Set sprinkler irrigation and its cost

In this study, annual water application costs per unit area (ha) have been analyzed at the level of irrigation subunit in set sprinkler irrigation systems designed with pipes of different materials. In the cost, investment (pumping, pipes, sprinklers, ditches), energy, labor, maintenance, and water costs have been considered. Four systems were studied: one with buried pipes, in a permanent solid-set system, using: (a) polyvinyl chloride with buried pipes (PVCb), and three with pipes on the surface in surface solid-set systems, using (b) polyvinyl chloride pipes, (c) polyethylene pipes, and (d) aluminum pipes. The correct selection of the irrigation subunit size and shape can lead to a significant decrease in cost. The most economic irrigation subunits, among the four systems studied, were those formed by four laterals and a number of sprinklers per lateral of 10, 9, and 6 at 12 m X 12 m, 12 m X 18 m, and 18 m X 18 m spacing, respectively. The most influential factor on the annual water application cost was spacing. Considering total annual cost, water cost was the most important, followed by investment and energy. Among the analyzed systems, the permanent system using PVCb produced the lowest annual water application cost per unit area.