Control charts for monitoring drip irrigation with different hydraulic heads

Abstract This study monitored a drip irrigation system with different hydraulic heads, using control charts. The study included 25 tests, and was conducted at the Experimental Nucleus of Agricultural Engineering of the State University of Western Paraná, located in the municipality of Cascavel, Paraná. The drip irrigation system was operated by gravity, and had four hydraulic heads (10, 11, 12 and 15 kPa). The uniformity of the system was determined based on uniformity distribution. Uniformity monitoring was performed using Shewhart and exponentially weighted moving-average (EWMA) control charts. An increase in the hydraulic head increased uniformity. The use of 12 and 15 kPa hydraulic heads yielded good performance, whereas 10 and 11 kPa yielded regular performance. The use of control charts proved to be efficient; the Shewhart control chart was more robust, whereas the EWMA control chart, which indicated trends and deviations not shown by Shewhart control charts, was more sensitive.