IRRIGATION PRACTICES

Irrigation
Irrigation is the artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is
used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of
landscapes, and re-vegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and
during periods of inadequate rainfall.
or
Irrigation is the application of water to soil to supplement deficient
rainfall to provide moisture for plant growth.
NECESSITY -
1. Less rainfall
2. Non-uniform rainfall
3. Growing a number of crops during a year
4. Growing perennial crops
5. Commercial crops with additional water
6.
7. Control water supply
SCOPE OF IRRIGATION SCIENCE
ENGINEERING ASPECT
1.Storage, diversion or lifting of water
2.Conveyance of water to the agriculture fields
3.Application of water to agriculture fields
4.Drainage and relieving water logging
AGRICULTURAL ASPECT
1.Uniformly & periodically distribution of water
2.Reclamation of waste & alkaline lands
3.Depths of water necessary in single application of water for various crops
4.Capacities of different soils for irrigation water
OBJECTIVES :
1. To provide the necessary moisture for the crop development.
2. To ensure sufficient supply of water during droughts of short duration
and unpredictable climate.
3. To dissolve soil salts.
4. It is a way to apply agrochemicals.
5. To improve the ambient conditions for the vegetative growth.
6. To activate certain chemical agents.
7. To generate operational benefits.
Irrigation canal near Channagiri, Davangere District,
Karnataka, India.
Irrigation in a field in New Jersey, United States.
An irrigation sprinkler watering a lawn.
BENEFITS OF IRRIGATION
1.Increase in Food Production.
2.Protection from Famine.
3.Contribution of Irrigation to Agricultural Productivity.
4.Welfare Improvements.
5.Cultivation of Cash Crops.
6.Elimination of mixed cropping.
7. 7. Increase in the Prosperity of People.
8. Generation of Hydro-Electric Power.
9. Domestic and Industrial water supply.
10. Inland Navigation.
11. Improvements of Communication.
12. Canal Plantations.
13. Improvements in the GW storage.
14. Aid in Civilisation.
15. General Development of the Country.
Ill-Effects of Irrigation :
1. Breeding Places for mosquitoes: Due to excess application of
water, and due to leakage of water, ponds and depressions get filled
up with water and create breeding places for mosquitoes.
2. Water-Logging: If the water table is near the ground surface,
over-irrigation may arise the water-table.
3. Damp Climate: The areas which are already damp and cold,
become damper and colder due to irrigation.
Types of Irrigation
Flow Irrigation:
Flow irrigation is that type of irrigation in which the supply
of irrigation water available is at such a level that it is
conveyed on to the land by the gravity flow.
Flow irrigation may further be divided into 2 classes :
1. Perennial irrigation system.
2. Inundation or flood irrigation system.
Perennial Irrigation :
In this system, the water required for irrigation is supplied in
accordance with the crop requirements throughout the crop period.
For such a system, some storage headworks such as dams and weirs
or barrages are required to store the excess water during floods and
release it to the crops when it is required.
Inundation Irrigation :
This system of irrigation is carried out by deep flooding and
thorough saturation of the land to be cultivated which is then drained
off prior to the planting of the crop.
Direct Irrigation or River Canal Irrigation :
In this system, water is directly diverted to the canal without
attempting to store the water.
For such a system, a low diversion weir or diversion barrage is
constructed across the river.
Cross-drainage works are constructed wherever natural drains or
distributary streams cross the canals.
Generally, a direct irrigation scheme is of a smaller magnitude.
Storage Irrigation or Tank Irrigation :
In this system, a solid barrier, such as a dam or a storage weir is
constructed across the river and water is stored in the reservoir or
lake so formed.
Depending upon the water requirements of crops or upon the flow
of water in the river, the volume of storage required is decided.
This scheme is comparatively of a bigger magnitude and involves
much more expenditure than a direct irrigation scheme.
Cross-drainage works such as aqueducts, syphon aqueducts, super
passages and canal syphons are constructed wherever natural
drains cross the canals.
Combined System (Storage cum Diversion Scheme)
In this combined system, the water is first stored in the reservoir
formed at the upstream side of the dam, and this water is used for
water power generation.
The discharge from the power house is fed back into the river, to
the downstream side of the dam. Thus, sufficient quantity of flow
is again available in the river.
At a suitable location in the downstream, a pick-up weir is
constructed. This weir diverts the water from the river to the canal.
