Types of Irrigation System

Irrigation systems

Introduction:

Irritation is the principal source of water, part of which percolates underground and a part the surface as runoff. Thus there are two main sources of water for irrigation viz., groundwater. The rivers carrying surface water may be snow fed or perennial feeding the off taking canals throughout the year or they may carry seasonal supply and taking off from them may carry water for seasonal irrigation only. Furthermore, the water may be at such a level that it can be command the area by gravity flow or alternative water may have to be lifted to the desired level to irrigate the fields. The design, equipped technique of replenishing the soil water deficit by applying irrigation water is referred irrigation system.

Irrigation systems:

The various system of irrigation have been developed depending on the nature of source of and location of command are such as gravity irrigation, lift irrigation (which includes fitted from canals, wells, tube wells etc), tank irrigation, etc, as illustrated in figure.

Figure: Types of irrigation system

Gravity Irrigation:

Gravity or flow irrigation is the type of irrigation in which water is available at a higher level as to enable supply to the land by gravity flow. In flow irrigation water is supplied to the fields though the canals off taking from head works. Gravity flow irrigation is cheaper compared to lift irrigation. The gravity irrigation is further classified as under.

Perennial Irrigation:

In this system assured supply of water throughout the crop period to irrigation requirement of the crops is made available to the command area through storage of water done at the dam or diversion of supply made by means of head works at the off take point of the canal. Perennial irrigation may be either direct or indirect, as follows:

Direct irrigation:

In direct irrigation system water is directly diverted from the river into canal by construction of diversion weir or barrage across the river without attempting to store water. This method is practiced where the river has adequate perennial supply to feed the canal system at the times of crops periods.

Indirect irrigation:

It is also termed as storage irrigation. Here water is stored in reserved during monsoon period by construction of a dam across the river for supply into the off taking canals. Evidently indirect irrigation is adopted where the river is non â€'perennial or flow in the river is inadequate during lean period. Storage irrigation has greater irrigation potential the direct irrigation but is costly due to the cost of construction of dam.

Non â€'Perennial Irrigation:

Also called restricted irrigation. Canal supply is generally made available in non â€' monsoon period from the storage in small dams as in Kandi areas which inadequate to feed all the year round, and / or canal water is not required during monsoon due adequate rainfall in the command area.

Inundation Irrigation:

Inundation irrigation is done by a canal taking off from a river in flood without any diversion work. It depends on the periodical rise in water level of the river and the supply is drawn through open cuts in the river bank or creeks which are called heads. Owing to changes in the river course the heads have often to be changed. A regulator is, however, provided at the canal about 5 km downstream from the off take, where the discharge passing below in the canal is controlled and the surplus supply is escaped back into the river. Inundation canals usually flow only during the summer months and bring in large quantity of silt beneficial to crops.

Selection of off taken Point:

The various factors which govern the selection of offtake point are (i) Site which is least likely to silt, (ii) Site on a creek of suitable size is preferred, since it is more constant in discharge than main river and also subject to milder attacks by floods, (iii) Site at the tail end of a creek is preferred as the flow there has less silt and is less liable to changes, (iv) site on concave curve towards the downstream is preferred from minimum silt entry. A part of concave reach remains always within the range of outside curvature for low as well as high river discharges, otherwise a site in a straight reach free from erosion upstream is suitable, (v) site with stable and high river banks is suitable, (vi) A back water reach also offers a good site, (vii) Wider river section at the offtake point which embodies two benefits, low velocity in the river and as such low silt charge in the water drawn in the canal, and low variation in water level, and (viii) If other conditions are favourable, a site close to the command area is preferred.

