Sensitivity analysis of border irrigation performance using robust design theory

Because of poor border irrigation performance and its operation management, the author used robust design theory and surface irrigation simulation model SRFR to evaluate the irrigation performance, to simulate the effect of inflow rate and infiltration parameters on irrigation performance, and to determine the contribution rate of influence factors on irrigation performance. The results indicated that irrigation performance was not continuously improved as the inflow rate increased for a given border strip. The irrigation could get a high performance when the inflow rate was 4 to 7 L/(s·m). Specifically, irrigation uniformity was more sensitive to infiltration parameters than irrigation efficiency, irrigation performance was more sensitive to infiltration index than to infiltration coefficient, and increasing the inflow rate could reduce the influence of infiltration parameters on irrigation performance. The most important influence factors on border irrigation performance (contribution rate) were inflow rate (23.81%), infiltration coefficient (20.74%) and infiltration index (13.91%). Therefore, inflow rate and infiltration parameters should be given full attention in surface irrigation design and management.