Typical example : Kota dam and Kota barrage on Chambal river in
Rajasthan.
Lift Irrigation :
Lift irrigation is practised when the water-supply is at too
low a level to run by gravitation on to the land.
In such circumstances water is lifted up by mechanical
means.
Irrigation from wells is an example of lift irrigation, in
which sub-soil water is lifted up to the surface and is then
conveyed to the agricultural fields.
METHODS OF APPLYING WATER TO CROPS
Methods of Irrigation :
These are some basic irrigation methods :
1. Surface Irrigation method: Just flooding of water. About 90% of
the irrigated areas in the world are by this method.
2. Sub-surface Irrigation method: Flooding water underground and
allowing it to come up by capillarity to crop roots.
3. Sprinkler Irrigation method: Applying water under pressure.
About 5 % of the irrigated areas are by this method.
4. Drip or Trickle Irrigation method: Applying water slowly to the
soil ideally at the same rate with crop consumption.
The basic requirements for adaptation of any irrigation method are
as follows :
1. The method should be such that uniform water distribution with as
small as 6cm water depth applications can be made for light
irrigation.
2. At the same time, it should afford heavy uniform application of 15
to 20 cm water depth.
3. It should allow the use of large concentrated water flows for
reduction of conveyance losses, and labour cost.
4. It should be suitable for use with economic conveyance structure.
5. It should be such that mechanised farming is facilitated.
Remember ;
Good irrigation method results in increased yield and conservation of
resources with soil productivity maintained and water utilised
economically.
Over irrigation results in soil erosion, leached fertilizers drainage
troubles and salt accumulation.
Surface Irrigation :
Surface irrigation is entirely practised where water is abundant. The low
initial cost of development is later offset by high labour cost of applying
water. There are deep percolation, runoff and drainage problems.
Uncontrolled: Wild flooding
Controlled: Water is applied from the head ditch and guided by
corrugations, furrows, borders, or ridges.
Furrow Method.
Contour Farming.
Surface Irrigation :
Flood Irrigation Gated pipe irrigation system
The basic components are:
1.Water source
2.Supply Lines
3.Control mechanism
4.Dams or dikes of control
5.Furrows of irrigation
6.Drainage system
7.Reuse of irrigation water
Free Flooding
Contour Laterals Flooding
Border Strips Flooding
Controlled Flooding Checks Flooding
Ring Basin Flooding
ZigZag Method of Flooding
Flood Irrigation or Free Flooding :
Free flooding method consists of dividing the entire land to be irrigated
into small strips by a number of field channels, known as laterals. These
laterals may be either at right angles to the sides of the field, or at right
angles to the contour lines.
When laterals are aligned at right angles to the sides of the field,
irrigation is possible only to one side of the lateral. When the laterals are
aligned at right angles to the contours, irrigation done to both sides of the
lateral.
Water is applied to the strip of a land through feeding points provided at
some interval along the laterals. This method of water application can be
used both for flat lands as well as for relatively steep lands.
FLOODING BY CONTOUR LATERALS
This is a special case of free flooding (or flooding from field channels)
in which the field channels or laterals are aligned approximately along
the contour lines
This method is applicable for steeper terrain. The field is cut by
relatively dense network of small contour laterals, the spacing of which
depends upon the prominent grade of the field between two adjacent
ditches or laterals, the uniformity of slope and the soil type.
Border Strip Irrigation :
In the border strip flooding method, the farm is divided into a series of
strips 10 to 20 metres wide and 100 to 300 metres long. These strips are
separated by low levees or borders (low flat dikes) and run down the
predominant or any other desired slope.
To irrigate, water is turned from the supply ditch onto the head of the
border. Water advances confined and guided by two borders in a thin
sheet towards the lower end of the strip. The lengthwise slope varies
from 0.2 to 0.8%.
The following lengths are suggested for moderate conditions :
Types of Soil Length of Border Strip
Sandy Soil or Sandy Loam 60 to 90 m
Medium Silt Loam 90 to 150 m
Clay Loam or Clay Soil 150 to 300 m
Important Terms :
2.303 log10
A = Area of land covered at any time t.
I = Rate of infiltration in m/hour.
Q = Discharge in cumecs.
t = time req. to cover area A.
Y = Average depth in metres.
Length of strip :
Average depth y of surface flow
s = Slope of the border strip.
n = Roughness coefficient
q = inflow per unit width of border strip, in cm/min/cm.
