CE 705:

IRRIGATION AND FLOOD CONTROL

Water Requirements of Crops

Abdullah Al Mahin
Lecturer, CE, MEC
Contact: [Link]@[Link]

Department of Civil Engineering

 # Lecture-07
Water Requirement of Crops
• Every crop requires a certain quantity of water after a certain fixed interval,
throughout its period of growth.
• If the natural rain is sufficient and timely to satisfy both these requirements,
no irrigation water is required for raising that crop.
• The area where irrigation is a must for agriculture is called the arid region,
while the area in which inferior crops can be grown without irrigation is
called a semi-arid region.
• The term “water requirement of a crop” means the total quantity and the
way in which a crop requires water, from the time it is sown to the time it is
harvested.
Prepared by Abdullah Al Mahin, Lecturer, Dept. of CE, MEC 1
Crop Period and Base Period
• The time period that elapses from the instant of its sowing to the instant of
its harvesting is called the crop-period.
• The time between the first watering of a crop at the time of its sowing to its
last watering before harvesting is called the base period or the base of the
crop.

2
Delta of Crops
• Each crop requires a certain amount of water after certain fixed interval
of time, throughout its period of growth.
• The time interval between two such consecutive watering is called the
frequency of irrigation or rotation period, which may vary between 6 to15
days.
• The summation of the total water depth supplied during base period of a
crop is the total quantity of water (Acre-ft or million cubic-ft) required for
full growth.
• The total depth of water (in cm) required by a crop to come to maturity is
called its delta (Δ).

Prepared by Abdullah Al Mahin, Lecturer, Dept. of CE, MEC 3

Delta of Crops (Cont.)
Example 01:
If rice requires about 10 cm depth of water at an average interval of about 10
days, and the crop period for rice is 120 days, find out the delta for rice.
Solution:
Water is required at an interval of 10 days for a period of 120 days.
It evidently means that 12 no. of waterings are required, and each time, 10 cm
depth of water is required.
Therefore, total depth of water required,
Δ = 12*10 cm = 120cm
Hence Δ for rice =120 cm (Ans.)
4
Delta of Crops (Cont.)
Example 02:
If wheat requires about 7.5 cm of water after every 28 days, and the base period
for wheat is 140 days, find out the value of delta for wheat.
Solution:
Assuming the base period to be representing the crop period, as per usual practice, we
can easily infer that the water is required at an average interval of 28 days up to a total
period of 140 days.
140
This means that = 5 no. of watering are required.
28
The depth of water required each time = 7.5 cm
So, the total depth of water required in 140 days = 5*7.5 cm= 37.5 cm
Hence, Δ for wheat = 37.5 cm (Ans.)
Prepared by Abdullah Al Mahin, Lecturer, Dept. of CE, MEC 5
Delta for certain Crops
The average value of deltas for certain crops are shown in Table 1. These values represent the
total water requirement of the crops. The actual requirement of irrigation water may be less,
depending upon the useful rainfall.
Crop Delta
1 Sugarcane 120 cm (48”)
2 Rice 120 cm (48”)
3 Tobacco 75 cm (30”)
4 Garden fruit 60 cm (24”)
5 Cotton 50 cm (22”)
6 Vegetables 45cm (18”)
7 Wheat 40 cm (16”)
8 Barley 30 cm (12”)
9 Maize 25 cm (10”)
10 Fodder 22.5 cm (9”)
Table 1: Average approximate values of deltas for certain important crops 6
Duty of Crops
• The duty of water is relationship between the volume of water and the area
of the crop it matures.
• It is defined as the number of hectares of land irrigated for full growth of a
given crop by supply of 1 m3 /sec of water continuously during the entire
base period (B) of that crop.
• Thus, if water flowing at a rate of one cubic metre per second runs
continuously for B days and matures 200 hectors, then the duty of water for
that crop will be 200 hectors per cumec to the base of B days.
• The Duty is generally represented by the letter D.

