Evaluation of Local Head Losses in Drip Irrigation Laterals of Inline Emitters

The study was conducted to evaluate the local head losses in drip irrigation laterals of inline emitters at M/s. Jain Irrigation Systems Private Limited by using the Hazen-Williams and Darcy-Weisbach equations. The emitters selected were Turbo Aqura at 4 L h-1 emitter discharge with the lateral diameters of 12, 16 and 20 mm at 20, 40 and 60 cm dripper spacing, respectively under the operating pressure heads of 10, 8 and 6 m. The pressure head-distance relationships and local losses were evaluated for all the lateral types at three operating pressure heads of 10, 8 and 6 m. Flow discharges, pressure heads at various points on the laterals and the temperature of the water were measured during the study to determine their effect on the flow hydraulics in the drip laterals. The estimated local losses were in the range from 3.33 per cent (0.001 m) to 12.84 per cent (0.409 m) of the total head loss in the drip laterals at 10 m operating pressure head. Similarly, for the 8 and 6 m operating pressure head the local losses were in the range from 4.00 per cent (0.001 m) to 12.79 per cent (0.330 m) and 5.26 per cent (0.001 m) to 13.89 per cent (0.275 m) of the total head loss, respectively.