ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Design of Sprinkling Irrigation System with Wind Pumping in the Garlic Cultivation

MSc. Néstor Méndez-Jurjo^{I  *}  , Dr.C. Oscar Brown-Manrique^I  , Téc. Jorge Rodríguez-Cabrera^II  , MSc. Pablo Antonio Junco-Davis^I  , MSc. Gustavo Humberto Arencibia-Zuñíga^I 

^IUniversidad de Ciego de Ávila (UNICA), Ciego de Ávila, Cuba.

^IIEmpresa Agropecuaria Arnaldo Ramírez, Primeo de Enero, Ciego de Ávila, Cuba.

ABSTRACT

The research was developed in "La Cuchilla" farm, located in Sabicú Community, Primero de Enero Municipality, Ciego de Ávila Province, with the objective of determining the design parameters of sprinkling irrigation system with wind pumping in the garlic cultivation. The results demonstrated that the sprinkling irrigation system with wind pumping works with flow average of 0,25 L∙s^-1, emitter pressure of 6,00 m, average intensity of 6,25 mm∙h^-1 and irrigation time of 2,68 hours to contribute the quantity of water demanded by the cultivation. The agronomic parameters of the system are: net irrigation depth of 11,75 mm, gross irrigation depth of 16,78 mm, average irrigation interval of nine days and total gross water necessities for the cultivation of garlic of 3606,02 m³∙ha^-1. The average hydromodule is of 3,04 L∙s^-1 ha^-1 and the pipe flow of 1,02 m³∙h^-1, which allows selecting a diameter of 50 mm. The irrigation volume required is of 3,42 m³ (3420 L) that is guaranteed with the placement of a tank of water storage of 5000 L to a height of 6,00 m in correspondence with the topographical difference and the design load that is of 6,08 m that is the required for the good operation of the system.

Key words: Renewable Energy; irrigation; pipe flow; design load

INTRODUCTION

One of the most important aspects in the development of human beings is the use of various forms to transform energy into electricity from natural resources. This constitutes one of the energy solutions for rural populations according to the needs to be covered through sustainable projects (^{Ojeda et al., 2017}) and the preservation of the environment (^{Andrade et al., 2011}). In this sense, there are several investigations that have been carried out in relation to the use of wind energy in rural communities (^{Munday et al., 2011}; ^{Andreu et al., 2013}); ^{Huesca et al., 2016}), which have shown that it is possible to efficiently use the wind energy potential for agricultural production through irrigation systems powered by wind energy. Important steps are being taken in Cuba to put wind pumping in function of crops irrigation, which will allow saving conventional energy resources. Therefore, the objective of this research was to determine the design parameters of the sprinkler irrigation system with wind pumping in garlic cultivation in Primero de Enero Municipality of Ciego de Ávila Province.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The research was carried out during the years 2016, 2017 and 2018 at "La Cuchilla" farm, located in Sabicú Community in Primero de Enero Municipality, Ciego de Ávila Province, between coordinates 21° 52' of North Latitude and 78° 18´ West Longitude, with an area of 7.5 hectares where different crops such as tomato, garlic, beans, corn, yucca, banana, lemon, mango, coconut and others are grown.

The soil of the experimental plot is Typical Red Ferrallitic type, which correlates with the Ferralsols order according to the International Union of Soil Sciences ^{IUSS (2007)}. This soil has a depth of 0.35 cm and its hydro-physical properties are presented in Table 1, which shows the values of depth (P _r ), natural humidity (H _n ), soil density (ρ), density of the solid phase (ρ _s ), field capacity (C _c ), total porosity (P _T ), aeration porosity (P _a ) and micro porosity (M _p ). The infiltration test was determined using the Method of Standardized Infiltrometer of Double Cylinder with the Kostiakov Equation ^{Castaño et al. (2008)}. It allowed finding values of instantaneous velocity of 27.67 mm min^-1, initial velocity of 134.01 mm min^.-1, average speed of 59.78 mm min.^-1, basic speed of 33.67 mm min^.-1 and accumulated speed of 358.69 mm 8h^-1.

