The minimum overlap recommended to achieve effective distribution uniformity is 80%.

The minimum overlap recommended to achieve effective distribution uniformity is 80%.

• A. 60%
• B. 80%
• C. 90%
• D. 100%

Answer: (B)

Uniform irrigation relies on enough overlap between sprinkler spray patterns so every point in the area is watered consistently. The overlap percentage describes how much neighboring spray areas cover the same ground. When overlap is at least 80%, water from multiple heads contributes to every spot, which smooths out differences due to head placement, wind, pressure, and surface irregularities. That level of overlap is enough to achieve effective distribution uniformity, reducing dry or overly wet patches.

If overlap were only around 60%, gaps would be more likely between heads, leading to uneven watering and lower uniformity. Pushing overlap higher to 90% or 100% would improve uniformity further, but it also risks inefficiency and unnecessary water use in many layouts; 80% strikes a practical balance and is the standard minimum cited for good distribution.