Large-scale center pivots have been imported into Algeria since the 1980s to promote cereal production in the Sahara, but these pivots did not match either user needs or smallholder farming systems. In response, local artisans designed a smaller, cheaper, more robust center pivot in an incremental open innovation process that lasted 10 years. Currently, around 35 % of the Algerian potato production is irrigated by around 40,000 artisanal center pivots, each irrigating 1 ha. The aim of the study was to design and test an engineering approach to support local innovation actors in improving the performance of the artisanal irrigation pivot. Field observations and interviews were conducted with 24 users and 10 leading artisans to analyze the innovation process and judge which improvements would be acceptable. Experiments were then conducted in situ and in the national irrigation laboratory to analyze irrigation performance and test practical adjustments to improve it. Results showed that the distribution uniformity of pivots, less than 50 %, can be improved by adjusting the position of sprinklers along the pivot laterals and fine-tuning the nozzle aperture. This study opens new perspectives for engineering approaches to support user-led innovation.

中文翻译：

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一种支持用户主导创新的工程方法，以提高阿尔及利亚撒哈拉的手工灌溉支轴式灌溉系统的性能


自 1980 年代以来，阿尔及利亚已进口大规模中心支轴式拖拉机，以促进撒哈拉沙漠的谷物生产，但这些支轴式支轴式拖拉机既不符合用户需求，也不符合小农户农业系统。作为回应，当地工匠在持续 10 年的渐进式开放式创新过程中设计了一个更小、更便宜、更坚固的中心支点。目前，阿尔及利亚约 35% 的马铃薯产量由大约 40,000 个手工中心支轴灌溉，每个支轴灌溉 1 公顷。该研究的目的是设计和测试一种工程方法，以支持当地创新参与者提高手工灌溉支轴的性能。对 24 名用户和 10 名领先工匠进行了实地观察和访谈，以分析创新过程并判断哪些改进是可以接受的。然后在原位和国家灌溉实验室进行实验，以分析灌溉性能并测试实际调整以改进灌溉。结果表明，通过调整喷头沿枢轴侧向的位置并微调喷嘴孔径，可以提高枢轴的分布均匀性，小于 50%。这项研究为支持用户主导创新的工程方法开辟了新的视角。