TABLE 1 Hydro physical properties of the soil ^{IUSS (2007)}  

P r (cm)	H n (%)	Ρ (g cm ^-3 )	ρ s (g cm^-3)	Cc (%)	P T (%)	P a (%)	M p (%)
0 - 20	24,36	1,23	2,63	31,76	58	26,24	35,26
20 - 40	24,57	1,36	2,7	30,81	53	22,19	39,13
40 - 60	26,07	1,44	2,79	32,68	59	26,32	37,26

The experimental area consisted of a 931.00 m² (95.00 m x 9.80 m) plot with 28 rows planted at a distance of 0.10 m between plants and 0.35 m between rows for a density of 285714 plants per hectare. The crop used was garlic of Gibara variety, which is traditionally sown by farmers in the area. Sprinkler irrigation was used because it is the technique with which they obtain acceptable yields and its use is justified exclusively by the empirical experiences of local producers. This procedure coincides with that investigated by ^{Mendoza et al. (1989)}; ^{Hanson et al.,2003}; ^{Prato (2016)} from the use of sprinkler irrigation in this crop.

The irrigation system designed is of sprinkler type, powered by wind energy through a multi blade mill, SAMSON 1888 PAT. D model with tower height of 10 m, rotor diameter of 2.52 m, number of blades 15, pump cylinder diameter of 80 mm, piston displacement of 60 mm and starting speed of 2.5 m s^-1 (^{Méndez et al., 2019}).

The irrigation system consists of the following parts (Figure 1): wind pump, elevated tank with the determined height (H _tan ), system design load (H _D ), conductive pipe with diameter (D _c ) of 50 mm and length (L _c ) of 67.00 m, length from the volumetric pump to the beginning of the plot (L _B-P ) of 67.00 m, slope of the terrain (S _o ), elevation difference between the base of the pump and the plot (Δ _Z ) of 0.50 m measured topographically by a total station of the GGHH-90 model, lateral pipe length (L _L ) of 95 m and six sprinklers (N _a ).

FIGURE 1 Diagram of the sprinkler irrigation system with wind pumping. 

The sprinkler used in the investigation is NaanDanJain 5022 model with low flow impact, 2.5 mm diameter bayonet outlet nozzle and integral jet directing fin. The spacing between laterals and sprinklers was 12 m with an emitter height of 0.60 m above the ground. A fixed lateral pipe and six emitters operating simultaneously (Figure 2) were used in which flow and outlet pressure data were taken at each of the points where the sprinklers were located.

The flow rate of the sprinkler (q _a ) was determined using the Volumetric Gauging Method (^{Playán et al., 2005}). The measurement was made at the nozzle of the sprinkler and the water depth that is supplied to the soil in the unit of time to satisfy the water demand of the crop was determined. Instruments were used as a test tube with a milliliter scale and a digital stopwatch with precision of 2 seconds. The effect caused by the intensity of application of the sprinkler was evaluated by comparing the sprinkler precipitation (I _a ) and the infiltration capacity of the soil (v _i ); having to achieve that I _a < v _i so that surface runoff does not occur.

FIGURE 2 Irrigation side with sprinklers operating simultaneously. 

The working pressure was measured with a Bourdon metal manometer DeWit model, with a total pressure of 11 bar (1100 kPa) and precision of 0.20 bar (20 kPa) as shown in Figure 3. The pressure difference between two sprinklers of a branch, should not be greater than 20% of the working pressure of the sprinkler chosen. Five repetitions of both parameters were carried out to work with the average value.

FIGURE 3 Procedure for measuring the flow and pressure of the sprinkler. 

