ASSESSMENT OF SPRINKLER SYSTEM FOR EFFICIENCY USING WATER CONVEYANCE, FIELD APPLICATION, AND IRRIGATION SCHEME APPROACH

The necessity to provide a reliable alternative to natural rainfall for irrigating farms prompted the usefulness of a sprinkler irrigation system in the Agricultural Engineering departmental soil and water research station of the University of Science and Technology Ozoro, Nigeria. The design specifically incorporated a rotating sprinkler system for irrigating a small-sized plot, offering a scientifically sound foundation for effective water scheduling, system assessment, and the reduction of water wastage and runoff, tailored for the cultivation of vegetables and cereal crops. In this research work, the performance of the sprinkler system was assessed for its efficiency using the conveyance, field application, and water scheme values obtained using appropriate irrigation formulas and techniques. Field water efficiency in the station was 490% for cassava crops. Water conveyance efficiency of 97.9%, application efficiency of 93.35%, and an irrigation scheme of 91.44 were obtained. These findings contribute valuable insights to the performance of the sprinkler irrigation system, emphasizing its potential application for enhancing agricultural practices and water conservation