COMPUTER METHODOLOGY FOR THE SELECTION AND DESIGN OF MICROIRRIGATION SYSTEMS

Abstract

In México, small producers as well as large agribusiness companies are becoming increasingly interested in the use of high-efficiency irrigation systems such as microirrigation. Even though a high level of technological development has been achieved over the last few years, some functional problems have been detected in commercially installed systems. These are due mainly to inadequate selection or errors in design resulting from managing manually and simultaneously a great quantity of data and variables. To avoid these problems, in the selection process one has to consider the system?s suitability for the project, and in the design one has to guarantee a high emission uniformity at the lowest possible cost. Two methodologies have been developed in this work: the first selects the system based upon agricultural and topographic factors; the second is an heuristic method used to design the irrigation system. A computer program was developed in C++ language to select and design an irrigation system. It can be used by engineers to analyze the different project conditions. The program includes the following modules: microirrigation system selection, emitter selection, irrigation section design (manifold and lateral), mainline design and system cost. The program facilitates designing the irrigation system with the maximum discharge uniformity, maximum area section and lowest cost.