TUTORIAL FOR IRRIGATION SYSTEMS BENG4 The Disadvantages are
DESCRIPTIVE TYPE The Life of tubewell is relatively short
1. Define the following: Frequent breakups in the pump
a) Irrigation; Irrigation is an artificial method, of application of The water from the well irrigation does not contain nutrient
water to the Land for raising crops. from the silt carried by the canal system
b) Irrigation engineering; Irrigation engineering does not only
deal with the application of water to the land but also with Conjunctive Use of water is the storage of the surplus Surface
the planning and designing of structures for the irrigation of water from rain to be later used for the period of drought.
the land OBJECTIVE TYPE
Write whether the following statements are true or false
c) Water application efficiency; it is defined as the ratio of the
quantity of water stored by the root zone of the crop to the i. The consumptive use of water is equal to the
quantity of water applied to the field. evapotranspiration. F
d) Water use efficiency; It is defined as the ratio of the quantity ii. Crops use about 1% of the applied water in metabolism.
of water use beneficially by the crop, including the water T
required for Leaching to the quantity of water delivered to iii. A lysimeter has an impervious bottom. T
the field iv. The monthly percentage of the day-time hours depends
e) Water distribution efficiency; It indicates the degree to upon the longitude of the place.T
which water is distributed through out the root zone of the v. The maximum value of the consumptive use coefficient
crop during irrigation usually occurs when the age of the crop is about 50%. F
f) Water conveyance efficiency; It defined as the ratio of the vi. The net irrigation requirement is equal to the
quantity of water delivered to the field, to the quantity of consumptive irrigation requirement. F
water diverted into the canal from the offtake point vii. The water-application efficiency is equal to the ratio of
g) Water storage efficiency; It is defined as the ratio of the the net-irrigation requirement and the field irrigation
quantity of water stored by the root zone of the crop the to requirement, multiplied by 100. T
the quantity of water required to raise the moisture content viii. The water-distribution efficiency indicates the degree to
of the soil to the field capacity. which water is uniformly distributed. T
h) Base period; It is the total period between the first watering ix. The consumptive use of water for a crop is equal to its
and the last watering of the crop. Base period is slightly delta. F
different from the crop period which is the total period x. The base period and the crop period are equal. F
between the time of sowing and time of harvesting of the xi. Wheat requires 3-4 waterings for its proper growth. T
crop. It Is the total period during which the crop remains on xii. For tank irrigation, duty is usually expressed in terms of
the field. Base period to the total period during which ha/cumec. T
irrigation Is done. It expressed in days. xiii. The duty of water decreases from the head of the canal
2. What are the reasons because of which irrigation is to its tail. T xiv. Duty in the well irrigation is less than that
necessary? in the canal irrigation. T
• Increase in Crop yield; The yield of most types of Crops xv. Duty can be increased by decreasing the losses. T
is increased due to constant supply of water from xvi. Duty is high in the drip (or trickle) irrigation. T
irrigation. The right amount of water is applied to the xvii. A pick up weir is always required for the diversion of
crop at the right time which increase growth and yield. water into the canal. T
• Inadequate rainfall; when the rainfall of place is xviii. Direct irrigation is normally not done from the main
inadequate, irrigation is necessary to maintain adequate canal. T
supply of water.
xix. Water courses are generally owned and maintained by
• Uneven distribution of rainfall; when the rainfall is cultivators themselves.T
adequate but unevenly distributed, irrigation is still
xx. A carrier canal is the same as a feeder canal. F
necessary for the uniform distribution of water.
xxi. The annual intensity of irrigation can be greater than
• Growth of perennial crops. Irrigation is necessary for the
100%. T
growth of perennial crops such a s sugarcane.
xxii. About 40 to 50% losses occur in the unlined canals in the
• Insurance against drought
conveyance. T
3. What are the benefits of irrigation? Discuss in brief.
xxiii. The specific capacity of wells in sand is greater than that
• Increase in crop yield; The yield of most types of crops
of wells in clay. T xxiv. The recuperation test is
on the field is increased due to constant water supply
more difficult than the constant level test. T
from irrigation. The water is supplied to the crop when
it is needed. The quantity of water is supplied to the
optimum to have the maximum yield.
