Wetting Front Movement Under Point and Line Source of Drip Irrigation

Drip irrigation is more effective and less expensive if the wetted bulb matches with dynamic root zone size with growing stages. The wetted bulb depends on dripper discharge, its spacing and operating times. The empirical evidence-based information on dynamic wetting bulb size for the different soils and dripper discharge under point and line source of drip irrigation as decision support tools is the dire need for the optimize use of precious and limited irrigation water resources. A field experiment was conducted to study the radial and vertical moment of moisture under point and line source drip irrigation system for operating the drip irrigation system for up to three hours. An emitter of 2, 4 and 8 lph discharge were used for studying the moisture movement under point source and 4, 5, 8 and 10 l/m/hr discharging emitters were used under line source. Vertical movement of moisture under point source was found as 20 cm, 23 cm, 33 cm after 3 hours for 2, 4 and 8 lph discharging emitter. Radial movement of moisture under point source found 90 cm, 100 cm, 125 cm after 3 hours for 2, 4 and 8 lph discharging emitter.