Effects of irrigation uniformity on soil water content uniformity

Abstract

Irrigation quality has been expressed by uniformity coefficients, obtained from irrigation water depths, measured above soil surface. Since, plants extract water from the soil around their root system, water content uniformity in the soil profile, explored by roots, may be more important to achieve crop yield uniformity than that measured above soil surface. Effects of irrigation uniformity, measured above soil surface, on soil water content uniformity, were studied in current research. Four levels of irrigation uniformity were employed, with the same mean water depth. Soil water content was measured in the area among four sprinklers. Values were used to quantify soil water uniformity by statistical uniformity coefficients. Although soil water uniformity depends on irrigation uniformity, it was greater than that obtained above soil surface, in all treatments