ABSTRACT
Sprinkler irrigation is growing in popularity as a method of applying water to crops, primarily because it is seen as one way of increasing the efficiency of water use in areas of scarcity But there are pressures which tend to reduce its effectiveness. The need to conserve energy, for example, has encouraged manufacturers to reduce operating pressures, which in turn has increased water application rates and the potential for water loss from runoff Moving sprinkler irrigation systems such as
Water and the Environment: Innovative Issues in Irrigation and Drainage. Edited by Luis S. Pereira and John W. Cowing. Published in 1998 by E & FN Spon. ISBN 0 419 23710 0
centre-pivots and rainguns, where instantaneous application rates can exceed 200mm/hr are particularly prone to runoff problems Pair [1] reported that the maximum application rate under centre pivot machines often exceeds the infiltration capacity of soil. The higher application rates associated with low pressure systems also exacerbate the problem.
