A simulation tool for advanced design and management of collective sprinkler-irrigated areas: a study case

More than one million hectares have undergone irrigation modernization in Spain during this century. Irrigation modernization to pressurized systems is currently facing challenges derived from increasing electricity prices and decreasing public subsidies. The economic viability of such projects is c...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Irrigation science 2017-07, Vol.35 (4), p.327-345
Main Authors: Zapata, N., El Malki, E. H., Latorre, B., Gallinat, J., Citoler, F. J., Castillo, R., Playán, E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural production
Agriculture
Agrometeorology
Agronomy
Aquatic Pollution
Area
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Climate Change
Computer programs
Crop yield
Cropping systems
Crops
Demand
Design
Design analysis
Design engineering
Division
Economic analysis
Economic benefits
Economics
Electricity
Energy
Energy conservation
Environment
Fluid dynamics
Fluid flow
Hydraulics
Hypotheses
Infrastructure
Irrigated areas
Irrigation
Life Sciences
Management
Market prices
Marketing
Networks
Optimization
Original Paper
Probability theory
Pumping
Sectoring
Simulation
Software
Soil
Soils
Sprinkler irrigation
Subsidies
Sustainable Development
Viability
Waste Water Technology
Water
Water consumption
Water Industry/Water Technologies
Water Management
Water Pollution Control
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:More than one million hectares have undergone irrigation modernization in Spain during this century. Irrigation modernization to pressurized systems is currently facing challenges derived from increasing electricity prices and decreasing public subsidies. The economic viability of such projects is compromised, and the number of projects is decreasing. Pressurized collective networks are commonly designed and managed using hydraulic simulation tools and probabilistic hypotheses on hydrant use. In this paper, a simulation tool is presented that widens the scope of the analysis by combining hydraulics with agronomy, agrometeorology, solid-set sprinkler irrigation and economics. The CINTEGRAL software simulates the net benefit of the seasonal operation of a collective pressurized irrigation network. The software incorporates an optimization module for the electricity contract associated with the pumping station. CINTEGRAL runs on a time step of a half-hour, and simulates the irrigation season of a variety of crops. The software was applied to analyze the economic benefit of a Water User Association (WUA) under different design and management scenarios (on-demand, network sectoring and dividing the irrigated area in separate networks). In the studied WUA, the network sectoring scenario provided important energy savings (22%) but negatively affected yield by a similar economic magnitude. The division of the area in two independent networks was the most cost-effective scenario. Network topologies, cropping patterns, market prices, irrigation infrastructure, soil conditions and management rules determine the optimum WUA management options. CINTEGRAL is a comprehensive simulation tool designed to help designers and managers guarantee the economic viability of their projects.
ISSN:0342-7188
1432-1319
DOI:10.1007/s00271-017-0547-7