Lecture-6(contd.

Methods of Irrigation

Broadly four (4) methods

(1) Surface irrigation

(2) Sub-surface irrigation
(3) Sprinkler irrigation
(4) Trickle or Drip irrigation

Traditional Method of irrigation

(1) Surface irrigation
Where water is applied and distributed over the soil surface
by gravity. It is by far the most common form of irrigation
throughout the world and has been practiced in many areas
virtually unchanged for thousands of years.
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 Lecture-6(contd.)

Photograph of Surface irrigation

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 Lecture-6(contd.)

Types of Surface irrigation method : Five (5) types

a. Uncontrolled (or wild or free) flooding method

b. Border strip method
c. Check method
d. Basin method
e. Furrow method

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 Lecture-6(contd.)

(a) Uncontrolled /Wild or Free Flooding:

Flooding method of irrigation is in use since centuries.
Flooding method consists in applying the water by flooding
the land of rather smooth and flat topography. In modern
irrigation practice several flooding methods have been
developed. In free flooding method water is applied to the
land from field ditches without any check or guidance to the
flow. The method is very clear from Fig. 6.1.

From the main or field ditch, laterals are taken across the
fields at a spacing of 15 m to 45 m. The laterals run along the
contours. The water flows out through the openings in
laterals to flood the field. On the other side of the field a
drain ditch is provided to take away excess water. To divert
the water from the main to the laterals generally earthen
dams are used. Sometimes steel shutters may also be used.
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 Lecture-6(contd.)
Advantages of Free flooding method
(1) Useful for newly established farm
(2) Cheap and can be successfully used where water supply is plenty
(3) Suited for irregular surface
(4) No land area is utilized for water distribution
(5) Labor requirement is mnimum

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 Lecture-6(contd.)
Disadvantages
i. It is the most inefficient methods of irrigation as only
about 20 per cent of water is actually used by plants and the
rest is being lost as run off, seepage and evaporation

ii. Leveling of land increases cost of cultivation.

iii. This method is unsuitable for crops that are sensitive to

water logging.

iv. Crop growth is not uniform as the water distribution by

this method is very uneven.

v. There is a possibility of soil erosion.

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 Lecture-6(contd.)

Photograph of Gated pipe supply system

Photograph of level basin flood irrigation

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 Lecture-6(contd.)

(b) Border Strip Method:

The field is divided into number of strips. The width of strip varies
from 10 to 15 meters and length varies from 90 m to 400 m.
Strips are separated by low embankments or levees. The
arrangement is as shown in Fig. 6.2.

Levees

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 Lecture-6(contd.)
The water is diverted from the field channel into the strips. The
water flows slowly towards lower end, wetting the soil as it
advances. The surface between two embankments should
essentially be level. It helps in covering the entire width of the
strip. There is a general surface slope from opening to the lower
end. The surface slope from 2 to 4 m/1000 m is best suited.
When the slope is steeper, special arrangement is made to
prevent erosion of soil. In this method it is possible to maintain
more discharges successfully. The discharge may vary from
0.015 to 0.30 cumec depending upon the kind of soil, nature of
crop, size of strips etc.

This method is suitable on the fields where soil is sufficiently

capable to absorb the water.

This method requires high initial cost.

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 Lecture-6(contd.)

Relationship between the discharge (Q) though the

supply ditch and the time required in border irrigation
method:

t = 2.3 [(y/f )log 10 { Q/(Q – fA)}]

Where, Q = Discharge through the supply ditch m3/h
y = Depth of water flowing over the border strip in m
f = Rate of infiltration capacity of soil in m/h
A = Area of land strip to be irrigated in m2
t = Time in hour required to cover the given area A

Again maximum area that can be irrigated is given by the

following equation-
Amax = Q / f

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 Lecture-6(contd.)
Example 3-1
Determine the time required to irrigate a strip of land of 0.04
hectares in area from a tube – 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 calculate the
maximum area that can be irrigated from this tube- well.

Solution
Given,
Area of strip of land (A) = 0.04 hectare = 0.04 ×10000 m2
f = Infiltration capacity= 5 cm/hr = 0.05 m/hr
Discharge (Q) = 0.02 m3/s = 0.02 x 60x60 m3 /hr = 72 m3 /hr
Average depth of flow, y = 10 cm = 0.10 m

To be determined time t to irrigate a strip of land

And maximum area (Amax)
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 Lecture-6(contd.)
(i) Determination of time
We know , time required to irrigate the land is as

t = 2.3 [(y/f )log 10 {Q/(Q – fA)}]

Now putting the respective given values in this equation

t = 2.3 [(0.10/0.05 )log 10 {72/(72 – 0.05×400)}]

t = 0.65 hr. = 39 minutes

(ii) Calculation of maximum area

We know,
Amax = Q / f = (72 m3 /hr) / (0.05 m/hr) = 1440 m2

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