CE-402 Irrigation Engineering

2(a). Methods of Irrigation

B.Sc. Civil Engineering 8th Semester

Dr. Muhammad Ajmal and Dr. Muhammad Shahzad Khan

Associate Professors
Agricultural Engineering Department, UET Peshawar

Surface Irrigation Sprinkler Irrigation Drip Irrigation

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 Methods of Irrigation

Irrigation

Gravity Flow Irrigation Lift Irrigation

Perennial Inundation
Irrigation Irrigation

1. Direct Irrigation (River Canal Irrigation): Diversion Scheme

2. Storage Irrigation (Reservoir Irrigation): Storage Scheme
3. Combined Irrigation: Storage and diversion scheme
 MODE/METHODS/TECHNIQUES OF IRRIGATION
◼ Application of water to crops may be of any of the Three basic methods
(a) Surface irrigation (b) Sprinkle irrigation (c) Trickle Irrigation

The basic requirements for adoption of any method are

(i) Uniform distribution of 6-20 cm depth of water depending on the nature of crops.
(ii) Economical conveyance structure,
(iii) Mechanized farming is possible

Surface Irrigation method is further sub-divided into:

① Basin Irrigation
② Border Irrigation
③ Furrow Irrigation
④ Contour Farming
 SURFACE METHODS OF IRRIGATION

❖Basin Irrigation : In this method, the entire field is flooded.

❖ Adaptability : Small gentle and uniform land slopes. Soils having moderate to slow

infiltration rates. Adapted to grain and fodder crops in heavy soils. Suitable to permeable
soils.
 SURFACE METHODS OF IRRIGATION

❖Border Irrigation: In this method land is divided into a number of strips, separated by
low dikes called border. Water is allow to flow along the strips and be prevented by
levees from other strips. (Standard dimensions of Border is 100-400 m of length with 10-
20 m of width). After completion of one strip water may be diverted to an other strip and
in this way irrigation has to be completed.

Adaptability: To soils having moderately low to

moderately high infiltration rates. It is not used in
coarse sandy soils that have very high infiltration
rates and also in heavy soils having very low
infiltration rate. Suitable to irrigate to all close
growing crops like wheat, barley, fodder crops and
legumes and not suitable for rice.
 SURFACE METHODS OF IRRIGATION

❖Furrow Irrigation: In this method, the field is entirely converted to small channels. This
methods can be used for row crops where row to row space will be more. The quantity of
flow of water depends on demand of water by plants and the rate of infiltration. More
suitable for vegetables.

❖ Adaptability : Suitable to most soils except sand. And Vegetable

 Sprinkle/Sprinkler Irrigation
◆ A type of irrigation in which water is sprayed on crop in form of rainfall drops. Such type
of irrigation can be in the following condition.

❖ (i). The land can not be prepared for surface methods (ii). Slopes are excessive. (iii).
Topography is irregular; soil is erosive; depth of soil is shallow over gravel or sand.

❖ Sprinkler irrigation may be either permanent system; semi-permanent system or portable

system.
 Trickle Irrigation
◆ Application of water to the roots of crop in drop form is known as trickle irrigation.

◆ Water is conveyed through a system of flexible pipe lines, operating at low pressure, and
is applied to the plants through emitters.

◆ This method is suitable for any types of trees where the number of plants are minimum.

◆ As an emitter is to be installed at each application of water point. In trickle irrigation there

must be proper control of water use; weeds and pest control etc.
 Trickle Irrigation
◆
 Efficiency of Irrigation Methods

Least Efficient

Surface Irrigation

Sprinkler Irrigation

Trickle Irrigation

Most Efficient

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 Water Resources of Pakistan
◼ The water supply available to agriculture is derived from three main sources, rainfall
which occurs directly on the crop areas, surface water from rivers or storage
reservoirs, and usable ground water from the aquifers.
◼ Rainfall is normally inadequate to sustain more than a very low level of agricultural
production, particularly in the semi-arid conditions of Pakistan.
◼ Pakistan has one of the largest irrigation systems in the world comprising three major
reservoirs with a design capacity of about 20 Billion Cubic Meters (BCM), 23
barrages, headworks and siphons, 45 main irrigation canals commanding an area of
about 16.6 million hectares.
◼ Irrigated agriculture is the backbone for economy of the country where over 93% of
the available water resources are consumed.
◼ Irrigation is used on 80% of all arable land and meets almost 90% of all food and
fibers requirements.
◼ Agriculture is the single larges sector of economy accounting for about a quarter of
the country’s gross Domestic Products (GDP).
◼ It employs 44% of the labor force, supports 75% of the population and accounts for
60% of foreign exchange.
 Water Resources of Pakistan
◼ The increased population, urbanization, industrialization and agricultural
activities however widened the gap between water demand and supply. The
water shortfall that was 11% in 2004, is expected to increase to 31% by 2025.
The per capita water availability which was about 5600m3 in 1947 has now
reduced to about 1000 m3converting the country to a water scare condition.
◼ Due to poor maintenance and old irrigation system, the overall efficiency is less
than 40%. Out of 142 BCM of water available at the canal headworks, only 55
BCM is used by crops. The remaining 87 BCM (60%) is lost during conveyance
through canal distributaries, minors, watercourses and in fields.
◼ In Pakistan the development of rainfed area is completely ignored. The dry
farming is practiced on about 12 Mha that is 40% of the Culturable land. It just
contribute less than 10% to the total production. The main reasons for this low
productivity are (i) low and erratic rainfall (ii) soil erosion (iii) poor use of land
and water resources due to small and fragmented land holdings and (iv) low
agricultural inputs.
Questions?

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