Muskingum Model for Furrow Irrigation

Abstract

A mathematical model, based on volume balance and Muskingum type storage‐discharge relation, is presented for design and evaluation of furrow irrigation systems. Three field data sets from Colorado farms are used to test the model. The Muskingum model is simple and found to effectively simulate the hydraulics of every phase of furrow irrigation. The relative error of simulated results is less than 7% for predicted advance, less than 4.7% for outflow during storage phase, less than 5% for recession, and less than 7% for opportunity time. More testing is, however, necessary to define limitations and strengths of the model, and to enable regionalization of the model parameters.