Subirrigation

The subirrigation system has been running for almost two weeks and our team is busy attaching various sensors to help estimate irrigation amounts/efficiencies.  The subirrigation system uses the pressure head created in the tank to push the subirrigation water uphill, in the main, and then uses the downhill gradient of the laterals to move the water by gravity.  Below are a couple pictures of the subirrigation system.

Subirrigation system.  Far right- control box, center-tank, left- manifold.

Subirrigation manifold.   The two white PVC lines supply water to two individual sections at the research site.

Thus far, a variable rate current sensor, time-logged cameras, and flow meters (attached to the manifold and individual PVC) have allowed us to better determine when the irrigation system is running, the amount of water being delivered to the system, and the amount of water being delivered to each section of the field.

Below is a picture of a graduate student, Kyle H., preparing a section of PVC, with a pre-attached flow meter, so that we can better estimate the amount of water delivered to a specific section of the field.