Prepared by Abdullah Al Mahin, Lecturer, Dept. of CE, MEC 7

Duty at various place

In large canal irrigation system the water

from its source, first of all flows into the
main canal; from main canal it flows to
branch canal ; from branch canal it flows
into distributary ; from distributary it
flows into the minor ; and then into the
field channels ( water courses); and
finally into the field.

Figure 1: Layout of a canal system 8

Duty at various place (Cont.)
• During the passages of water from these irrigation channels, water is lost due
to evaporation and percolation. These loses is called transit losses or
transmission or conveyance losses in the channels.
• Duty of water for a crop, is the number of hectares of land which the unit
flow of water of B days can irrigate.
• If the water consumed by a crop of a given base period is more, its duty will
be less.
• It therefore become clear that the duty of water at head of the water
course will be less than the duty of the water on the field.

Prepared by Abdullah Al Mahin, Lecturer, Dept. of CE, MEC 9

Duty at various place (Cont.)
Appling the same reasoning it can be established that:
• The duty of water at the head of a minor will be less
than at the head of the water course.
• The duty at the head of the distributary will be less
than the head of a minor.
• The duty at the head of the branch canal will be less
than the head of the distributary.
• The duty at the head of a main canal will be less than
the duty of the head of a branch canal.
The duty at the head of the water course is quite important and is called the outlet
discharge factor. This outlet point is generally at the end point of irrigation Department.
10
THANK YOU!
 # Lecture-08
Flow duty and Quantity duty
Flow duty:
In direct irrigation, duty is expressed in hectares/cumec. It is then called as
flow-duty or duty.
Quantity duty:
In storage irrigation, duty may sometimes be expressed in hectares/million
cubic meter of water available in the reservoir.
It eventually means that every million cubic meter of water available in the reservoir
will mature so many hectares of particular crop. When duty is expressed in this
manner, it is called quantity duty or storage duty.

Prepared by Abdullah Al Mahin, Lecturer, Dept. of CE, MEC 11

Relation between duty and delta
Let there be a crop of Base period B days.
Let one cumec of water be applied to this crop on the field for B days.
So, volume of water applied to this crop during B days,
V=(1*60*60*24*B) m3 = 86400B m3
By definition of duty (D) one cubic meter supplied for B days matures D
hectares of land.
This quantity of water(V) matures D hectares of land or 104D sq.m of
area.

12
Relation between duty and delta (Cont.)
Total depth of water applied on this land = Volume/Area
= 86400 B/104 D
= 8.64 B/D meters
By definition this total depth of water is called delta (∆)
So, ∆= 8.64 B/D meters
∆= 864 B/D cm
Where, ∆ is in cm,
B is in days
D is duty in hectares/cumec.

Prepared by Abdullah Al Mahin, Lecturer, Dept. of CE, MEC 13

Relation between duty and delta (Cont.)
Example 03:
Find the delta of a crop when its duty is 864 hectares/cumec on the field. The
base period of this crop is 120 days.
Solution:
∆ (cm) = 864 B /D;
Where B in days and D is in hectares/cumec
∆ =864 *120/864
∆ =120 cm (Ans.)

14
Factors Influencing Duty
Duty depends upon the following factors:
1. Type of crop: Different crops requires different amount of water, and hence
the duty of them are different.
2. Climate and season: As stated earlier, duty includes the water lost in
evaporation and percolation. These losses vary with the season.
3. Useful rainfall: More the useful rainfall less irrigation water will be required to
mature the crop and hence more will be the duty of irrigation water.
4. Type of soil: If the permeability of soil under the irrigated crop is high, the
water lost due to percolation will be more.
5. Efficiency of cultivation method: If the cultivation method is less efficient
resulting in the wastage of water, the duty of water will be naturally less.
Prepared by Abdullah Al Mahin, Lecturer, Dept. of CE, MEC 15
Importance of Duty

• It helps us in designing an efficient canal irrigation system.

• Knowing the total available water at the head of a main canal and the overall
duty for all the crops required to be irrigated in different season of the year,
the area which can be worked out can be determined.
• Inversely, if we know the crops area required to be irrigated and their duties,
we can workout the discharge required for designing the channel.

