Question
Can we design with variable slope and still make good surface irrigation?
Answer
For furrow irrigation, our basic policy is that we try to keep the slopes as uniform as possible. However, the slopes can vary significantly and not significantly affect irrigation uniformity and efficiency.
Our rule of thumb is that the maximum slope should be no more than double the minimum slope to promote uniform irrigation. This cannot be achieved always and the farmer is often happy to get any water on the field to improve production.
