Methods for determining canopy interception, evaporation and wind drift losses in a Centre Pivot Irrigation System in sugarcane
| MSI99P1600 | |
| Teeluck, M. | |
| University of Mauritius, School of Agriculture, Réduit | |
| Methods for determining canopy interception, evaporation and wind drift losses in a Centre Pivot Irrigation System in sugarcane | |
| Project, BSc (Hons), Crop Science and Production | |
| Thesis | |
| 1994 | |
| 104 p.: 15 pl.,16 figs.,6 tbls. | |
| En | |
| En | |
| In the drier parts of Mauritius, irrigation is one of the most important cultural practices that ensures sustainable cane production. The recently introduced centre pivot system is extensively being used in these regions and it is increasingly g aining popularity because it is relatively cheap, apparently easy to operate and does not require much labour. In this report, a comprehensive description as well as the problems and prospects of the centre pivot are given. Methods to monitor canopy interception, evaporation and wind drift losses from the centre pivot were tested in the field. Plant interception and partitioning of water within the canopy at different irrigation rates were examined, using above canopy rain gauge measurements and water captured from layers of plastic sheets placed across series of stems below the canopy. Under full canopy condition in sugarcane, about 30 per cent of the water applied reached the ground by stemflow and another 40 per cent was found falling and dripping through to the soil surfece. Canopy storage in a full cane canopy was found to be 1.7mm. Evaporation losses, assessed by an electrical conductivity method, ranged from 2.8 per cent to 16.9 per cen t of the total volume discharged by the nozzles. Relative humidity of the air was the most important factor affecting evaporation losses. WInd drift losses, measured by water-sensitive papers, varied from 0.1 per cent to 2.9 per cent. Drift losses increased with the second power of wind velocity and decreased with increasing distance in the downwind direction. Problems associated with the respective methods were identified and possible solutions have been proposed. | |
| SUGARCANE IRRIGATION SYSTEMS | |
| MAURITIUS | |
| Irrigation | |
| 1994-08-02 | |
| En | |
| LIB | |
| CAT | |
| IRRIG |