DIMENSIONAMENTO HIDRÁULICO E AVALIAÇÃO DE UM SISTEMA DE IRRIGAÇÃO LOCALIZADA DE BAIXO CUSTO/HYDRAULIC DESIGN AND EVALUATION OF THE AN IRRIGATION SYSTEM LOCALIZED OF THE LOW COST

The absence of appropriate technology is one of the biggest obstacles to the competitiveness of the family farmer and a barrier that makes it difficult to survive in rural areas. Therefore, the aim of this work the hydraulic design and performance evaluation of low-cost irrigation system, bubbler installed on Settlement Miracles in Apodi-RN. After the implantation of the system, we evaluated the performance indicators: coefficient of uniformity of Christiansen (CUC), distribution uniformity coefficient (CUD), application efficiency (EA), flow coefficient of variation of (CVQ) and average unit flow (Q). Utilized a completely randomized experimental design, where treatments consisted of three evaluation periods (0, 84 and 168 hours of operation), with five repetitions. The data have been submitted to analysis of variance and when significant we proceeded to the average test. All performance indicators evaluated showed a statistically significant difference in terms of hours of operation. The results indicated that the CUC, CUD and EA decreased; already CVQ and Q showed increasing response with increasing hours of operation. Even reducing with the operating time, all performance indicators evaluated were considered acceptable, except EA after 168 hours of operation. Based on the results of this indicator, it can be concluded that the bubbler irrigation system has been well dimensioned and operated within acceptable performance limits.