Technical Insights

Understanding the Basics to Choose the Right Sprinkler System

Selecting the most suitable sprinkler for your operation starts with understanding a few key technical principles. These insights not only help you compare available options but also ensure your system delivers efficient and uniform irrigation tailored to your crop and field conditions.

One critical concept is uniformity, the even distribution of water across your field. High uniformity in sprinkler irrigation helps ensure all plants receive the right amount of water and nutrients, leading to consistent growth, optimized yields, and improved crop quality. In contrast, poor uniformity can result in overwatering in some areas and underwatering in others, negatively affecting your productivity.

In the next sections we’ll guide you through the essential elements to consider when choosing a sprinkler system, helping you make a confident and informed decision. 

Understanding Distribution Uniformity

One of the most important aspects of sprinkler irrigation is distribution uniformity, which describes how consistently water is applied across the irrigated area. A good starting point for evaluating uniformity is understanding the irrigation or wetted profile. This refers to the shape and coverage area created by a single sprinkler.

The shape of this profile can vary depending on the sprinkler type and nozzle design. The most common patterns are step, bell, and triangular.

While different sprinklers may have similar flow rates, their overlap characteristics play a key role in achieving high uniformity. That’s why understanding both the water pattern and how sprinklers are arranged in the field is essential.

Effective Overlapping

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To ensure even water coverage, adjacent sprinklers need to overlap their wetted areas. This helps avoid dry spots and provides consistent irrigation across the field.

The wetted profile determines how far the water spreads, and the sprinkler layout defines how these patterns interact. The two most common layouts are triangular and rectangular.

Measuring Distribution Uniformity

Once your sprinkler system is setup, it’s important to check how evenly it is watering your field. This is done

by measuring distribution uniformity using a few key indicators:

How Uniformity Looks in Practice

To better understand the previous metrics, look at the example below. This simple layout represents the amount of water collected at different points across a field.

• Average water applied: 5.6
• Numbers like 4, 5, 6, 7 show actual readings at various locations·      
  • The red box highlights a zone with low uniformity (less consistent watering).    
  • The blue box shows a high uniformity area (more even distribution).

By analyzing these values, you can identify problem areas and make data-driven adjustments to improve efficiency, boost crop performance, and reduce waste.

Optimizing Uniformity

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Getting the most out of your sprinkler system means finding the right balance between three key metrics: CU, DU, and SC. Together, they give you a complete picture of how well your irrigation system is performing.

With tools like the Rivulis Hydraulic Tool, you can measure these values and make informed adjustments to improve water distribution, efficiency, and crop results.

Each crop type has different recommended uniformity targets. But before we dive into those, here’s a quick recap of what these metrics mean:

Recommended Uniformity Targets by Crop Type

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Rivulis Hydraulic Tool example of Green Spin Sprinkler with CU 99%, DU 98% and SC 1.0

To learn more about this key tool refer to the following section:

The Rivulis Hydraulic Tool

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The Rivulis Hydraulic Tool is designed to help you create efficient irrigation system layouts using Rivulis sprinklers and components by also making it easier to calculate key metrics as CU, DU and SC, so you can adjust your setup for better performance.

You can explore the tool and find step-by-step instructions here: Rivulis Hydraulic Tool

Whether you’re designing for an open field or a high-tech greenhouse, this tool offers a practical way to evaluate your system and make confident, informed decisions that improve water distribution and crop results.

Using the Rivulis Hydraulic Tool:

Every Drop Counts (EDC) Feature

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The Every Drop Counts (EDC) feature within the Rivulis Hydraulic Tool allows you to explore the full range of Rivulis sprinklers and run detailed uniformity calculations and simulations. This functionality is designed to help you make accurate irrigation decisions, based on real product data and field conditions.

The section is organized into three simple steps:

1)     Product Selection

Begin by choosing the specifications that suit your needs, such as sprinkler type, flow rate, and operating pressure. The tool will recommend the most suitable Rivulis sprinkler and provide useful product details to guide your selection.

2)     Spacing and Positioning

Next, enter the distance between sprinklers (e.g. 3 m / 9.8 ft) and between irrigation lines (e.g. 7 m / 23 ft).

