PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF MINI SPRINKLER IRRIGATION SYSTEM: COMPARISON OF THE PLASTIC AND IRON MADE SPRINKLER SYSTEM

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Department of Engineering

ABSTRACT
This dissertation is a study to evaluate and compare the hydraulic performance of plastic and iron mini sprinkler system using 8mm and 14mm diameter nozzle sizes. The study was carried out at a farm land of the national water resources institute, Mando, Kaduna. In this study, meteorological data such as rainfall, evaporation, relative humidity, wind speed/ direction, maximum and minimum temperature were first taken into consideration, soil, sample test were investigated for their physical and chemical properties. Water is a key factor in increasing agricultural production. However, the global Climate Change and its attendant effects on scarce water resources have further reduced the amount of water available for agriculture. The need to encourage small scale farmers on the use of modern method such as sprinklers other than the traditional mass irrigation methods which waste water. At least, the stemming problems of neighbor irrigators sharing same water source will be arrested. The work is based on the evaluation of the hydraulic performance of the plastic and iron sprinkler system towards the determination of the discharges of the sprinkles, Pressure radius of throw of the mini sprinklers, application rate, distribution pattern of the sprinklers on the soil, and the uniformity coefficient of the sprinkler system. The experimental set up for determination of the hydraulic performance consist of a horse power (1hp) pump connected to a 200L reservoir tank filled to the brim with water. A pressured hose connected to the reservoir, takes water through the inlets to the pump. A pipe connected to the out let of the pump, take the water to the main line passing through a filter to entrap solid particles. The mainline, distribute the water to the sub main line, and the sub main line, takes water to the lateral line, hosting the sprinklers. The water gets to the riser pipe, and the sprinklers rotate and spread water. All measurements for the parameters were set up for 9 different operating pressure with an increment of 0.5kg/cm2, the results were collected and evaluated for their hydraulic efficiencies. Maximum and minimum pressures were obtained as 8.9,11.1L/Min and 40.0 -52.6 L/Min for plastic and iron. The radius of throw were obtained as 2.0, 2.4cm and 8.2,14.5cm respectively. For plastic and iron made sprinkler system. The sprinkler application rate (precipitation rate) were obtained at min and max to be213.5mm/hr,814.2mm/hr for 8mm iron and 692.3mm/hr,1172.3mm/hr for 8mm plastic. The distribution pattern of the system on the soil is uniform, with the system uniformity coefficient found to be 96.7%,97.2% 14mm plastic and iron. 96.99%,97.9%8mm plastic and iron respectively