NEWS for North Dakotans
Agriculture Communication, North Dakota State University
7 Morrill Hall, Fargo, ND 58105-5665

April 22, 1999

Comprehensive Guide to Sprinkler Irrigation Systems Now Available

Center pivots and other types of sprinkler irrigation systems currently are operating on about 81 percent of North Dakota's irrigated land, and center pivots are the irrigation system of choice on almost all of the state's new irrigated acres. But the design and management requirements of center-pivot sprinkler technology are changing rapidly, a fact that presents challenges to everyone involved with irrigation, says an irrigation specialist at North Dakota State University.

Now, agricultural producers and consultants, engineers, equipment dealers, government agency employees, educators, students, and others interested in the technology of irrigation have a newly published resource to help them better understand all aspects of sprinkler irrigation systems. The book, titled "Sprinkler Irrigation Systems," provides a systematic approach to the whys and hows of developing sprinkler irrigation systems.

"The book serves as a planning tool, reference guide and design manual for a broad audience," says Tom Scherer, an extension agricultural engineer at NDSU and one of the book's six authors. "We wanted it to be a repository of the technical knowledge necessary to design and develop sprinkler irrigation systems."

The book's publisher is the MidWest Plan Service (MWPS), a cooperative regional research and extension organization headquartered at Iowa State University representing the 12 north-central land-grant universities and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The book's content was developed under the direction of the MWPS water quality committee, which Scherer chairs.

One of the book's goals is to further an understanding of the methods used to manage irrigation systems efficiently, Scherer says. Since 1990, North Dakota's irrigated acreage has been increasing annually by about 6,000 acres. Currently, there are about 235,000 irrigated acres in North Dakota, constituting about 1 percent of the cultivated land.

"Sprinkler Irrigation Systems" provides information that helps determine water needs and establish a minimum recommended system capacity. One chapter, devoted to understanding and using water sources properly, includes sections on planning, drilling, developing, pumping and maintaining irrigation wells. Separate chapters discuss sprinkler performance characteristics and sprinkler selection and management. Another chapter explains how to select pumps, piping and power units.

"The book does not neglect special uses for irrigation systems," Scherer says. "One chapter discusses `chemigation,' which is the application of fertilizers and pesticides through irrigation systems."

Another chapter discusses using sprinkler irrigation systems to apply effluent from animal production systems, municipal treatment plants and food processing plants. This chapter focuses on the need to apply effluents without detrimental effects to surface water, ground water, soil and crops, Scherer says. The final chapter covers the step-by-step planning and design process for different sprinkler irrigation systems. Included in the examples are designs for a center-pivot system with a well, a traveler irrigation system and an irrigation system for a small acreage that is producing horticultural crops.

"Sprinkler Irrigation Systems" contains more than 110 photographs and illustrations, including layouts of irrigation systems and diagrams of pumping and piping systems. The book also has about 70 tables. Scherer says the tables help to organize technical data, such as estimated pressure losses for hard and soft hoses, peak application rates for various systems, maximum flow rates, friction losses and efficiencies of typical drive units.

Single copies of "Sprinkler Irrigation Systems" cost $23.50 (includes postage and handling), but quantity discounts are available. When ordering, refer to the publication number, MWPS-30. To order, contact Nancy Stroh by calling (701) 231-7238, send an e-mail with your address to nstroh@ndsuext.nodak.edu or mail your request to NDSU Extension Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Box 5626, Fargo, ND 58105-5626.

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Source: Thomas Scherer (701) 231-7239

Editor: Dean Hulse (701) 231-6136