Sprinkler & Emitter Technology Flashcards

What does the term 'precipitation rate' mean for a sprinkler system?

Answer: The rate at which water is applied to the landscape, expressed in inches per hour

Precipitation rate (PR) is the depth of water applied per unit time, typically measured in inches per hour, and determines how fast soil absorbs water.

Which type of sprinkler head is best suited for large turf areas such as sports fields and golf courses?

Answer: Rotary or rotor head

Rotary (rotor) heads rotate and throw water over large radii, making them efficient for large turf areas with lower precipitation rates.

What is the primary advantage of drip irrigation over sprinkler irrigation for shrub beds?

Answer: Water is delivered directly to the root zone, reducing evaporation and foliar wetting

Drip irrigation delivers water slowly at the root zone, minimizing evaporation, surface runoff, and disease caused by wet foliage.

A pressure-compensating (PC) drip emitter maintains a consistent flow rate over a pressure range typically of:

Answer: 7–45 PSI

PC emitters use a flexible diaphragm to maintain consistent output, typically between 7 and 45 PSI, which is ideal for sloped terrain.

Distribution uniformity (DU) for a sprinkler system is calculated using data from which type of field test?

Answer: Catch can test

A catch can test collects water from multiple locations within a zone to measure application uniformity and calculate DU.

What is the formula for calculating the precipitation rate (PR) of a sprinkler system?

Answer: PR = [96.3 × Flow (GPM)] / Area (sq ft)

The standard formula is PR (in/hr) = (96.3 × GPM) / sq ft, where 96.3 is a unit conversion constant.