Design of Inundation Canal:

The bed level in the channel is kept low enough to draw about half the full supply discharge of the canal in low river, i.e., in the middle of April and again in October, and narrow enough to limit the excessive high floods to the minimum possible. Full supply level is fixed with due consideration to the steady water level in the river during about 1 ½ months, usually fair irrigation season. Beyond the head regulator, design considerations of unlined canals apply equally to the inundation canals. However, higher values of silt factor f and water surface slope are adopted than those allowed for canals off taking from permanent head works. Generally the

slope ranges between 0.20 and 0.25 m/km. Manning’s, Chezy or Lac the design of inundation canal.

Advantages:

(i)    Economical in cost being the simplest system of irrigation as permanent head works is not to be constructed,

(ii) Silty water carried by the canal has manorial value, and

Disadvantages:

(i)                Highs maintenance cost, and

(ii)             Seasonal irrigation.

Disadvantages:

(i)    Irrigable area being fixed, the supply if available in excess cannot be use

(ii) Supply is uncertain if the river is non â€'perennial, and

(iii)  By damming up whatever small supply available in the river or stream, the areas lying down are deprived of this water.

Tank Irrigation:

Tanks on local streams form a significant source of irrigation especially in the peninsula area in the States of Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. Tank irrigation belongs to category of storage irrigation. Tanks are small sized reservoirs formed by small earthen embankments to store runoff for irrigation. The site is selected within a watershed protected by vegetation and containing minimum of cultivated land so as to ensure minimum rate of sedimentation which lowers its storage capacity. Adequate soil conservation measures are essentially adopted to ensured quantity and quality of water inflow into the tank. The essential components of irrigation that are tank embankment, surplus or escape weir, and outlet sluice. A suitable breaching section also sometimes provided to ensure that the tank embankment is not overtopped in the event excessive discharge from the catchment. The breaching section is a low level embankment of certain length designed to have a localized breach to escape excessive inflow.

Irrigation tanks are classified, as under, according to the nature of supply of water:

1.     System tanks: The system tanks get assured supply from nearby rivers or canal system at as such they may not have their own catchment.

2.     Non â€'system tanks: Also called ‘isolated’â€'systemtanksdepend. onThethe no runoff from their own catchment. They are not connected to any other tank.

3.     Grouped tank: The grouped tanks, as the name implies, consist of a series of tanks connected together such that outflow from the upper tank is stored in the lower one for irrigation.

They usually have limited depth of 5 to 10 m and fill up two or three times in the rainy season and redistribute to some extent the available supplied and tide over breaks in the monsoon. The maximum flood discharge from the catc formula. The length of escape weir is worked out from the formula, Q= CLH3/2, where C is a coefficient of discharge with value for broad crested weir and 1.84 for short crested weir. Water losses from tanks are enormous as the usually have more wetted area for the given storage capacity. The water losses due to evaporation and absorption are taken as 1.75 m per year in Southern India and about 1.25 m in Mumbai.

Lift Irrigation:

In lift irrigation water is lifted from a river or a canal to the bank to irrigate the land which are not commanded by gravity flow. Lift irrigation is being increasingly practiced in India. Every State such areas exist where irrigation can be extended only by lift canals. Lift irrigation also includes tube well irrigation but the latter is not feasible in areas where scarcity of water exists, climate is dry and groundwater is low, i.e., groundwater is in insufficient quantity and unsuitable quality. Lift canal then constitutes the only means of extension of irrigation to sound perched lands. A lift canal can cater for much larger areas than a tube well and is suitable when supplies either from a river or a canal are available for lifting to higher elevation.

Lift area is defined as the area the level of which is too high to permit irrigation by gravity flow from the source, but which can be irrigated by lifting water to the necessary level by means of pump Gross lift area is the portion of gross irrigable area which can be irrigated only by pumping.

