UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MINDANAO

ABE 321: Irrigation and

Drainage Engineering
Introduction to Irrigation and Drainage
Engineering

Tito Jun T. Tidula

 Topic Outline
• Importance of Irrigation
• Importance of Drainage

Topic Outline 2
 Intended Learning Outcomes
• Discuss the importance of irrigation and drainage
in agriculture

• Identify sources and storage of irrigation water

Intended Learning Outcomes 3

 Importance of Irrigation
Irrigation
• artificial application of water to the soil to
provide plant-water needs
Approximately 20% of the world’s agricultural
land is irrigated, yet 40% of the world food supply
comes from irrigated lands with 70% of the world’s
freshwater reserves being used for irrigation
purposes (thesunshineisours).
The main reason for irrigation is not enough
rainfall to support crop growth.
Importance of Irrigation 4
 Importance of Irrigation
Water: Its importance on crop
• dissolves plant
nutrients, transports
“food,” medium for
photosynthesis &
soil nutrients

• improves nutrient
uptake and corrects
some nutrient
imbalances
Importance of Irrigation 5
 Importance of Irrigation
Types of Irrigation System
• Surface irrigations systems such as furrow
irrigation, basin irrigation, border irrigation
and uncontrolled flooding.
• Pressurized irrigations systems such as but not
limited to drip irrigation, sprinkler irrigation
and central pivot irrigation.

Importance of Irrigation 6
 Importance of Irrigation
Advantages of Irrigation
• Irrigation tries to remove water deficiency
caused due to inadequate rainfall.
• Irrigation improves the yield of crops.
• Buffer crops can produce with irrigation
making country self-sufficient in food
requirements.
• Allow farmers to grow cash crops which will
give good return.

Importance of Irrigation 7
 Importance of Irrigation
Disadvantages of Irrigation
• Excesses seepage into the ground raises
water-table and this in turn completely
saturates the crop root-zone. It causes water-
logging of the area.
• Valuable residential and industrial land lost.
• Initial cost of irrigation is very high.

Importance of Irrigation 8
 Importance of Irrigation
Sources of Irrigation Water
• Groundwater from wells
• Surface water (rivers, ponds, lakes, etc.)
• Rainfall
• Drainage pond

Importance of Irrigation 9
 Importance of Drainage
Drainage
• Removal of excess/surplus water either
from the ground surface or from the
rootzone. Excess water may be caused by
rainfall or by using too much irrigation
water, but may also other origin such as
canal seepage or floods.

Importance of Drainage 10
 Importance of Drainage
Different Types of Drainage
• Surface Drainage is the removal of excess
water from the surface of the land. This is
normally accomplished by shallow ditches,
also called open drains. The shallow ditches
discharge into larger and deeper collector
drains.
• Subsurface Drainage is the removal of
water from the rootzone. It is accomplished by
deep open drains or buried pipe drains.
Importance of Drainage 11
 Importance of Drainage
Benefits of Drainage on Agriculture
• The crops can root more deeply.
• The choice of types of crops that can be planted is
expanded
• The soil has better tilth and workability
• Tillage operations can take place over a longer
period of time
• Easier access to the land
• A better environment for micro-fauna (ex.
Earthworms) is created which improves
permeability.
Importance of Drainage 12
 References
• Madramootoo, C. A. 1997. Management of
Agricultural Drainage Water Quality. Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Rome. McGill University, Quebec, Canada
• Shreyasi Sen. (nd). Major Advantages and
Disadvantages of Irrigation! Retrieved at
https://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/irrigation/major-
advantages-and-disadvantages-of-irrigation/60645
on March 11, 2021
• United States Department of Agriculture-Natural
Resources Conservation Services (USDA-NRCS).
1993. National Engineering Handbook. Washington
DC

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