Field Evaluation of Furrow Irrigation Performance in Corn Fields and Presentation of Management Solutions using WinSRFR Model (Case Study: Dezful)

Studies have shown that irrigation efficiency is low in Iran and Khuzestan province. However, it is essential to increase irrigation efficiency and reduce irrigation water losses in the field according to the water resources status. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of furrow irrigation in the fields of Shahid Beheshti Agriculture and Industry Company in Dezful and to offer some proposed solutions using optimization of design parameters by WinSRFR model. Three fields in Deylam region and three fields in BC region were selected to determine the irrigation efficiency. The results showed that the deep percolation and runoff losses in the fields of Deylam region varied between 4.9 to 81.5% and 24.3 to 62.3%, respectively. These values were detemined at 3.2 to 49.2% and 5.6 to 62.3% in the fields of BC region, respectively. Overall, the results showed that the amount of runoff losses is more than the amount of deep percolation losses in all the studied fields in Deylam and BC regions. However, despite the high losses, some fields were under deficit irrigation and their water requirement efficiency was less than 100%. The application efficiency in all fields varied between 13-45%. Generally, investigations showed that the management of the amount and duration of irrigation was not appropriate; this is due to the lack of awareness of farmers about the amount of water needed and cut-off of the inflow at the appropriate time. After evaluating the current situation, the presentation of management solutions using the WinSRFR model showed that if proper management of the length, slope and flow rate to the furrows is done, the water application efficiency will be significantly increased 35.8% (from 29.8% to 65.6%) and runoff losses decreased 49.7% (from 59.7% to 10%).