Grade

10

TLE-AFA
AGRICULTURAL CROP PRODUCTION
QUARTER 4 – MODULE 2
IRRIGATION WITH WASTEWATER

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 MELCs: Store waste materials and other debris in the designated area according to
workplace procedure/ OHS procedures.

I. INTRODUCTION

Irrigation may be defined as the application of water to soil for the purpose of
supplying the moisture essential for plant growth. Irrigation plays a vital role in increasing
crop yields and stabilizing production. In arid and semi-arid regions, irrigation is essential for
economically viable agriculture, while in semi-humid and humid areas, it is often required on
a supplementary basis.

At the farm level, the following basic conditions should be met to make irrigated
farming a success:

 the required amount of water should be applied;

 the water should be of acceptable quality;
 water application should be properly scheduled;
 appropriate irrigation methods should be used;
 salt accumulation in the root zone should be prevented by means of leaching;
 the rise of water table should be controlled by means of appropriate drainage;
 plant nutrients should be managed in an optimal way.

The above requirements are equally applicable when the source of irrigation water is
treated wastewater. Nutrients in municipal wastewater and treated effluents are a particular
advantage of these sources over conventional irrigation water sources and supplemental
fertilizers are sometimes not necessary. However, additional environmental and health
requirements must be taken into account when treated wastewater is the source of irrigation
water.
II. MODULE CONTENT

Amount of water to be applied

It is well known that more than 99 percent of the water absorbed by plants is lost by
transpiration and evaporation from the plant surface. Thus, for all practical purposes, the
water requirement of crops is equal to the evapotranspiration requirement (ET). Crop
evapotranspiration is mainly determined by climatic factors and hence can be estimated with
reasonable accuracy using meteorological data.

Quality of water to be applied

The guidelines presented are indicative in nature and will have to be adjusted
depending on the local climate, soil conditions and other factors. In addition, farm practices,
such as the type of crop to be grown, irrigation method, and agronomic practices, will
determine to a great extent the quality suitability of irrigation water.

Leaching

Under irrigated agriculture, a certain amount of excess irrigation water is required to

percolate through the root zone so as to remove the salts which have accumulated as a
result of evapotranspiration from the original irrigation water. This process of displacing the
salts from the root zone is called leaching and that portion of the irrigation water which
mobilizes the excess of salts is called the leaching fraction (LF).

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 Drainage

Drainage is defined as the removal of excess water from the soil surface and below
so as to permit optimum growth of plants. Removal of excess surface water is termed
surface drainage while the removal of excess water from beneath the soil surface is termed
sub-surface drainage.

Strategies for managing treated wastewater on the farm

Success in using treated wastewater for crop production will largely depend on
adopting appropriate strategies aimed at optimizing crop yields and quality, maintaining soil
productivity and safeguarding the environment. Several alternatives are available and a
combination of these alternatives will offer an optimum solution for a given set of conditions.

Basically, the components of an on-farm strategy in using treated wastewater will

consist of a combination of:
 crop selection,
 selection of irrigation method, and
 adoption of appropriate management practices.
Furthermore, when the farmer has additional sources of water supply, such as a limited
amount of normal irrigation water, he will then have an option to use both the effluent and
the conventional source of water in two ways, namely:
 by blending conventional water with treated effluent, and
 using the two sources in rotation.

Information Decision on irrigation management

Effluent supply
The total amount of effluent that would be made
available during the crop growing season.
Effluent available throughout the year.
The rate of delivery of effluent either as m3 per
day or liters per second.
Type of delivery: continuous or intermittent, or on
demand.
Mode of supply: supply at farm gate or effluent
available in a storage reservoir to be pumped by
the farmer.
Effluent quality
Total salt concentration and/or electrical
conductivity of the effluent.
Concentrations of cations, such as Ca++, Mg++ and
Na+.
Concentration of toxic ions, such as heavy metals,
Boron and Cl-.
Concentration of trace elements (particularly
those which are suspected of being phyto-toxic).
Concentration of nutrients, particularly nitrate-N.
Level of suspended sediments.
Levels of intestinal nematodes and faecal
coliforms.
Total area that could be irrigated.
Storage facility during non crop growing period either at the
farm or near wastewater treatment plant, and possible use for
aquaculture.
Area that could be irrigated at any given time, layout of fields
and facilities and system of irrigation.
Layout of fields and facilities, irrigation system, and irrigation
scheduling.
The need to install pumps and pipes to transport effluent and
irrigation system.
Selection of crops, irrigation method, leaching and other
management practices.
To assess sodium hazard and undertake appropriate
measures.
To assess toxicities that are likely to be caused by these
elements and take appropriate measures.
To assess trace toxicities and take appropriate measures.
To adjust fertilizer levels, avoid over-fertilization and select
crop.
To select appropriate irrigation system and measures to
prevent clogging problems.
To select appropriate crops and irrigation.
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CROP SELECTION

To overcome salinity hazards

Not all plants respond to salinity in a similar manner; some crops can produce
acceptable yields at much higher soil salinity than others. This is because some crops are
better able to make the needed osmotic adjustments, enabling them to extract more water
from a saline soil.

