Evaporation and drift losses from sprinkler irrigation systems under various operating conditions

Abstract Quantitative determinations of evaporation and drift losses from sprinkler systems were carried out under different operating conditions. Evaporation losses determined by an electrical-conductivity method ranged from 1.5 to 16.8% of the total sprinkled volume. Wind velocity and vapor pressure deficit were the most significant factors affecting the evaporation losses. Exponential relationships between the evaporation losses and both wind velocity and vapor pressure deficit have been found. For the operating pressures used in this study the least effect on evaporation was found. Drift losses measured by the magnesium-oxide method varied from 1.5 to 15.1%. Drift losses increased with the second power of the wind velocity, and decreased with increasing distance in the downwind direction. Combined losses from a sprinkler system for a given set of operating conditions have been estimated by using the results obtained from the experiments. Combined losses ranged from 1.7 to 30.7% of the applied water.