Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

THE POTENTIAL USE OF MOBILE DRAG HOSES WITH BOOM IRRIGATION MACHINES

A. Derbala

Abstract

The boom sprinkler irrigation machine was modified to boom irrigation machine with drag hoses. The theory depends on replacing the sprayers by polyethylene hoses. The main aims of this research are to investigate the performance of boom sprinkler machine vs. boom machine with drag hoses. For this reason, laboratory experiments were carried out at Federal Research Institute for Rural Areas, Forestry and Fisheries, Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institute, Germany to define the suitable diameter of orifices on the hose. The water discharge from drag hoses was measured at different levels of pressure. Metal plate with hole diameter of 4 mm was installed at the inlet of hose. After that, field experiments were conducted for comparing the performance of both boom sprinkler machine before modification and after modification. The suitable operating pressure at the inlet of hose was ranged between 0.2 to 0.3 bar. The average depth of applied water was about 13 mm and the highest value of it was measured directly under the drag hoses. The results indicated that, using the boom machine with drag hoses can be an alternative to the use of boom systems in some crops and topographical conditions. The water losses could be minimized with this system. The boom with drag hoses has very important advantages in comparison to nozzle boom or sprinkler machines. As a conclusion, the boom machine with drag hoses is suitable for using to improve the water relations and energy saving.