135

Mulch:

1. Organic material applied to the soil surface to protect soil from raindrop impact, improveinfiltration of
rain, reduce runoff, evaporation from soil surface and soil temperature fluctuations.

2.

Plastic

sheets used to cover the soil surface for isolating the crop from the soil surface or to facilitateefficient
soil fumigation under the sheets.

Neutron Probe:

An instrument used to estimate soil moisture by measuring the rate of attenuation inpulsated neutron
emissions that depends on soil water content.

Normally Closed Valve:

An automatic valve through which no water will flow unless external actuationis applied that trigger the
valve to open. Most electric valves are of the normally closed type.

Normally Open Valve:

An automatic valve through which water will flow unless external actuation isapplied to close the valve.
Most hydraulic valves are of the normally open type.

Orifice:

Discharge hole in an emitter or lateral.

Ozonation:

The process of applying ozone (O

) to a liquid for disinfection purpose.

Pan Evaporation:
Evaporative water losses from a standardized pan used to estimate crop evapo-transpiration and assist
in irrigation scheduling.

Percent Area Wetted:

The area wetted by irrigation as a percentage of the total area in the plot.

Percolation Rate:

The rate at which water moves through porous media, such as the soil.

Permanent Wilting Point (PWP):

The amount of water in the root zone, as percentage of the soilweight or volume at or below which the
plant will permanently wilt without recovery.

Plant Available Water (PAW):

The amount of water held within the root zone after gravitationaldrainage has ceased, less the amount
of water that adheres tightly to soil particles and defined as thepermanent wilting point.

Porosity:

The percentage of the soil volume that is occupied by pore spaces.

Potable Water:

Water from any source that has been approved for human consumption, domestic or drinkable water by
the authorized health agency.

Pressure Relief Valve:

A valve that will be opened when its inlet pressure exceeds a preset value.

Pressure Vacuum Breaker (PVB):

A backflow prevention device that introduces air into the system toprevent back siphonage. employs
a spring loaded seat for positive opening to atmosphere.

PSI

A pressure unit in the imperial unit system, Abbreviation for pounds per square inch.

Pump Curve:

A graphic representation of the performance of a pump correlating the rate of flow againstthe total
head. The efficiency of the pump can be obtainable at selected points along the curve.
Reduced Pressure Backflow Preventer (RPBP):

A device consisting of two positive seating checkvalves, and an automatically operating pressure
differential relief valve located between the two checkvalves. It is installed between two shut-off valves.
RPBP protects from backflow caused by bothbackpressure and back siphonage.

Reducer:

A fitting used to change from certain pipe diameter to a smaller one.

Reference Evapo-Transpiration (Et

of Low Crops:

Represents the rate of evapo-transpiration froman extensive surface of cool-season grass cover of
uniform height of 12 cm, actively growing,completely shading the ground, and not short of water.

Reference Evapo-Transpiration (Etr) of Medium Height Crops:

represents the rate of evapo-transpiration from an extensive surface of alfalfa or similar agricultural
crop of uniform height of approximately 50 cm, actively growing, completely shading the ground, and
not short of water. On theaverage ETr is 10% - 30% greater than ETo.

136

Regulated Deficit Irrigation (RDI):

Irrigation management strategy where the plant root zone is notfilled with water to field capacity level
or the plant water requirement is not fully met.

Residual Chlorine:

The total amount of chlorine remaining in water, sewage, or industrial wastes at theend of a specified
contact period following chlorination; expressed in ppm units.

Runoff:

The flow of water over the soil surface when rainfall (or irrigation) rate exceeds the infiltrationrate of
the soil. Runoff can detach and remove soil particles and thus cause erosion.
Runtime:

Length of time available to operate an irrigation system or an individual zone for a singleirrigation event.

Saturated Flow

: The movement of water in saturated soil (when all the pores are filled with water).

Snaking:

Laying

of loosened laterals to allow temperature induced contraction and elongation.

Soil Auger:

A metallic device used for drilling into the soil and removing soil samples for analysis.

Soil Probe:

A soil-coring tool that allows an intact soil core to be removed from the soil profile for examination.

Soil Profile:

A cross-section of the whole depth of the soil at a specific site, exposed by digging a soilpit.

Solenoid Valve:

An automatic valve actuated by electrical signals operates under low voltage (24v AC)which may be
remotely actuated and controlled via a cable or wireless from the central controller.

Solvent Welding:

The act of chemically fusing pipe and fittings together using solvent and cement.

Spaghetti Tubing:

Small tubing used in drip and trickle systems to carry water from the lateral to theemitter and from the
emitter to a specific plant.

Substrate:

A mineral or organic material that provides anchoring medium and reservoir of water andnutrients for
the plants.

Sub-Irrigation:
applying irrigation water below the soil surface (or the growing bed) either by raising thewater table into
the root zone or by use of buried perforated or emitter bearing laterals.

Surface Tension

: The force acting on molecules at the surface of a liquid resulting from the attraction of the liquid
molecules to each other.

Surge:

An energy wave in pipelines caused by abrupt opening or closing of valves.

Throttle:

A restriction of the cross-section of water passage in valves, pipes and other water passageways.

Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)

- A measure (in mg/l units) of the mineral salts that will be depositedafter the water had completely
evaporated.

Total Dynamic Head (TDH):

The sum of operation head, friction head and elevation head. The totalenergy that a pump must
incorporate in the water to guarantee optimal function of the irrigation system.

Total Suspended Solids (TSS):

A measure of all suspended solids in a liquid, not including thedissolved salts, expressed in mg/l.

Trajectory:

The angle, relating to soil surface, of the water spattered out into the air from the emitter'snozzle.

Transitional (Semi Turbulent) Flow:

A mix of laminar and turbulent flow, with turbulence in the center of the pipe, and laminar flow near
the walls. Each of these flows behaves in different manners in termsof their frictional energy loss
while flowing.

137

Turbulent Flow:
Flow pattern in which vortices, eddies and wakes make the flow unpredictable. Theflow regime is
characterized by random direction changes as well as rapid variation of pressure andvelocity in space
and time. Turbulent flow happens in general at high flow velocities and causes higher friction head
losses than the same flow rate in laminar flow.

U.P.V.C. Pipe:

Unplasticized Polyvinyl Chloride pipe. Has better endurance and flexibility than ordinaryPVC pipes.

Water Hammer

The surging of pressure that occurs when a valve is suddenly closed or by highvelocity of water flow. The
surging may cause the pipes to vibrate or to burst in extreme circumstances.

Water Use Efficiency (WUE):

The amount of dry vegetal matter produced per unit of applied water.Expressed as g/m

(grams of dry matter per m

of applied water).

Watering Window:

The span of hours and days of the week that water is available for irrigation