27‐Mar‐23
Chapter 1 – Introduction, importance and
methods of Irrigation
Topics to be addressed in this chapter
Definitionof Irrigation
Purpose / Objective of Irrigation
Necessity of Irrigation
Advantages and ill-effects of irrigation
Scope of Irrigation Engineering
Methods of Irrigation
Involvement of person with irrigation engineering
Chapter 1 – Irrigation Canal
Prof Jahid, MIST 1
27‐Mar‐23
Chapter 1 – Definition of Irrigation
Definition of Irrigation
Irrigation is the science of supplying water to the plants
for its growth and maturity i.e. the science of artificial
application of water to the land, in accordance with the
crop requirements throughout the crop period for full-
fledged nourishment of the crops. It also can be
defined as the application of water to soil for the
purpose of supplying moisture which is essential for
plant growth
Chapter 1 – Definition of Irrigation
FulllIrrigation: When all the moisture or water that is
required for crop is supplying artificially then the
irrigation is termed as full irrigation. Full irrigation
needed in dry season
Partial Irrigation: When some of the moisture or water
in addition with natural water is artificially supply for
the growth of crop then this type of irrigation is termed
as partial or supplimentary irrigation. Partial /
supplementary irrigation needed in rainy season
Prof Jahid, MIST 2
27‐Mar‐23
Chapter 1 – History of Irrigation
Started in ancient civilization in arid and semi-arid
climatic zones where food shortage was acute
Old cities excavated in Asia and Africa have disclosed
that more than 5000 years ago people in Lebanon,
China, Indo-Pakistan, Egypt adopted a permanent
irrigation canal system. They knew that without digging
canals and taking water from rivers through canals,
land cultivation was not possible
Chapter 1 – History of Irrigation
Chinese are known to have practiced irrigation since
2627 BC. They has the longest irrigation canal, known
as the Grand Canal of 1285 miles, constructed
originally by the Sui Empire during 589 to 618 AD and
completed 1300 AD. This oldest and longest canal links
Beijing and Hanchow by crossing the Great Yangzi and
Yellow Rivers and still serving 159223 [Link] of area
One of the largest irrigation canal of North Kiangsu
Province of China which is 170 km long and 127 m
wide in bed was dug by 1300000 people in 80 days.
Prof Jahid, MIST 3
27‐Mar‐23
Chapter 1 – Objectives of Irrigation
Main purposes/objectives of irrigation
To add water to soil
To apply moisture essential for plant growth
To provide crop insurance against short duration
droughts
To cool the soil and atmosphere thereby making more
favorable environment for plant growth
To wash out or dilute salts from the soil
To reduce hazards of soil piping
Soften the tillage pan
Chapter 1 – Importance of Irrigation
Following are the factors which govern the
importance/necessity of irrigation:
Insufficient rainfall: when the total amount of rainfall is less than
the amount required by the plant i.e. demand of crop is more
than rainfall in the area
Uneven distribution of rainfall: rainfall is sufficient but spatial
distribution is not as per requirement
Rainfall is sufficient, spatial distribution is also good but temporal
distribution is not as per requirement
Development of agriculture in desert area
Due to advanced scientific development: for cultivation of high
yield variety
Prof Jahid, MIST 4
27‐Mar‐23
Chapter 1 – Advantages of Irrigation
Increased in food production
Improvement of cash crops
Source of revenue
General prosperity
Generation of hydro-electric power
Domestic water supply
Facilities of communications
Inland navigation
Afforestation
Chapter 1 – Indirect advantages
Increase value of property
Development of nutrition level
Employment opportunity
Industrial development with raw agricultural product
Recreation facilities
Prof Jahid, MIST 5
27‐Mar‐23
Chapter 1 – Disadvantages / ill-effects
Rising of water table: water-logging
Salinity and alkalinity of land
Loss of manure (fertilizer)
Loss of precious water which is developed and
preserved
Problem of water pollution (nitrates: seepage into GW)
Formation of marshy land
Dampness in weather
Loss of valuable lands
Chapter 1 – Ill-effects of Water Logging
Normal cultivation operation such as tilling, ploughing
etc can not be easily carried out in wet/watery soils
Certain water loving plants like grasses, weeds etc are
grown and interfere with the growth of crops
Reduce yield/production: plant depends on nitrates
which produced by bacteria, these bacteria needs O2
for their servival. Water logging results the death of
these bacteria which eventually reduce soil fertility
Prof Jahid, MIST 6
27‐Mar‐23
Chapter 1 – Causes of Water Logging
Over and intensive irrigation
Seepage of water from the adjoining high lands
Seepage of water through the canals
Impervious obstruction
Inadequate surface drainage
Excessive rains
Submergence due to flood
Irregular topography
Chapter 1 – Leaching
In this process, the land is flooded with adequate depth
of water. The salt present in the soil, get dissolved in
this water, which percolate downward to join the
watertable or drained out by sub-surface drains. The
process is repeated until the salts in the top layer of the
land are reduced to such an extent that some salt
resistant crop can be grown. This process is known as
leaching.
