Furrow Advance Using Simple Routing Models

Abstract

Two simple models are developed to predict the advance rate of flow in furrows. The first model is developed using a modified version of Muskingum flood‐routing techniques. The second model is developed by assuming that the flow is approximately steady within each furrow reach. Both models use power functions to describe the surface and subsurface profiles. The models are compared to observed furrow data on three different farms. For furrows that quickly reach steady‐state infiltration and have relatively high infiltration losses, both models predict the advance times reasonably well. For furrows that gradually reach steady‐state infiltration and have relatively low infiltration losses, the Muskingum model predicts observed values with good accuracy, whereas the steady flow‐rate model greatly overpredicted the advance rate.