubes, and (g) field checks of flow velocity profiles to evaluate flow conditioning using rising-bubble techniques for flow-profile visualization. Many of the concepts are demonstrated in a summary illustration. This illustration shows several items in a typical stilling well and broad-crested weir (long-throated flume) that need attention, and offers suggestions for correcting the deficiencies. |
