J. Montero

University of Castilla-La Mancha · Vegetal Production and Agricultural Technology

Simulation models based on finite elements are currently indispensable tools for predicting the structural behavior of both reinforced and pre-stressed concrete elements. This work develops a simulation model of structural linear elements of pre-stressed concrete, using the finite element method (FEM). The main aim was to calibrate the model to pre...

In the Castilla-La Mancha (CLM, Spain) region, most of the irrigated area is managed by two different strategies in which the previously defined irrigation requirements of crops affect both the distribution of crops and the sustainable management of groundwater resources. Thus, in the western Mancha system, the amount of irrigation water per farm i...

Scarcity of water resources is one of the main constraints on agricultural activity in arid and semi-arid areas. Despite the great technological development over recent decades, farmers are demanding methodologies and tools adapted to their training, management restrictions, and economic capacity. To tackle these challenges, the sustainable product...

Photovoltaic solar energy is becoming very important globally due the benefits of their use. Climate change is resulting in frequent climatic variations that have a direct effect on the energy production in photovoltaic installations, so their good management is essential. This can be a big problem, for example, in photovoltaic pumping systems wher...

Energy for water abstraction limits the viability of some irrigable areas. Increasing efficiency and introducing renewable energy can reduce energy cost. Solar pumping is a widely recognized renewable energy solution. These pumping systems suffer special wear out due to sudden changes and for having working conditions far from the nominal points. T...

Global energy consumption and costs have increased exponentially in recent years, accelerating the search for viable, profitable, and sustainable alternatives. Renewable energy is currently one of the most suitable alternatives. The high variability of meteorological conditions (irradiance, ambient temperature, and wind speed) requires the developm...

The carbon footprint and energy cost of irrigation are increasing due to the modernization of irrigation systems, which also necessitates highly efficient use of water resources. Alternatives to conventional energy sources to power irrigation systems are renewable sources, primarily photovoltaic energy. Photovoltaic energy has the main disadvantage...

In sprinkler irrigation the water distribution uniformity in field conditions is not always a known factor, mainly due to the many variables involved, especially the wind. The main objective of this study was to design, install and test an automatic sprinkler bench to measure the irrigation uniformity of solid set systems for multiple wind conditio...

This study analyzes the influence of two different modes for estimating the volume of mixing water (total water and effective water) on the dosing and behavior of recycled aggregate concrete. Different concrete mixtures of conventional and recycled concrete are analyzed to determine the relationship between slump and compressive strength according...

A software tool has been developed to support decision-making in optimising the design of pressurised irrigation systems (sprinkler and drip irrigation) for agricultural fields with sub-plots of any shape or topography. The tool determines the design with minimum total water application cost (CT) (investment + operation). This study analysed the ef...

Los objetivos es dar soporte a actividades docentes prácticas relacionadas con los estudios impartidos en la ETSIAM. Parciales: • Puesta en practica de conocimientos (Alumnos). • Mejorar el seguimiento de la docencia (Profesores). • Interrelación de todos los colectivos de la Escuela (PDI – PAS – Alumnos) • Desarrollo de ideas de concienciación y s...

MATLAB™ software named PRESUD (Pressurized Subunit Design) was developed to identify the optimum solid set sprinkler irrigation subunit design with a criterion of minimizing the annual water application cost (CT). This CT is defined as the cost per cubic meter of water applied to the soil for crop use. In this study, only rectangular subunits are c...

A new approach based on Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) is presented to simulate the effects of wind on the distribution pattern of a single sprinkler under a center pivot or block irrigation system. Field experiments were performed under various wind conditions (speed and direction). An experimental data from different distribution patterns usin...

http://pvyta.uclm.es/es/congreso_uclm.php?nId_f=595530 Ecuaciones predictivas para la estimación de las pérdidas por evaporación y arrastre en sistemas de riego con aspersores aislados de gran formato

Ecuaciones predictivas para la estimación de las pérdidas por evaporación y arrastre en sistemas de riego con aspersores aislados de gran formato http://pvyta.uclm.es/es/congreso_uclm.php?nId_f=595530

The aim of this study was to present a methodology to analyse the main factors that influence annual water application costs in centre pivot irrigation systems and to determine the most cost-effective centre pivot design, given the variables of machine length, lateral pipe diameter, sprinkler type (LEPA and fixed and rotating spray plate sprinklers...

A variety of techniques have been proposed for sprinkler drop characterization. Two of them, the disdrometer method (D) and the low-speed photographic method (P), have recently been applied in the literature. A statistical method for the improvement of disdrometer measurements (DM) has been proposed to improve D measurements. The aims of this study...

4 Optical disdrometers measure the attenuation of an infrared beam when water drops 5 pass between the emitter and the receptor. The duration and intensity of the attenuation 6 are used to estimate drop size and time of passage. These variables are used to calibrate 7 and validate ballistic sprinkler simulation models. Two experimental problems aff...

In this study, annual water application costs per unit area (ha) have been analyzed at the level of irrigation subunit in set sprinkler irrigation systems designed with pipes of different materials. In the cost, investment (pumping, pipes, sprinklers, ditches), energy, labor, maintenance, and water costs have been considered. Four systems were stud...

Lately, structural typologies of agricultural infrastructures have undergone significant changes. These have been especially important in the case of farm buildings where reinforced concrete structures are the most commonly used. In order to make precast concrete items which are interesting because of their cost, it is necessary to optimize their d...

