12/08/18

INTRODUCTION TO IRRIGATION

1. Introduction to Irrigation & Why Irrigation? Advantages of Water

Methods of Irrigation
• Irrigation - artificial application of water to soil
throughout the crop period to assist in the
production of crops
• Irrigation water is supplied to supplement the
water available from rainfall and ground water.
• In many areas of the world, the amount and
timing of the rainfall are not adequate to meet
the moisture requirements of crops.
• The pressure for survival and the need for
additional food supplies are causing the rapid
expansion of irrigation throughout the world.
Resource Development & Irrigation
Facilities
• Increase in food production
• Ensuring optimum growth in the field
• Elimination of mixed cropping
• Generation of Hydroelectric Power
• Inland Navigation
• Flood and Draught Control
• Soil Conservation
• Artificial Recharge of Ground Water
• Inter-basin transfer
• Domestic & Industrial Water Supply

Explanation Variation of Crop Yield with the Water Content

• Increase in food production – Exact quantity
required can be supplied as different crops have Crop Yield
CROP YIELD
different water requirements and the same crop
may have different water requirements at
different places, depending on the variations in
climate, types of soil, methods of cultivation,
useful rainfall etc.
Y-Values
• Ensuring optimum growth in the field –
Optimum Water Content
Maximum yield is obtained only when sufficient
required quantity is supplied and the
corresponding moisture content is called as Water Content

Optimum Moisture Content.

SAGAR DODEJA 1
 12/08/18
INTRODUCTION TO IRRIGATION

• Elimination of Mixed Cropping – Farmers have a • Generation of Hydroelectric Power – Various

tendency to cultivate more than one type of crop
in the same field such that even if one dies
without the required amount of water, at least
he would get the yield of the other.
This reduces the overall production of the field.
With assured water by irrigation, the farmer
would go for only a single variety of crop in one
field at anytime, which would increase the yield.
• Domestic and industrial water supply – Some
water from the irrigation canals may be utilized
for domestic and industrial water supply for
nearby areas.
Dams, Reservoirs and Multipurpose Projects
generates hydroelectric power. It is a clean,
renewable & reliable energy source.
• Flood Control – Provision of various techniques
such as flood cushioning, embankments and
dykes, flood plain zoning, flood proofing etc.
• Draught Control – Promoting Soil conservation,
water harvesting practices, minimization of
evaporation losses, and development of ground
water including recharging

Demerits of Irrigation TYPES OF

• Over irrigation may cause water logging which IRRIGATION
reduces crop yield. The roots of most plants require
oxygen for respiration. Hence, full saturation leads to
restricted growth. Exception is rice which requires
standing water for its growth and supply of oxygen
to the roots is made from leaves.
• Irrigation may lead to creation of conditions which is
favorable for the spread of diseases like dengue and
malaria.
• Irrigation may lead to seepage of nitrates into the
ground water table

SAGAR DODEJA 2
 12/08/18
INTRODUCTION TO IRRIGATION

Surface Irrigation
It can be further classified as –
• Flow Irrigation – When water is available at a
height such that it can be directly applied to
the agricultural field by only the action of
gravity.
Ex. Canal Irrigation
• It can be further classified into –
1. Perennial Irrigation
Constant & continuous water is supplied
throughout the crop period. Bhakra Main Canal

2. Flood/Inundation/Uncontrolled Irrigation
Soil is kept submerged & flooded with
Lift Irrigation
water so as to cause thorough saturation
of the field.
• Lift Irrigation – Water is lifted up by some
mechanical or manual action and then is
supplied for irrigation
Sub-Surface Irrigation
Water doesn’t wet the surface and is applied to
the root zone by the action of capillarity

SAGAR DODEJA 3
 12/08/18
INTRODUCTION TO IRRIGATION

• Natural Sub-Surface Irrigation – When Diversion Scheme for Irrigation

underground irrigation is simply achieved
naturally without any additional efforts, it is
called natural sub-surface irrigation. Ex.
Water from Ground Water Table through
Capillary Action

• Artificial Sub-Surface Irrigation – When a

system of open jointed drains is artificially laid
below the soil so as to supply water to the
crops by capillarity, it is called as artificial sub-
surface irrigation. Ex. Drip Irrigation

Source – NPTEL

Related Terms– • An industrial plant comprising buildings, storage

• Flood cushioning – The reservoirs created
behind dams may be emptied to some extent,
depending on the forecast of impending flood,
so that as and when the flood arrives, some of
the water gets stored in the reservoir, thus
reducing the severity of the flood.
• Flood proofing – In instances where only
isolated units of high value are threatened by
flooding, they may sometimes individually
flood proofed.
yards, roads, etc., may be protected by a ring
levee or flood wall.
• Individual buildings sufficiently strong to resist
the dynamic forces of the flood water are
sometimes protected by building the lower
stories (below the expected high-water mark)
without windows and providing some means of
watertight closure for the doors.
Thus, even though the building may be
surrounded by water, the property within it is
protected from damage and many normal
functions may be carried on.

SAGAR DODEJA 4
 12/08/18
INTRODUCTION TO IRRIGATION

Example of Flood Proofing • Artificial Recharge of Ground Water – Water

may be diverted to various areas through
canals, intake structures or check dams etc. to
the areas where ground water table is less.
• Check dams are small barriers built across the
direction of water flow on shallow rivers and
streams for the purpose of water harvesting.

• The small dams retain excess water flow CHECK DAM

during monsoon rains in a small
catchment area behind the structure.
• Pressure created in the catchment area
helps force the impounded water into
the ground.
• The major environmental benefit is the
replenishment of nearby groundwater
reserves and wells.

SAGAR DODEJA 5
 12/08/18
INTRODUCTION TO IRRIGATION

Rise & Fall of Soil Moisture Content during Crop

Period

Source – NPTEL

SAGAR DODEJA 6