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➔ Water Requirements of Crops: Duty, Delta, and Base Period:
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E
Crops need a specific amount of water for proper growth. The total water
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required for a crop from sowing to harvesting depends on Duty, Delta, and Base
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Period.
1. Duty (D)
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C
Duty is the area of land (in hectares) that can be irrigated with 1 cubic meter
per second (cumec) of water throughout the base period of a crop.
EC or
D
The duty of water is the relationship between the volume of water and the area
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of the crop it
measures.
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It may be defined as the number of hectares of land irrigated for a full
growth of a given crop by supply of 1 cubic meter per second of water
continuously during the entire base period (B) of that crop.
Thus if water flowing at a rate of 1 cubic metre per second, runs continuously
for B days, and matures 200 hectares, then the duty of water for that particular
crop will be defined as 200 hectares per cumec to the base of B days.
The duty is generally represented by the letter D.
Cumec (m³/s - Cubic Meter per
Second)
1 cumec = 1 cubic meter per
second Cusec (ft³/s - Cubic Foot per
Second)
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E
1 cusec = 1 cubic foot per
second
2. Delta (Δ)
D
Delta is the total depth of water (in meters) required by a crop during its
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entire growing period (base period).
3. Base Period (B)
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C
❖ The base period is the total time (in days) from the first irrigation to the
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last irrigation before harvesting.
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❖ The time duration during which irrigation water is applied to the crop
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from the first watering to the last watering before harvest.
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❖ It is always slightly shorter than the crop period because irrigation stops
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before the crop is fully matured.
❖ Example: If the crop period of a wheat crop is 5 months, the base period
might be
4.5 months (since the last few weeks do not require irrigation).
4. Crop Period (CP)
❖ The total time from sowing to harvesting of a crop.
❖ It varies depending on the type of crop (e.g., wheat has a different crop
period than rice).
❖ Example: If wheat is sown in November and harvested in March, its crop
period is 5 months.
5. Paleo Irrigation
Paleo irrigation is a method of irrigation used for pre-sowing watering to prepare
the soil for sowing seeds. It is mainly used for dryland farming to ensure the
soil has enough moisture before planting.
Benefits:
❖ Improves soil moisture for better seed growth.
❖ Reduces the risk of crop failure in dry regions.
❖ Makes plowing and seedbed preparation easier.
6. Kor Period
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● Means: The critical growth stage of a crop when it needs the most
P
water for proper growth.
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● Time Frame: Usually occurs soon after germination or transplanting
of crops.
D
● Importance: If water is not available during this period, crop yield
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is severely affected.
7. Kor Watering
IV
C
● Means: The first major irrigation given to a crop during the Kor Period.
C
● Purpose: Ensures strong root development and healthy crop growth.
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● Water Requirement:
D
Rice: 19 cm
Wheat: 13 cm
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Sugarcane: 16 cm
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➔ Relationship between Duty and Delta
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E
D
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IV
C
EC
D
➔ Factors Affecting Duty of Water
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Duty of water refers to the area of land irrigated by 1 cubic meter per second
(cumec) of water throughout the crop’s base period. It depends on several
factors:
a) Soil Factors
❖ Type of Soil – Sandy soil requires more water, reducing duty, while
clayey soil retains more water, increasing duty.
❖ Soil Moisture – If the soil holds water well, less irrigation is needed,
increasing duty.
Sandy
Soil
PT
E
D
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IV
Clayey
Soil
C
b) Climatic Factors
EC
D
❖ Temperature & Wind – High temperatures and strong winds
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increase evaporation, reducing duty.
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❖ Humidity & Rainfall – More humidity and rainfall reduce
irrigation needs, increasing duty.
Humidity in Agriculture refers to the amount of water vapor present in the air, which significantly
affects crop growth, soil moisture, and plant health.
○ Optimal humidity helps in efficient transpiration and nutrient uptake.
○ Too high or too low humidity can stress plants, affecting photosynthesis.
○ High humidity favors fungal diseases (e.g., powdery mildew, blight).
○ Low humidity can lead to increased pest attacks like spider mites.
Higher humidity reduces soil evaporation, keeping it moist for longer.
○ Very low humidity can cause faster drying of soil, requiring more
irrigation.
c) Crop Factors
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❖ Type of Crop – Water-intensive crops (like rice) have low
duty, while
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drought-resistant crops (like wheat) have
high duty.
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❖ Base Period – Longer-growing crops require more water, reducing
duty.
d) Irrigation Method & Management
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C
❖ Surface Irrigation – Wastes more water, reducing duty.
EC
❖ Drip/Sprinkler Irrigation – Uses less water efficiently, increasing duty.
❖ Water Losses – Seepage, evaporation, and poor canal maintenance
D
reduce duty.
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➔ Crop Seasons in India
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The terms Kharif and Rabi come from Arabic and are used in India,
Pakistan, and neighboring countries to classify crops based on their growing
seasons.
a) Kharif Season (Monsoon Crops, June – October)
Mean: The word "Kharif" means "autumn" in
Arabic. Sowing Season: June to July (beginning
of monsoon).
Harvesting Season: September to October (after
monsoon). Water Requirement: High, as they rely on
monsoon rains.
Examples: Rice, Maize, Millets, Cotton, Sugarcane,
Pulses.
PT
E
D
IL
IV
C
EC
D
N
G
b) Rabi Season (November – April)
Means: The word "Rabi" means "spring" in
Arabic. Sowing Season: October to November
(after monsoon). Harvesting Season: March to
April (spring season).
Water Requirement: Low, depends on
irrigation. Examples: Wheat, Barley,
Mustard, Peas, Gram.
PT
E
D
IL
IV
C
EC
D
N
G
c) Zaid Season (March –
June)
Sowing Time: March to April (after Rabi harvest)
Harvesting Time: June to July (before Kharif
sowing) Water Requirement: High, grown in (not dependent
irrigated areas monsoon) on
Climate: Hot and dry conditions with longer
daylight hours
➔ Irrigation Efficiency:
Efficiency is the ratio of water output to water input. If losses will be more,
then efficiency will be less. Various type of irrigation efficiencies are defined
below:
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E
D
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IV
C
EC
D
N
G
PT
E
D
IL
IV
C
EC
D
N
G
➔ Frequency of irrigation.
Frequency of Irrigation means how often water is given to crops. It depends
on several factors.
Factors Affecting Irrigation Frequency:
1. Type of Crop – Some crops need frequent watering (e.g., vegetables),
while others need less (e.g., wheat).
2. Soil Type – Sandy soil needs more frequent irrigation; clay soil holds water
longer.
3. Weather Conditions – Hot and dry weather requires more frequent
watering; rainy or humid conditions need less.
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4. Growth Stage of Crop – Young plants need more frequent irrigation
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than mature ones.
D
5. Method of Irrigation – Drip irrigation provides slow, regular water, reducing
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frequency needs.
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General Irrigation Frequency Examples:
● Rice – Every 4–7 days.
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C
● Wheat – Every 10–15 days.
E
D
● Vegetables – Every 2–4 days.
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G