Irrigation performance indicators based on the hydraulic characteristics of the modules installed in cocoa crops

Abstract

This research focuses on the analysis of irrigation uniformity by reviewing the hydraulic characteristics of two sprinkler modules used in an irrigation system for a cocoa crop covering an area of ​​2.27 hectares. Aspects such as flow rate, load, and pumping power of each sprinkler are evaluated to determine its efficiency and suitability for system design. This study was conducted on the Tres Hermanos farm in the Simón Bolívar Canton of Ecuador.

A 16-sprinkler module was installed to determine the following coefficients: Christiansen Uniformity Coefficient (CUC) and Distribution Uniformity (DU). A CUC of 78.45% and 78.66% was obtained for the CAP VERDE 5022 sprinkler and the Xcel-Wobbler sprinkler, respectively. The highest DU was 92.92% for the CAP VERDE 5022 sprinkler, resulting in an application efficiency of 83.63%. This represents excellent uniformity according to the performance table (Netafim, 2016) for the Xcel-Wobbler sprinkler.

The results show how the sprinklers offer adequate flow rates to efficiently cover the surface, with pumping loads and power that match the capacities of the installed pumping system. The implementation of these sprinklers in irrigation design contributes to optimizing water and energy use, ensuring even distribution of resources in the cocoa crop and improving agricultural productivity.