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

Effects of water application uniformity using a center pivot on winter wheat yield, water and nitrogen use efficiency in the North China Plain

In recent years, the use of fertigation technology with center pivot irrigation systems has increased rapidly in the North China Plain (NCP). The combined effects of water and nitrogen application uniformity on the grain yield, water use efficiency (WUE) and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) have become a research hotspot. In this study, a two-year field experiment was conducted during the winter wheat growing season in 2016–2018 to evaluate the water application uniformity of a center pivot with two low pressure sprinklers (the R3000 sprinklers were installed in the first span, the corresponding treatment was RS;the D3000 sprinklers were installed in the second span, the corresponding treatment was DS) and a P85A impact sprinkler as the end gun (the corresponding treatment was EG), and to analyze its effects on grain yield, WUE and NUE. The results showed that the water application uniformity coefficients of R3000, D3000 and P85A along the radial direction of the pivot (CUH) were 87.5, 79.5 and 65%, respectively. While the uniformity coefficients along the traveling direction of the pivot (CUC) were all higher than 85%. The effects of water application uniformity of the R3000 and D3000 sprinklers on grain yield were not significant (P>0.05);however, the average grain yield of EG was significantly lower (P<0.05) than those of RS and DS, by 9.4 and 11.1% during two growing seasons, respectively. The coefficients of variation (CV) of the grain yield had a negative correlation with the uniformity coefficient. The CV of WUE was more strongly affected by the water application uniformity, compared with the WUE value, among the three treatments. The NUE of RS was higher than those of DS and EG by about 6.1 and 4.8%, respectively, but there were no significant differences in NUE among the three treatments during the two growing seasons. Although the CUH of the D3000 sprinklers was lower than that of the R3000, it had only limited effects on the grain yield, WUE and NUE. However, the cost of D3000 sprinklers is lower than that of R3000 sprinklers. Therefore, the D3000 sprinklers are recommended for winter wheat irrigation and fertigation in the NCP.

Development of a Portable Electro-Mechanical Educational Model for Variable Rate Center Pivot Irrigation Technology

Center pivot irrigation systems usually apply a relatively uniform amount of water to fields that are often inherently variable, which could lead to significant waste of water and energy. To address this issue, our team is now developing an Intelligent Center Pivot (ICP) by integrating sensor-based irrigation scheduling with variable rate irrigation technology. However, before this technology can be applied in commercial production, it is necessary to educate growers about its practicality and potential benefits. The objective of this study was to develop a portable tabletop intelligent center pivot model (ICPDemo) to demonstrate and promote adoption of the ICP technology. This paper describes an ICPDemo constructed in 2014, including the design specifications, electro-mechanical design, control strategy, and performance. The ICPDemo has performed according to design specifications and is successfully being used to demonstrate the benefits and effectiveness of ICP technology for irrigation scheduling.

Impacts of center pivot irrigation system uniformity on growth of potato crop and residual soil nitrogen

Maintaining the homogeneity of soil nitrogen(N)and plant vigor across agricultural fields is a major concern for farmers and agricultural scheme planners,particularly fields that are irrigated through pressurized systems,such as center pivots.Therefore,this study was carried out on a 30 hm2 potato field located 650 km south of Riyadh,the capital city of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,to investigate the impacts of the center pivot irrigation distribution uniformity on the crop development and the spatial distribution of residual soil N.Irrigation performance test was designed to investigate water application rate and distribution uniformities.The overall water application uniformity coefficients(Cu),determined through Christiansen(Cud)and Heerman(CuH)methods,were determined at 81.29%and 80.64%,respectively.However,the overall water distribution uniformity(Du)was determined at 70%.A considerable variability in the distribution uniformity of irrigation water was observed across the experimental field(a Du value of 67%over the medium spans compared to a Du value of 88%over the inner spans).Results of this study showed a linear correlation between the irrigation water distribution uniformity and the soil N(R^(2)=0.88).On the other hand,the vegetation cover distribution,indicated by the Cumulative Normalized Difference Vegetation Index(CNDVI),was not found to be much responsive to the irrigation distribution uniformity(R^(2)=0.11).A time series of successive NDVI maps extracted throughout the potato crop growth stages showed a consistent trend in the distribution of NDVI across the field,with R2 values that ranged between 0.25-0.73.

