Uniformity of water distribution in sprinkler irrigation mini-cannons in a high Andean community in Peru

¹ School of Agricultural Engineering, Universidad Nacional del Altiplano, Av. Floral 1153 Puno, Perú
² Research Institute of Water Science and Technology, Universidad Nacional del Altiplano, Av. Floral 1153 Puno, Perú

^* Corresponding author: ralfaro@unap.edu.pe

Abstract

The objective of the present work was to determine the uniformity of water distribution through mini-irrigation cannons in conditions of the Peruvian altiplano, applying the formulas for the Christiansen Uniformity Coefficient (CUC) and the Distribution Coefficient (DU) and to interpret the incidence of wind on water distribution at three different times during the day (5:30-7:30, 12-14 and 16-18 hours). Necessary climatological information, field rainfall tests, emitter pressure, and flow, wind speed were collected to evaluate their influence on water application. Variable CUC and distribution uniformity results were obtained at the level of four demonstration plots, the maximum and minimum CUC was 87.42% and 55.34%, while the DU resulted with a maximum of 80.79% and 26. 88% minimum; it is worth mentioning that in the last two schedules, results were obtained that show a poor water distribution; while winds less than 2 m/s favored the uniform distribution of water applied through the sprinklers, affirming that it was possible to obtain an acceptable water distribution uniformity at the plot level considering the irrigation schedule.