Simple two-dimensional frames are normally used when building bays: These frames are placed in series. and held longitudinally with bracings. These two directions, transversal and longitudinal, are independent of each other. Thus, the transverse frame bears loads in its plane with no help from the longitudinal bracings. In the case of transverse ri...

In order to identify the subunit design incurring the lowest costs, it is necessary to consider various factors, thereby assuring the correct hydraulic performance of the subunit. Water application costs with a sprinkler irrigation system comprise: investment cost (pumps plant, pipes, sprinklers, ditches), energy, manpower, maintenance and water co...

In solid set sprinkler irrigation systems, many factors have influence on water partitioning efficiency and uniformity. Drop size formation in the irrigation process is affected by some of these factors. Soil crustiness and damage to bare soil structure are problems associated with large drops. This study shows the results of measured drop size dis...

Flat transverse frames are normally used when building bays. These frames are placed in series and held longitudinally with bracings. These two directions, transversal and longitudinal are independent of each other. Thus, the transversal frame bears loads in its plane with no help from the longitudinal bracings. In the case of transverse rigid fram...

Until the beginning of the 1980’s, the most widely used metallic structure used in Spain for building bays was a truss structure erected on pillars. Since then, we have seen a tendency towards the use of rigid frames, which is the most common structure at present. Aside from the obvious functional advantages of rigid frames, it is commonly thought...

The SIRIAS model has been developed to simulate water distribution of a sprinkler pattern distorted by wind, thereby eliminating the necessity of carrying out laborious in-field tests to determine water distribution in a irrigation system. The model is based on the application of a ballistic theory to drop movement distorted by wind. The necessary...

The SIRIAS model has been developed to simulate water distribution or a sprinkler pattern distorted by wind, thereby eliminating the necessity of carrying out laborious in-field tests to determine water distribution in a irrigation system. The model is based on the application of a ballistic theory to drop movement distorted by wind. The necessary...

A proper understanding of factors affecting evaporation and drift losses in sprinkle irrigation is important for developing water conservation strategies. For estimating drift and evaporation losses during the set sprinkler irrigation event, several outdoor single-sprinkler and block irrigation tests have been conducted. Various sprinkler–nozzle–ri...

In order to characterize water distribution with medium-sized sprinklers a number of single leg tests were conducted in no-wind conditions. The influence of sprinkler type, size and number of nozzles, jet-straightening vane (VP), working pressure, riser height and the irrigation spacing were analyzed in these tests. In a large number of main nozzle...

The adequate choice of sprinkler head as well as operating conditions in order to achieve high irrigation uniformity values is necessary for design purpose. Catch-can tests were performed to determine the spatial distribution of water applied with solid set sprinkler systems in open field conditions. Factors affecting water distribution were studie...

Cada vez más se tiende a dimensionar las instalaciones de riego colectivo para que trabajen a la demanda, por lo que supone de ahorro de agua y de comodidad de manejo. En este trabajo se analiza la repercusión de los distintos criterios de diseño y de manejo de las zonas de riego a la demanda en la determinación de la dotación de las tomas en parce...

One of the most appropriate sprinkler systems for arid or semi-arid areas – where a great deal of irrigating water is required – are the permanent set systems and the continuous-move laterals. To know the reality of water application in this type of areas, many field evaluations of solid set systems and centre pivot irrigation were conducted in Cas...

The latest tendencies in the management of center pivot equipment must lead to the reduction of the working pressure, changing the impact sprinklers for low-pressure diffusers, and decreasing the height of emitters from the ground. Taking field trials as a basis, the aim of this research is to study, the effect of height emitter above the soil (1 m...

In order to determine the main factors that affect the water application at field level using solid set systems (experimental plots and actual irrigation installations), more than 300 tests have been carried out with different types of sprinkler-nozzle-pressure. Radial leg tests have been previously performed to find the water distribution pattern....

A proper understanding of factors affecting evaporation and drift losses in sprinkle irrigation is important for developing water conservation strategies. It is important to highlight that this study has been centred on soil set irrigation systems. So, for estimating drift and evaporation losses during the set sprinkler irrigation event, several ou...

A study was carried out in order to evaluate the effect of water application heterogeneity on soil moisture and corn grain yield. Application heterogeneity is measured using parameters like Christiansen Uniformity Coefficients (UC) and Distribution Uniformity (DU). The experiment was performed in Motilleja (Spain) in a two-year study (2001-2002). P...

Until the beginning of the 1980's, the steel structure most widely used in Spain for building bays was a truss structure erected on posts. Since then, we have seen a tendency towards the use of rigid frames, which is the most common structure at present. Aside from the obvious functional advantages of rigid frames, it is commonly thought that rigid...

Construction activity generates a large amount of potentially recyclable wastes (CDW's), with proven aptitude to be reused as new building materials, as can be in new concrete. Despite a large number of studies in this issue, the behaviour of these materials is not clear and new experiments are necessary to explain it. The objective of this study h...

En XXVI Congreso Nacional de Riegos, Huesca, 2008. La energía cinética de las gotas que emite un aspersor puede llegar a modificar las características del suelo, repercutiendo negativamente en los procesos de escurrimiento, erosión e infiltración. En este trabajo se presenta el cálculo de la energía cinética para un aspersor ensayado en el Laborato...

En el diseño de instalaciones de riego se busca fundamentalmente la mayor uniformidad en el reparto de agua, ya que ésta afecta a la producción del cultivo y a la eficiencia en la utilización del agua y la energía. Se presenta una metodología para la distribución del agua de un aspersor teniendo en cuenta la acción del viento. Para ello se formula...