16
Duty for certain Crops
The average values of duties for certain important Indian crops are tabulated in Table 2.

Table 2: Average approximate values of Duty for certain important crops

Prepared by Abdullah Al Mahin, Lecturer, Dept. of CE, MEC 17

Crop Seasons
From the agricultural point of view, the year can be divided into two principal
cropping seasons:
1. Rabi
2. Kharif
• Rabi starts from 1st October and ends on 31st March. The Rabi crops are
wheat, gram, barley, potatoes etc. These crops are also called Winter crops.
• Kharif starts from 1st April and ends on 30th September. The Kharif crops
are rice, cotton, tobacco etc. These crops are also called Summer crops and
they require two to three times the quantity of water required by the Rabi
crops.

18
Important Definitions
Kharif-Rabi ratio or Crop Ratio:
The area to be irrigated for Rabi crop is generally more than that for the Kharif
crop. This ratio of proposed areas to be irrigated in Kharif season to that in Rabi
season is called Kharif-Rabi ratio. This ratio is generally 1:2.
Kharif area = 0.5 × Rabi area
Paleo Irrigation:
In the month of September during sowing of Rabi crops the lands remain
very dry thus the soil is moistened with water to help in sowing, is known as
Paleo irrigation.

Prepared by Abdullah Al Mahin, Lecturer, Dept. of CE, MEC 19

 # Lecture-09
Important Definitions (Cont.)
Kor Watering:
The first watering given to a crop while the crops are a few centimeters high is
called Kor-watering.
The Kor watering must be applied within a fixed period which is called Kor Period.
Cash Crops:
A crop which can not be consumed by the cultivators directly and must be
encashed in the markets for processing is known as Cash crop.
For example, jute, tea, cotton, tobacco, sugarcane etc.
All nonfood crops are included in cash crops.

20
Important Definitions (Cont.)
Crop rotation:
Crop rotation is the practice of growing a series of different types of crops in
the same area across a sequence of growing seasons.
Why Crops Rotation?
• When the same crop is grown again and again in the same field, the fertility of
land gets reduced as the soil becomes deficient in plant foods favorable to that
particular crop.
• The rotation of crops will help in extracting different foods from the soil,
and thus avoiding the general deficiency of any particular type of element.
• Moreover, if only one type of crop is grown in the same field, numerous insects
and pests will get developed.
Prepared by Abdullah Al Mahin, Lecturer, Dept. of CE, MEC 21
Irrigation Efficiency

• Efficiency is the ratio of the water output to the water input and is usually
expressed as percentage.
• Input minus output is nothing but losses and hence if losses are more,
output is less and therefore efficiency is less.
• Efficiency is inversely proportional to the losses.

Prepared by Abdullah Al Mahin, Lecturer, Dept. of CE, MEC 22

Irrigation Efficiency (Cont.)
Water is lost in irrigation during various processes and therefore there are
different kinds of irrigation efficiencies.

1. Efficiency of Water Conveyance

2. Efficiency of Water Application
3. Efficiency of Water Storage
4. Efficiency of Water Use
5. Water Distribution Efficiency

23
Irrigation Efficiency (Cont.)
Efficiency of Water Conveyance:
• It is the ratio of water delivered into the fields from the outlet point of the
channel, to the water entering into the channel at its starting point.
• Presented by 𝜼𝒄 .
• Takes the conveyance or transit losses into consideration.
Efficiency of Water Application:
• It is the ratio of the quantity of the water stored into the root zone of the
crops to the quantity of water actually delivered into the field.
• Represented by 𝜼𝒂 .
• Also called on farm efficiency as it takes into consideration the water lost in the
farm.
Prepared by Abdullah Al Mahin, Lecturer, Dept. of CE, MEC 24
Irrigation Efficiency (Cont.)
Efficiency of Water Storage:
• It is the ratio of the water stored in the root zone during irrigation to the
water needed in the root zone prior to irrigation.
• Represented by 𝜼𝒔 .

