Measuring Pumping Plant Efficiency of a Typical Irrigation System

Pumping water for irrigation requires a large amount of energy. A typical irrigation system has a water source, often a well, a pump and a drive unit. Electric motors are common drive units but internal combustion engines are also used. The efficiency of the pumping plant is often related to the interaction of these three components. In this video, Dr. Tom Scherer, North Dakota State University Agriculture Engineer, will explain how to perform a pumping plant efficiency test for an electric motor powered deep well turbine pump in a well. Information on how to determine if sprinkler nozzles are delivering a consistent amount of water is provided in the related video "Checking the Uniformity of the Sprinkler Heads on a Center Pivot: "The Can Test" -    • Checking the Uniformity of the Sprinklers ...