Prof Jahid, MIST 7
27‐Mar‐23
Chapter 1 – Persons Involve in Irrigation
Following persons are closely related with irrigation engineering
Hydrologist
Agriculturist
Soil scientist
Administrator
Meteorologist
Farmer
Irrigation Planner
Environmentalist
Economist
Social Scientist
Chapter 1 – Irrigation Engineer
Job description of an irrigation engineer
Computation of water required
Determination of water resources
Collection, storage and diversion of water
Conveyance/transport
Distribution
Drainage of excess water
Protection against flood
Prof Jahid, MIST 8
27‐Mar‐23
Chapter 1 – Environmental Consideration
Followingfactors to be considered
Submergence of land and forestry
Atmospheric pollution for organic decomposition
Water logging
Mosquito habital
Water borne diseases
Chapter 1 – Method of Irrigation
Broadly classified into:
Surface/Gravity Method (Soil surface is used to convey
water)
Sub-surface irrigation (application of water beneath
the soil surface)
Prof Jahid, MIST 9
27‐Mar‐23
Chapter 1 – Surface Irrigation
In the surface methods of irrigation, water is applied
directly to the soil surface from a channel located at the
upper reach of the field.
Water may be distributed to the crops in border strips,
check basins or furrows.
Two general requirements of prime importance to obtain
high efficiency in surface methods of irrigation are:
distribution systems to provide adequate control of water to the
fields
proper land preparation to permit uniform distribution of water
over the field.
Chapter 1 – Surface Irrigation
They are also designed to minimize labor and capital
requirements.
Effective management practices are dependent on the
type of irrigation, and the climate and topography of the
region.
Prof Jahid, MIST 10
27‐Mar‐23
Chapter 1 – Surface Irrigation
Chapter 1 – Surface Irrigation
Perennial Type: In perennial system of irrigation, constant
and continuous water supply is assured to the crops in
accordance with the requirements of the crop, throughout
the ‘crop period’.
Flood Type: Soil is kept submerged and thoroughly
flooded with water, so as to cause thorough saturation of
the land. The moisture soaked by the soil, when
occasionally supplemented by natural rainfall or minor
watering, brings the crop to maturity.
Prof Jahid, MIST 11
27‐Mar‐23
Chapter 1 – Subsurface Irrigation
In sub-irrigation, water is applied below the ground
surface by maintaining an artificial water table at some
depth, depending upon the soil texture and the depth of
the plant roots
Water reaches the plant roots through capillary action
Water may be introduced through open ditches or
underground through pipelines
Water application system consists of field supply
channels, ditches or trenches suitably spaced to cover the
field adequately and drainage ditches for the disposal
of excess water.