Characterizing center pivot irrigation with fixed spray plate sprinklers

An indoor experiment with a fixed spray plate sprinkler(FSPS) of 36-grooved plate D3000 was conducted to evaluate the discharge-pressure relationship,wetted diameter,effective width,and water application rate in this research.In addition,a field experiment with a center pivot system equipped with the same measured FSPS was carried out to investigate the radial and circular uniformity under different cycle times and settings of the percent-timer.A package of nozzles numbering from #9(1.79 mm) to #33(6.55 mm) was tested with a nozzle elevation of 1.2 m and a 20-psi pressure regulator.The results showed that the wetted diameter and average application rate increased with nozzle size,but the effective wetted width and peak instantaneous application rate had no significant relationship with nozzle size.The simulated application rate of the center pivot system using the measured water distribution data of single FSPS was in good agreement with the measured result,which verified that the improved measurement procedure and modified nozzle sizing equation of the D3000 sprayhead in this paper were correct.Reducing the percent-time cycle time from 60 s to 40 s resulted in a slight increase in the radial uniformity coefficients,with an average of 1.09% to 1.17%,while there was no significant influence on the circular uniformity coefficients.

基于变量灌溉动态分区管理的冬小麦产量与节水效果

喷灌机机载式红外温度传感器系统是动态监测农田作物水分亏缺状况、构建变量灌溉(variable rate irrigation,VRI)决策支持系统的重要工具。为了评估圆形喷灌机机载式红外温度传感器系统在变量灌溉动态分区管理中的应用效果,该研究以气象参数和土壤水分传感器网络构建的均一灌溉(uniform rate irrigation, URI)决策方法为对照,评估了基于气象参数、土壤水分传感器网络和作物冠层温度的变量灌溉决策方法对华北平原冬小麦灌溉制度、土壤含水率空间分布均匀性和节水增产效果的影响。在河北省邢台市大曹庄中国水利水电科学研究院智慧灌溉技术与装备创新示范推广基地开展试验,试验区为三跨加悬臂圆形喷灌机控制灌溉面积7.07 hm^(2),2021年试验区等分为2个子区,布置URI和VRI处理,2022年试验区等分为4个子区,布置URI处理、基于等间隔法进行管理区聚类划分的VRI(T1)处理、基于“Jenks”自然断点法进行管理区聚类划分的VRI(T2)处理和基于几何间隔断点法进行管理区聚类划分的VRI(T3)处理。结果表明,在冬小麦生育期内,URI和VRI处理灌水7~10次,2 a平均灌水量分别为201和173 mm。开展VRI管理后,冬小麦主根区的土壤含水率空间分布均匀性和产量均匀性提高。2021年URI和VRI处理的冬小麦产量分别为9 470和9 574 kg/hm^(2),2022年的冬小麦产量较2021年分别降低6.7%和6.0%。变量灌溉处理的管理区聚类划分方法未对灌溉制度和产量产生显著影响。与URI处理相比,VRI处理能够减少灌溉水量,且对产量和水分利用效率无显著影响。研究结果可为基于喷灌机机载式红外温度传感器系统的变量灌溉动态分区管理方法的建立提供指导,为变量灌溉决策支持系统的开发升级提供技术支持。

枢纽型社会组织高质量参与基层治理的影响因素与实现路径

在街镇社区层面,枢纽型社会组织在党和政府与一般性社会组织间扮演着枢纽桥梁角色,为增强基层治理效能提供了动力来源与创新载体。借助于上海市25个街镇级社会组织服务中心样本,本文采用模糊集定性比较分析方法,分析了经济发展水平、政府支持力度、社会组织互动、社会关系链接、组织硬件基础和组织软件条件等组合下枢纽型社会组织高质量参与基层治理的影响因素和实现路径。研究结果显示:(1)组织硬件基础是枢纽型社会组织高质量参与基层治理的必要条件;(2)枢纽型社会组织高质量参与基层治理具有资源赋能型、社会撬动型、复合推进型、内外协同型四种“殊途同归”的实现路径。本研究丰富了社会组织理论研究,研究结论可为地方因地制宜地推进枢纽型社会组织高质量参与基层治理提供有益的借鉴。

中心支轴式喷灌系统在水利工程中的应用分析

文章以山东省邹城市农业水利工程为例,介绍了该工程的基本情况,结合多种灌溉技术方案的对比,最终确定了中心支轴式喷灌系统,并对该高效节水灌溉系统进行了设计,随后以此为基础,对该系统的应用效果进行验证。通过验证可知,相对传统灌溉技术,中心支轴式喷灌系统可节约用水量11%以上,可将其推广到现代农业水利工程领域,以供参考和借鉴。