Efficiency of Water Use:

• It is the ratio of the water beneficially used, including leaching water, to the
quantity of water delivered.
• Represented by 𝜼𝒖 .

25
Irrigation Efficiency (Cont.)
Water Distribution Efficiency:
• The water distribution efficiency represents the extent to which the water
has penetrated to a uniform depth, throughout the field.
• Presented by 𝜼𝒅 .
𝒅
𝜼𝒅 = 𝟏 −
𝑫
Where,
𝜼𝒅 = Water distribution efficiency
D = Mean depth of water stored during irrigation
d = Average of the absolute values of deviation from the mean
Prepared by Abdullah Al Mahin, Lecturer, Dept. of CE, MEC 26
Irrigation Efficiency (Cont.)
Example 04:
1.0 cumec of water is pumped into a farm distribution system. 0.8 cumec is
delivered to a turn out, 0.9 kilometers from the well. Compute the conveyance
efficiency.
Solution:
By definition,
𝑶𝒖𝒕𝒑𝒖𝒕
𝜼𝒄 = x 100
𝑰𝒏𝒑𝒖𝒕
0.8
= x 100
1.0
= 80 % (Ans.)

27
 # Lecture-10
Irrigation Efficiency (Cont.)
Example 05:
10 cumecs of water is delivered to a 32-hectare field, for 4 hours. Soil probing
after the irrigation indicates that 0.3 meters of water has been stored in the root
zone. Compute the water application efficiency.
Solution:
Volume of water supplied by 10 cumecs of water applied for 4 hours
= (10 × 4 × 60 × 60)𝑚3 = 1,44,000 𝑚3
=14.4 × 104 𝑚3 = 14.4 m× 104 𝑚2 (⸪104 𝑚2 = 1 hectare)
=14.4 ha. m.

Prepared by Abdullah Al Mahin, Lecturer, Dept. of CE, MEC 28

Irrigation Efficiency (Cont.)
Solution: (Cont.)
⸫ Input = 14.4 ha. m … … … … ... (i)
Output = 32 hectares land is storing water up to 0.3m depth
⸫ Output = 32 × 0.3 ha. m = 9.6 ha. m … … … … ... (ii)
Water application efficiency,
𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐩𝐮𝐭
(𝛈𝐚 ) = × 𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝐈𝐧𝐩𝐮𝐭
9.6
= × 100
14.4
= 66.67 % (Ans.)

29
Irrigation Efficiency (Cont.)
Example 06:
The depths of penetrations along the length of a boarder strip at points 30 meters
apart were probed. Their observed values are 2.0, 1.9, 1.8, 1.6 and 1.5 meters.
Compute the Water distribution efficiency.
Solution:
The observed depths at five stations are 2.0, 1.9, 1.8, 1.6 and 1.5 meters respectively.
2.0+1.9+1.8+1.6+1.5
Mean depth, D =
5
8.8
= = 1.76 m
5

Prepared by Abdullah Al Mahin, Lecturer, Dept. of CE, MEC 30

Irrigation Efficiency (Cont.)
Solution: (Cont.)
Values of deviations from the mean are (2.0-1.76), (1.9-1.76), (1.8-1.76), (1.6-1.76), (1.5-
1.76) i.e., 0.24, 0.14, 0.04, -0.16, -0.26.
The absolute values of these deviations from the mean, are 0.24, 0.14, 0.04, 0.16 and 0.26.
The average of these absolute values of deviations from the mean,
0.24 + 0.14 + 0.04 + 0.16 + 0.26 0.84
d= = = 0.168 m
5 5
𝑑 0.168
The water distribution efficiency = 1 − = 1− = 1 − 0.095 = 0.905
𝐷 1.76

Hence, the water distribution 5efficiency = 0.905 = 90.5% (Ans.)

