Irrigation

Technological Institute of the Philippines

Germination

● The process of a seed starting to grow, or the act of causing a seed to

start growing
Irrigation

Three basic requirements of agricultural production are soil, seed, and water.
In addition, fertilisers, insecticides, sunshine, suitable atmospheric
temperature, and human labour are also needed.

Of all these, water appears to be the most important requirement of

agricultural production.

This artificial application of water to land for supplementing the naturally

available moisture in the root-zone soil for the purpose of agricultural
production is termed irrigation.
Application of water in soil

● It supplies moisture to the soil essential for the germination of seeds, and
chemical and bacterial processes during plant growth.
● It cools the soil and the surroundings thus making the environment more
favourable for plant growth.
● It washes out or dilutes salts in the soil.
● It softens clods and thus helps in tillage operations.
● It enables application of fertilisers.
● It reduces the adverse effects of frost on crops.
● It ensures crop success against short-duration droughts
Two categories of irrigation schemes

1. Surface Water irrigation schemes

- Use diversion and storage methods and obtain their supplies from
rivers.

2. Ground Water irrigation schemes

- Use open wells, and deep and shallow tube wells to lift water from
the water-bearing strata below the earth’s surface
Factors in choosing between two
categories

The choice of irrigation schemes depends on several factors such as:

● Surface Topography
● Rainfall characteristics
● Type of source available
● Subsoil profile
Impact of irrigation on human environment
Impact of irrigation on human environment
Traditional Methods of Irrigation
● Pulley system
○ Also known as Moat
○ During this method, water is directly collected from the well, using
a pulley to irrigate fields.
Traditional Methods of Irrigation
Traditional Methods of Irrigation
● Chain pump
○ It consists of two large wheels connected with an endless chain. The
bottom wheel is half immersed in the water source. With the
turning of the wheel, the connected buckets dip into the water
source and bring water. Chain lifts them to the upper wheel where
water from the bucket is transferred to the pool.
Traditional Methods of Irrigation
Traditional Methods of Irrigation
● Dhekli
○ During this system, a rope and bucket is connected to a pole or
heavy stick to obtain water from the well. It is also connected to a
heavy counterweight at the other end to draw water.
Traditional Methods of Irrigation
Traditional Methods of Irrigation
● Rahat
○ During this method, water is drawn from the well through a wheel
connected to animals like cows, buffalo, oxen, etc. With the
movement of animals, wheels rotate and it draws the water from
the well.
Traditional Methods of Irrigation
Modern Methods of Irrigation
● Furrow Irrigation
○ Furrow irrigation is a method of laying out the water channels in
such a way where gravity plays the role of providing just enough
water for suitable plants to grow. It is usually made by the planned
placement of ridges and furrows. It is a kind of surface irrigation
system.
○ A ridge is the part of the layout of the field that is elevated at
different angles based on the type of soil. This is actually where the
plants are planted. The furrows are the troughs that let the water
flow through it.
Modern Methods of Irrigation
Furrow irrigation is a more preferred way of irrigation primarily for two
reasons:

● Cost reduction for irrigation

● A more guaranteed higher yield.
 Modern Methods of Irrigation

RIDGE
FURROWS
Modern Methods of Irrigation
● Basin Irrigation
○ Basin irrigation is the most common form of surface irrigation,
particularly in regions with layouts of small fields. If a field is level in
all directions, encompassed by a dyke to prevent runoff and
provides an undirected flow of water onto the field, it is referred to
as basin. (Stauffer & Spuhler 2012)
○ Generally, basin irrigation is favored by moderate to slow intake
soils and deep-rooted, closely spaced crops.
○ Basin irrigation is an effective method of leaching salts from the soil
profile into the deeper groundwater.
Modern Methods of Irrigation
Modern Methods of Irrigation
Modern Methods of Irrigation
● Sprinkler Irrigation
○ Sprinkler systems mimic the phenomenon of rain. In sprinkler
systems, the pipes carry water to central locations on the farm. The
sprinklers placed there, distribute the water across the fields. The
sprinkler method is one of the most efficient irrigation methods to
irrigate the uneven land for agriculture. In addition, sprinkler
systems provide the best coverage regardless of the size of the
farm.
Modern Methods of Irrigation
Modern Methods of Irrigation
● Drip Irrigation
○ In the drip irrigation, we lay plastic pipes in rows near the crops or
plants. These pipes have holes in them. The water seeps from these
holes drop by drop, hence the name drip irrigation.
○ Drip irrigation is the most used irrigation system these days.
○ Drip irrigation is one of the most efficient irrigation methods as it
reduces water wastage in agriculture.
○ This method is useful in places where water is not easily available.
Modern Methods of Irrigation
Modern Methods of Irrigation
Irrigation System
Functions of Irrigation System
● General Function
○ To supply crops with irrigation water in the quantities and at the
time it is needed.
● Specific Function
○ Diverting water from the water source
○ Conveying it to individual fields within the farm
○ Distributing it within each field
○ Providing a means for measuring regulating flows
The factors to be consider in Irrigation System

● Topographic Data
○ The field shape must be accurately drawi n showing pertinent
obstructions, features, and elevation details.
● Water Source Capacity
○ The water supply must be clearly indicated showing location and
available capacity
● Soil and Crop Characteristics
○ Soil and crop limitations must be accounted for to reduce runoff
and deep percolation by mismanagement of the irrigation system
The factors to be consider in Irrigation System

