Furrow Model with Specified Space Intervals

Abstract

A complete furrow irrigation model was developed based on the cumulative solution of the volume balance equation, rather than the incremental solution. Space intervals were given (constant or variable) to allow infiltration characteristics to vary along the length of the furrow. The cumulative model predicted more accurately than the incremental model when compared to field data and the kinematic wave model results. Further, the incremental solution gave slower advance rates and higher runoff than the cumulative solution due to larger numerical error and oversimplification of postadvance phases. This deviation was larger for high‐intake soils. Field slope and roughness, however, did not influence the difference in accuracy between the two models as much as soil intake.