What does distribution uniformity measure in an irrigation system?

Distribution uniformity measures the uniform application of water to a specific zone in an irrigation system. This metric is crucial because it assesses how evenly water is distributed across the area being irrigated. An efficient irrigation system should ideally deliver water uniformly to ensure that all plants receive the appropriate amount of moisture. If the water is not distributed uniformly, certain areas may receive too much water while others do not receive enough, leading to wasted resources and potentially harming plant health. Thus, understanding and measuring distribution uniformity is key to optimizing irrigation practices and maintaining crop health.