Your first 4-month irrigator pass is free with Pro
Irrigation bucket tests that stand up to scrutiny.
The fresh-water and effluent bucket test calculator for centre pivots, linear moves, travelling irrigators and solid sets. Calculate Distribution Uniformity (DU), Christiansen CU and application depth from your catch readings, plan on aerial imagery, and turn every bucket test into a professional uniformity report. Test dairy effluent underslungs and travelling irrigators, check your consent depth limit and calculate nitrogen loading per pass.
Passes from $25 NZD: 4 months of unlimited tests on one irrigator. Free calculator needs no account.
Effluent bucket testing
Set up effluent underslungs on pivots and linears, or effluent equipment on travelling irrigators. Map the underslung start and end, then place cans within that reach. Check the deepest catch against your consent depth limit and calculate nitrogen applied in kg N/ha per pass from your lab concentration — all included in the PDF report.
Sprinkler chart import
Upload a sprinkler package (Valley, Lindsay, Nelson and more) to bring in spans, corner arm, end gun, nozzles and flow — plus design depth at 100%, last-tower speed and mm/day rate. Unknown charts are read by AI, with a review step before anything is saved.
Aerial test planning
Set the centre, drag towers, overhang and end gun, draw part circles with start/stop bearings, and see the full wetted footprint including corner arms. Linear moves show as a rectangular block with straight wheel tracks.
Field-ready capture
Plan single, paired, angled or staggered rows of buckets or catch cans. Record volume or depth, pressures, weather and notes offline, in the units you prefer.
Panel calibration checks
Record the target depth on the panel and time the last drive tower over a measured distance. UniformAg compares measured speed with the expected speed and flags panels more than 5% out.
Photos with tags and notes
Add a photo of the machine and photos of the test — can placement, leaks, worn nozzles — each with a tag and your opinion. They all go into the PDF report.
Audit trail & edit tracking
Every change to a can reading is logged the moment it happens — old value, new value, time and user — even on unsaved tests. Edited cans are flagged with their full history, and edits after completion appear on the report.
GPS mapping & can tracking
See your live position against every numbered can on the aerial map, step can-by-can (last can first by default) and save readings without losing the map.
Sprinkler verification & diagnostics
Compare catches with the sprinkler package to pinpoint the spans and nozzles to check — worn, blocked or wrong sizes — instead of guessing.
Saved test history
Farms, irrigators and every test are saved and synced across phone and office, so you can compare this season with last.
Branded client-ready PDF reports
Full reports with client, farm and irrigator details, DU/CU, charts, flagged cans, calibration, effluent results, photos and the edit record — ready in seconds instead of the 2–4 hours a written report usually takes.
Built-in field guide
Test methods, ISO 11545, ASABE S436 and NZ references (IrrigationNZ, DairyNZ, ECan), best practice and troubleshooting — always one tap away.
Simple pricing
Free calculator
$0
No account. All machine types, DU/CU results and a basic results-only PDF. Nothing saved.
Try the free calculatorFarmer passes
$25 NZD / 4-month pass
Unlimited tests on one irrigator for 4 months from its first test. Bundles down to $18 each. Your first pass is free.
Saves the 2–4 hours it usually takes to write up a full test report.
Start your free 4-month passContractor plan
$99 NZD / month
Unlimited irrigators, your branding, Overview Report and 2 users. Extra users $20/month each. 14-day free trial (up to 3 irrigators).
Irrigation schemes: ask about scheme pricing.
Start your contractor trial| Feature | Free | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| DU, CU and mean depth — all four machine types | ||
| Effluent consent-depth and nitrogen checks | ||
| Client & test details form | ||
| Basic results-only PDF | ||
| Saved farms, irrigators and test history | ||
| Audit trail with per-can edit tracking | ||
| Live GPS can tracking on aerial maps | ||
| Sprinkler package import & sprinkler verification | ||
| Nozzle diagnostics | ||
| Pivot calibration checks (last-tower speed) | ||
| Effluent underslung mapping | ||
| Tagged photos & findings | ||
| Branded PDF reports with client information |
One clear field workflow
01
Add the machine
Create the farm and irrigator, then add its layout and any effluent equipment.
02
Load the design
Import the sprinkler chart and check panel calibration and wetted area.
03
Run the test
Choose fresh water or effluent, place each can, record readings and take photos.
04
Review and report
Find weak sections, compare with design and share the PDF with its edit record.
Bucket test questions, answered
Can I bucket test an effluent underslung?
Yes. Configure the effluent equipment on your pivot or linear and map where the underslung starts and stops, then choose Effluent when creating a test. Cans are planned within that reach. Results compare the deepest catch with the consent depth limit you enter and, with a lab nitrogen concentration, show kg N/ha applied per pass. Effluent tests are also available for travelling irrigators; annual nutrient totals and other consent conditions need to be checked separately.
What is an irrigation bucket test?
A bucket test (also called a catch can test) measures how evenly an irrigator applies water. Buckets or catch cans are placed in a line or grid under the machine, the machine runs over them, and the caught water is measured to calculate uniformity and application depth.
What are DU and CU?
Distribution Uniformity (DU) compares the driest quarter of catches with the average, while the Christiansen Coefficient of Uniformity (CU) measures overall evenness. UniformAg calculates both from your bucket test readings, weighted correctly for pivots, linears and solid sets.
How do I bucket test a centre pivot?
Place buckets or catch cans along a radial line from the pivot centre, run the pivot over them at normal speed, then record each catch. UniformAg plans the line on an aerial map, guides the capture and produces the uniformity report — following ASABE S436 and ISO 11545 methods.
Does it work for New Zealand audits?
Yes. UniformAg is built for NZ field work and aligns with the IrrigationNZ and DairyNZ Check-It bucket test methods used in Farm Environment Plans and council audits, with a tamper-evident edit record on every report.