University Publications

Surge and cutback techniques can be used to control inflow rate for improving irrigation efficiency and save water. This study was conducted for hydraulic assessment of surge flow, cutback and continuous flows (Control) in 160 m field length for analyzing the potential of reducing tail water and deep percolation losses. The experiment included eight treatments for two factors (inflow rate and operating techniques). The furrow discharge rate is taken as main plot at two levels (high 2.70 l/s and low 1.5 l/s) and four inflow control operating techniques as sub-plots two levels of inflow cycle ratios "0.50, 0.75", one cutback at furrow tail, and continuous flow as control. Field data obtained indicated that for all flow rates and at all irrigation times' control of inflow rate by surge technique resulted in remarkably shortest advance rate at furrow end in comparison to other inflow control methods. The results show that the highest application efficiency was obtained under surge flow with 0.75 cycle ratio, the highest distribution efficiency was obtained at a cycle ratio of 0.50. Advance time to furrow tail for low and high inflow levels is faster with both surge irrigation treatments than with continuous flow treatment. To improve performance of furrow irrigation with 160 m length it is advisable to adopt 0.50 ratio surge flow control technique with high flow rate.