Uniformity of Linear-Move Irrigation with a Single-Sprinkler of The Self-Propelled Hard Hose Traveler

In this study, a self-propelled hard hose traveler is designed based on the traditional hard hose traveler. The traveler demonstrated enhanced field applicability and intelligence level in Europe and central-eastern China. A parametric configuration scheme was attained through the irrigator’s computational modeling and experimental validation. This study proposed a uniform water distribution calculation model for single-sprinkler linear-move irrigation. The deviation rate between calculated and experimental values was 7.3%. The average application depth decreased with increased sprinkler motion speed and path spacing. The uniformity of water distribution (CU value) exhibited an oscillating trend as the path spacing varied. When moving along a specific path, the CU value increased and decreased with the increased sprinkler rotation angle. By combining irrigation and sprinkler motions, the CU value decreased and increased with the increased sprinkler rotation angle. The combined sprinkler and irrigation motions showed a significantly better effect than the specific path irrigation. The highest CU value was 95.0%, with a nozzle diameter of 16.0×6.0 mm2, a sprinkler rotation angle of 180°, and a path spacing of 1.6 R.