A catch can test tells you how evenly your irrigation system actually distributes water across a field — information that's essential for irrigating efficiently and avoiding areas that are consistently over- or under-watered.
Most irrigation systems are designed for a target distribution uniformity — but in practice, nozzle wear, pressure variation, blockages, and poor design mean actual distribution may be much less even. A catch can test gives you the data to know for sure.
Catch cans are small containers placed at regular intervals across the irrigated area during a normal irrigation event. The water collected in each can is measured and compared across the grid. The result is a Distribution Uniformity (DU) percentage — a score of 100% means perfectly even, while lower scores indicate variation that wastes water and impacts crop performance.
If your DU is low, irrigating to the field average means some areas are being over-watered while others are under-watered. Over-watered areas cause leaching of nutrients and root disease, while under-watered areas suffer stress and yield loss. Identifying and fixing problem areas directly improves both efficiency and yield.
Tim can help you work out the right system for your property and budget.
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