31
Irrigation Efficiency (Cont.)
Example 07:
A stream of 130 liters per second was diverted from a canal and 100 liters per second
were delivered to the field. An area of 1.6 hectares was irrigated in 8 hours. The effective
depth of root zone was 1.7m. The runoff loss in the field was 420 cu.m. The depth of
water penetration varied linearly from 1.7m at the head end of the field to 1.1m at the tail
end. Available moisture holding capacity of the soil is 20 cm per meter depth of soil.
Determine:
a. Water conveyance efficiency
b. Water application efficiency
c. Water storage efficiency
d. Water distribution efficiency
Irrigation was started at a moisture extraction level of 50% of the available moisture.

Prepared by Abdullah Al Mahin, Lecturer, Dept. of CE, MEC 32

Irrigation Efficiency (Cont.)
Solution:
(a) Water conveyance efficiency (ηc)
ηc = (Water delivered to the field / Water supplied into the canal at the head) * 100%
= (100/130)*100
= 77% (Ans.)
(b) Water application efficiency (ηa)
ηa = (Water stored in the root zone during irrigation / Water delivered to the field) * 100%
Water supplied to field during 8 hours @ 100 liters per second
=100*8*60* 60 liters = 2880 cu. m.

33
Irrigation Efficiency (Cont.)
Solution: (Cont.)
Runoff loss in the field = 420 cu. m.
The water stored in the root zone = 2880 – 420 = 2460 cu. m.
Water application efficiency = (2460/2880)*100%
ηa = 85.4% (Ans.)
(c) Water storage efficiency (ηs)

Water stored in the root zone during irrigation

𝜼𝒔 = ×100%
Water needed in root zone prior to irrigation
Moisture holding capacity of soil = 20 cm per m depth *1.7 m depth of root zone = 34 cm
Prepared by Abdullah Al Mahin, Lecturer, Dept. of CE, MEC 34
Irrigation Efficiency (Cont.)
Solution: (Cont.)
Moisture already available in root zone at the time of start of irrigation =(50/100)*34 = 17 cm
Additional water required in root zone = 34 – 17 = 17 cm
= (17/100)*(1.6*104) cu. m
= 2720 cu. m
But actual water stored in root zone = 2460 cu. m
Water storage efficiency = (2460/2720)*100 = 90 % (Ans.)

35
Irrigation Efficiency (Cont.)
Solution: (Cont.)
(d) Water distribution efficiency (ηd)
𝒅
𝜼𝒅 = 𝟏 − *100%
𝑫
Mean depth of water stored in the root zone, D = (1.7+1.1)/2= 1.4 m
Deviation from the mean at upper end (absolute value ) = |1.7-1.4| = 0.3
Deviation from the mean at lower end = |1.1-1.4| = 0.3
d = Average of the absolute values of deviation from mean = (0.30+0.30)/2 = 0.30
ηd = (1 - 0.30/1.4) = 0.786 or 78.6 % (Ans.)

Prepared by Abdullah Al Mahin, Lecturer, Dept. of CE, MEC 36

 # Lecture-11
Optimum Utilization of Irrigation Water

• Optimum utilization of irrigation generally Maximum Yield

means, getting maximum yield with
any amount of water.

Yield
• The quantity of water at which the yield is
maximum is called the Optimum water
depth.

Optimum water depth

Water Depth

Prepared by Abdullah Al Mahin, Lecturer, Dept. of CE, MEC 37

Optimum Utilization of Irrigation Water (Cont.)

• The supplies of water to various crops should be adjusted in such a fashion,

as to get optimum benefit ratio, not only for the efficient use of available
water and maximum yield, but also to prevent water-logging of the land.
• Moreover, farmers should be encouraged to line their water courses,
thereby saving at least 20% of the costly irrigation water, which can be used
to irrigate extra additional fields.

38
Consumptive use or Evapotranspiration (Cu)
Consumptive use (Cu) for a particular crop may be defined as the total
amount of water used by the plant in transpiration and evaporation
from adjacent soils or plant lives in any specified time.
Cu = Evaporation + Transpiration

✓ Transpiration: Water entering plant roots and used to build plant tissue or
being passed through leaves of the plant into the atmosphere.
✓ Evaporation: Water evaporating from adjacent soil, water surfaces, and surfaces of
leaves of the plant.

