Abstract
The success of sprinkler irrigation system largely depends on its actual performance at field
condition. Although the uniformity of water application is the most important aspects in the
sprinkler systems performance, adequacy better explains the performance of the system. In this
study, the adequacy of irrigation performance was measured actually at field condition
considering three operating hydrant pressures (4.0, 4.5 and 5.0 bars) and two sprinkler nozzle
sizes (2.4 * 4.4 and 2.4 * 4.8 mm). The main objective of this study was to determine the level of
current adequacy of irrigation performance in relation to the predicted performance during the
design period. Three different adequacy performances (delivery, infiltration and storage) were
determined from the measurements of the two important basic sprinkler performance parameters:
discharge and uniformity. The study result indicates excess irrigation water application more than
the crop net irrigation requirement and soil moisture deficit, especially for the 2.4 * 4.8 mm
nozzles sprinkler at all pressure ranges considered. Inline to this, tremendous losses in terms of
deep percolation ( 40%) have been observed, the consequence of which is leaching of soluble
nutrients, loss of valuable water resources, reduced crop yield and rise of groundwater table. The
later one might lead to drainage problems, which requires construction of expensive drainage...