Performance Evaluation of SURGEMODE Model Using Furrow Gradient and Flow Retardance | Chapter 1 | Recent Advances in Science and Technology Research Vol. 1

Surge irrigation is a promising improvisation over the traditional check furrow irrigation layouts that are replaced by a series of long furrows originating from a single feeder channel. The surge mode of water application involves alternate ON-OFF cycling of intermittent flows into the furrows in such a way that during the ON time water front advances and during the OFF time it recedes, saturating the subsoil. The partial or complete saturation of subsoil creates an apparent reduction in the instantaneous infiltration rates of the soil so that the water front advance gets accelerated. Invariably in all the continuous flow long furrows the water front advance could not reach the furrow tail end within the design duration of irrigation and nearly 25% to 40% additional times were required to make the water front reach the furrow tail end. In case of the surge irrigated furrows the water front advance to reach the furrow tail end has taken 5 to 9 surge cycles out of 10 surge cycles depending on the hydraulic condition of flow. The existing mathematical model (SURGEMODE) gave the net water front advance time with the condition of non-vegetated and a standard reference slope of 0.3%. However when the furrow is getting vegetated or when the slope gradients are changed the model cannot predict it accurately. Hence main objective of the study is to focus on validation on the existing SURGEMODE model with varying slope gradients (0.3%, 0.6% and 0.1%) and vegetative flow retardance (Non-Vegetated and Vegetated furrows).

Author (s) Details

E. Sujitha
Department of Soil and Water Conservation Engineering, Institute of Agriculture, TNAU, Kumulur, Trichy - 621712, India.

S. Senthilvel
Department of Land and Water Management Engineering, Agricultural Engineering College & Research Institute (AEC & RI), Kumulur, Trichy – 621712, India.

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