IRRIGATION ENGINEERING

IRRIGATED AGGRICULTURE
WATER REQUIREMENTS OF
CROPS
 For its full and successful growth, every crop requires
proper warmth, proper amount of water, proper agricultural
soil, air and proper methods of cultivation.
 The main crops growing in Pakistan are wheat, cotton, rice,
maize, barley, cane etc.
 The water requirement is different for different crops and
also the different type of land is required for various crops.
From agricultural point of view the soil is classified as,
1. Light soil
2. Medium or normal soil (10 - 20% clay
contents)
3. heavy soil
 This classification of soil depends on the clay content. If
the clay contents are more, the more will be the water
retentive power and vice-versa.
WATER REQUIREMENTS OF
CROPS
 Heavy and retentive soil is suitable for
crops like cane, rice etc. requiring more
water, whereas light or sandy soil is
suitable crops like wheat grain etc
requiring less water. Normal and medium
soil i.e. the one having 10 - 20% day
content is suitable for crops like cotton,
maize etc.
 Some terminology used for the water
requirements of the crops are following:
WATER REQUIREMENTS OF
CROPS
 Base Period:
It is defined as the time period between
the First watering of a crop at the time of
its sowing and the last watering, before
its harvesting.
 Crop Period:
It is the time period between the sowing
of a crop and its harvesting. Theoretically
the crop period is more than the base
period but practically we take it same.
WATER REQUIREMENTS OF
CROPS
 Gross Commanded area of a Canal:
It is the total area in the charge of a canal which may be
cultivated by it.
Gross Command Area of a Water Course (G.C.A.)
It is the total area in the charge of a water course which may
be cultivated by it.
Cultivable Commanded Area (C.C.A.)
It is the difference between the G.C.A and uncultureable
area which is occupied by villages, roads, buildings and other
uncultureable area which is occupied by villages, roads,
buildings and other uncultureable land like alkaline water
logged and barren lands. This is the area which can be
cultivated.
WATER REQUIREMENTS OF
CROPS
 Intensity of Irrigation
It is the percentage of CCA proposed to
be irrigated annually. As irrigation is done
according to the crop season viz.,Rabi or
Kharif, the precise definition of Intensity
of Irrigation is the percentage of CCA
irrigated at a time in one crop season.
DUTY AND DELTA:
 The water requirements of crops is on the basis
of duty and delta concept. Each crop requires
certain amount of water after fixed interval of
time throughout its period of growth. As the
amount of each watering and the interval of
watering and hence the number of watering are
fixed for each crop, the total quantity of water
required by each crop is also fixed and is different
for different crops. The depth of each watering is
usually from 2 ½’ to 4’ depending on the kind of
the crop.
 The total depth of water in inches required by a
crop to come to maturity is called Delta of the
crop.
DUTY AND DELTA
 e.g. the depth of each watering for Rice =4”
 Interval between each watering =10 days
 Crop Period = 120 days
  Total No. of watering = 120=12
10
  Total water required = 12 x 4 =48
  = 48 = 4 ft.
  Total water required for “A” acres of
land (on which Rice is cultivated = A = 4A
acre - ft.
 [ 1 Acre - ft = 43560 ft2 ]
DUTY AND DELTA
 The number of acres irrigated by the constant flow of one
cusec (1 Cfs.) is called Duty of irrigation water during crop
period.
 Water supplied during the crop period of rice at the rate of
1 Cfs. = 120 crop period (24 x 60 x 60) x 1 =
10368000 ft3

  Area of rice land irrigated by this water will be,

 A = 10368000=2592000 ft2[1 acre = 4840 Yards2]
 4
 = 59.5 acres [1 acre = 43560 ft2] =60 Cfs.

