Abstract
The size of the free-water ponds under drippers is an important field characteristic of trickle irrigation. Here we review four existing analytical theories that purport to describe 3-D infiltration. We show how they can be used to predict the extent of the pond from basic soil parameters, and the dripper discharge rate. Via a numerical example it is shown that the different theories give significantly different free-water pond radii, especially for high drip discharge rates when the flow is dominated by gravity. We then describe field experiments that were carried out to permit a comparison of the measured and predicted values using independently-measured soil parameters. This test of the different theories was conducted on a loamy soil. Raats' (1971) solution gave the best estimates of the free-water pond radius, across the range of discharge rates. The free-water pond radius, a determinant of the lateral spread away from the dripper, was found to vary only weakly with drip discharge in the range of practical applications. Consequences for management are discussed.
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Revol, P., Clothier, B.E., Kosuth, P. et al. The free-water pond under a trickle source: A field test of existing theories. Irrig Sci 16, 169–173 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02338967
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02338967