Surface water may be lifted from a reservoir, a river, or from a gravity flow canal. From river, water may be lifted by installing pumps either on the ground or on floating barges. Floating barge installation envisages economical and expeditious execution of the project for lift irrigation. Moreover, the pumping installation can be made mobile by rowing to the ne xt pumping sit after completing irrigation at one installation. In a canal, water may be lifted at the point f the off take of the lift distributary or in between the length of a canal wherefrom high tract to be irrigated starts. Figure shown the longitudinal section of a lift canal 

Figure: Typical pumping station

Optimal alignment of the lift canal is of paramount important because it involves dealing with costly process of water lifted and then diverted to flow by gravity. The essence of the arrangement is to command maximum area with minimum lift.

In lift irrigation mechanical devices like pumps, or electric motors and pumps are required to be installed for lifting water. Electrical pumps are generally provided for lifting water. Diesel pumping sets are also installed as standby. The provision of standby pumps is essential to cater forget lack of facilities for immediate replacement of defective pumping sets and to switch over to diesel set in case of power failure. Figure shows a typical pumping station at a lift canal.

Lift irrigation canals are essentially lined due to obvious advantages of a lined section and hence low pumping lift and greater area commanded. Lifted water is costly and transmission losses are required to be cut down to the minimum. Water surface slope is kept the minimum possible to command greater area with minimum lift. Escape is provided upstream of pumping station so that in the event of failure of pumping equipment, the supply reaching upstream is disposed off.

Lift Irrigation vs. Gravity Irrigation:

Lift irrigation

1.Costly means of irrigation

2.Less manorial silt in water

3.Working  dependent  on  operation  of machinery

4.Higher water rates.

5. Lift irrigation is a complex system and by and large costly.

Gravity flow irrigation

1.Cheapest means of irrigation

2.Silt in water has manorial value

3.Lifting equipment is not involved

4.Lowest water rates

5.Simple and economical system of irrigation.

Well Irrigation:

Groundwater:

Groundwater is generally a more dependable source of irrigation than surface water and is free from seeds and plant organisms. The first cost of installation is however, high. The best water bearing stratum or aquifer is coarse gravel free from sand but such formation are rare to find. An aquifer is a saturated formation which creates ground water reservoir and yields sufficient quantity of water to wells or springs. These are made of unconsolidated formations like sand, gravel, fractured rocks.

Sub â€'surface Irrigation:

It is termed as sub â€'surface irrigation, because in this type of irrigation, water does not we the soil surface. The underground water nourishes the plant roots by capillarity. It may be divided into the following two types:

1.     Natural sub â€'irrigation; and

2.     Artificial sub â€'irrigation.

Natural sub â€'irrigation: leakage water from channels, etc., goes underground, and during passage through the sub â€'soil, it may irrigate crops, sown on lower lands, by capillarity. Sometimes, leakage causes the water â€'table to rise up, which helps in irrigation of crops by capillarity. When underground irrigation is achieved, simply by natural processes, without any additional extra efforts, it is called natural sub â€'irrigation.

Artificial sub â€'irrigation: when a system of open jointed drains is artificially laid below the soil, so as to supply water to the crops by capillarity, then it is known as artificial sub â€'irrigation. It is a very costly process and hence, adopted in India on a very small scale. It may be recommended only in some special cases with favourable soil conditions and for cash crops of very high return. Sometimes, irrigation water may be intentionally collected in some ditches near the fields, the percolation water may then come up to the roots through capillarity.

Techniques of Water Distribution in the Farms:

There are various ways in which the irrigation water can be applied to the fields. Their main classification is as follows:

1.     Free flooding

2.     Border flooding

3.     Check flooding

4.     Basin flooding

5.     Furrow irrigation method

6.     Sprinkler irrigation method

Drip irrigation method 

Figure: Free flooding (plan view)

These methods are briefly discussed below:

Free flooding or Ordinary Flooding:

In this method, ditches are excavated in the field, and they may be either on the contour or up and down the slope. Water from these ditches, flows across the field. After the water leaves the ditches, no attempt is made to control the flow by means of levees, etc. Since the movement of water is not restricted, it is sometimes called wild flooding. Although the initial cost of land preparation is low, labour requirements are usually high and water application efficiency is also low. Wild flooding, is most suitable for close growing crops, pastures, etc., particularly where the land is steep. Contour ditches called laterals or subsidiary ditches, are generally spaced at about 20 to 50 metres apart, depending upon the slope, texture of soil, crops to be grown, etc. This method may be used on rolling and (topography irregular) where borders, checks, basins and furrows are not feasible.