Irrigation programming was planned based on the water demand of the crop and the hydrophysical properties of the soil; therefore, different parameters were calculated such as: net irrigation depth, gross irrigation depth, sprinkler rainfall, irrigation interval, irrigation number and irrigation time.

The calculation of the gross irrigation depth was based on the relationship between the net irrigation depth required by garlic cultivation according to the characteristics of the existing Red Ferrallitic soil and the estimated efficiency in the irrigation system installed in the experimental plot. The equation used was the following:

$L_b=\frac{L_n}{{\eta }_s}$ (1)

$L_n=10.P_r.\rho \left(C_c-L_p\right)NAP$ (2)

Where: L _b is the gross irrigation depth (mm);L_n the recommended net irrigation depth (mm); P _r the depth of the root system (m); ρ the density of the soil (g cm^-3); C_c the field capacity in percentage based on dry soil (% bss); L_p the productive limit of the soil, estimated at 0.80Cc (% bss); NAP is the level of allowable depletion (0.55) according to ^{Sandoval (2017)} and ^{Álvarez (2018)} and η_s is the irrigation application efficiency (estimated at 0.70).

The calculation of the irrigation time was obtained from the relationship between the gross irrigation depth and the sprinkler precipitation; the latter was estimated from the flow rate of the sprinkler and the area of soil watered by a sprinkler, which made it possible to know more accurately the amount of water contributed to the crop in the unit of time.

$T_r=\frac{L_b}{I_a}$ (3)

$I_a=3600\left(\frac{q_a}{A_a}\right)$ (4)

$A_a=E_a.E_L$ (5)

Where:I_a is the sprinkler precipitation (mm h^-1); q_a the flow rate of the sprinkler (L s^-1); A _a the area of soil watered by a sprinkler (m²).

The calculation of the flow rate that the conductive pipe of the irrigation system must conduct was carried out taking into account the evapotranspiration of the crop determined according to ^{Allen et al. (2006)} and the efficiency of irrigation application and the gross hydro module, according to ^{Pacheco et al. (2007)}. With this parameter, the economic diameter of the conductive pipe was determined using Bresse Equation.

$Q_c=q_b.A_p$ (6)

$q_b=\frac{N_b}{\mathrm{86,4}.d}$ (7)

$N_b=\frac{10\left(E{T}_c-P_e\right)}{{\eta }_s}$ (8)

$D_c=\mathrm{1,1284}\sqrt{\frac{Q_c}{v}}$ (9)

Where: Q_c is the flow of the conductive pipe (L s^-1); q_b the gross hydro module (L s^-1 ha^-1); A_p the area irrigated by the system (ha); ET_c the evapotranspiration of the culture (mm month^-1); P_e the effective precipitation (mm month^-1); d irrigation days (0.80.I_r was assumed); η_s is the irrigation application efficiency (dimensionless) and v the average velocity of the water in the pipe (ms^-1).

The hydraulic calculation of the irrigation system was based on the use of the equations that are listed below:

$q_L=q_a.N_a$ (10)

$V_r=q_L.T_r$ (11)

$F_c=\mathrm{0,3636}+\frac{1}{N_s}+\frac{\mathrm{0,1443}}{N_s^2}$ (12)

$h{f}_T=\mathrm{1,10}\left(h{f}_c+h{f}_L\right)$ (13)

$H_D>P_a+h{f}_T$ (14)

$H_{\mathrm{t}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{n}}=H_D-{\Delta }_Z$ (15)

${\Delta }_Z=C_B-C_P$ (16)

Where: q_L is the flow of the lateral irrigation (m³ s^-1); V_r the volume of the lateral irrigation (m³); hf_c the friction pressure loss in the conductive pipe (m); hf _L the loss of pressure due to friction in the lateral pipe (m); hf_T the total load loss of the system (m); v_c and v _L are the flow velocities, in the conductor and the lateral respectively (m³ s^-1); F_c the Christiansen Multiple Output Correction Factor; N_s the number of sprinkler outlets on the side (dimensionless); H _D the design load of the system (m); P_a the pressure of the sprinkler measured with the manometer (m); H_tan the height of the water storage tank (m); Δ_Z the elevation difference between the base of the pump and the plot (m); C_B the elevation of the location of the pump (m.a.s.l) and C_P the elevation at the beginning of the irrigation plot (m.a.s.l).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

