7th International Micro Irrigation Congress

PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF PRECISION POROUS PIPE

IRRIGATION IN FIELD CONDITION

M.V. Ranghaswami1, M. Nagarajan2, D. Palanisamy3,

V. Kumar4 and K. Ramaswamy5

ABSTRACT

A study was conducted to evaluate the performance of Precision Porous Pipe (PPP) irrigation
under different soil conditions and different depths. The PPP is made up of recycled rubber
tyre that allows both air and water to pass through pores provided in the wall and it can be
considered as continuous emitter that produces a rectangular moisture band at the root zone.
In field condition (with and without sand envelope) three 10 m length pipes each were buried
at a depth of 15, 22.5 and 30 cm respectively. The maximum and minimum discharge rates
were found to be 18.15 & 15.82 lph/m.length (PPP laid at 22.5 cm depth) and 13.21 &
11.75 lph/m.length (PPP laid at 15 cm depth) respectively, in two soil conditions and steady
emission of discharge was obtained after an initiation pressure of 1.0 kg/cm2. The Bhendi
(Ablemoschus esculentus (L) Moench) crop was tested. The crop geometry studies the plant
population was maintained above 75-percentage germination recorded in all treatments of
Bhendi crop. The weed growth was found reduced in all treatments when compared to other
treatments. The height, taproot length and yield of crop under drip irrigation were found to
be 146.6 cm, 50 cm and 13,041 kg/ha respectively. In porous pipe irrigation the growth
and yield parameters were found to be maximum in pipes laid at 30 cm depth. The maximum
height (93.2 cm), taproot length (26 cm) and yield (11,707 kg/ha) were obtained in the crop
through above said pipe.

In addition another experiment was conducted with sand envelope and without sand envelope
to evaluate the moisture distribution pattern and to calculate the percentage of efficiency under
PPP irrigation system. The soil sample was taken at four different depths (10, 20, 30, 40 cm)
at 15 cm laid pipe, 15, 30, 40, 50 cm at 22.5 cm laid pipe and 15, 30, 45, 60 cm at 30
cm laid pipe and at the lateral distance of 10, 20 & 30 cm on both left and right side from
the pipe. The moisture content before irrigation and just after irrigation collected and soil
moisture contour maps for longitudinal cross section of the field were plotted. The vertical
movement of water in PPP with sand envelope was found to be more than in lateral direction
especially in central position. It was found out that the effective depth of porous pipe was 15
and 22.5 cm for optimal moisture distribution.

1
Director, Water Technology Centre, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-641003, India.
2
Research scholar
3
Professor
4
Associate Professor
5
Professor and Head

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 7th International Micro Irrigation Congress

PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF PRECISION POROUS PIPE

IRRIGATION IN FIELD CONDITION

M.V. Ranghaswami1, M. Nagarajan2, D. Palanisamy3, V. Kumar4 and K. Ramaswamy5

ABSTRACT

A study was conducted to evaluate the performance of Precision Porous Pipe (PPP) irrigation
under different soil conditions and different depths. The PPP is made up of recycled rubber
tyre that allows both air and water to pass through pores provided in the wall and it can be
considered as continuous emitter that produces a rectangular moisture band at the root zone.
In field condition (with and without sand envelope) three 10 m length pipes each were buried
at a depth of 15, 22.5 and 30 cm respectively. The maximum and minimum discharge rates
were found to be 18.15 & 15.82 lph/m.length (PPP laid at 22.5 cm depth) and 13.21 &
11.75 lph/m.length (PPP laid at 15 cm depth) respectively, in two soil conditions and steady
emission of discharge was obtained after an initiation pressure of 1.0 kg/cm2. The Bhendi
(Ablemoschus esculentus (L) Moench) crop was tested. The crop geometry studies the plant
population was maintained above 75-percentage germination recorded in all treatments of
Bhendi crop. The weed growth was found reduced in all treatments when compared to other
treatments. The height, taproot length and yield of crop under drip irrigation were found to
be 146.6 cm, 50 cm and 13,041 kg/ha respectively. In porous pipe irrigation the growth
and yield parameters were found to be maximum in pipes laid at 30 cm depth. The maximum
height (93.2 cm), taproot ength (26 cm) and yield (11,707 kg/ha) were obtained in the crop
through above said pipe.

