Irrigation of slope lands by subsurface irrigation method using a simulator of horizontal wells

Background. To evaluate the effect of different irrigation parameters, a model of a sloping slope was developed for experiments, and different irrigation regimes were investigated using a horizontal well simulator. To consider the process of subsurface irrigation were modeled sloping slopes of sand-soil on the laboratory installation of the author’s design, implemented at the Department of Hydraulics and Agricultural Water Supply of Kuban State Agricultural University. Based on the analysis of the results of the experiments, a graph showing the trajectory of irrigation water movement when modeling subsurface irrigation using a simulator of horizontal well was obtained for the first time. The obtained results showed that the main flow of irrigation water in the process of its movement has the trajectory of a downward curve, originating directly from the simulator of horizontal well, then passing at an angle the whole considered area of the slope, and ending at its lower boundary.

Purpose. Purpose of the study to investigate the effectiveness of subsurface irrigation on sloping slope models using a horizontal well simulator.

Materials and methods. Measurement of the indicators of slope angle and soil moisture level were carried out in laboratory conditions, experiments using a simulator of horizontal wells; the method of mathematical modeling was used for the analysis of wetting processes; statistical methods were used for the processing of experimental data. This work is based on the analysis of methods and techniques of irrigation on sloping soil surfaces. To consider the process of subsurface irrigation were modeled sloping slopes of sand-soil on the laboratory installation of the author’s design, implemented at the Department of Hydraulics and Agricultural Water Supply of Kuban State Agricultural University. Horizontal well simulators in the form of U-shaped tubes consisting of two vertical parts and one perforated horizontal part were placed in the sand-soil of the author’s laboratory installation. A multifactorial experiment was conducted on the experimental laboratory installation to study the technical feasibility of quality irrigation of crops grown on sloping slopes with the help of simulators of horizontal wells equidistantly located down the slope.

Results. The data obtained during the laboratory experiment were processed, and on the basis of their analysis the graphs of dependences of water penetration distances on its volumes at angles of inclination to the plane of 10-30 degrees were plotted.

Conclusion. Based on the analysis of the results of the experiments, for the first time a graph showing the trajectory of irrigation water movement when modeling subsurface irrigation using a simulator of a horizontal well was obtained, which demonstrated the movement of the main flow of irrigation water, which is the trajectory of a downward curve originating directly from the simulator of a horizontal well, then passing at an angle through the whole slope area under consideration, and ending at its lower boundary.