Prepared by Abdullah Al Mahin, Lecturer, Dept. of CE, MEC 39

Effective Rainfall (Re)
• Precipitation falling during the growing period of a crop that is available to
meet the evapotranspiration needs of the crop is called effective
rainfall.
• It does not include precipitation lost through deep percolation below the
root zone or the water lost as surface runoff.

Re = Precipitation – Surface runoff – Deep percolation

40
Consumptive Irrigation Requirement (CIR)
• CIR is the amount of irrigation water required in order to meet the
evapotranspiration needs of the crops during its full growth.
• It is, therefore, nothing but the consumptive use itself, but exclusive of
effective precipitation, stored soil moisture, or ground water.

CIR = Cu - Re Here,
Cu = Consumptive use
Re = Effective Rainfall

Prepared by Abdullah Al Mahin, Lecturer, Dept. of CE, MEC 41

Net Irrigation Requirement (NIR)
• NIR is the amount of irrigation water required in order to meet the
evapotranspiration needs of the crops as well as other needs such as
leaching.

NIR = Cu - Re + Water lost as percolation

Or, NIR = CIR + Water lost as percolation

42
Estimation of ET using Empirical Equations

The most simple and commonly used methods are:

1. Blaney-Criddle Formula
2. Hargreaves Class pan evaporation method
3. Penman’s Equation

Prepared by Abdullah Al Mahin, Lecturer, Dept. of CE, MEC 43

Blaney-Criddle Formula
The monthly Consumptive use is given by,
𝐤×𝒑
𝑪𝒖 = (𝟏. 𝟖𝐭 + 32)
𝟒𝟎
Here,
Cu = Monthly consumptive use in cm
k = Crop factor, determined by experiments for each crop
t = Mean monthly temperature in 0C
p = Monthly percent of annual day light hours that occur during the period
𝒑
Here, (𝟏. 𝟖𝐭 + 32) is represented by f,
𝟒𝟎
𝑪𝒖 = 𝐤 × f
Considering Seasonal Consumptive use,
Here,
Cu = Seasonal consumptive use, i.e., Consumptive use
𝑪𝒖 = 𝒌 × ෍ 𝒇
during the period of growth for a given crop in a given area.
44
Estimation of ET
Example 08:
Wheat is to be grown at a certain place, the useful climatological conditions of which are
tabulated below in Table 3(a).
Determine the evapotranspiration and consumptive irrigation requirement of wheat
crop. Also determine the field irrigation requirement if the water application efficiency
is 80%. Make use of Blaney-Criddle equation and a crop factor equal to 0.8.
Table 3(a)
Month Monthly temp. in °C, averaged Monthly per cent of day time Useful rainfall in cm,
over the last 5 years hr. of the year computed averaged
from the Sun shine Tables over the last 5 years
November 18.0 7.20 1.7
December 15.0 7.15 1.42
January 13.5 7.30 3.01
February 14.5 7.10 2.25
Prepared by Abdullah Al Mahin, Lecturer, Dept. of CE, MEC 45
Estimation of ET (Cont.)
Solution:
Blaney-Criddle Equation is, Where, f =
𝑝
(1.8t + 32)
40
𝑪𝒖 = 𝒌 × ෍ 𝒇 Given, k = 0.8
Table 3(b)
𝒑
Month t p Re 𝒇= (1.8t + 32)
𝟒𝟎
November 18.0 7.20 1.7 11.6
December 15.0 7.15 1.42 10.5
January 13.5 7.30 3.01 10.3
February 14.5 7.10 2.25 10.3
Total 8.38cm 42.7cm
𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑢𝑚𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑢𝑠𝑒, 𝑪𝒖 = 𝒌 × ෍ 𝒇 = 𝟎. 𝟖 × 𝟒𝟐. 𝟕 = 𝟑𝟒. 𝟏𝟔 𝒄𝒎