Border flooding:

In this method, the land is divided into a number of strips, separated by low levees called borders. The land areas confined in each strip is of the order of 10 to 20 metres in width, and 100 to 400 metres in length, as shown in figure Ridges between borders should be sufficiently high to prevent overtopping during irrigation.

To prevent water from concentrating on either side of the border, the land should be leveled perpendicular to the flow. Water is made to flow from the supply ditch into each strip. The water flows slowly towards the lower end, and infiltrates into the soil as it advances. When the advancing water reaches the lower end of the strip, the supply of water to the strip is turned off.

 (b) Photographic vies

Figure: Border flooding

The supply ditch, also called irrigation stream, may either be in the form of an earthen channel or a lined channel or an underground concrete pipe having risers at intervals. The size of the supply ditch depends upon the infiltration rate of the soil, and the width of the border strip. Coarse textured soils with high infiltration rate will require high discharge rate and therefore larger supply ditch, in order to spread water over the entire strip rapidly, and to avoid excessive losses due to deep percolation at the upper reaches. On the other hand, fine textured soils with low infiltration rates, require smaller ditches to avoid excessive losses due to run off at the lower reaches.

A relationship between the discharge through the supply ditch (Q) the average depth of water flowing over the strip (y), the rate of infiltration of the soil (f), the area of the land irrigated (A), and the approximate time required to cover the given area with water (t), is given by the equation:

t=2.3 y/f log10(Q/(QfA))

Where Q = Discharge through the supply ditch

y = Depth of water flowing over the border strip f = Rate of infiltration of soil

A = Area of land strip to be irrigated

t = Time required to cover the given area A

The above equation can be obtained by considering small area (dA) of the border strip of area A, as shown in figure. Let us also assume that in time dt, water advances over this area dA. Now, the volume of water that flows to cover this area would be y dA, because y is the water depth over this area. Also, during the same time dt, the volume of water that percolates into the soil over the area A would be f. A. dt. The total quantity of water supplied to the strip during time dt would be Q dt and also equal to y. dA + f.A.dt.

                   Q.dt = y.dA + f.A.dt

Example: Determine the time required to irrigate a strip of land of 0.04 hectares in area from a tube â€'well with a discharge of 0.02 cumec. The infiltration capacity of the soil may be taken as 5 cm/hr, and the average depth of flow on the field as 10 cm. Also determine the maximum area that can be irrigated from this tube well.

Solution:

A = 0.04 hectares

= 0.04 x104 m2 = 400 m2.

Q = 0.02 cumecs = 0.02 m3 / sec = 0.02 x60 x60 m3 / hr = 72 m3 / hr.

f = 5 cm / hr = 5/100 m/hr = 0.05m/hr,; y=10cm = 0.1m

Using equation we have

t=2.3 y/f log10(Q/(QfA))

Maximum area that can be irrigated is given by equation

Amax = Q/f =  0.144hectares

Note: After irrigating this much of area, surface flow will stop, and deep percolation will start.

Check flooding:

Check flooding is similar to ordinary flooding except that the water is controlled by surrounding the check area with low and flat levees. Levees are generally constructed along the contours, having vertical interval of about 5 to 10 cm. the confined plot are varies from 0.2 to 0.8 hectare.

(a) Plan view

(b) Photographic view

Figure: Check flooding

In check flooding, the check is filled with water at a fairly high rate called and allowed to stand until the water infiltrates.