Modeling of Cross-Spring Pivots Subjected to Generalized Planar Loads

Cross-spring pivots, formed by crossing two identical flexural beams at their midpoint, have been broadly used in precision engineering and aerospace fields. Many researches have been conducted on modeling and analysis of cross-spring pivots. However the influence of application position and magnitude of the external loads on the load-rotation and parasitic motion characteristics has not yet been discussed. In order to reveal the effect of the external loads, this paper develops the accurate load-rotation and center shift models of cross-spring pivots, with generalized planar loads applied including bending moment, horizontal and vertical forces. Firstly, by using the energy method, the load-displacement models of the pivot are derived with the assumption of small rotational angles. Based on the models, the influence of generalized planar loads on the load-rotation relationship is discussed, which shows that both application position and magnitude of the vertical and horizontal forces influence the load-rotation behaviors. Then the accurate center shift expressions of the pivot with generalized planar loads are developed, which shows that the rotational angle is the dominant term for both components of the center shift while the vertical and horizontal forces are small. Finally, the accuracy of the proposed model is validated by finite element analysis（FEA）. Comparing the model data with the results obtained from FEA, the relative error of the load-rotation is less than 6% even if the rotational angle reaches 20°; the relative errors of the two components of center shift are less than 5% and 10% respectively when the rotational angle reaches 10°. The proposed model and analytical conclusions can be used to analyze and preliminarily design the compliant mechanisms containing cross-spring pivots.

轮毂电机驱动越野车原地转向控制

针对基于阿克曼转向的越野车最小转弯半径大、转向机动性不足的问题,利用轮毂电机驱动车辆转矩独立可控的优势,开发了路面自适应的原地转向控制策略。构建整车七自由度原地转向动力学模型,阐释原地转向过程中纵横向耦合运动轮胎力的演变规律,建立原地转向阻力矩和横摆力矩随车轮滑转率、路面附着系数变化的量化模型。以转向动力响应性为优化目标设计了不同附着条件下的横摆角速度期望轨迹,并以各轮滑转率安全阈值作为稳定性约束以减小转向中心偏移量,执行层基于模型预测算法进行横摆角速度的跟踪控制,同时引入自适应滑模控制器反馈调节车轮滑转率以确保纵横向运动的稳定性。仿真测试与实车试验表明,开发的原地转向控制策略在高、中、低附路面下均实现了期望原地转向轨迹的精确跟踪,并将转向中心偏移量限制在500 mm以内,提高了越野车原地转向灵活性和横向稳定性,实现了“既快又稳”的原地转向。

矿用挖掘机中央枢轴发热原因分析及改进措施

中央枢轴是联接挖掘机上部机构和底盘的关键部件,是整个挖掘机的回转中心轴。从中央枢轴装置的结构组成及工作原理出发,分析了中央枢轴发热产生的几种原因,最后提出了改进措施。

中心支轴式喷灌机喷头配置方法及其数学模型

以中心支轴式喷灌机结构尺寸为约束条件,以单位时间灌水深度和机组运行角速度为初始参数,对喷头配置方法进行了系统研究,建立了喷头配置数学模型,并开发出喷头配置软件。利用该方法和数学模型可确定中心支轴式喷灌机的最佳喷头配置方案,同时得出与该方案相匹配的机组入机流量和入机压力。该喷头配置模型和软件通用性强,可方便地用于各种长度的中心支轴式喷灌机,对于提高中心支轴式喷灌机的灌水均匀度,发挥机组及配套水泵的最佳性能具有重要意义。

田间试验评估圆形喷灌机变量灌溉系统水量分布特性

为了定量评估变量灌溉对喷灌机灌水深度和水量分布均匀性的影响，该文通过在圆形喷灌机中安装电磁阀、压力调节器、变频器及变量灌溉控制系统，搭建了圆形喷灌机变量灌溉自动控制平台，评估了均匀灌溉、部分喷头开启式变量灌溉和脉冲式变量灌溉条件下的水量分布特性。结果表明，均匀灌溉条件下，当喷灌机行走速度百分数为20%～100%时，沿径向修正赫尔曼-海因均匀系数和分布均匀系数变化分别为92%～94%和87%～89%，行走速度的影响很小；沿喷灌机旋转方向（周向），修正赫尔曼-海因均匀系数为95%，分布均匀系数为93%，与喷灌机行走速度和测量位置关系不大；通过控制喷灌机行走速度可以获得准确的灌溉水深。变量灌溉条件下，喷灌机周向水量均匀性不变，但径向水量均匀性降低。与均匀灌溉相比，部分喷头开启式变量灌溉的径向修正赫尔曼-海因均匀系数和分布均匀系数分别降低10和19个百分点，降低程度随喷头分组数增加而增大。与均匀灌溉相比，脉冲式变量灌溉的径向修正赫尔曼-海因均匀系数和分布均匀系数分别降低9和12个百分点，降低程度与相邻管理区内的灌水深度差呈正相关。为保证变量灌溉管理区内的径向修正赫尔曼-海因均匀系数≥85%，部分喷头开启式变量灌溉需在管理区两端分别设置0～3m的过渡带，脉冲式变量灌溉需设置0～4m的过渡带。变量灌溉条件下通过调整喷灌机行走速度控制灌溉水深的精度与喷灌机行走速度和电磁阀占空比有关，部分喷头开启式变量灌溉灌水深度平均低估0.48 mm，脉冲式变量灌溉平均低估1.46 mm。

