Performance Evaluation of Hand-Move Sprinkler Irrigation System: A Case Study in Rwanda

Abstract

This study was carried out with the main objective of evaluating the efficiency of the government-funded irrigation project equipped with hand-moved portable sprinkler irrigation system in the Nyagatare district of eastern Rwanda. The study was performed in maize field irrigated by a sprinkler irrigation system during the 2014 agricultural season. Catch cans experiments were used to assess the efficiency of the current field irrigation sprinkler system. Performance indicators such as coefficient of uniformity (CU), distribution uniformity (DU), Potential application efficiency of the low quarter (PAElq), pressure variation along laterals, delivery performance ratio (DPR), evaporation and wind drifts losses were analysed. The Christiansen equation was used to measure the CU. The results of this study revealed that the coefficient of uniformity, uniformity of distribution and efficiency of water application of the method were 84.7%, 88% and 88% respectively. These experimental findings indicated that the performance of existing hand-move sprinkler irrigation system was satisfactory. The study put forward performance guidelines and advices for the designers and managers of sprinkler irrigation systems to achieve optimum performance.