In addition another experiment was conducted with sand envelope and without sand envelope
to evaluate the moisture distribution pattern and to calculate the percentage of efficiency under
PPP irrigation system. The soil sample was taken at four different depths (10, 20, 30, 40 cm)
at 15 cm laid pipe, 15, 30, 40, 50 cm at 22.5 cm laid pipe and 15, 30, 45, 60 cm at 30
cm laid pipe and at the lateral distance of 10, 20 & 30 cm on both left and right side from
the pipe. The moisture content before irrigation and just after irrigation collected and soil
moisturecontour maps for longitudinal cross section of the field were plotted. The vertical
movement of water in PPP with sand envelope was found to be more than in lateral direction
especially in central position. It was found out that the effective depth of porous pipe was
15 and 22.5 cm for optimal moisture distribution.

1
Director, Water Technology Centre, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-641003, India.
2
Research scholar
3
Professor
4
Associate Professor
5
Professor and Head
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7th International Micro Irrigation Congress

INTRODUCTION

Water is a precious commodity and its judicious use is essential for maximizing crop yield.
Water management experts have assessed that water is going to be the major constraint to
economic development in most parts of the world, since the demand of water has been
increasing. Irrigation has been recognized as an important factor for
increasing agricultural production. In a country like India, where crops can be grown throughout
the year but rainfallsonly during monsoon periods for 3 to 4 months and that too in an erratic
way. Efficient use of water through scientific irrigation management is of utmost importance
in providing the best insurance against weather-induced fluctuations in food production. The
application of irrigation water by traditional method causes 27 to 42 per cent loss of water
through deep percolation depending on the soil type (Agarwal and Khanna, 1983). Due to
depletion of water sources and high labour costs, micro irrigation has a significant adaptability
all over the world. Micro irrigation helps to conserve irrigation water and increase water
use efficiency by reducing soil evaporation and drainage losses. It also helps to maintain
soil moisture conditions that are favourable to crop growth. Thus micro irrigation can help
sustain the productivity of the land.

Subsurface irrigation is an efficient method of irrigation, which utilizes the water more
effectively. In this case, water, nutrients and soil additives can be applied to the root zone that
encourages deeper and more extensive root development resulting healthier and more
productive plants. The Porous pipe used for irrigation, is a flexible micro porous tube made
up of recycled rubber and polyethylene and can be degraded as an environment friendly
product, because it helps reduce environmental problems brought about by the disposal of
waste rubber. It allows both air and water to pass through pores provided in the wall at low
pressure. These tiny openings are inbuilt pores, and are not mechanically made holes. Hence
there is no chance for the intrusion of roots or soil particles into the pores of the pipe. Porous
pipe can be considered as a continuous emitter for air and water, which produce a rectangular
moisture band at the root zone

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Experimental Set up
The general layout of the experimental set up is presented schematically in Fig. 1&2. The tap
water was allowed to flow into a 2000 lit capacity water tank. This tank was connected to a
3000 lit capacity water tank, in which the suction pipe of the pump was immersed. In order
to provide sufficient pressure required for operating the porous pipes, one 3 hp centrifugal
pump was used. The 40 mm diameter PVC pipe was used as delivery pipe. The outside
diameter porous pipe used was 20.8 mm and inside diameter 16 mm. A screen filter was
provided in the delivery line filter the impurities.

