Method and system for furrow irrigation

• US 4,673,128 A
• Filed: 12/17/1985
• Issued: 06/16/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Utah Valley University
• Original Assignee: Utah Valley University
• Inventors: Keller, Jack, Stringham, Glen E.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jones, Mary Beth O.
• Application Number:
  US06/810,041
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• Field of Search: 239/1, 239/11, 239/63, 239/66, 239/67, 239/69, 239/70, 239/99, 137/624.11, 137/624.18, 137/624.2, 405/36, 405/37
• US Class Current: 239/1
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 13/00 Irrigation ditches, i.e. gravity flow, open channel water distribution systems retaining waterborne material in irrigation canals E02B5/085; other distribution systems for watering or spraying gardens, fields, sports grounds, or the like, A01G25/00; built-in irrigation means for sports grounds E01C13/083
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86445 Plural, sequential, valve actuations

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for distributing irrigation water relatively evenly along a furrow. Irrigation water is first advanced down the furrow during an advance phase. In one preferred embodiment, the advance phase comprises a cyclic on/off procedure to cyclically advance the water towards the bottom end of the furrow. After the advance phase has been completed, irrigation water is supplied to the head of the furrow during an infiltration phase which employs a cyclic on/off procedure. The on/off cycles of the infiltration phase are shorter than the on/off cycles of the advance phase, and are repeated a predetermined number of times in order to supply a predetermined amount of irrigation water to the furrow. Apparatus comprising control means for administering such furrow irrigation methods are also disclosed.

Claims

1. An intermittent flow irrigation method for distributing irrigation water relatively evenly along a furrow, the method comprising the steps of:

advancing irrigation water to substantially near a bottom end of the furrow during an advance phase and allowing the irrigation water so advanced to seep into the furrow, the advance phase comprising the steps of the following on/off cycle;

supplying a continuous flow of irrigation water into a head end of the furrow for a first predetermined time period such that the irrigation water advances down a portion of the length of the furrow; and

subsequently refraining from supplying irrigation water into the furrow during a second predetermined time period, thereby allowing the irrigation water supplied to the furrow to seep into the furrow;

wherein the on/off cycle of the advance phase is repeated so as to advance the irrigation water further down the length of the furrow until the water extends to substantially near the bottom end of the furrow;

supplying irrigation water to the furrow during an infiltration phase after the advance phase, the infiltration phase comprising a predetermined number of on/off cycles of successively decreasing duration, each of said on/off cycles of said infiltration phase comprising the steps of;

supplying a continuous flow of irrigation water into the head end of the furrow for a third predetermined time period which is shorter than the first predetermined time period and any preceding third predetermined time period; and

subsequently refraining from supplying irrigation water into the furrow during a fourth predetermined time period which is shorter than the second predetermined time period and any preceding fourth predetermined time period;

repeating the on/off cycles of the infiltration phase a predetermined number of times in order to supply a predetermined amount of irrigation water to the furrow.

2. An intermittent flow irrigation method for distributing irrigation water relatively evenly along a plurality of furrows divided into a first set of furrows, and a second set of furrows, the method comprising the steps of:

advancing irrigation water down a portion of the length of the first and second sets of furrows during an advance phase using an on/off cycle comprising the steps of;

supplying a continuous flow of irrigation water into head ends of the first set of furrows during a first predetermined time period such that the irrigation water advances down a portion of the length of the first set of furrows;

refraining from supplying irrigation water into the second set of furrows during the first predetermined time period;

supplying a continuous flow of irrigation water into head ends of the second set of furrows during a second predetermined time period such that the irrigation water advances down a portion of the length of the second set of furrows; and

refraining from supplying irrigation into the first set of the furrows during the second predetermined time period;

repeating the on/off cycle of the advance phase so as to advance the irrigation water further down the length of the first and second sets of furrows, the irrigation water seeping into the first and second sets of furrows during the refraining steps of the on/off cycle of the advance phase, the on/off cycle of the advance phase being repeated until the water in each furrow extends to substantially near a bottom end of the furrow;

supplying irrigation water to the first and second sets of furrows during an infiltration phase after the advance phase, the infiltration phase comprising a predetermined number of on/off cycles of successively decreasing duration, each of the on/off cycles of the infiltration phase comprising the steps of;

supplying a continuous flow of irrigation water into the head ends of the first set of furrows during a third predetermined time period which is shorter than the first predetermined time period and any preceding predetermined third time period;

refraining from supplying irrigation water into the second set of furrows during the third predetermined time period;

supplying a continuous flow of irrigation water into the head ends of the second set of furrows during a fourth predetermined time period which is shorter than the second predetermined time period and any preceding predetermined fourth time period; and

refraining from supplying irrigation water into the first set of furrows during the fourth predetermined time period;

repeating the on/off cycles of the infiltration phase a predetermined number of times in order to supply a predetermined amount of irrigation water to the first and second sets of furrows.

3. An intermittent flow irrigation method for distributing irrigation water relatively evenly along a furrow, the method comprising the steps of:

supplying a continuous flow of irrigation water to a head end of the furrow until the irrigation water advances down the length of the furrow; and

thereafter supplying irrigation water to the furrow in a predetermined number of on/off cycles of successively decreasing duration and repeating said on/off cycles in order to supply a predetermined amount of irrigation water to the furrow, each of said on/off cycles comprising the steps of;

supplying a continuous flow of irrigation water to the head end of the furrow until the irrigation water advances down the length of said furrow; and

refraining from supplying irrigation water into the furrow to allow the irrigation water supplied to the furrow to seep into the furrow.

4. An intermittent flow irrigation method for distributing irrigation water relatively evenly along a plurality of furrows divided into a first set of furrows and a second set of furrows, the method comprising the steps of:

advancing irrigation water down the length of the first and second sets of furrows using an on/off cycle comprising the steps of;

supplying a continuous flow of irrigation water into head ends of the first set of furrows during a first predetermined time period such that the irrigation water advances down the length of the first set of furrows;

refraining from supplying irrigation water into the second set of furrows during the first predetermined time period;

supplying a continuous flow of irrigation water into head ends of the second set of furrows during a second predetermined time period such that the irrigation water advances down the length of the second set of furrows; and

refraining from supplying irrigation into the first set of the furrows during the second predetermined time period;

supplying irrigation water to the first and second sets of furrows in a predetermined number of on/off cycles of successively decreasing duration and repeating said on/off cycles in order to supply a predetermined amount of irrigation water to the first and second sets of furrows, each of said on/off cycles comprising the steps of;

supplying a continuous flow of irrigation water into the head ends of the first set of furrows during a third predetermined time period which is shorter than the first predetermined time period;

refraining from supplying irrigation water into the second set of furrows during the third predetermined time period;

supplying a continuous flow of irrigation water into the head ends of the second set of furrows during a fourth predetermined time period which is shorter than the first predetermined time period; and

refraining from supplying irrigation water into the first set of furrows during the fourth predetermined time period.