Abstract
At a national context, the importance of rice irrigated crops and their high water and power consumption prompted this research, which aimed at characterizing pumping stations (PS) of irrigation systems of rice crops in the western border of Rio Grande do Sul state (RS), Brazil. For this, we evaluated 160 PSs by assessing crop acreage; system flow; geometric height, length and diameter of suction and discharge pipes; pinpointing special parts used; active power; as well as pump and engine brand and models. Such data could help estimate head, global yield and performance indices. The results showed averages of 13.2-m head, 57% global yield, 532.0 L s-1 flow, 293.7 irrigated acreage and 110.5 kW active power. Pipelines are made of welded steel plate and tube diameters of 0.48 and 0.64 m represent 60% of them. The performance indices showed averages of 43.9 W ha-1 m-1, 443.79 W ha-1, 798.83 kWh ha-1 and 0.0644 kWh m-3. Furthermore, the evaluated parameters revealed the need for further studies on technical aspects that would allow increases in water and power use efficiency.
pumping station; water pump; surface irrigation; pumping system