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Figure 1. Field layout for moisture distribution study – with sand envelope

Figure 2. Field layout for moisture distribution study – without sand envelope

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Discharge at different Pressures

The storage tanks were calibrated by noting the volume of water required raising the water
level to a particular height. Plotting a curve between the average depth of water from the
ground level and the cumulative volume of water drew the calibration curve. From the curve
the discharge equation was found. The discharge rate of the porous pipe at different depth
(15, 22.5 and 30 cm) was measured at various pressures namely 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 and 1.2
ksc. The discharge was calculated for each individual porous pipe at with and without sand
envelope condition. The water level difference in tank was noted should be submitted in the
equation, obtained from the calibration curve, in order to get the individual discharge of
porous pipe at difference pressures.

Soil Moisture Distribution Pattern

Soil moisture distribution pattern was determined by measuring the soil moisture at regular
intervals from the centerof porous pipe in the horizontal plane. The soil moisture measurements
were made at different depths. Soil moisture measurements were taken before irrigation and
just after irrigation. Since porous pipe is having a bandwidth of about 60 cm in clayey soil,
the observations were taken at 10, 20, & 30 cm from the center of the porous pipe. The
measurements were taken for each porous pipe at different depths of 10, 20, 30, 40 at 15
cm laid pipe; 15, 30, 40, 50 at 22.5 cm laid pipe, and 15, 30, 45, 60 at 30 cm laid pipe
on before irrigation and just after irrigation. Soil moisture measurements were taken at 2,
4, 6, 8 & 10 m lengths along the lateral. The average of the values were taken as the moisture
content corresponding to a particular point. Using gravimetric method made the soil moisture
measurements in terms of percentage. Soil moisture contour maps were plotted by using the
computer software package 'Surfer' of windows version.

Crop studies
In this experimental field, bhendi crop Arka Anamika variety with a duration of 90 days was
raised. The experiments are laid out in a randomized block design with five treatments and
three replications for the study. The treatment details are as follows.

Treatments Plant spacing

*PPP laid at 15 cm depth (T1) 30 x 30 cm
PPP laid at 22.5 cm depth (T2) 30 x 30 cm
PPP laid at 30 cm depth (T3) 30 x 30 cm
Drip irrigation (T4) 30 x 30 cm
Control (T5) 30 x 30 cm
*Precision Porous Pipe

Field layout
The field layout plan for the experiments on Bhendi was already shown in Figures 1 and 2.
From the main lines, a sub main of 30 mm diameter and lateral lines of 16 mm diameter
pipes (for porous pipe irrigation) and 12 mm diameter pipes (for drip system) were taken to
irrigate the plots. The emitters used in drip irrigation discharges 8 lph.

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Crop biometric parameters

Every 10th day from the date of sowing till harvest, plant height was measured for the selected
five plants under each treatment. Yield data was recorded for selected five plants under each
treatment and also taken the net weight of the yield. The harvesting was done by every two
days. The plant height, number of branches and root length were noted at the last harvesting
time.

Determination of Water Use Efficiency (WUE)

Water use efficiency was calculated for each treatment for all crops which is the ratio of the
yield of the crop in kg/ha and total water utilized in mm.

Y
W.U.E. =
W.A
where,
W.U.E. = Water use efficiency in kg/ha/mm
Y = yield of the crops in kg/ha
W.A = Total water utilized in mm

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Variation of Pressure and Discharge

Initially the storage tanks were calibrated by noting the volume of water that is to be poured
to raise the water in the tanks to a particular level. A calibration curve was drawn by plotting
the average depth of water from the bottom level of tank (cm) and cumulative volume of water
(lit) and the discharge equation was arrived.

Y= 10.745x + 102.22

The relation between the discharges with pressure (shown in Fig. 3 & 4) at two different
conditions (with and without sand envelope) were compared. The discharge rates of porous
pipes were measured at different pressures namely 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 and 1.2 ksc. The
maximum and minimum discharge rates at a pressure of 1.0 ksc were found to be 18.150
lph/m. length & 13.210 lph/m. length (with sand envelope) and 15.820 lph/m. length &
11.750 lph/m. length (without sand envelope) respectively.