● Design Parameters
○ Soil water holding capacity, maximum application rate and climatic
data must be used to select the correct irrigation system design.
● Design Data
○ The nozzle selected, operating pressure, discharge rate and
sprinkler spacing must all be shown on the plan. The irrigation
interval, set time, application rate, and net amount applied must
also be calculated.
Irrigation System

● Main Intake Structure

○ The intake structure is built at the entry to the irrigation system. Its
purpose is to direct water from the original source of supply (lake,
river, reservoir etc.) into the irrigation system.
Irrigation System

● Pumping Station
○ In some cases, the irrigation water source lies below the level of the
irrigated fields. Then a pump must be used to supply water to the
irrigation system
Irrigation System

● Conveyance and distribution system

○ The conveyance and distribution systems consist of canals
transporting the water through the whole irrigation system.
○ Canal structures are required for the control and measurement of
the water flow.
■ Open Canals
● An open canal, channel, or ditch, is an open waterway
whose purpose is to carry water from one place to
another. Channels and canals refer to main waterways
supplying water to one or more farms. Field ditches have
smaller dimensions.
Open Canals

● Canal Characteristics
○ According to the shape of their cross-section, canals are called
rectangular (a), triangular (b), trapezoidal (c), circular (d), parabolic
(e), and irregular or natural
Open Canals

● Earthen Canals
○ Earthen canals are simply dug in the ground and the bank is made
up from the removed earth
○ The disadvantages of earthen canals are the risk of the side slopes
collapsing
● Lined Canals
○ Earthen canals can be lined with impermeable materials to prevent
excessive seepage and growth of weeds
○ Lining canals is also an effective way to control canal bottom and
bank erosion. The materials mostly used for canal lining are
concrete (in precast slabs or cast in place), brick or rock masonry
and asphaltic concrete
Open Canals
Irrigation System

● Conveyance and distribution system

○ The conveyance and distribution systems consist of canals
transporting the water through the whole irrigation system.
○ Canal structures are required for the control and measurement of
the water flow.
■ Canals Structure
● The flow of irrigation water in the canals must always be
under control. For this purpose, canal structures are
required.
● There are four main types of structures: erosion control
structures, distribution control structures, crossing
structures and water measurement structures.
Four Main Types of Structures

1. Erosion Control Structure

○ Canal Erosion
■ Canal bottom slope and water velocity are closely related, as
the following example will show.
Four Main Types of Structures

1. Erosion Control Structure

○ Canal Erosion
■ Canal bottom slope and water velocity are closely related, as
the following example will show.
■ Water flowing in steep canals can reach very high velocities.
Soil particles along the bottom and banks of an earthen canal
are then lifted, carried away by the water flow, and deposited
downstream where they may block the canal and silt up
structures.
■ If the canal is said to be under erosion; the banks might
eventually collapse.
Four Main Types of Structures

1. Erosion Control Structure

○ Drop Structure and chutes
■ Drop structures or chutes are required to reduce the bottom
slope of canals lying on steeply sloping land in order to avoid
high velocity of the flow and risk of erosion.
Four Main Types of Structures

2. Distribution Control Structure

○ Division Boxes
■ Division boxes are used to divide or direct the flow of water
between two or more canals or ditches.
Four Main Types of Structures

2. Distribution Control Structure

○ Turnouts
■ Turnouts are constructed in the bank of a canal. They divert
part of the water from the canal to a smaller one.
Four Main Types of Structures

2. Distribution Control Structure

○ Checks
■ To divert water from the field ditch to the field, it is often
necessary to raise the water level in the ditch.
Four Main Types of Structures

3. Crossing Structure

○ It is often necessary to carry irrigation water across roads, hillsides

and natural depressions. Crossing structures, such as flumes,
culverts and inverted siphons, are then required.
Four Main Types of Structures

3. Crossing Structure
○ Culvert
■ Culverts are used to carry the water across roads.
Four Main Types of Structures

3. Crossing Structure
○ Inverted Siphons
■ When water has to be carried across a road which is at the
same level as or below the canal bottom, an inverted siphon is
used instead of a culvert.
Four Main Types of Structures

3. Crossing Structure
○ Inverted Siphons
■ When water has to be carried across a road which is at the
same level as or below the canal bottom, an inverted siphon is
used instead of a culvert.
Four Main Types of Structures

4. Water Measurement Structures

○ The principal objective of measuring irrigation water is to permit
efficient distribution and application.
○ By measuring the flow of water, a farmer knows how much water is
applied during each irrigation.
○ The most commonly used water measuring structures are weirs
and flumes.
Four Main Types of Structures

4. Water Measurement Structures

○ Weir
■ In its simplest form, a weir consists of a wall of timber, metal or
concrete with an opening with fixed dimensions cut in its edge
Four Main Types of Structures

4. Water Measurement Structures

○ Parshall Flume
■ The Parshall flume consists of a metal or concrete channel
structure with three main sections
Four Main Types of Structures

4. Water Measurement Structures

○ Cut-throat Flume
■ The cut-throat flume is similar to the Parshall flume, but has
no throat section, only converging and diverging sections
Irrigation System

● Conveyance and distribution system

● Drainage System
○ A drainage system is necessary to remove excess water from the
irrigated land. This excess water may be e.g. waste water from
irrigation or surface runoff from rainfall. It may also include leakage
or seepage water from the distribution system.
○ Excess surface water is removed through shallow open drains.
○ Excess groundwater is removed through deep open drains or
underground pipes.
Irrigation System
Thank You