Chapter 1 – Subsurface Irrigation
Prof Jahid, MIST 12
27‐Mar‐23
Chapter 1 – Subsurface Irrigation
Chapter 1 – Subsurface Irrigation
Natural Sub-irrigation: When underground irrigation is
achieved, simply by natural processes, without any
additional extra efforts, it is called natural sub-irrigation
Artificial Sub-irrigation: When a system of open jointed
drains is artificially laid below the soil, so as to supply
water to the crops by capillarity, then it is known as
artificial sub-irrigation
Prof Jahid, MIST 13
27‐Mar‐23
Chapter 1 – Methods of surface irrigation
Free/Wild/Uncontrolled Flooding
Border Flooding
Check Flooding
Basin Flooding
Furrow Irrigation Method
Sprinkler Irrigation Method
Drip Irrigation Method
Chapter 1 – Free Flooding
Free Flooding or Ordinary Flooding
Prof Jahid, MIST 14
27‐Mar‐23
Chapter 1 – Free Flooding
Free Flooding or Ordinary Flooding
Ditches are excavated in the field
Water is applied from field ditches without any levee
to guide its flow
Movement of water is not restricted, it is sometimes
called ‘wild flooding’
It is suitable for close growing crops
It is practiced large where irrigation water is abundant
and inexpansive
Chapter 1 – Free Flooding
Free Flooding or Ordinary Flooding
It involves low initial cost of land preparation, extra
labour cost in application of water may required
This method may be used on rolling land (topography
irregular) where borders, checks, basins and furrow are
not feasible
Application effieiency is low
Not a very scientific method
Since water is applied without any control, so one area
can be over-irrigated with respect to another
Prof Jahid, MIST 15
27‐Mar‐23
Chapter 1 – Free Flooding
Advantages
Initial cost is low
Disadvantages
Not a scientific method
Water loss is high
Inefficient
Chapter 1 – Border Flooding
Border Flooding
Prof Jahid, MIST 16
27‐Mar‐23
Chapter 1 – Border Flooding
Border Flooding
Land is divided into a number of strips
Strips separated by low levees called ‘borders’
Strip area: width 10~20 m and length 100~400 m
Water is turned from the supply ditch into these strips along
which a flow slowly toward the lower end, wetting the soil
as it advances. When the advancing water front reaches the
lower end, the stream turned off.
The surface is essentially level between levees and
lengthwise slope is somewhat according to natural slope of
the land (0.2 ~ 0.4%)
Chapter 1 – Border Flooding
Border Flooding
Itis suitable to soils having moderately low infiltration rates
and to closely growing crops
Uniform distribution and high water application efficiencies
than free/wild flooding are possible
Large streams can be used efficiently
This method involves high initial cost for land preparation
Ridges between borders should be sufficiently high
Land should be perpendicular to the flow to prevent water
from concentrating on either side of the border
Prof Jahid, MIST 17
27‐Mar‐23
Chapter 1 – Border Flooding
Time estimation for Border Flooding
A relationship between the discharge through the supply ditch (Q),
the average depth of water flowing over the strip (y), the rate of
infiltration of the soil (f), the area of the land irrigated (A), and the
approximate time required to cover the given area with water (t), is
given by the equation
where,
Q = Discharge through the supply ditch
y = Depth of water flowing over the border strip
f = Rate of infiltration of soil
A = Area of land strip to be irrigated
t = Time required to cover the given area A
Chapter 1 – Border Flooding
Derivation of the equation
Considering small area, dA of the border strip of area A
Depth of water, y over this area A
Assume that in time dt, water advances over this area (dA)
Now, the volume of water that flows to cover this area = [Link] ---------(1)
Prof Jahid, MIST 18
27‐Mar‐23
Chapter 1 – Border Flooding
Chapter 1 – Border Flooding
Prof Jahid, MIST 19
27‐Mar‐23
Chapter 1 – Border Flooding
So, we get, Amax = Q/f
Chapter 1 – Border Flooding
Problem
Determine the time required to irrigate a strip of land of 0.04
hectares in area from a tubewell with a discharge of 0.02
cumec using Border Flooding method. The infiltration capacity of
the soil may be taken as 5 cm/hr and the average depth of
flow on the field as 10 cm. Also, determine the maximum area
that can be irrigated from this tubewell.