In all the cases, discharge rate was found to increase with increase of pressure upto 1.0 ksc.
Afterwards discharge rate became constant with increase of pressure. Hence 1.0 ksc can be
considered as the optimum operating pressure for the porous pipes having an inside diameter
of 1.6 cm. Figs. 3 & 4 revealed that at all pressures, discharge rate is more for the porous
pipe installed at 22.5 cm depth below the soil surface. At this depth, the pressure exerted
by the soil on the pipe may be optimum to make the water ooze out of the pores. At 15 cm
depth, the pressure exerted by the soil may be lesser than required where as at 30 cm depth,
the pressure applied will be more than required. Hence in both the cases (with and without
sand envelope) discharge rate at 15 cm was found to be comparatively less.

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Figure 3. Variation of Pressure and Discharge (with sand envelope)

Figure 4. Variation of Pressure and Discharge (without sand envelope)

From the curves, it can also be seen that, the discharge rate of all the porous pipes provided
with sand envelope of 5 cm thick was found to be comparatively more. The soil in the
experimental site has a sticking property; hence these soils may stick on the tiny pores of the
porous pipe and prevent water oozing out of the pores. A small covering of sand envelope
(5 cm all-round) will help to provide sufficient pressure on the porous pipe and at the same
time, it does not restrict the flow of water through the tiny pores. The large porosity and non-
sticking property of the sand helped the water to ooze out more easily.

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Soil Moisture Distribution

Soil moisture distribution pattern corresponding to the porous pipe installed at different depths
are shown in Fig. 5a to 5c & 6a to 6f. Soil moisture distribution maps revealed that there is
distinct variation in the moisture content (%) from point to point at different time of observation
i.e. before and just after irrigation. The movement of the moisture from the porous pipe in
the downward direction is more rapid compared to the upward direction. In the case of porous
pipes provided with sand envelope, movement of moisture in the vertical direction was found
to be more than in lateral direction, especially in the central portion. This may be due to the
presence of sand envelope that has higher vertical infiltration than lateral infiltration.

Evaluation of Bhendi crop under PPP

Experiments were conducted to evaluate the performance of precision porous pipes in Bhendi
(Abelmoschus esculentus Monech) crop. The biometric observations on growth and yield of
the crop were observed.

Biometrical parameters
The germination percentage in the experimental field was observed at above 75 percent in
all the five treatments. The germination percentage was more (94 per cent) in drip irrigated
plots (T4). It was closely followed by the treatment T5 (control) with a percentage of 88. The
least germination percentage of 75 per cent was recorded in the treatment T1 (15 cm laid
porous pipe). The weed growth in porous pipe irrigation treatment (T3) with 30 x 30 cm
spacing showed less weed weight (206.38 kg/ha) on 30th day after sowing. It was followed
by the treatment T2 (242.56 kg/ha) which is porous pipe irrigation laid at 22.5 cm depth.
For control plot, the weed weight was 526.56 kg/ha that was higher among all the treatments
on 30th day after sowing. In porous pipe irrigation the highest weed weight (288.42 kg/ha)
was recorded at 15 cm laid pipe (T1).

The height of bhendi crop showed a marked difference among different treatments. The height
of plants was found that the drip irrigation (T4) gave a mean plant height of 146.6 cm,
followed by porous pipe irrigation T3 (93.2 cm) which having significant increases among
other two treatments. The least plant height was treatment T1 (58.4 cm) which is porous pipe
irrigation laid at 15 cm depth. The plant heights of control T5 and T2 were 83.6 & 76.6 cm
respectively.

Root density was found highest in the top 0-15 cm depth. Taproot length was found highest
in the treatment T4 (50 cm) followed by T3 (26 cm) and then followed by control T5 (24 cm)
and then finally T2 & T1 (22 & 19 cm) are respectively.