In Table 2, the average flow obtained experimentally which was 0.25 L s^-1 and the area irrigated by each sprinkler that was 144 m², are shown. The average precipitation was 6.25 mm h^-1, which provided an irrigation time of 2.68 hours to supply the amount of water demanded by the crop

TABLE 2 Parameters of pipes and sprinkler 

Parameters	Value
Sprinkler flow, q a (Ls^-1).	0.25
Area irrigated by the sprinkler, A a (m^2).	144.00
Sprinkler precipitation, I a (mm h^-1).	6.25
Irrigation time, T r (h).	2.68

In Table 3, a summary of the parameters necessary to determine the water demand of the garlic crop is presented. It is observed that based on the local rainfall regime for the months of December to March, the total precipitation in that period is 169.46 mm; however, the one that can be exploited by the crop is 61.67 mm for a rain utilization coefficient of 0.36, which justifies the need for irrigation. On the other hand, it is expressed in the table itself that in the vegetative cycle the net needs are 252.42 mm; while the evapotranspiration of the culture is 314.09 mm, obtaining a negative water balance of 61.67 mm that needs to be replaced by irrigation with the application of a net irrigation depth of 11.75 mm and a gross irrigation depth of 16.78 mm in an irrigation interval that varies in each month from 4 days to 20 days with a mean value of nine days.

The total gross needs for garlic cultivation are 3606.02 m³ ha^-1, which, referring to 0.093 ha, which is the area irrigated by the irrigation system, allows a water volume of 335.72 m³ to be provided throughout the vegetative cycle of the crop. The hydro module obtained ranges between 0.19 L s^-1 ha^-1 and 4.79 L s^-1 ha^-1 with a mean value of 3.04 L s^-1 ha^-1; therefore, the flow that circulates through the conductive pipe is 1.02 m³ h^-1.

TABLE 3 Agronomic parameters for calculating the conductor flow 

Parameters	Dec.	Jan	Feb.	Mar.	Total	Average
Days of the month, d m (days).	31	31	28	31	90
Precipitation, P (mm mes^-1).	43,5	30,1	42,2	53,7	169,46	42,36
Effective precipitation, P e (mm mes^-1).	16,1	8,0	15,3	22,2	61,67	15,42
Referential Evapotranspiration, ET o (mm mes^-1).	76,6	83,8	103,3	139,1	402,76	100,69
Crop coefficient, K c (adim).	0,45	0,62	1,10	0,82	2,99	0,75
Crop evapotranspiration, ET c (mm mes^-1).	34,5	51,9	113,6	114,1	314,09	78,52
Net irrigation depth, L n (mm).	6,71	11,75	11,75	11,75	41,95	10,49
Gross irrigation depth, L b (mm).	9,59	16,78	16,78	16,78	59,93	14,98
Net needs, N n (mm mes^-1).	18,4	43,9	98,3	91,9	252,42	63,11
Gross needs, N b (m^3 ha^-1).	262,6	627,0	1404,1	1312,3	3606,02	901,50
Irrigation interval, I r (days).	20	8	3	4	35,41	9
Irrigation days, d (days).	16	7	3	3	28,33	7
Gross hydro module, q b (L s^-1 ha^-1).	0,19	1,09	6,07	4,79	12,15	3,04
Flow of the conductive pipe, Q c (m^3 h^-1).	0,06	0,37	2,03	1,61	4,07	1,02

In Table 4, the fundamental parameters of the pipes and the sprinkler are shown. It is observed that the diameter selected for the conduit and the lateral is of 50 mm, because with the flow of 1.02 m³ h^-1 an economic diameter of 41.6 mm was obtained and the commercial diameter of 50 mm was adopted, because it allows reducing the losses of energy by friction and localized them to favor the work of the sprinklers. The irrigation system has a difference in level Δ _Z between the base of the pump and the plot of 0.50 m and a pressure of the sprinkler at the most critical point of 6.00 m.

