Hydraulic performance of small basin irrigation
Abstract
Small basin irrigation as a method of applying water is
widely used in many parts of Kenya and will likely remain
important as energy shortage discourages the use of
alternative energy-intensive methods. Demand f or- both
energy and water are already encouraging efforts to improve
the watering efficiency using small basin irrigation. The
analytical solutions for determining water distribution from
a peripheral point of a small basin have not been studied
previously in Kenya.
Hydraulics of water flow in a small basin are of vital
importance for designing efficient small basin irragation
systems. The ability to analyse and to synthesize the
hydraulics of small basin cheaply and efficiently require
in-field trials. This should provide an important new tool
for use in an attempt to improve the performance of small
basin irrigation systems.
The results of hydraulics of water flow and hydraulic
performance
distribution
of small basin irrigation with water
from one corner of the basin, based on an
experimental study conducted at Eldume Irrigation· Scheme, in
Baringo, Kenya, are presented. The study of small basin
hydraulics was undertaken to determine its performance and
to identify and develop appropriate design procedures for
small basin irrigation.
The observed small basin irrigation process occured in
three distinct phases namely, advance, ponding and
depletion. The relation between advance distance and time
is curvilinear, while depletion occurs nearly linearly at a
constant time. The results obtained by least-squares
regression technique used to find advance power equations
suggest that the change in basin size has no significant
effect on the water advance equation. Further there is
little effect of irrigation event on advance equations but
the water advance rate increases with applied water flow
rate to the basin.
A generalised advance function applicable to Eldume
soil -conditions characterised mainly by the infiltration
curves can be written as:
z b X = uQ t . This generalised
advanced function can be used to carefully extrapolate to
other flow rates (Q) and basin sizes (X) other than the
studied values.
The results of volume balance approach were comparable
with the independently derived advanced equation based on
measured advance data and it seems that starting from a well
determined infiltration equation., advance equations can be
derived for different infiltration equations. Further, the
dimensional analysis has been identified and found to have
useful potential in the design of efficient small basin
irrigation. Suggestions are made for future research
possibilities in small basin irrigation.
Citation
Chepsoi, J. K. I(1990). Hydraulic performance of small basin irrigationSponsorhip
University of NairobiPublisher
Department of Agricultural Engineering, University of Nairobi
Description
Msc Thesis