Demonstration of Center Pivot Uniformity Evaluation and Retrofit to Improve Water Use Efficiency

Agricultural irrigation is a primary user for freshwater withdrawal. Irrigation plays an important role in crop production, as it provides the benefit of reducing effects prolonged dryness and erratic precipitation. Center pivot system most common agriculture. As center ages, could develop leaking joint, clogged sprinklers, physical damage. This can cause areas non-uniformity that lead to under- or over-irrigated some land, resulting excess energy use cost, wasting resources, environmental impacts. Thus, evaluate performance regularly maximize return on investments minimize resources. study focuses evaluating impacts benefits improved distribution uniformity by performing evaluations pre- post-retrofit. also focused demonstrating unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) assess two irrigated farmlands. The Coefficient Uniformity (CU), Distribution (DU), Scheduling (SC) were calculated based catch test data. values utilized water savings from coefficients. team has found replacing sprinkler packages increased CU 78 89 DU 77 82, reduced SC 1.3 1.2 Field A. In B, 73 91 62 84 1.6 1.2. estimated A due scheduling coefficient was approximately 151,000 liters/hectare/year, with consideration corn soybean rotation field Michigan. B 608,000 liters/hectare/year. data this demonstration showed value evaluation retrofit systems. information will encourage farmers agricultural industries consider more evaluations, ultimately improving efficiency supporting sustainable management