46
Estimation of ET (Cont.)
Solution (Cont.)
Consumptive Irrigation Requirement, CIR = Cu – Re

Or, CIR = 34.16 – 8.38 = 25.78 cm

Field Irrigation requirement,

𝑪𝑰𝑹
𝑭𝑰𝑹 =
𝜼𝒂
25.76
Or, 𝐹𝐼𝑅 = = 32.22 cm
0.8

Prepared by Abdullah Al Mahin, Lecturer, Dept. of CE, MEC 47

 # Lecture-12
Soil Moisture & Root Zone
• The water below the water table is known as ground
water and above the water table as soil-moisture.
• Extending down from the ground surface, is the soil
zone or the root zone, which is defined as the depth
that is penetrated by the roots of vegetation, as shown
in the Figure.
• This zone is the most important from irrigation point
of view, because it is this zone, from which the plants
do take their water supplies.

Prepared by Abdullah Al Mahin, Lecturer, Dept. of CE, MEC 48

Field Capacity

• When water falls over the ground, a part of it gets absorbed in this root
zone, and the rest flows downward under the action of gravity and is called
gravity water.
• Immediately after rain or irrigation water application when all the gravity
water has drained down to the water table, a certain amount of water is
retained on the surface of soil grains by molecular attraction and by loose
chemical bond (i.e. absorption). This water cannot be easily drained under
the action of gravity, and is called the field capacity.

49
 Field Capacity (Cont.)
The field capacity water consists of two parts:
1. Capillary Water
2. Hygroscopic Water
Hygroscopic Water:
Capillary Water:
The other part of field capacity is that
One part of field capacity is that which is which is attached to the soil molecules by
attached to the soil molecules by surface chemical bonds. This water which cannot
tension against gravitation forces, and can be removed by capillarity is not available
be extracted by plants by capillarity. This to the plants, and is called the hygroscopic
water is called capillary water. water.

Prepared by Abdullah Al Mahin, Lecturer, Dept. of CE, MEC 50

 Depth of water stored in the Root zone & Field Capacity
The field capacity water is expressed as the ratio of the weight of the water
contained in the soil to the weight of the dry soil retaining that water.

𝑾𝒕. 𝒐𝒇 𝑾𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒂 𝒄𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒗𝒐𝒍. 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒐𝒊𝒍

Field Capacity = × 𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝑾𝒕. 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒅𝒓𝒚 𝒔𝒐𝒊𝒍

If we consider 1m2 area of soil and d meter depth of root zone, then the
volume of soil is dx1= d cubic metres.
𝐤𝐍
If the dry unit wt. of soil is 𝛄𝐝 𝟑
𝐦
Then the wt. of d cubic metres of soil is 𝛄𝐝 . 𝐝 𝐤𝐍.

51
Depth of water stored in the Root zone & Field Capacity (Cont.)
If F is the field capacity, then
𝑾𝒕. 𝒐𝒇 𝑾𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕 𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒂 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒐𝒊𝒍
F=
𝜸𝒅 ×𝒅

Or, Weight of water retained in unit area of soil = 𝛾𝑑 . 𝑑. 𝐹 kN/𝑚2

𝛾𝑑 .𝑑.𝐹 𝑘𝑁/𝑚2
∴ Volume of water stored in unit area of soil =
𝛾𝑤 𝑘𝑁/𝑚3
𝛾𝑑 .𝑑.𝐹
Or, Total water storage capacity of soil (m depth of water) = m
𝛾𝑤

Hence, the depth of water stored in the root zone in filling the soil up to field capacity
𝛄𝐝 .𝐝.𝐅
= metres
𝛄𝐰

