Premio extraordinario de Trabajo Fin de Máster curso 2012-2013.Proyectos y Gestión de Plantas AgroindustrialesIn this work, a new model useful to analyze interactions between the on-farm irrigation
system supplied by critical points and the water supply network management is
developed. The model evaluates the impacts of changes in the pressure head and
demand simultaneity on the irrigation systems and evaluates the emitters’ discharge and
uniformity. Also, the potential reductions in yield due to lower uniformity are evaluated.
The methodology is applied in Bembézar Irrigation District (Southern Spain). Results
showed that the additional cost required for giving maximum pressure in the critical
point does not offset the increase in yield. Hence, an increment from 91.7 % to 92.1 %
in yield in the critical field would represent increases in energy consumption from 0.15
kWh m-3 to 0.17 kWh m-3. Also, the unit energy cost could be reduced in up to 0.11
kWh m-3 not implying significant reductions in yield. The importance of a good election
of emitters in the critical fields is also evaluated