CHECK FLOODING
In Check flooding water is controlled by surrounding the check area with low,
flat levees surrounding each check and the strips are divided by field channels.
The entire area is divided into several plots obtained by subdividing the entire
area by levees.
The size of the levee depends upon the depth of water to be applied as well as
the stability of the soil when it is wet. Water is conveyed to the land by a
system of supply channels (known as main ditch) as well as lateral (known as
field channels).
In a levelled grounds the plots are generally rectangular, but if the ground has
initial slope, the checks or levees may follow contours.
Ring Basin Irrigation System :
The ring basin flooding is a special form of check basin flooding
adapted to orchards. Ring basins are formed for each tree; in some cases
one ring basin may be formed for two or more trees.
Water is supplied to these basins through a supply ditch. In some cases a
number of ring basins are inter-connected. Portable pipes or large hoses
may also be used in place of ditches.
Zig-Zag Method :
It is a special method of flooding where water takes circuitous route
before reaching the dead end of each plot.
The whole area is divided into a number of square or rectangular
plots.
It is suitable for relatively level plots.
Furrow Method of Irrigation :
Furrow irrigation is adapted for row crops like maize, banana, tobacco,
cabbage, cotton, groundnut.
In the other irrigation methods, almost the entire land surface is
wetted, but in this method on1y one half to one-fifth of the surface is
wetted, and thus evaporation losses are very much reduced.
A furrow consists of a narrow ditch between rows of plants. Irrigation
can be by corrugation using small irrigation streams.
Furrow irrigation is adapted for irrigating on various slopes except on
steep ones because of erosion and bank overflow.
The length of furrows varies from 3m or less for gardens to as much as
500m for field crops, the common length being 100m to 200m.
The general slopes provided for furrows may vary from 0.2 to 6%.
There are 2 types of furrows :
1.Straight furrows: Used where land slope is nominal. Normally
adopted where slopes do not exceed 0.6%.
2.Contour furrows: Practically laid along the contours. The direction
of flow is across a sloping field rather than down the slope to reduce
water velocity.
There are different ways of applying water to the furrow:
Siphons are used to divert water from the head ditch to the furrows.
There can also be direct gravity flow whereby water is delivered from
the head ditch to the furrows by cutting the ridge or levee separating the
head ditch and the furrows
Gated pipes can also be used.
Large portable pipe (up to 450 mm) with gate openings spaced to
deliver water to the furrows are used. Water is pumped from the water
source in closed conduits.
The openings of the gated pipe can be regulated to control the
discharge rate into the furrows.
Simple furrows
Multiple furrows
Circular sink furrows Snail type furrows
Furrow Irrigation by Cutting the Ridge Furrow Irrigation with Siphons :
The discharge in the furrows should be such that it does not cause soil
erosion in upper reaches & at same time uniform irrigation is obtained.
The maximum non-erosive flow rate (qm) in a furrow naturally depends
upon the slope (s) of the furrows and is estimated by-
The average depth of water application(d) applied during an irrigation of
duration t is given by-
Design Features for furrows irrigation
Advantages of Furrow Irrigation :
1.In the furrow irrigation, water contacts only 1/5 to 112 of the land
surface, thereby reducing pudding and crusting of the soil.
2.Earlier cultivation is possible in heavy soil and can be used on a wide
range of natural slope.
3.It is specially suitable for those crops (like maize etc.) that are injured
by contact with water.
4.Labour requirements are reduced.
5.No wastage of land in field ditches.
Contour Farming :
Contour farming is practized in hilly areas having steep slopes with
quickly falling contour.
The area is divided into longitudinal curved plots, the bunds of the plots
following the contours. The irrigation water, stored in some depression
higher up, flows between the bunds.
On average hill sides, the first contour should ordinarily be laid about
1.2 to 1.5 m vertically below the top of the hill. Additional contour lines
are located with the same spacing as the first.
Sprinkler Irrigation :
The sprinkler method consists of applying the water in the form of a
spray, somewhat as in ordinary rain, as is done in the garden lawn
sprinkling.
The greatest advantage of sprinkler irrigation is its adaptabilities to use
under conditions where surface irrigation methods are not efficient.
This method is more useful where ;
1.The land cannot be prepared for surface methods
2.Slopes are excessive
3.Topography is irregular
4.Soil is erosive
5.Soil is excessively permeable or impermeable
6.Depth of soil is shallow over gravel or sand.