Prepared by Abdullah Al Mahin, Lecturer, Dept. of CE, MEC 52

 Some Definitions
Permanent wilting point:
It is that water content at which plant can no longer
extract sufficient water for its growth, and wilts up. It is
the point at which permanent wilting of plants take place.
Available moisture:
The available moisture may be defined as the difference
in water content of the soil between field capacity and
permanent wilting point.
Hygroscopic water:
The water left in the soil after the permanent wilting point is reached, cannot be removed, and
is known as, unavailable moisture or Hygroscopic water.
53
 Some Definitions
Readily available moisture:
It is that portion of the available moisture which is most easily extracted by the plants, and is
approximately 75 to 80% of the available moisture.
Soil-moisture deficiency:
The water required to bring the soil moisture content of a given soil to its field capacity is
called the field moisture deficiency or soil-moisture deficiency.
Equivalent moisture:
Just as the field capacity is the water retained by a saturated soil after being acted upon by
gravity; similarly, equivalent moisture is the water retained by a saturated soil after being
centrifuged for 30 minutes by a centrifugal force of 1000 times that of gravity. Therefore, it is
slightly less, or at the most equal to the field capacity.
Prepared by Abdullah Al Mahin, Lecturer, Dept. of CE, MEC 54
 # Lecture-13
Depth and Frequency of Irrigation
• Water or soil moisture is consumed by plants through their roots. It,
therefore, becomes necessary that sufficient moisture remains available in
the soil from the surface to the root zone depth.
• The soil moisture is not allowed to be depleted up to the wilting
point, as it would result in considerable fall in crop yield.
• The optimum level up to which the soil moisture may be allowed to be
depleted in the root zone without fall in crop yield, must be worked out for
every crop and soil, by experimentation.

55
 Depth and Frequency of Irrigation (Cont.)
• The irrigation water should be supplied as soon as the moisture falls up to this
optimum level (fixing irrigation frequency) and its quantity should be just sufficient to
bring the moisture content up to its field capacity, making allowance for application
losses (thus fixing water depth).
• Water will be utilized by the plants
after the fresh irrigation dose is given,
and soil moisture will start falling.
• It will again be recouped by a fresh
dose of irrigation, as soon as the soil
moisture reaches the optimum level.

Prepared by Abdullah Al Mahin, Lecturer, Dept. of CE, MEC 56

Depth and Frequency of Irrigation (Cont.)
Example 09:
After how many days will you supply water to soil in order to ensure sufficient irrigation of the
given crop, if
Field capacity of the soil = 28%
Permanent wilting point = 13%
Dry density of soil = 1.3 gm/c.c.
Effective depth of root zone = 70cm.
Daily consumptive use of water for the given crop = 12mm.
Assume any other data, not given.

57
Depth and Frequency of Irrigation (Cont.)
Solution:

The available moisture = Field capacity – Permanent wilting

= 28 − 13 = 15%
Assume that, the readily available moisture level is 80% of available moisture.
Readily available moisture = 0.80 ∗ 15% = 12%
So, Optimum moisture = 28 − 12 = 16%
It means that moisture will be filled by irrigation between 16% to 28%.

Prepared by Abdullah Al Mahin, Lecturer, Dept. of CE, MEC 58

Depth and Frequency of Irrigation (Cont.)
Solution (Cont.)
Depth of water stored in root zone between these two limits
𝛾𝑑 ∗𝑑
= 𝐹𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑 𝑐𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑚. 𝑐. −𝑂𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝑚. 𝑐. = 1.3 ∗ 0.70 0.28 − 0.16 𝑚
𝛾𝑤
= 1.3 ∗ 0.70 ∗ 0.12𝑚 = 0.1092𝑚 = 10.92𝑐𝑚.
Hence, water available for evapo-transpiration = 10.92𝑐𝑚
1.2cm of water is utilized by the plant in 1day
So, 10.92cm of water will be utilized by the plant in
10.92
𝑑𝑎𝑦𝑠 = 9.1 𝑑𝑎𝑦𝑠; 9 𝑑𝑎𝑦𝑠
1.2
Hence, after 9 days, water should be supplied to the given crops. (Ans.)

59
Assignment-2

▪ Example 2.10 & 2.16

(Irrigation Engineering and Hydraulic Structures
- S.K. Garg)

Prepared by Abdullah Al Mahin, Lecturer, Dept. of CE, MEC 60

THANK YOU!