Solution:
Here, A = 0.04 ha = 0.04 x 104 m2 = 400 m2
Q = 0.02 cumec = 0.02 m3/s = 0.02 x 60x 60 = 72 m3/hr
f = 5 cm/hr = 0.05 m/hr
y = 10 cm = 0.10 m
Prof Jahid, MIST 20
27‐Mar‐23
Chapter 1 – Border Flooding
Solution Contd:
Chapter 1 – Check Flooding
Check Flooding
Prof Jahid, MIST 21
27‐Mar‐23
Chapter 1 – Check Flooding
Check Flooding
Similar to Ordinary flooding
Minor slope
Water is controlled by surrounding the check area with low and
flat levees
Check area is filled with water at a fairly high rate and allowed
to stand untill the water infiltrates
Confined plots are varies from 0.2 to 0.8 hectares
Excess water is drained through drainage channel
Chapter 1 – Check Flooding
Adaptability
It is suitable for low as well as high intake soils and for rice or
other crops which can withstand temporary flooding
Advantages
Effective leaching
Maximum use of seasonal rainfall
High application efficiency
Limitations
Large Q is required
Small application is not feasible
Unsuitable for crops that cannot accommodate innundation
Prof Jahid, MIST 22
27‐Mar‐23
Chapter 1 – Basin Flooding
Basin Flooding
Special type of check flooding
Whole area is divided into some basins with 4 levees
Basins are perfectly levelled, so no highest or lowest
point or no slope
Excess water is not drained
Surface is flooded as in check method by ditch water
Water will be remain on the basin until percolation
Chapter 1 – Basin Flooding
Adaptability
It is suitable for low as well as high intake soils
Advantages
Effective leaching
Maximum use of seasonal rainfall
High application efficiency as the infiltration depth is uniform
Limitations
High initial cost for land preparation
Unsuitable for crops that cannot accommodate innundation
Small applications are not feasible
Prof Jahid, MIST 23
27‐Mar‐23
Chapter 1 – Diff betn Check and Basin
Land Preparation
Check: check area is not perfectly levelled
Basin: basin area is perfectly levelled
Water application
Check: water is applied from highest point as area is not
levelled
Basin: water is applied from one or two points as there is no
highest point
Efficiency
Check: low efficiency than basin flooding
Basin: high efficiency than check flooding
Chapter 1 – Furrow Irrigation
Furrow Flooding
Prof Jahid, MIST 24
27‐Mar‐23
Chapter 1 – Furrow Irrigation
Furrow Flooding
Chapter 1 – Furrow Irrigation Method
Furrow Irrigation
Furrow are narrow field ditches, excavated between rows
of plants and carry water through them
Spacing of furrows is determined by proper spacing of the
plants
Furrows vary from 8 to 30 cm deep and may be as much as
400 meters long
Deep furrows are widely used for row type of crops
(potato, tomato etc)
Water flows to the root zone by lateral movement of water
Prof Jahid, MIST 25
27‐Mar‐23
Chapter 1 – Furrow Flooding
Adaptability
It is suitable for row crops (like potato, groundnut, sugarcane
etc) and for medium to moderately fine textured soil
Advantages
Only about one-fifth to one-half of the land surface is wetted
by water. So, it results in less evaporation
Disadvantages
Excessively long furrows may result in too much percolation
near upper end and too little water near the down-slope end
It involves high initial cost and salt accumulation in the ridges
due to lateral and upward movement of water
Chapter 1 – Sprinkler Irrigation Method
Prof Jahid, MIST 26
27‐Mar‐23
Chapter 1 – Sprinkler Irrigation Method
Sprinkler Irrigation
Water is applied to the soil in the form of a spray through
a network of pipes and pumps
It is kind of an artificial rain and gives good results
It is a costly process and not widely used in our country
It can be used for all types of soils and for widely different
topographies and slopes
It fulfils the normal requirement of uniform distribution of
water
Although highest amount of water surrounding the pipe, but
due to overlapping of the irrigated area, uniform
distribution of water is possible
Chapter 1 – Sprinkler Irrigation Method
Types of Sprinkler Systems
Permanent system: In permanent system, pipes are
permanently buried in such a way that they do not
interfere with the farming operations
Semi-permanent system: In semi-permanent system, the
main lines are buried in the ground, while the laterals
are portable
Portable system: In the portable system, the mains as
well as laterals are portable. These portable networks
can be moved from farm to farm
Prof Jahid, MIST 27
27‐Mar‐23
Chapter 1 – Sprinkler Irrigation Method
Sprinkler Irrigation Method
Chapter 1 – Methods of Irrigation