3)     Simulation and Analysis

Once your setup is defined, run a simulation to analyze distribution uniformity and coverage. This step helps you verify that your system will apply water consistently and efficiently, before it’s even installed.

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Results & Outputs

Once you’ve entered your inputs, the tool quickly calculates key metrics, including:

• Minimum, Maximum, and Average Pluviometry

These indicate how much water is applied across your field.

For open fields, average pluviometry should ideally be between 3–5 mm/h (0.12–0.20 in/h), with minimum and maximum values staying close to the average.

• CU, DU, and SC values

These should be compared with the target values in the table above to evaluate uniformity and efficiency.      

Tip: The default “window size” for SC (Scheduling Coefficient) is 10%, but for better accuracy:

• Use 8% for open fields
• Use 5% for greenhouses

 If your results aren’t ideal on the first try, adjust sprinkler spacing, line spacing, flow rates, pressure levels. Keep in mind, some parameters may be fixed – like seedbed width or available pressure – but adjusting the flexible ones can help you get closer to optimal performance.

Irrigation Rate Diagram

Located on the right side of the screen, the Irrigation Rate Diagram shows how evenly water is distributed.

Use the color scale and numeric values to identify:

• Areas receiving too much water
• Drier zones that may need adjustment
• This visual helps confirm whether your layout is performing uniformly across the field.

Share Your Results

Once you’re satisfied with your design, you can print the report or share it via smartphone with farmers or agronomists. This makes it easy to explain decisions and demonstrate the performance advantages of Rivulis solutions compared to alternatives.

Important Note on Real-World Conditions

The simulations are based on lab conditions. In the field, external factors like wind, terrain variations, and infrastructure limitations can affect performance.  Aim for optimal values in the tool; it’s the best way to get reliable results when it matters most: in your field.

Now that you’ve learned how to evaluate and optimize your irrigation design, the next step is choosing the right sprinkler.

Refer to the following section for detailed information on each Rivulis sprinkler, including flow rates, wetted diameters, recommended spacing, and ideal applications, everything you need to make the right selection for your field or greenhouse.

Discover Our Solutions: Sprinkler, Micro-Sprinklers, Misters, Foggers, and Accessories

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Rivulis offers a comprehensive range of irrigation products including micro-sprinklers, sprinklers, jets, misters and foggers. Each has been designed to meet the requirements of different crops, environments and irrigation needs.

In this section you will discover of our most popular micro-sprinklers trusted for a wide range of applications including their key features and ideal applications to help you choose the right option for your needs.

While this overview focuses on key models, Rivulis offers one of the most extensive micro-sprinkler portfolios in the industry. Explore here our full range of products.

Micro Sprinklers:

AquaMaster 2005

Versatile micro-sprinkler for multiple irrigation applications.

The AquaMaster 2005 delivers precise coverage for orchards, net-houses, and greenhouses; from under-tree to overhead and inverted setups. This micro-sprinkler has been designed to reduce clogging and adapt to tree growth with adjustable spray diameter.

Key Features

Connection Types

Installation Setups

Aquamaster 2002

Reliable irrigation with adaptive coverage.

The AquaSmart 2002 delivers uniform irrigation and fertigation in orchards, even on slopes or long laterals. This flow-regulating micro-sprinkler maintains a steady output across pressure changes and adapts to tree growth with a two-stage wetted diameter.

Key Features

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Swivel Options

Connection Types

Installation Setups

*In inverted installations, the AquaSmart 2002 produces a bell-shaped spray pattern. Use the Hydraulic Tool for precise positioning during setup.

Green Spin & Super Green Spin Micro-Sprinklers

The Green Spin and Super Green Spin provide uniform water distribution with a non-drip, bridgeless design. Ideal for high-tech greenhouse systems, they deliver consistent coverage, improved efficiency, and low maintenance, even in sandy conditions.

Key Features

Model Comparison 

Performance & Operation

Flipper

Targeted frost protection with high water efficiency.

The Flipper Micro-Sprinkler delivers efficient frost defense in vineyards and orchards by applying water in a narrow, 50–70cm strip, cutting water use by up to 70% versus conventional overhead sprinklers.

Key Features

Operating Parameters & Flow Rates

Spacing & Nozzle Options