Modeling Surge Irrigation Infiltration

Abstract

A recirculating furrow infiltrometer is used to measure infiltration for simulated surge irrigation for various cycle times and cycle ratios. The data collected from three locations is used to evaluate two empirical surge infiltration models, one of which was developed by the authors. The effects of furrow geometry, surface depression storage, recession and advance time, and measurement error are considered. The evaluations indicate that a model based on the Kostiakov equation, the surge cycle ratio, and the surge cycle time work well in predicting infiltration during surge. This model, which considers surge cycle ratio and cycle time, is both simple and useful in surge irrigation design. Most importantly, it allows surge infiltration to be determined directly, without surge infiltration data, from continuous infiltration data.