CPP Irrigation & Water Management Flashcards

What is the purpose of a 'head-to-head' spacing layout in sprinkler irrigation design?

Answer: To ensure each sprinkler's throw reaches the adjacent sprinkler head for 100% overlap

Head-to-head spacing ensures the radius of throw from each sprinkler reaches the neighboring head, providing 100% overlap and even coverage.

Which flow rate unit is most commonly used in the US to measure irrigation system output?

Answer: Gallons per minute (GPM)

Gallons per minute (GPM) is the standard unit used in the US for measuring and specifying irrigation system flow rates.

What happens to sprinkler precipitation rate when wind speed increases during irrigation?

Answer: Distribution uniformity decreases and effective precipitation rate is reduced

Wind distorts the sprinkler throw pattern, reducing distribution uniformity and causing some areas to receive significantly less water.

Which valve type is used in irrigation systems to control flow in only one direction and prevent drainage back through low-head emitters?

Answer: Check valve

Check valves prevent backflow and stop low-head drainage by allowing water to flow in only one direction through the irrigation system.

What is 'plant available water' (PAW) in the context of irrigation management?

Answer: Water held in soil between field capacity and permanent wilting point

Plant available water is the portion of soil moisture held between field capacity and permanent wilting point that plants can extract for growth.

Which irrigation audit metric compares actual water applied to the amount truly needed by the landscape?

Answer: Irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE)

Irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) compares the water beneficially used by plants to the total water applied, identifying waste in the system.