圆形喷灌机喷头配置技术与软件研究

以圆形喷灌机均匀喷灌水深为目标,建立了主输水管喷头间距不相等条件下喷头配置数学模型,提出了全部使用、不使用及部分使用压力调节器3种工况下的喷头配置技术方案,构建了基于SQL Server的圆形喷灌机低压喷头、压力调节器、机组桁架等零部件结构及性能参数数据库,并开发了可实现圆形喷灌机喷头配置和机组水力性能预测的专业软件。DYP-249型圆形喷灌机应用该软件实现了D3000喷头配置,配置的入机总流量与理论值的相对误差小于1.1%;根据配置结果进行了田间试验,结果表明沿主输水管方向的喷灌强度试验值和模拟值的变化趋势一致,因田间试验受到风速、风向、蒸发飘移和编程算法等影响,测得的喷灌均匀系数值(75.26%)低于软件模拟值(85.59%)。工程实例表明软件能够准确、快捷地完成圆形喷灌机的喷头配置,并能较好地预测机组田间水力性能。

圆形喷灌机注肥泵的设计与试验研究

圆形喷灌机的喷灌施肥一体化作业是国内外精准农业的研究热点,选用工作压力高、流量小且稳定的施肥装置是确保高均匀性喷灌施肥的技术关键.针对圆形喷灌机实际应用和作物施肥特点,设计了一台双缸柱塞式注肥泵,包括液力端、传动端、柱塞、密封及配套动力等,单缸设计流量为150 L/h,最大工作压力为1.0 MPa;对试制样机进行了历时100 h的耐久性试验、20%~100%行程范围的调节试验和30~50 Hz频率范围的变频调节试验.结果表明：研发的柱塞式注肥泵流量随着出口压力的增大而有所减少,但不同出口压力下,流量在100 h内的变异系数均小于5%;改变柱塞行程,泵的实际流量和理论流量几乎一致,两者间的最大差值在行程百分比为60%处,为理论流量值的7.5%;泵的流量随着电源频率的增大呈线性上升关系.试验还表明,改变柱塞行程和电源频率可以调节注肥泵的注肥流量,扩大注肥泵的流量范围.开发的注肥泵适用于圆形喷灌机等灌溉施肥系统,可实现施肥的精准控制.

喷头安装高度对圆形喷灌机灌水质量的影响

根据作物高度适时调整喷头安装高度,是保证圆形喷灌机灌水均匀度和喷灌效率的重要措施之一。该研究通过引入自主研发的喷头安装高度调节装置,以安装D3000低压折射式非旋转喷头的圆形喷灌机为研究对象,研究了不同喷灌机出流量(8.8、16.7、24.2 m3/h)情况下喷灌机水力性能的稳定性,测试了喷灌机3种出流量在喷头安装高度(0.5、1.0、1.5、2.0、2.6 m)改变时的灌水均匀系数和灌水深度。结果表明,在喷头标准安装高度(1.5 m)下,圆形喷灌机水力性能稳定,喷灌机3种出流量的灌水深度沿径向均呈锯齿形波动,灌水均匀系数为82.5%~84.0%。喷头安装高度小于标准高度时,灌水深度沿径向的分布出现了较大波动,0.5 m时波动最剧烈,灌水均匀系数最大降低23.9%。喷头安装高度大于标准高度时,灌水深度沿径向的分布更为均匀,灌水均匀系数与标准高度的均匀系数无显著差异。与标准高度时的灌水深度测量值相比,喷头安装高度调节后的测量水深相对误差在10%以内。为保证喷灌均匀性和灌水深度,建议作物高度大于1.5 m时,可根据作物高度适时升高喷头安装高度。