 This is the maturing capacity of this 1 Cfs. flow. Therefore the

duty of irrigation water for rice is 60 acres/cusec on the field,
the period being 120 days.
DUTY AND DELTA
 Duty of water at the head of water
course is less than that on the field due to
transit losses of water flowing from the
head of water course and reaching the
field. In order to supply net 1 cusec on
the field, therefore, more than 1 Cfs. say
1.1 Cfs. must be admitted at the head of
water course. This duty is called as outlet
duty.
Relation Between Duty and
Delta:
The relation between duty and delta is
Delta= 1.98 B/D
Where = delta for crop in feet
B = Base period of crop in days
D = Duty of irrigation water for crop
in acres/Cfs.
TABLE
CROP CROP DELTA (INCH)
PERIOD(DAYS)
RICE 120 48
SUGARCANE 360 48
WHEAT 150 12
COTTON 200 20
MAIZ 120 10
Factors affecting Duty
1. Soil Characteristics:
If the soil of the canal bed is porous and coarse
grained, it leads to more seepage loss and
consequently low duty. If it consists of alluvial soil,
the percolation loss will be less and the soil retains
the moisture for longer period and consequently the
duty will be high.
2. Climatic Condition:
When the temperature of the command area is high
the evaporation loss is more and the duty becomes
low and vice versa.
3. Rainfall:
If rainfall is sufficient during the crop period, the duty will
be more and vice versa.
4. Base Period:
When the base period is longer, the water requirement will
be more and the duty will be low and vice versa.
5. Type of Crop:
The water requirement for various crops is different. So the
duty varies from crop to crop.
6. Topography of Agricultural Land:
If the land is uneven the duty will be low. As the ground
slope increases the duty decreases because there is wastage
of water.
7. Method of Ploughing:
Proper deep ploughing which is done by tractors requires
overall less quantity of water and hence the duty is high.
8. Methods of Irrigation:
The duty of water is high in case of perennial irrigation
system as compared to that in inundation irrigation system.
9. Water Tax:
If some tax is imposed the farmer will use the water
economically thus increasing the duty.
Various methods of improving duty are:
(1) Proper Ploughing:
Ploughing should be done properly and deeply so that the
moisture retaining capacity of soil is increased.
(2) Methods of supplying water:
The method of supplying water to the agriculture land
should be decided according to the field and soil
conditions. For example,
 Furrow method For crops sown ion rows
 Contour method For hilly areas
 Basin For orchards
 Flooding For plain lands
(3) Canal Lining:
It is provided to reduce percolation loss and evaporation loss due
to high velocity.
(4) Minimum idle length of irrigation Canals:
The canal should be nearest to the command area so that idle
length of the canal is minimum and hence reduced transmission
losses.
(5) Quality of water:
Good quality of water should be used for irrigation. Pollution en
route the canal should be avoided.
(6) Crop rotation:
The principle of crop rotation should be adopted to increase the
moisture retaining capacity and fertility of the soil.
(7) Method of Assessment of water:
Particularly, the volumetric assessment would encourage
the farmer to use the water carefully.
(8) Implementation of Tax:
The water tax should be imposed on the basis of volume of
water consumption.
PROBLEM1
 The gross command area for a
distributary is 15000 acre, 80% of which is
cultivable. The intensity of irrigation for
Kharif season is 25% and that for Rabi
season is 50%. If the average duty at head
of distributary is 50 acres/Cfs. for Kharif
season and 120 acres/Cfs. for Rabi season.
Find the discharge required at the head of
distributary.
PROBLEM1
 SOLUTION:
 G.C.A = 15000acres
 C.I.A = 15000*0.8 = 12000acres
 Area to be irrigated during kharif season=
25%= 0.25*12000=3000acers
 Area to be irrigated during rabi season =
50%=0.5*12000 = 600acres
 Discharge for kharif = 3000/50 = 60cfs
 Discharge during rabbi = 6000/120=50 cfs
 Design discharge for distributry= 60cfs
 PROBLEM 2
 Some crops are irrigated from the water of a
reservoir by means of the canal system. The
necessary data about these crops is given below:
Assuming 30% of losses of water in the entire canal
system and 15% losses in the reservoir find the
necessary live storage of the reservoir in acre-ft.

Crop Crop Area ( acres) Field

period(days) duty(acre/cfs

Rice 120 6000 60

Sugar cane 365 6000 60
Wheat 120 10500 150
cotton 240 8000 100
PROBLEM 2
 Q = area/duty
 And volume = Q*crop period

Crop Discharge(cfs) Volume(cfs-

day)

 Total vol= 76100

Rice 6000/60= 100 100*120=12000
Sugar cane 6000/60=100 100*365=36500
Wheat 10500/150=70 70*120=8400
cotton 8000/100= 80 80*240=19200
 Total volume to be irrigated= 76100cfs-day

 = 76100*24*60*60= 6.75*109 ft3

 6.75*109 ft3 / 43560 = 150942.15 acre-ft

 Losses in canal systems = 30%

 Total volume in canals = 150942.15 * 100/70=215631.646 acre-ft

 And volume of live storage = 100*2151631.64/85= 253684.24 acre-ft

Problem3
 The C.I.A. of a water course is 300 acres.
Intensities of sugarcane and wheat crops
are 15% and 45% respectively. The duties
for these crops at the head of water
course are 50 acres/Cfs. and 130
acres/Cfs. respectively. Find the discharge
required at the head of water course.
Problem3
 Solution:
 C.I.A = 300 acres
 FOR SUGAR CANE:
 Intensity = 15%
 Therefore;
 Area = 0.15 x 300 = 45 acres
 Duty = 50 acres/cfs
 Therefore;
 Discharge = 45/50 = 0.9 cfs
 FOR WHEAT:
 Intensity = 45%
 Therefore;
 Area = 0.45 x 300 = 135 acres
 Duty = 130 acres/cfs
 Therefore;
 Discharge = 135/130 = 1.03 cfs
 Thus;
 Total discharge required = 0.9 + 1.03 = 1.93 cfs
Problem 4
 In a certain area, the transportation of rice
crops tabs 15 days and the total depth of
irrigation water required by the crop is 23”
on the field. During this transplantation
period the useful rain falling on the land is
3”. Find the duty of irrigation water for this
crop on the field during the transplantation
period. Also assume 25% losses of water in
the water course. Find the duty at the head
of water course.
Problem 4
 Solution:
 Total depth of water required by crop = 23”
 Rainfall on the land = 3”
 Therefore;
 Net Depth of water required = 23 – 3 = 20”
 Transplantation (Crop period) of rice = 15 days
 Therefore;
 Water supplied during crop period of 15 days @ 1cfs = 1 x 15 x 24 x 60 x 60 = 1296000
ft3
 This is the maturing capacity i.e Duty of this 1 cfs flow
 Therefore;
 Duty of water = 18 acres/cfs
 Now assuming 25% losses at the head of water course
 Therefore;
 Water supplied @ 1cfs during 15 days
 = 1 x 15 x 20 x 3000 x 0.75 = 972000 ft3
 Therefore;
Problem 5
 Establish or find relation between duty and
delta and hence find the delta for a crop
when the field duty for it is 60 acres/cfs. The
base period is 120 days.
 Solution:
 The relation between duty & delta is
 Here;
 B = 120 days &
 D = 60 acres/cfs
 Therefore;
FORMULAS FOR CONSUMPTIVE USE:

