Assessing Trickle Emitter Application Uniformity

ABSTRACT A method was developed for showing the uniformity of water application by trickle emitters based on the emitter's coefficient of variation. The derived design uni-formity coefficient equation for different numbers of emitters per plant was related to the uniformity coeffi-cient used in sprinkler irrigation. The interrelationship between the computed design uniformity coefficient, the manufacturer's coefficient of variation for the emitter, and the number of emitters per plant can be used as a guide for selecting the number of emitters per plant. In addition, a field uniformity coefficient and a field emitter coefficient of variation were related to the fraction of plants adequately irrigated.