TABLE 4 Parameters of the pipes and the sprinkler 

Parameters	Value
Conductive pipe diameter, D c (m).	0,050
Lateral pipe diameter, D L (m).	0,050
Elevation difference between the pump base and the plot, Δ Z (m).	0,50
Sprinkler pressure, P a (m).	6,00

In Table 5, it is shown that with a lateral of 50 mm, the flow through the pipe is 1.50 m³ h^-1, so the irrigation volume is 3.42 m³ (3 420 L). The system guarantees this volume through a water storage tank with a capacity of 5000 L and dimensions of 1.25 m in diameter and 4.10 m long. Total losses were relatively low at 0.13 m, giving a design load of 6.08 m and a tank placement height of 5.58 m (6.00 m).

TABLE 5 Hydraulic losses, design load and tank height 

Parameters	Value
Lateral flow, q L (m^3/h).	1,50
Irrigation volume, V r (m^3).	3,42
Friction losses in the conductor, hf c (m).	0,10
Correction factor for multiple outputs from Christiansen , Fc.	0,45
Friction losses on the lateral and the conductor, hf (m).	0,08
Total friction losses, hf T (m).	0,13
Design load, H D (m).	6,08
Tank height, H tan (m).	5,58

CONLUSIONS

• The wind sprinkler irrigation system works with an average flow of 0.25 L s^-1, sprinkler pressure of 6.00 m, average precipitation of 6.25 mm h^-1 and irrigation time of 2.68 hours to supply the amount of water demanded by the crop.

• The agronomic parameters of the system are: net irrigation depth of 11.75 mm, gross irrigation depth of 16.78 mm, average irrigation interval of nine days and total gross needs for garlic cultivation of 3606.02 m³ ha^-1.

• The average hydromodule is 3.04 L s^-1 ha^-1 and the flow of the conductive pipe is 1.02 m³ h^-1. That allow selecting a diameter of 50 mm.

• The required irrigation volume is 3.42 m³ (3420 L) which is guaranteed by a water storage tank of 5000 L located at a height of 5.58 m (6.00 m) in correspondence with the topographical difference between the elevation at the base of the pump and the elevation at the beginning of the plot and the design load, which is 6.08 m, which is required for the correct functioning of the system.

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Received: July 06, 2020; Accepted: March 01, 2021

^*Author for correspondence: Néstor Méndez-Jurjo, e-mail: [e-mail]

Néstor Méndez-Jurjo, Profesor, Universidad de Ciego de Ávila (UNICA), Departamento de Ingeniería Hidráulica, Ciego de Ávila, Cuba, e-mail: [e-mail]

Oscar Brown-Manrique, Profesor Titular, Universidad de Ciego de Ávila (UNICA), Centro de Estudios Hidrotécnicos (CEH), Ciego de Ávila, Cuba, e-mail: [e-mail]

Jorge Rodríguez-Cabrera, Téc., Empresa Agropecuaria Arnaldo Ramírez, MINAG, Primeo de Enero, Ciego de Ávila, Cuba, e-mail: [e-mail]

Pablo Antonio Junco-Davis, Profesor, Universidad de Ciego de Ávila (UNICA), Departamento de Mecánica Aplicada, Ciego de Ávila, Cuba, e-mail: [e-mail]

Gustavo Humberto Arencibia Zuñíga, Profesor, Universidad de Ciego de Ávila (UNICA), Departamento de Mecánica Aplicada, Ciego de Ávila, Cuba, e-mail: [e-mail]

The authors of this work declare no conflict of interests.