IRRIGATION SYSTEM

Repoter:
Elmer John A. Boloron

Moderator:
Edelino G. Cameros Jr.

Professor:
Engr. Geffren Bernardo

Date:
January 30, 2019
Importance of Irrigation

Irrigation is the process through which controlled amount of water can be supplied through
artificial means such as pipes, ditches, sprinklers etc. the main objectives of irrigation systems is
to help agricultural crop growth, landscape maintenance, reduce the effect of inadequate rainfall
etc. Therefore, the importance of irrigation systems is very high.

Importance of Irrigation. source: commons.wikimedia.org

Main importances of irrigation supplies are discussed below.

 Agriculture is often greatly hampered due to irregular, insufficient or uncertain rain.

Proper irrigation systems can secure uninterrupted agriculture.
 The productivity of irrigated land is more than the un-irrigated land. Crop yields
everywhere in the developing world are consistently higher in irrigated areas than in
rainfed areas1.
 Seeds cannot grow in dry soil as moisture is necessary for the germination of seeds.
With the help of irrigation supply, the required moisture content of soil for the growth of
seed can be ensured.
 Multiple cropping in a year is possible through irrigation. This will enhance production &
productivity. In many areas of India, two or three crops in a year are cultivated with
irrigation facilities.
 Through the irrigation, it is possible to supply the required amount of hydrogen &
oxygen, which is important for the proper development of plant root.
 A plant can absorb mineral nutrients from the irrigated soil. Thus irrigation is essential for
the general growth of the plant.
 Bringing more land under cultivation is possible through irrigation.
  Insufficient rain may also cause drought & famines. Irrigation can play a protective role
during the period of drought & famines.
 Irrigation contributes to the economic growth and poverty reduction2. As income and
employment are closely related to output and irrigation increases production, substantial
increase in income is achieved in the countryside.

IRRIGATION WATER QUALITY

Both irrigation water quality and proper irrigation management are critical to successful

crop production.

The quality of the irrigation water may affect both crop yields and soil physical

conditions, even if all other conditions and cultural practices are favorable/optimal. In

addition, different crops require different irrigation water qualities.

Therefore, testing the irrigation water prior to selecting the site and the crops to be grown is
critical.
The quality of some water sources may change significantly with time or during certain periods
(such as in dry/rainy seasons), so it is recommended to have more than one sample taken, in
different time periods.

The parameters which determine the irrigation water quality are divided to three categories:
chemical, physical and biological. In this review, the chemical properties of the irrigation water
are discussed.

The chemical characteristics of irrigation water refer to the content of salts in the water as well
as to parameters derived from the composition of salts in the water; parameters such as
EC/TDS (Electrical Conductivity/ Total Dissolved Solids), SAR (Sodium Adsorption Ratio)
alkalinity and hardness.
ORIGIN OF SALTS IN IRRIGATION WATER
The primary natural source of salts in irrigation water is mineral weathering of rocks and
minerals. Other secondary sources include atmospheric deposition of oceanic salts (salts in rain
water), saline water from rising groundwater and the intrusion of sea water into groundwater
aquifers. Fertilizer chemicals, which leach to water sources, may also affect the irrigation water
quality.

PROBLEMS RELATED TO IRRIGATION WATER QUALITY

Salinity - The main problem related to irrigation water quality is the water salinity. Water salinity
refers to the total amount of salts dissolved in the water but it does not indicate which salts are
present in it.

High level of salts in the irrigation water reduces water availability to the crop (because of
osmotic pressure) and causes yield reduction. Above a certain threshold, reduction in crop yield
is proportional to the increase in salinity level. Different crops vary in their tolerance to salinity
and therefore have different thresholds and yield reduction rates.

The most common parameters used for determining the irrigation water quality, in relation with
its salinity, are EC and TDS.

TDS ppm or mg/L EC dS/m Salinity hazard

<500 <0.8 Low

500 - 1000 0.8 - 1.6 Medium

1000 - 2000 1.6 - 3 High

 > 2000 >3 Very high

In case the irrigation water salinity exceeds the threshold for the crop, yield reduction
occurs. Equations were developed to estimate the yield potential, based on the irrigation water
salinity.

% Yield (of maximum) = 100 - b (ECe - a)

Where (b), is the percent loss in relative yield per unit increase in salinity, (a) the EC threshold
the crop can tolerate and ECe is the electrical conductivity of the saturated soil paste, which is
measured in the laboratory.

ECe is proportional to the electrical conductivity of the irrigation water, depending on the
percentage of irrigation water leached below the root zone.

TOXICITY OF SPECIFIC IONS

The quality of the irrigation water can be also determined by toxicity of specific ions.

The difference between a salinity problem and a toxicity problem is that toxicity occurs within the
plant itself, as a result of accumulation of a specific ion in the leaves.

The most common ions which might cause a toxicity problem are chloride, sodium and boron.
The same as with salinity, crops differ in their sensitivity to these ions.

Special attention should be given to boron because toxicity occurs in very low concentrations,
even though it is an essential plant nutrient.

Toxic levels of even a single ion in the irrigation water might make the water unsuitable for
irrigation. Nevertheless, there are some management practices that can help in reducing the
damage. These practices include proper leaching, increasing the frequency of irrigations,
avoiding overhead irrigation, avoiding the use of fertilizers containing chloride or boron,
selecting the right crops, etc.