• Growth of superior crops; Irrigation facilities encourages • Protection from famine; Irrigation schemes helps to
the growth of superior crops in the place of inferior protect against famine. Assured water supplied helps to
crops. Superior crops like spike millet, ragi and pair. provide water during drought to avoid famine.
NUMERICAL • Prevent flood; Most of the river valley projects are
a) If rice requires 12.5 cm depth of water at an interval of 12 design for flood in addition of irrigation and
days, and the base period is 120 days, find out the delta hydroelectric power. In the reservoir, some space is
for rice. kept for flood water.
SOLUTION 4. What are the ill effects of irrigation? How would you
D = 12.5cm reduce the ill effects?
Interval = 12days • Waterlogging
B = 120days
• Damped climate
Đ = depth of water × base period/ interval
• Mosquitoes nuisance
= The ill effects can be effectively reduced by;
= 125cm • Exercising economical and scientific use of water
• The irrigation project musty be properly studied and
implemented
b) If wheat requires about 10 cm of water after 35 days, and • If necessary command area development
the base period is 140 days, determine the duty for work should be simultaneously undertaken
wheat, 5. Discuss the various methods for the estimation of
SOLUTION transmission losses in unlined and lined canals.
Đ = 10cm a) Unlined canal; Emperical formula is a method used for
B = 140days the determination of Losses for unlined canals by using
the formula,
D= 8.64𝐵
Đ
∆Q= 1/200(B+D) ^ (2/3). Where ∆Q= water losses in
cumecs per km Length of the Channel, Bo is the bed
width, D is the depth of water.
D= 8 .
Also in Punjab; K=0.6Q ^ (0.0625); Where K=water
loss in cumecs per million square metre of the
D = 3024ha/cumec wetted perimeter and Q is the discharge in the
channel in cumec.
c) Find the delta of a crop if duty is 900 ha/cumecs and the
B) Lined Canal; The formula use for the determination of water
base period is 120 days.
Losses is
SOLUTION
the formula used K = 0.349Q. Where K=water loss in cumecs per
D = 900ha/cumecs
million square metre of the wetted perimeter and Q is the
B = 120days
discharge in the channel in cumec.
Đ = 8.64𝐵
D
6. Differentiate between the well irrigation and the canal
Đ = 8 .
irrigation. Discuss their relative advantages and
disadvantages. What is conjunctive use of water
= 1.152 m changing to cm gives The difference is that, well irrigation make use of
= 115.2 cm underground water or aquifers, tubewells while canal irrigation
uses surface water such as rivers, streams, ponds canal and
d) Fifteen cumecs of water is delivered to a field of 50 ha
pipes. The advantages are;
area for 4 hours. If the soil moisture test indicates that
Well irrigation required comparatively small outlays compared
0.35 m of water has been stored in the root zone,
to canal irrigation
compute the water application efficiency.
SOLUTION Duty is high in well irrigation because water is used economically
Quantity of water applied = 15 × 4 × 3600 =216000𝑚2 by the cultivators
Quantity of water stored in the root zone = (50 × 104 ) They is no waterlogging in well irrigation because the water
𝑚3 × 0.35 table is lowered
ŋ= 𝑣 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑑 × 100 Transmission Losses are reduced in well irrigation because
𝑣 𝑑𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑑 relatively short pipes are required
= × 100
= 81.02%
e) Determine the pan evaporation from the following data
by Christiansen's formula.
• Mean temperature=30°C
• Mean wind velocity at 0.5 m above
ground=200 km/day
SOLUTION
Ep = 0.459RCt Cw Ch Cs Ce
R = 50, 597
Ct=0.393+0.02796(30)+. 0.000189(30²)=1.339
Cw = 0.708 + 0.38(200) + 0.0000038(200²) = 1.453
Ch=1.250- 0.0087(30) + 0.75×10–4 (30²) -0.85×16-8 (30⁴) = 1.050
Cs= 0.542 + 0.088(80) - 0.78 ×10-4(80²) +0.62×10-6(80³) =1.063
Ce = 0.970 to100984 (300)=0,999
Ep=0.459(50,597)(1,339)(1.453)(1.050)(1,062) (0.999) = 50.38cm
(b) Determine the consumptive use of water for a crop having a
consumptive use coefficient of 0.70.
