Semiempirical infiltration equation for furrow irrigation systems

A semiempirical equation for cumulative infiltration in a furrow irrigation system was developed using; an empirical wetting front advance equation an d a volume balance technique. This equation was verified using the field da ta obtained in a Yolo loam soil (Typic Xerorthents) planted with a furrow i rrigated tomato crop. Two distinct cases were considered: (1) furrows with deposional crusts at the bottom (uncultivated); and (2) furrows in which a crust breaking device was used to remove the deposional crust (cultivated). The semiempirical equation for cumulative infiltration correlated to the m easured cumulative infiltration very well for both the calibration and the prediction data set. The coefficient of multiple determination was 0.997 fo r the cultivated furrows and 0.998 for the uncultivated furrows. Simulation studies were conducted to determine the possible use of this equation in f urrow irrigation management.