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BEFORE IRRIGATION

Figure 5a. PPP laid at 15 cm depth

Figure 5b. PPP laid at 22.5 cm depth

Figure 5c. PPP laid at 30 cm depth

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 7th International Micro Irrigation Congress

JUST AFTER IRRIGATION

WITH SAND ENVELOPE WITHOUT SAND ENVELOPE

Figures 6a. and 6b. PPP laid at 15 cm depth

Figures 6c. and 6d. PPP laid at 22.5 cm depth

Figures 6e. and 6f. PPP laid at 30 cm depth

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Yield and Water Use Efficiency

The yield and water use efficiency of crop as given in Table.1. The treatment T4 (drip irrigation)
gave the highest yield of 13,041 kg/ha. Followed by the treatment T4 with an yield of 11,477
kg/ha, and then followed by T2 at a yield of 10,707 kg/ha and then T1 & T5 are 9974 &
9900 kg/ha respectively. The lowest of bhendi was found in the treatment T5 & T1 that gave
the yield of 9900 and 9974 kg/ha respectively. It was seen that drip system gave more yields
compared with other treatments.
Table 1. Yield and water use efficiency in bhendi crop

CONCLUSIONS

Precision Porous Pipe (PPP) is a newly developed method of irrigation pipe, which supplies
water directly to the root zone of crop and eliminates the runoff, deep percolation and
evaporation losses. Porous pipe can provide a wide range of emission rates depending on
applied pressure, initiation pressure and par ticulate salt content of the
water. From the tests conducted in the field condition using new porous pipe, there was
considerable discharge variation along the porous pipe laterals. Further, the discharge
variation is not consistent between manufacturing lots. While the results have demonstrated
a wide variation in flow rates in three tested sections, there is no certainty that the observed
discharges rates and variation of discharge with respect to pressure are consistent from one
roll to another or from one manufacturing lot to another. The porous pipe tested, does not
posses the qualities of a good micro irrigation lateral. The permeability of the material also
changes with time and this adversely affects the discharge uniformity of porous pipe.

The main reasons for the decreasing yield in porous pipe irrigation treatments are insufficient
water due to clogging of the porous pipe by the clay soil and also due to the salt content of
water deposited inside the pipe. Both salt and clay content blocked / choked the micropores
of the pipe. So the emission characteristics and the discharge amount of water from the
porous pipe were minimized day by day from the date of operation. The amount of water
required for the plant was minimized and hence the plant height, yield and root distribution
was found to be less when compared to drip irrigation. But the porous pipe irrigation gave
better performance than control plot.

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REFERENCES

Agarwal, M.G. and S.S. Khanna. 1983. Efficient soil and water management in Haryana
Agricultural university, Hisar Research Bulletin, pp.118.

Bush. C.D. and W.R. Kneebone. 1966. Subsurface irrigation with perforated plastic pipe.
Transactions of ASAE,1: 91-92.

Center for irrigation Technology News. 1995. Porous pipe. Irrigation Journal, 45 (7): 12-17.

Mohammad. F.S. 1998. Porous pipe subsurface irrigation. Journal for Scientific Research
Agricultural Sciences, 3 (2): 49-57.

Smajstrla A.G. 1994. Field studies of porous pipe micro irrigation laterals. ASAE Paper
No:942172. pp 10.St.

Sohrabi,T and N. Gazori. 1997. Subsurface irrigation with porous pipe. Iranian Journal of
Agricultural sciences, 28(3): 145-156

Solomon. K and J. Keller. 1978. Trickle Irrigation Uniformity and Efficiency. Journal of the
Irrigation and Drainage Division, 104 (3): 293-306

Teeluck ,M and B.G Sutton .1998. Discharge characteristics of a porous pipe microirrigation
lateral. Journal of Agricultural water management, 38 (2): 123- 134.

Yoder,R.E., C.R. Mote and F.R Lamm. 1995. Porous pipe discharge uniformity. Proceedings
of Fifth International Microirrigation Congress, Orlando, Florida, USA, 2-6 April,
1995: 750-755;

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