This method is suitable for more permeable soils as well as for less permeable soils. The water can be quickly spread in case of high permeable soils, thus reducing the percolation losses. The water can also be held on the surface for a longer time in case of less permeable soils, for assuring adequate penetration. These checks, are sometimes used to absorb water, where the stream â€'flow is diverted during periods high run off.

Basin Flooding:

This method is a special type of check flooding and is adopted specially for orchard trees. One or more trees are generally placed in the basin, and the surface is flooded as in check method, by ditch water, as shown in figure.

(a) Plan view

(b) Photographic view

Figure: Basin flooding

Furrow irrigation method:

In flooding methods, described adove, water covers the entire surface; while in furrow irrigation method only one â€'fifth to one â€'half of the land surface is wetted by water. It therefore, results in less evaporation, less pudding of soil, and permits cultivation sooner after irrigation.

Plan view

(b) Photographic view (using plastic siphons)

Figure: Furrow Irrigation

Furrows are narrow field ditches, excavated between rows of plants and carry irrigation water through them. Spacing of furrows is determined by the proper spacing of the plant. Furrows vary from 8 to 30 cm deep, and may be as much as 400 metres long.

Sprinkler Irrigation Method:

In this farm â€'water application method, water is applied to the soil in the form of a spray through a network of pipes and pumps. It is a kind of an artificial rain and, therefore, gives very good results. It is a costly process and widely used in U.S.A. It can be used for all types of soils and for widely different topographies and slopes. It can advantageously be used for many crops, because it fulfils the normal requirement of uniform distribution of water. This method possesses great potentialities for irrigating areas in Rajasthan in India, where other types of surface or sub â€' surface irrigation are very difficult.

Figure: Photo view of a sprinkler system in operation (using a rotary head)

In spite of the numerous advantages which this method possesses over the other methods, it has not become popular in India for the simple reason that ours is a poor and a developing nation. This method is not only costly but requires a lot of technicalities. The correct design and efficient operation are very important for the success of this method. Special steps have to be taken for preventing entry of silt and debris, which are very harmful for the sprinkler equipment. Debris â€'choke nozzles; interfere with the application of water on the land; while the abrasive action of silt causes excessive wear on pump impellers, sprinkler nozzles, and bearings. The system is to be designed in such a way that the entire sprayed water seeps into the soil, and there is no run off from the irrigated area.

The conditions favouring and adoption of this method, are:

1.     When the land topography is irregular, and hence unsuitable for surface irrigation.

2.     When the land gradient is steeper, and soil is easily erodible.

3.     When the land soil is excessively permeable, so as not to permit good water distribution by surface irrigation; or when the soil is highly impermeable.

4.     When the water table is high.

5.     When the area is such that the seasonal water requirement is low, such as near the coasts.

6.     When the crops to be grown are such:

a.     As to require humidity control, as in tobacco;

b.     Crops having shallow roots; or

c.      Crops requiring high and frequent irrigation.

7.     When the water is available with difficulty and is scarce.

Types of sprinkler systems. A sprinkler system can be classified under three heads, as:

1.     Permanent system;

2.     Semipermanent system; and

3.     Portable system.

Earlier, the fixed overhead perforate pipe installations were being used for sprinkler network; but with the advent of light weight steel pipes and quick couplers, portable systems have been designed.

In permanent system, pipes are permanently buried in such a way that they do not interfere with the farming operations. In the semi permanent system, the main lines are buried in the ground, while the laterals are portable. In portable system, the mains as well as laterals are portable. These portable networks can be moved from farm to farm.

In the sprinkler irrigation network, we have the mains and the submains, through which water under pressure is made to flow. Revolving sprinkler heads are then usually mounted on rising pipes attached to the laterals. The water jet comes out through the revolving sprinkler heads, with force. When sprinkler heads are not provided, perforations are made in the pipes, and they are provided with nozzles, through which water jets out and falls on the ground. Generally, such a perforated pipe system operates at low heads; whereas, the revolving heads sprinklers operate on high as well as low heads, depending upon the type of rotary head used.