Components of a Sprinkler Irrigation System
Sprinkler Systems can be classified as :
1.Fully portable system: The laterals, mains, sub-mains and the
pumping plant are all portable. The system is designed to be moved from
one field to another or other pumping sites that are in the same field.
2.Semi-portable system: Water source and pumping plant are fixed in
locations. Other components can be moved. The system cannot be
moved from field to field or from farm to farm except when more than
one fixed pumping plant is used.
3.Fully permanent system: In the permanent system, pipes are
permanently buried in such a way that they do not interfere with tillage
operations.
Types of Sprinklers :
1.Fixed Nozzle Pipe System: Lateral pipes are installed parallel to each
other at a distance of 15m apart. These pipes have a line of small holes
drilled at top at regular interval along their length, and small nozzles are
fitted in these holes. By turning the pipes through 135, entire width of 15
metres between the pipe lines can be irrigated.
2.Perforated Pipe System: Laterals having perforations are laid parallel
to each other at a distance of 6 to 15m. Sprays of water are developed from
both the sides and top of the pipe.
3.Rotating Sprinklers System: Nozzles are mounted on the riser pipes
dependent on the maximum height of the crops. The spray of water
developed through the nozzles sprinkles over a circular area of land
around each sprinkler. The rotating sprinklers are mounted on the riser
pipes and are located just above the crop to be irrigated.
The discharge, required through each rotating sprinkler is given by the
following
Where,
q = discharge from each sprinkler (litres/sec)
Sl = spacing of sprinklers along laterals (m)
Sm = spacing of laterals along mains (m)
I = optimum water application rate (mm/hour)
Advantages of Sprinkler irrigation
1.Erosion can be controlled
2.Uniform application for water is possible.
3.Irrigation is better controlled; light irrigation is possible for seedling
and plants which are young.
4.Land preparation is not required, Labour cost is reduced. More land
5.is available for cropping, as border and ditches are not required.
Surface run off is eliminated
Limitations
1.Wind may distort sprinkling pattern.
2.A constant water supply is needed for commerica1 use of equipment.
3.Water must be clean and free from sand etc.
4.The power requirement is high.
5.Heavy soil with poor intake cannot be irrigated efficiently.
Mobile Sprinkler Types :
a)Raingun: A mobile machine with a big sprinkler. The speed of the
machine determines the application rate. The sprinkler has a powerful
jet system.
b) Lateral Move: Amobile long boom with many sprinklers attached
to them. As the machine moves, it collects water from a canal into the
sprinklers connected to the long boom.
Raingun Irrigation System Lateral Move
Choice of Sprinkler System:
Based on :
1.Application rate or precipitation rate.
2. Uniformity of Application.
3. Drop Size Distribution.
4. Cost.
DRIP OR TRICKLE IRRIGATION :
Water is applied in the form of drops directly near the base of plant.
Water is conveyed through a system of flexible pipe lines operating at
low pressure through drip nozzles.
This technique is also known as 'feeding bottle' technique where by the
soil is maintained in the most congential form by keeping the soil-water-
air proportions in the optimum range.
Drip irrigation limits the water supplied for consumptive use of the plant
by maintaining a minimum soil moisture, equal to the field capacity,
thereby maximizing the saving.
The system permits the fine control on the application of moisture and
nutrients at stated frequencies.
Components :
1.A pump to lift water
2.A head tank to store water: (A pressure head of 5 to 7mis maintained)
3.Central distribution system: (Filters the water, adds nutrients and regulates the
pressure)
4.Mains & Secondary lines (Dia. of pipe: vary from 20 to 40mm)
5.Trickle lines (PVC pipes with perforations: dia. 10 to 20mm)
6.Plastic Nozzles.
Advantages of Drip Irrigation :
1.Less requirement of irrigation water
2.Water supply at optimum level
3.Water logging avoided
4.High yield
5.Cultivation of cash crops
6.No over-irrigation
7.Weed control.
8. Increase in net irrigable area.
9. Nutrients preservation.
10. Variation in application rate.
11. Reduced labour cost.
12. No soil erosion.
13. Suitability for saline soils.
14. Maintenance of high surface temperature.
15. Suitable for any topography.
Disadvantages of Drip Irrigation
Systems :
1.High initial cost.
2.Danger of blockade of nozzles.
3.Change in spacing of nozzles.
4.Shallow root depth.
Thank You !!