圆形喷灌机泵注式施肥装置设计与田间试验

圆形喷灌机水肥一体化作业时对喷洒肥液均匀性有较高要求,需要采用比例施肥装置,确保注入喷灌机的肥液流量保持恒定。为此设计了基于柱塞式注肥泵的泵注式施肥装置,并以注射喷嘴的孔口直径、安装位置以及注肥泵的电源频率为变量,进行了圆形喷灌机应用泵注式施肥装置的喷灌施肥均匀性试验。结果表明,圆形喷灌机停止状态下,注肥泵电源频率50 Hz运行时,3种注射喷嘴孔口直径和3种安装位置的组合工况下喷灌施肥的均匀系数CU为99.00%~99.65%,变异系数CV为0.46%~1.37%,其中当注射喷嘴孔口直径为2.5 mm、安装在进水管水平段位置的工况时获得的喷灌施肥均匀性最佳。圆形喷灌机行走状态下,测得单列雨量筒喷灌施肥均匀系数C*UH为88.77%~90.66%,表明圆形喷灌机采用泵注式施肥装置能够获得较高的喷灌施肥均匀性。此外,通过对比注肥泵电源频率在50 Hz和46 Hz时的喷灌施肥均匀性,发现喷头喷洒肥液的电导率总平均值与电源频率之间具有显著的正相关性,表明改变注肥泵的电源频率是圆形喷灌机实现高均匀度变量喷灌施肥的一种有效途径。

尿素浓度对喷灌夏玉米生长和产量的影响

喷灌施肥灌溉时叶片对尿素的直接吸收作用是提高氮肥利用率的潜在因素之一。以地面灌溉、尿素撒施处理为对照(CK),通过设置不同的尿素喷施浓度,研究夏玉米生理生态指标和产量的响应特征。结果表明,追施尿素后叶片相对叶绿素含量(SPAD)增加,但不同尿素喷施浓度处理的夏玉米株高、SPAD无显著差异(P>0.05)。尿素喷施浓度对叶面积指数(leaf area index,LAI)和产量的影响具有较大的年际变化,2017年不同尿素喷施浓度处理的产量差异达到了显著水平,尿素喷施浓度为0.146%处理的产量(12.5 t/hm^2)显著高于尿素喷施浓度≥0.178%处理的产量(11.3 t/hm^2),2018年尿素喷施浓度为0.188%处理的LAI在喷灌施肥后的一段时间内出现了显著降低。喷灌施肥后,叶片吸收尿素对光系统活性和光化学效率的影响与SPAD有关,2017年SPAD较高时,喷施尿素后光系统活性和光化学效率呈先减小后增大规律,且尿素喷施浓度≤0.146%处理的抑制作用仅发生在施肥后1 d,尿素喷施浓度≥0.178%处理的抑制作用持续至施肥后3~5 d;2018年SPAD较低时,与CK处理相同,喷施尿素后所有处理的光系统活性和光化学效率均呈先增大后稳定规律。与CK处理相比,施氮量小于等于CK的喷灌处理的产量和水分利用效率与CK处理无显著差异,但氮肥偏生产力显著高于CK处理,证明了喷灌施肥灌溉的可行性及其节肥、增产潜力。

影响电动圆形喷灌机灌水均匀度的因素及分析

通过对电动圆形喷灌机工作原理介绍,研究了影响其灌水均匀性的主要因素,并对这些因素进行分析,及相关数学推导,找到影响机组灌水均匀性的机理,进而提出相关的改进措施和注意事项。为设计人员提高机组的灌水均匀性提供理论依据。

中心支轴式喷灌机非设计工况对均匀性的影响评估

通过田间试验,评估了中心支轴式喷灌机非设计工况运行(行进速度和首部压力等)和配置(低压喷头、压力调节器和末端喷枪等)对喷灌机田间喷灌均匀性的影响。结果表明:设计工况下,赫尔曼-海恩均匀系数CUH和均匀分布系数DU均随行进速度提高而减小,当百分率计数器由30%提高到100%,采用低压喷头D3000时的CUH减小12.91%,DU减小6.35%;采用低压喷头R3000时的CUH减小10.50%,DU减小2.39%;首部压力大于设计入机压力0.16 MPa时,入口压力递增,CUH和DU基本保持不变;首部压力为0.08 MPa,采用D3000时,CUH减小14.04%,DU减小15.09%;采用R3000时,CUH减小13.37%,DU减小15.61%;末端喷枪全程开启,采用D3000时的CUH降低10.27%,DU减小14.13%;采用R3000时的CUH降低20.78%,DU降低23.15%;不配置压力调节器且平地条件下,在首部入机压力为0.12、0.16、0.20 MPa时,采用低压喷头D3000时的CUH分别减小1.23%、1.82%和6.51%,DU减小29.61%、14.87%和12.52%;采用R3000时的CUH分别减小9.26%、15.00%、17.19%,DU减小40.05%、32.45%和29.76%;这是由中心支轴喷灌机作业实际工况与设计工况不符引起的。