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| Got a question for any other furrow irrigators out there.
We are using poly pipe to furrow irrigate over half our acres. Mostly get along great. A couple of fields have way too much fall along the pipeline (one as much as 7-8 ft from the riser to the end of the pipe). We have overcome the problem by adding small props / blocks under the pipe every little ways (about 6" of fall down the slope each). The props hold water up the hill, keeping the pipe full all down the slope.
The problem is that sometimes we get a surging effect. Every 15 to 30 seconds or so, the water level goes up and down. It seems to be because when one section between props gets full enough, the poly pipe going over the prop opens up and lets more water through. Then, after the water level in that section falls a bit, the pipe over the prop collapses, less water goes over the prop, and that section fills back up. This effect chases itself up and down the pipeline. We can change it by running more or less water, but we can't figure out how to stop it completely.
Anybody else doing this (running props in poly pipe) and had this experience? It seems like it may be worse when we use some pieces of 10" PVC pipe for props vs. the square blocks we used in the past.
Thanks. | |
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Furrow Irrigation Question - Poly Pipe