 Consumptive use = Evaporation + Transpiration

 Evaporation and Transpiration are measured in
terms of depth of water. The sum of these is the
consumptive use of irrigated area to which it is
supplied.
 Effective need of water for crop is the water
needed by the crop + evaporation + transpiration.
Therefore we apply excessive water than that of
water required by that crop, so that the effect of
evaporation and transpiration may be compensated.
Methods of Irrigation:
 Sub Surface
 Surface
Sub-Surface Methods:
 In this method water is supplied directly to
root zone of plants, by a system of
underground pipes laid below the land with
their joints open. Water running through
these pipes comes out through the open
joints and keeps the root zone moist.
 In this method loss of water due to
absorption and evaporation is less but as it is
expensive and gives less yield of crops, it is
quite uncommon.
Drip Irrigation:
Drip Irrigation:
Surface Methods:
In surface irrigation systems, water moves
over and across the land by simple gravity
flow in order to wet it and to infiltrate into
the soil. Surface irrigation can be subdivided
into:

 Free Flooding
 Border Flooding
 Furrow Method
 Basin Method
1. Free Flooding:
 The land is divided into suitable size plots by
ridging. Each plot is practically levelled. Water is
admitted at the higher or upstream end of the
plot and when water reaches its downstream
or the lower end of plot, the supply of water is
cut off.
 If the water is made to flow over the surface
too quickly, an insufficient amount will percolate
into the soil and if water is kept on surface too
long, waste will result from persecution beyond
the root zone. It is therefore difficult to apply
water efficiently by flooding method.
2. Border Flooding:
 Land is levelled and divided by about 1 high
lunds into a number of 30 to 60 feet wide and
330 to 1320 feet long strips. Water is allowed at
the head or upper end of each strip and it
flows down along the strip in the form of a thin
2 inch to 3 inch sheet of water to the lower
end of the strip.
3. Furrow Method:
 The furrow method is usually useful for crops which are
planted in rows, like onions chillies etc. and also for
those crops which need open dry land for proper
growth. In this method a number of furrows are laid out
on the land with a plot between every two furrow. The
water is the two neighbouring furrows percolates from
their beds and sides and this saturates the root zone of
the plants between two furrows. This method
necessitates 1/2 to 1/5th of the surface being wetted
with water thus reducing the evaporation losses.
4. Basin Method:
 In this method a basin is excavated around a
plant (e.g. a tree). the basin is filled with water
which percolated gradually to the root zone.
SPRINKLER IRRIGATION:
 Sprinkler Irrigation is a method of applying
irrigation water which is similar to rainfall.
 Water is distributed through a system of pipes
usually by pumping. It is then sprayed into the
air and irrigated entire soil surface through
spray heads so that it breaks up into small
water drops which fall to the ground.
SPRINKLER IRRIGATION (Cont):
The conditions favouring sprinkler irrigation are
 Soils too porous for good distribution by surface
methods.
 Shallow soils, the topography of which prevents
proper levelling for surface irrigation method.
 Land having steep slopes and early errodable soils.
 Undolating land, too costly to level sufficiently for
good surface irrigation.
 Labour available for irrigation is either not
experienced in surface methods of irrigation or is
unreliable.
Types of Sprinklers:
 Fixed Nozzles attached to Pipes
 Perforated Pipes
 Rotating Sprinklers
1. Fixed Nozzles attached to Pipes:

 Parallel pipes are installed about 50 apart and

supported on rows of posts (pillars). Water is
discharged at right angles perpendicularly from
the pipeline. The entire 50 width between pipe
lines may be irrigated by turning the pipes
through about 135 degrees.
2. Perforated Pipes:
 The perforated pipes do not cover a wide strip.
The pressures may be as low as 10 psi.
3. Rotating Sprinklers:
 The rotating sprinklers may have a rate even
less than 0.1 per hour. Pressure may range from
30 psi for smaller sprinklers to over 100 psi for
the larger units.