TITLE:
Field Performance Evaluation of a Small-Scale Drip Irrigation System Installed in the Upper West Region of Ghana
AUTHORS:
Hamidatu S. Darimani, Neolli Kpoda, Sumaila M. Suleman, Alhassan Luut
KEYWORDS:
Drip Irrigation, Field Performance, Water Application, Uniformity Coefficient, Clogging
JOURNAL NAME:
Computational Water, Energy, and Environmental Engineering,
Vol.10 No.2,
April
28,
2021
ABSTRACT: This study was conducted to evaluate the water application uniformity for
a drip irrigation system, considering the water quality and the duration of
usage. The uniformity parameters, Emission Uniformity (EU %) and Uniformity
Coefficient (UC %) were determined for the drip irrigation system installed over a year of performance. The
procedures are based on taking measurements of emitter discharge along
selected driplines on a sub-main. The catch can be identified as L1A, L1B, L1C, L1D, same for L2A to L2D, L3A to L3D and L4A to
L4D. This gave a total of sixteen (16) measurement positions as there were 4
driplines. Results indicated that the uniformity of water application was 90%
indicating that the emitter was still good after a year of installation. The
average discharge rate was 0.57 l/h.
The uniformity coefficient (UC %) for the gravity-fed drip irrigation system
was 78%, indicating good water application and was quite significant for the
evaluation of the uniform distribution of water for the design. The expansion
of this irrigation method in rural communities could contribute to relevant
water savings in most areas of the Upper West Region of Ghana.