Desempenho dos sistemas de irrigação na cultura da banana no Perímetro Irrigado Baixo Acaraú, Ceará - DOI: 10.7127/rbai.v5n200051

This study was carried out to evaluate the performance of irrigation systems in the Baixo Acarau Irrigation District, Ceara, Brazil. The evaluations were conducted in eight irrigated fields, in July 2007, when data were collected and irrigation systems were tested. Flow rates were collected at four points along the lateral line: the first transmitter, the transmitters located at 1/3 and 2/3 of the length and the last one. Lateral lines were evaluated in the same way along the main line. With these values, the following factors were determined: Christiansen Uniformity - CU, Uniformity Distribution – UD, Application Efficiency, variations in flow rates and variations of pressure along lateral lines. Only field C showed, in all evaluated lines, a flow rate variation below the recommended maximum limit. The fields A, C, F e H showed a variation of pressure along lateral lines below the recommended limit. CU ranged from 49% to 98% for fields B and C, respectively. 50% of evaluated fields were considered as excellent and 50% was working improperly in relation to the CU. For the UD, 37.5% were unsatisfactory, and 12.5% were classified as regular. 62.5% of areas showed application efficiency unacceptable. Irrigation systems had been working with poor uniformity performance of water distribution (50%) and low efficiency of water application (62.5%). The local farmers need to have classes, workshops and technical assistance, so they can learn the proper techniques of irrigation management.