Center-Pivot Application Depth and Runtime
Hours per pass, gross capacity per acre, and net depth of a center-pivot irrigation system: hours = area x depth x 452.6 / flow. An 800 gpm pivot on 125 ac applying 1 in at 85% runs 70.7 hr (~3 days). The outer spans sweep more area, so the instantaneous rate under an outer span can run off even when the daily depth is right.
Formula and source
hours = area_acres x target_depth_in x 452.6 / system_flow_gpm; gross_gpm_per_acre = system_flow_gpm / area_acres; net_depth_in = target_depth_in x efficiency_pct / 100.
Center-pivot application depth and runtime (USDA-NRCS center-pivot design; university extension), by name.
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