Benjamin Zur, Associate Professor
B.Sc. Cornell University 1957, M.Sc. Oklahoma State University 1958, Ph.D. University of California 1961

Joined the department of Agricultural Engineering in 1962. His research activity is in the physics of soil water flow: energy status of soil water, an osmotic system for the control of the energy status of soil water, dynamics of water flow around a point source, soil water flow under a pulsed water application, dynamics of advance of the wetting front during infiltration and redistribution. Crop Modeling: modeling of the water relations and expansive growth of crops; field evaluation of the water relations model for soybean and maize crops; simulation of possible adaptive mechanisms in crops subjected to water stress; model for the dynamics of a maize canopy development: leaf ontogeny and leaf area growth; field evaluation of maize canopy development model; modelling root development and architecture of maize plants. Irrigation: pulsed irrigation principles, engineering and field application; Flow regime in hellical long-path emitter; emitter discharge sensitivity to pressure and temperature; emitter spacing based on geometry of wetted soil volume; control of irrigation amounts using velocity and position of wetting front; wetted soil volume as a design objective in trickle irrigation.

Research interests
Water flow in the soil-plant-atmosphere system. Modelling of integrated crop systems. Water use efficiency of agricultural crops. Irrigation Science. Controlled irrigation.

Selected publications
  • B. Wetted soil volume as a design objective in trickle irrigation. 1996 Irrigation Science 16:101-105.
  • B., U. Ben Hanan, A. Rimer, A. Yardeni. Control of irrigation amounts using velocity and position of the wetting front. 1994 Irrigation Science 14:207-212
  • J.F., B.Zur, J.D. Hesketh. The dynamics of maize canopy development. 2. Leaf area growth. 1990 Biotronics 19:99-109.
  • B., J.F. Reid, J.D. Hesketh. The dynamics of a maize canopy development. 1. Leaf Ontogeny. 1989. Biotronics 18:55-66.
  • Shwartzman M., B. Zur, Emitter spacing based on geometry of wetted soil volume. 1986. J. Irrigation and Drainage Div. ASCE. 112: 242-253.

    • Patents
  • Methods and apparatus for irrigation control, May 1991. ( Principles and method for stopping an irrigation based on the dynamics of the position of the wetting front). U.S. Patent # 5,341,831, 30.08.94; South Africa Patent # 92/2932, 21.08.93; Australia Patent # 660459, 16.10.95; Israel Patent # 98027.
  • Method and equipment for making improved irrigation furrows, 1993.( with prof. C. Schertz, Univ. of Minnesota). Israel Patent # 105227
  • Furrow control in furrow irrigation. Automation with feedback control. Israel Patent request # 110054 20.06.94; U.S. Patent request applied for 20.06.95

    • E-mail:         agrzurb@tx.technion.ac.il
    Tel:         972-(0)4-8293623 (office); 972-(0)4-9831342 (home)