Bibek Panthi (074BCE032)

Homework – August 20 2020

1. Delta
Each crop requires certain amount of water per hectare for its maturity. If the toal amount of water
supplied to the crop (from first to last watering) is stored on ladn without any loss, then there will be
a thick layer of water standing on the land. This depth of water layer is known as delta for the crop.
It is denoted by Δ and expressed in cm.

2. Duty
It is the number of hectares that can be irrigated by constatn supply of water at the rate of one
cumecs (m3/sec) throughout the base period. It is expressed in hectares/cumec and is denoted by D.
The duty of water is not constant but it varies with various factors like soil condition, methods of
plughing, methods of application of water, etc. E.g. if Area of land = 5 ha, Quantity of Water = 5m 3/
sec, then Duty = 1 hr/cumecs

3. Base Period
It is defined as the period from the first to the last watering of the crop just before its maturity. It is
denoted by B and expressed in no. of days.

4. Crop Period
It is the total time that elapse between the sowing the crop and its harvesting. Thus crop period
represents the total time during which crop remains in the field. It is expressed in days.

5. Relation between Duty and Delta

Let D be the duty of water on the field in ha/cumecs. Δ be the delta or total depth of water in m
supplied to a crop growing on the field during the entire base period B (days).
Let 1 cumecs of water be applied to this crop on the field for B days. Now the volume of water
applied to this crop during B days (V) = 1 * 60 * 60 * 24 * B = 86400 m3
By definition of Duty (D) : one cumecs supplied for B days matures D hectars of land. Thus
quantity of water V matures D ha of land or 104 * D sq. m of land
Thus, total depth of water applied on this land, Delta Δ = V / A = (86400m3 B)/(104 D) = 8.64 B/
Dm

6. Numericals

6.1. If wheat requires about 7.5 cm of water after every 28 days, and the
base period for wheat is 140 days. Find Delta.
Number of waterings = 140/28 = 5

1
So, the depth of water rquired in 140 days = 5 * 7.5 = 37.5 cm = Delta.

6.2. Find Delta for sugarcane when its duty is 730ha/cumecs on the field
and base period of crop 110 days
Delta = 8.64B/D m = 8.64*110 / 730 m = 1.302 m = 130.2 cm

6.3. Wheat requires total depth of water 1.230m. The duty of the field is
1400 ha/cumec. Compute the base period.
B = (Delta * D)/8.64 = 199.3 days

7. Justify the appropriatness and sustainability of micro-

irrigation.
Sustainability of sprinkler and drip irrigation systems in the Hills of Nepal (Hill Irrigation
Engineering, 1995) the Hills of Nepal. In the hilly region the source of water is spring or small
stream with small Irigation and Drainage Engineering
• Sprinklers and drips need pressure head and sediment free water which is easily available in
catchment area which have relatively clean water.
• The cropping pattern in the hills are suitable for sprinkler and drip irrigation. Sprinkler can
be used for scattered crops like carrot, radish, wheat, mustard, millet etc. which are
cultivated in hills. Drip can be used for row crops like tomato, cabbage, cauliflower, chilly
etc. which are grown in hills of Nepal.
• These systems require network of pipe lines hence the construction of the canal and other
costly structures like headworks, river training works, drops, cross-drainages etc. as in canal
irrigation system, are not required and the construction cost for sprinkler and drip is
comparatively very low as well as operation and maintenance 6 cost also reduced.
• Due to steep slope in hills the construction of canal is difficult and costly hence the
conveyance of water through the pipe system is most suitable in hilly region. The pipes can
be easily transported by yak, donkey and/or human effort.
• The flexible tubing, quick connecting couplers and sprinkler heads and lateral pipes can B
be easily transported to remote areas hence sprinkler and drip are appropriate.
• Sprinkler and Drip can also be used on land with slope and undulations of the hilly terrain.
• All movable components (the main pipe from the collection tank to the irrigated area will
usually be buried and anchored to the ground to prevent theft) can be removed for safety
each day at the end of irrigation. (Hills farmers of Nepal live several hours walking distance
up hills of their cultivated land.)
• In case of blockage which can be very frequent in system suing spring water sources, the
flexible tubing quick connecting couplers and sprinkler heads can be easily dismantled and
refitted after cleaning. Hence operation and maintenance cost is reduced.