Application of Hydrocalc Program to Choose the Optimum Drip Irrigation System Design

Abstract

Recently the use of irrigation systems design programs is considered one of the most important programs because of its many benefits represented in obtaining the optimal design specifications for different irrigation systems, which leads to maximize both water application efficiency and water use efficiency (WUE) along the irrigation network, especially drip irrigation, while the random design of Irrigation systems affect the regularity and efficiency of water distribution, which negatively affects the production of different crops. Hence, the main objective of this research was to apply the HydroCalc program as one of the irrigation system design programs to choose the optimal design of the drip irrigation system for a new farm in the reclamation areas of the European countryside in Giza province. The coordinates of the study area were raised using a GPS device, which extends over an area of 138 ha. The HydroCalc program was used to choose the appropriate diameters and lengths of pipes, as well as calculate the pressure losses for the irrigation network to be designed. The engineering drawing program (AutoCAD) was used to divide the arable areas into plots and draw the appropriate irrigation network and determine its dimensions that were designed with the HydroCalc. In conclusion, the application of using the HydroCalc program helped to choose the appropriate design for the irrigation system.

Development of a computer aided decision support system for the design of drip irrigation laterals

“…The functionality of the DDC software was compared to other freely available software programs popular in this domain. For example, HydroCalc, developed by Netafim, is one of the leading software programs in drip simulation and is available online and offline (Darwish et al, 2022). As part of the simulation, HydroCalc checks the goodness of the design based on flow variation instead of relative pressure head variation.…”

“…In drip irrigation systems, the pressure of water is an important factor that affects the performance of the system. If the pressure head varies significantly along the pipeline, it can lead to uneven water distribution, resulting in under or over-irrigation of crops (Christiansen, 1942;Keller & Karmeli, 1974). To assess the pressure head variation in drip irrigation systems, one common approach is to calculate the pressure head at each outlet of the drip laterals.…”

Development of a Decision Support System for the Design of Irrigation Main

“…There are several software programs available for irrigation main design nowadays, each with its own unique features and bene ts. Popular software options include IRRICAD, HydroCalc, Aqua ow, and Irrigation Management Calculator (Narayanan et al 2002;Sharu et al 2020;Darwish et al 2022). IRRICAD, developed by Lincoln Ventures Limited, is a high-end, advanced standalone software that is available for purchase (Lincoln Agritech Limited 2013).…”

“…Other software options are also available for designing main systems, namely HydroCalc, developed by Neta m (Halbac-Cotoara-Zam r 2009; Mansour and Aljughaiman 2020; Darwish et al, 2022) and AquaFlow developed by Toro (Philipova 2012; TORO 2014). These software programs offer both standalone and web-based options for designing the main system.…”