Automatic Surge Flow and Gravitational Tank Irrigation Systems
A Brief Introduction of Automatic Surge Flow and Gravitational Tank Irrigation Systems:
As the names suggests, Automatic surge flow and gravitational tank irrigation systems are irrigation faciliating systems that works on the technology of the intermittent gravity-flow. These systems consists of a storage tank, feeding system and a siphon.
These systems facilitate water saving by minimizing the wastage of water, hence they find application in arid areas like Mexico, where precipitation rate is low and evaporation rates are high. Infact these techniques were discovered in Mexico only during 1970s. Alhough this technique was also used in other nations once upon a time, now it is exclusively practiced only in Mexico. These irrigation systems are not very suitable for irrigating larger areas and are exclusively used in domestic gardening and small-scale agricultural purposes. This technology is most ideal for irrigating 100 to 300 m2 fields.s In Mexico, Automatic surge flow and gravitational tank irrigation systems have proved to be quite effective as these have increased the irrigation efficiencies over 75% in places like Zacatecas, Mexico. Based on simple technologies, these systems are free of complexities and are extremly easy to operate.
Technical Description of Automatic Surge Flow and Gravitational Tank Irrigation Systems:
The Automatic Surge Flow Irrigation System
It consists of a storage tank equipped with one or more siphons. Siphons are inverted U shaped tubes that causes a liquid to flow uphill without the involvement of any pumps. The design of the storage tank is developed in such a way that the water discharging from the storage tank, during the siphoning process, never exceeds the the water flowing into the storage tank.
The Gravitational Tank Irrigation System
These systems are more or less similar to automatic surge flow irrigation system, but here the discharge outlet is designed at the bottom of the tank. Further, a floater is included into the system to facilitate the cyclical opening and closing of a gate at the bottom of the tank. To manufacture the storage tanks gravel, cement, and reinforced concrete are used and the siphons usually built from a flexible plastic material. A certain points have to be considered while designing/fabricating a gravitational tank irrigation system. A few of them are highlighted below:
- Type of irrigation water being used
- Topographic characteristics in the area of application
- Physical dimensions of the irrigated land
- Slope and location of furrows
- Soil characteristics
Advantages of Automatic Surge Flow and Gravitational Tank Irrigation Systems
There are various advantages of using this technology, a few of them can are enlisted below:
- Using this technology, water from small wells, reused wastewater and small stream water can be utilized.
- Hydraulic energy is enough to drive the system, no external energy sources are required.
- As the systems are automatic so less irrigation time and labor force are required.
- Comparatively the technology is cost effective.
 The system requires very low maintenance. Disadvantages of Automatic Surge Flow and Gravitational Tank Irrigation Systems
There are also certain setbacks of this technology, which are listed below:
- These systems can't be used for big fields, e.g, fields with dimension 200 m long and 25 meters wide because to irrigate such big field, volume of water will be required which in turn demands extremely large storage tanks.
- In order to maximum efficiency, the irrigated lands are required to be leveled.
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is continually depleting with its increasing demand. Key reasons that account for the growing demand of water.