The advantage of sprinkler irrigation are enumerated below:

(i)                Seepage losses, which occur in earthen channels of surface irrigation methods, are completely eliminated. Moreover, only optimum quantity of water is used in this method.

(ii)             Land leveling is not required, and thus avoiding removal top fertile soil, as happens in other surface irrigation methods.

(iii)           No cultivation area is lost for making ditches, as happens in surface irrigation methods. It, thus, results in increasing about 16% of the cropped area.

(iv)           In sprinkler system, the water is to be applied at a rate lesser than the infiltration capacity of the soil, and thus avoiding surface run, and its bad effects, such as loss of water, washing of top soil, etc.

(v)             Fertilizers can be uniformly applied, because they are mixed with irrigation water itself.

(vi)           This method leaches down salts and prevents waterlogging or salinity.

(vii)        It is less labour oriented, nad hence useful where labour is costly and scarce.

(viii)      Upto 80% efficiency can be achieved, i.e. upto 80% of applied wter can be storedin the root zone of plants.

The liminations of sprinkler irrigation nare also enumerated below:

(i)                High winds may distort sprinkler pattern, causing nonuniform spreading of water on the crops.

(ii)             In areas of high temperature and high wind velocity, considerable evaporation losses of water may take place.

(iii)           They are not suited to crops requiring frequent and larger depths of irrigation, such as paddy.

(iv)           Initial cost of the system is very high, and the system requires a high technical skill.

(v)             Only sand and silt free water can be used, as otherwise pump impellers lifting such waters will get damaged.

(vi)           It requires larger electrical power.

(vii)        Heavy soil with poor intake cannot the irrigated efficiently.

(viii)      A constant water supply is needed for commercial use of equipment.

Note: the widely known Indian commercial company which specializes in installing sprinkler irrigation Irrigationsystems, isEquipments‚Premie (Pvt

Delhi office also. This firm and its publications can be referred to, for specialized knowledge in this branch of field irrigation.

(7) Drip irrigation Method. Drip irrigation, also called trickle irrigation, is the latest field irrigation technique, and is meant for adoption at places where there exists acute sczrcity of irrigation water and other salt problems. In this method, water is slowly and directly applied to the root zone of the plants, thereby minimizing the losses by evaporation and percolation.

This system involves laying of a system of head, mains, submains, laterals, and drop nozzles. Water oozes out of these small drip nozzles uniformly and at a very small rate, directly into the plant roots area.

The head consists of a pump to lift water, so as to produce the desired pressure of about 2.5 atmosphere, for ensuring proper flow of water through the system. The lifted irrigation water is passed through a fertilizer tank, so as to mix the fertilizer directly in the irrigation water, and then through a filter, so as to remove the suspended particles from the water, to avoid clogging of drip nozzles.

The mains and submains are the specially designed small sied pipes, made of flexible material like black PVC. These are generally buried or laid on the ground, as shown in fig. Their sizes should be sufficient to carry the design discharge of the system.

The laterals are very small sized (usually 1 to 1.25 cm dia), specially designed, black PVC pipes, taking off from the mains or submains, Laterals can usually be up to 50 m long, and one lateral line is laid for each row of crop. Hardie Biwall is a patented name of a special dual chambered micro tubing, manufactured from a linear low density polyethylene, and is being used these days for laterals.

The drip nozzles, also called emitters, or valves, are fixed on laterals, at regular intervals of about 0.5 to 1 m or so, discharging water at very small rates of the order of 2 to 10 litres per hour.

Like the sprinkler system, this method also involves specialized knowledge, and is not being adopted by our ordinary farmers. This method, is howeer, being used for small nurseries, orchards, or gardens. The widely known commercial Indian Company, which specialses in this

field            irrigation   method,   is   known   as   â€šJain   Irr

Code: 425001. This firm can be contacted in special needs for layout of such an irrigation system.