Hydraulic Studies of Surface Drainage from Level Furrows

by Allen R. Dedrick, USDA, United States,
Albert J. Clemmens, USDA, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Planning Now for Irrigation and Drainage in the 21st Century

Abstract:

Field studies have been completed to quantify the surface drainage phenomenon from level furrows which were rapidly flooded and then drained from the inlet end of the furrow. The proportion of drainable water (ratio of volume drained from furrow to volume stored in the furrow at time of irrigation cutoff) ranged from 25% to 45% for tests conducted under 'Dry' conditions. The actual depth equivalencies drained ranged from about 6 mm to 16 mm. Such drainage quantities could potentially result in improved application efficiencies of 8% to 20%. The proportion drained depended on the furrow length, depth applied and infiltration conditions. Generally the distribution uniformity for the water infiltrated along the furrows was low, due largely to the test criteria for the field studies (time of cutoff when advancing water reached the end of the furrow). However, the distribution uniformity increased significantly when larger application depths were targeted for the shorter furrows.

Subject Headings: Surface drainage | Drainage | Surface irrigation | Field tests | Infiltration | Hydraulics | Fluid flow

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