Wetting patterns estimation under drip irrigation systems using an enhanced empirical model

Wetting patterns estimation in cultivation substrates under drip irrigation

“…Quantitative assessment of the full wetted pattern is essential for optimal irrigation management and important for the determination of the laterals spacing on the substrate surface under drip irrigation, because the maximum wetted radius located at a certain depth under the substrate surface which leads to overlapping between the patterns of adjacent emitters before the surface wetted radii overlapped [8]; however, it is difficult to find a suitable equation to predict the full pattern directly, especially in large granular cultivation substrate. The suggested empirical model enables to predict the wetted radius (W) and wetted depth (D) and a heart-shaped equation (Eq.…”

“…Knowing the wetted zone pattern around the emitter represents a prerequisite to design irrigation systems as well as to manage water [6,7]. The shape of the wetting pattern, which depends on the emitter flow rate and the applied water volume as well as on the soil type, the wetted radius on the soil surface and the wetted depth in the soil are the main parameters of the wetted soil zone [8][9][10][11][12]; there must be an optimum match between the depth and the width of the wetted pattern and the crop root [13]. Numerical models, analytical models and empirical models have been developed to determine the wetting pattern under drip irrigation [14][15][16][17].…”

Study of Wetting Pattern Under Drip–emitter Using Sand Box Model and Empirical Equations

“…The empirical equations deal with wetting pattern of soil based on experimental data. Both of these types of equations have merits, data requirements and limitations (Malek and Peters, 2011;Simunek et al, 2014;Al-Ogaidi et al, 2016;Moncef , 2016). The data collected in present research is suitable for development of only empirical equations; hence other types of equations based on physical laws of nature are out of scope of this paper.…”

“…The data collected in present research is suitable for development of only empirical equations; hence other types of equations based on physical laws of nature are out of scope of this paper. One form of empirical equations developed in past, for the maximum wetted radius "R" and depth "D", is given below (Amin and Ekhmaj, 2006;Al-Ogaidi et al, 2016).…”

“…They developed an analytical approach to estimate the wetted shape and volume with single emitter. Al-Ogaidi et al (2016) has developed empirical equations for estimating wetting pattern of drip emitters. The literature review shows that the wetted depth, width, and wetted volume of soil are among the most important parameters in design of drip emitters.…”