Sprinkler Irrigation Method
Prof Jahid, MIST 28
27‐Mar‐23
Chapter 1 – Sprinkler Irrigation Method
Adaptability
This method can be used for almost all crops (except rice and
jute) and on most soils
It is best suited to sandy soils that have a high infiltration rate
It can be applied to any topographic conditions without
extensive land preparation
Advantages
Seepage losses which occur in earthern cannels of surface
irrigation methods are completely eliminated. Moreover, only
optimum quantity of water is used in this method
Chapter 1 – Sprinkler Irrigation Method
Land leveling is not required and thus avoiding removal of top
fertile soil, as happens in other surface irrigation methods
No cultivation area is lost for making ditches results in
increasing about 16% of the cropped area
water can be applied at a rate lesser than the infiltration
capacity of soil and thus avoiding surface run off
This method leaches down salts and prevents water-logging or
salinity
It is less labor oriented and hence useful where labor is costly
and scarce
Small and frequent application of water can be applied
readily
Prof Jahid, MIST 29
27‐Mar‐23
Chapter 1 – Sprinkler Irrigation Method
Up to 80% of applied water can be stored in the root zone of
plants
Fertilizers can be uniformly applied, because they can mixed
with irrigation water
Limitations
High winds may distort sprinkler pattern, causing non-uniform
spreading of water on the crops
In areas of high temperature and high wind velocity,
considerable evaporation losses of water may take place
They are not suited to crops requiring frequent and larger
depths of irrigation, such as rice production
Chapter 1 – Sprinkler Irrigation Method
Initial cost of the system is very high (due to cost of pipe,
nozzle, pump), and the system requires a high technical skill
A constant water supply is needed for commercial use of
equipment
Only sand and silt free water can be used, as otherwise pump
impellers lifting such water will get damaged
Prof Jahid, MIST 30
27‐Mar‐23
Chapter 1 – Sprinkler Irrigation Method
Advantages, Limitation, Conditions for adaptation: Book
Garg
Discuss the feasibility or adaptability for suitability of
Sprinkler system in context of Bangladesh
Not Suitable because
(a) High initial cost,
(b) High operating cost,
(c) Rice is the main crop of our country, for which sprinkler
system is not suitable,
(d) For our country, we need labour intensive method rather
than mechanized method
Chapter 1 – Drip Irrigation Method
Prof Jahid, MIST 31
27‐Mar‐23
Chapter 1 – Drip Irrigation Method
Drip Irrigation
This one is relatively new field irrigation technique (also called
trickle irrigation)
Irrigation water is applied by using small diameter (12 to 32
mm) plastic lateral lines
The lateral lines contains some devices called ‘emitters’ at
selected spacing to deliver water to the soil surface near the
base of the plants
It is best suited for widely spaced plants, salt problems and for
areas with water scarcity
Water is applied where root of plant remains and water is
applied at a very low rate (drop by drop)
Chapter 1 – Drip Irrigation Method
In this method, water is slowly and directly applied to the root
zone of the plants for minimizing the losses by evaporation and
percolation
This method is being used for small nourishes, orchards or
gardens (suitable for widely spaced and small plants)
Prof Jahid, MIST 32
27‐Mar‐23
Chapter 1 – Drip Irrigation Method
Advantages
Conventional losses such as deep percolation, runoff and soil
water can be minimized by applying a volume of water
approaching the consumptive use of the plants
Small area is wetted thereby reducing weed growth, insects
and diseases etc
Soil crusting and interference with harvesting is minimized
Greater crop yield and better quality can be obtained
For widely spaced like fruit trees, the system may be even
more economical than sprinkler method of irrigation
When compared to the sprinkler system, the drip method
operates on much lower line pressure, thus providing a saving
in energy requirements
Chapter 1 – Drip Irrigation Method
Advantages
Like the sprinkler method, drip irrigation permits the
simultaneous application of fertilizers through the system
Disadvantages
High initial cost of the drip irrigation equipment sometimes
limits its use to orchard and vegetables in water scarcity areas
Clogging of emitter may disrupt the irrigation system
Plastic pipes may damage by rodents
Wind erosion can harm the pipes
Prof Jahid, MIST 33