Cu = 0.7 × 50.38 = 35.266cm
f) Determine the consumptive use and the consumptive
irrigation requirements for wheat from the following by
Blaney-Criddle equation.
Month Monthly Monthly Useful Consumptiv
mean percent rainfall e use
temperature of (cm) coefficient
(°C) daytime (k)
hours
15.0 7.0 1.5
November 0.80
13.0 6.9 1.7
December 0.80
11.5 7.1 2.5
January 0.80
12.5 7.2 0.50
February 0.80
• SOLUTION ; consumptive use
Cu = K£P(1.8T+32)/40
0.8/40[(7(1.8×15+32)+(6.9(1.8×13+32)+(7.1(1.8×11.5+32)+(7.2(
1.8×12.5+32)] = 31.236cm
• SOLUTION ; consumptive irrigation.
CIR = Cu-Re
31.236 – 6.2 = 25.036cm
g) Determine the consumptive use and net irrigation
requirements for a crop from the following data:
Month Pan Consumptive Effective
evaporation use precipitation
(cm) coefficient (cm)
November 16.10 0.45 3.10
December 17.20 0.50 2.50
January 19.30 0.80 2.90
February 21.20 0.85 1.50
SOLUTION
Month Pan K R( usefull Cu =kxEp. CIP = Cu-
Evapor rainfall) cm (cm) Re
ation(E
p)
Novemb 16.10 0.45 3.10 7.245 4.145
er
Dec 17.20 0.50 2.50 8.6 6.1
Jan 19.30 0.80 2.90 15.44 12.54
Feb 21.20 0.85 1.50 18.02 16.52
Total= Total=
49.305cm 39.305c
m
h) A main canal takes off from a storage reservoir and has
to irrigate the following crops
crop Base Area to Duty at the
period be head of the
(days) irrigated canal (
(ha) ha/cumecs)
1 sugarcane 260 400 750
i. Determine the discharge required at the head of the
main canal if the factor is 0.7
SOLUTION
Discharge required: sugarcane = 400/750 = 0.53 cumecs
Overlapping sugarcane = 80/750 = 0.106 cumecs
Tomatoes = 4000/1800 = 2.22 cumecs
Rice = 5000/3000 = 1.67 cumecs
Vegetables = 500/800 =0.625 cumecs
Because sugarcane has a long period, it will require water during all the
year
Total discharge 1: 0.533+2.222 =2.755 cumecs
Total discharge 2: 0.53 +1.67+0.106 = 2.306 cumecs
Total discharge 3 :0.53+0.625= 1.155 cumecs
Discharge required at the head = 2.755/0.7 =3.94 cumecs
ii. If the losses in the reservoir are 15%, determine the live
storage of the reservoir
i) Find the field capacity of a soil from the following data:
• Root zone depth= 1.6 m
• Area of plot= 1000 m2
SOLUTION
Water retain in soil= 90%of water applied = 0.9 * 400 = 360m3
Water retain per unit area =360/1000=0.36
Weight of water retain = 0.36 *9.81KN
Dry weight of soil per unit area = 1.6*15kn =24 KN
Percentage of water retain = 0.36*9.81/24 =0.147 or 14.7%
Existing water content =6%
Field capacity = 6+14.7 = 20.7% or 21%
j) Compute the depth and frequency of irrigation required for a certain
crop from the following data:
• Root zone depth= 1.2 m
• Wilting point=12%
SOLUTION
a) Compute the depth
Dw=S *d(FC –PWP)=1.5*1.2*(0.22 -0.12) = 0.18m =18 cm
b) Frequency of irrigation
FI= Dw*EWA/Cw where Cw daily consumptive use AN: FI=0.18
*0.7/0.02=6.3days so 6 days