Tree Shaped Layout for Trickle Irrigation Subunits

Trickle irrigation provides plants with continuous or discontinuous tiny discharges. Uniformity and system cost are highly affected by the selection of the various components of trickle irrigation systems. The objectives of this research were to investigate the feasibility of improving EUh by laying out the manifold diagonally through squared sub-units (tree layout), develop a general relation to calculate EUh of tree laid-out sub-unit, develop a software to carry out detailed designs of tree and typically laid-out sub-units, and find an optimal design of tree and typically laid-out sub-units. The results of the research showed that EUh can be improved by using tree layout and it is highly affected by manifold diameter. Tree laid-out sub-units require longer manifolds but the cost of increased manifold length did not exceed 1.7% of total cost of typically layout sub-unit. Emphasis ought to be given to both EUh and total annual cost when designing trickle sub-unit. Furthermore, field work indicated that head loss due to emitter protrusions in the lateral in many cases is larger than that due to friction; therefore, such head loss must be considered when designing trickle sub-units.