Abstract

CRUZ-BAUTISTA, Fidencio et al. Modeling to Estimate the Dimensions of the Wet Bulb in Trickle Irrigation. Tecnol. cienc. agua [online]. 2015, vol.6, n.4, pp.131-140. ISSN 2007-2422.

The shape and volume of the wet soil resulting from the application of water by emitters is the most important factor in the design of trickle irrigation systems. The wet soil volume represents the amount of stored water, and the extension, depth and diameter should coincide with the radicle system of the plants and the spacing between emitters and irrigation lines. Therefore, the objective of this work was to develop equations to describe the advance of water in the wet bulb with a trickle irrigation system. Information related to soil wetting patterns and physical and hydraulic characteristics were used with three different textures to develop two equations. The results show that these equations describe the lateral and vertical advance of the water in the wet bulb of sandy-loam, clay-loam and silty-loam soils with a reliability of 90 to 94%. These equations show that the extension of the wet bulb depends on the volume of water applied, the flow of the emitter, the saturated hydraulic conductivity, initial and residual moisture contents of the soil and the silt content. The results demonstrate that these equations can be used to estimate the extension of the wet bulb in the soil with a localized irrigation system, and thereby determine the number of emitters needed to moisten the volume of soil required.

Keywords : Mathematical model; wetted soil volume; drip irrigation; wetting-pattern.

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