What happens when heads in an irrigation system discharge different amounts of water?

When heads in an irrigation system discharge different amounts of water, it creates uneven coverage in the area being irrigated. This means that some parts of the field may receive too much water while others may not receive enough, leading to inconsistent growth and potentially damaging crops.

In a well-designed irrigation system, all heads should have similar discharge rates to ensure that water is distributed evenly across the entire area. Uneven coverage can lead to specific zones being over-saturated, creating puddles, which can contribute to erosion and nutrient runoff, while other areas may become dry and stressed, affecting plant health.

Other options, while they may be consequences or related concepts, do not accurately reflect the primary impact of differing discharge rates among heads. For instance, increased water waste (even though it can occur as a result of uneven application) is more directly associated with inefficient system management rather than solely the effect of variability in head discharge. Pressure loss pertains to the dynamics of water flow through the system but does not specifically address the outcome of varied water discharge at the heads. Lastly, uneven discharges cannot improve efficiency; instead, they often lead to less efficient water use and resource management.