Estimation of the water distribution uniformity in sprinkler irrigationby using PSO Algorithm Method

Abstract With sprinkler irrigation, determining water distribution uniformity of coefficient (cu) from a single sprinkler is time consuming due to overlap sprinkling by neighboring sprinklers and also different pressure heads (P), riser heads (RH), sprinkler gaps on laterals (Sl) and the distance between laterals (Sm).The best combination of the above parameters for maximum CU, is still unknown for applicators. In this research, CU quantities of zb model sprinkler (made in Iran) were measured at Hashemabad cotton research station of Gorgan under 3 different pressure heads (2.5, 3 and 3.5 atm), 2 riser heads (60 and 100 cm) and 7 sprinkler (Sl×Sm including 9×12, 9×15, 12×12, 15×12, 12×18, 15×15, 15×18m) arrangements. Different equations for genetic algorithm using mentioned parameters were evaluated using a written program with Matlab software. Based on R2, RMSE and standard deviations obtained between estimated and measured data using PSO algorithm, the equation of CU was selected as a final model. Keywords: Sprinkler Irrigation; Riser Heads; Laterals; Uniformity Coefficient