The ability of a crop to adjust to salinity is extremely useful. In areas where a build-up
of soil salinity cannot be controlled at an acceptable concentration for the crop being grown,
an alternative crop can be selected that is both more tolerant of the expected soil salinity and
able to produce economic yields. There is an 8-10 fold range in the salt tolerance of
agricultural crops. This wide range in tolerance allows for greater use of moderately saline
water, much of which was previously thought to be unusable. It also greatly expands the
acceptable range of water salinity (EC) considered suitable for irrigation.

To overcome toxicity hazards

A toxicity problem is different from a salinity problem in that it occurs within the plant
itself and is not caused by water shortage. Toxicity normally results when certain ions are
taken up by plants with the soil water and accumulate in the leaves during water
transpiration to such an extent that the plant is damaged. The degree of damage depends
upon time, concentration of toxic material, crop sensitivity and crop water use and, if damage
is severe enough, crop yield is reduced. Common toxic ions in irrigation water are chloride,
sodium, and boron, all of which will be contained in sewage. Damage can be caused by
each individually or in combination. Not all crops are equally sensitive to these toxic ions.
Toxicity often accompanies or complicates a salinity or infiltration problem, although it may
appear even when salinity is not a problem.

Selection of irrigation methods

Under normal conditions, the type of irrigation method selected will depend on water
supply conditions, climate, soil, crops to be grown, cost of irrigation method and the ability of
the farmer to manage the system. However, when using wastewater as the source of
irrigation other factors, such as contamination of plants and harvested product, farm
workers, and the environment, and salinity and toxicity hazards, will need to be considered.
There is considerable scope for reducing the undesirable effects of wastewater use in
irrigation through selection of appropriate irrigation methods.

The choice of irrigation method in using wastewater is governed by the following

technical factors:

 the choice of crops,

 the wetting of foliage, fruits and aerial parts,
 the distribution of water, salts and contaminants in the soil,
 the ease with which high soil water potential could be maintained,
 the efficiency of application, and
 the potential to contaminate farm workers and the environment.

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WATER MANAGEMENT

Leaching- To estimate the leaching requirement, both the salinity of the irrigation water and
the crop tolerance to soil salinity must be known.

Where water is scarce and expensive, leaching practices should be designed to

maximize crop production per unit volume of water applied, to meet both the consumptive
use and leaching requirements. Depending on the salinity status, leaching can be carried out
at each irrigation, each alternative irrigation or less frequently, such as seasonally or at even
longer intervals, as necessary to keep the salinity in the soil below the threshold above
which yield might be affected to an unacceptable level. With good quality irrigation water, the
irrigation application level will almost always apply sufficient extra water to accomplish
leaching. With high salinity irrigation water, meeting the leaching requirement is difficult and
requires large amounts of water. Rainfall must be considered in estimating the leaching
requirement and in choosing the leaching method.

Drainage

Salinity problems in many irrigation projects in arid and semi-arid areas are
associated with the presence of a shallow water table. The role of drainage in this context is
to lower the water table to a desirable level, at which it does not contribute to the transport of
salts to the root zone and the soil surface by capillarity. What is important is to maintain a
downward movement of water through soils.

Timing of irrigation

The timing of irrigation, including irrigation frequency, pre-planting irrigation and

irrigation prior to a winter rainy season can reduce the salinity hazard and avoid water stress
between irrigations.

Blending of wastewater with other water supplies

One of the options that may be available to farmers is the blending of treated sewage with
conventional sources of water, canal water or ground water, if multiple sources are available.
It is possible that a farmer may have saline ground water and, if he has non-saline treated
wastewater, could blend the two sources to obtain a blended water of acceptable salinity
level. Further, by blending, the microbial quality of the resulting mixture could be superior to
that of the unblended wastewater.

Alternating treated wastewater with other water sources

Another strategy is to use the treated wastewater alternately with the canal water or
groundwater, instead of blending. From the point of view of salinity control, alternate
applications of the two sources will be superior to blending. However, an alternating
application strategy will require duel conveyance systems and availability of the effluent
dictated by the alternate schedule of application.

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THE AIM OF EFFICIENT IRRIGATION

The aim of efficient irrigated agriculture is to get maximum production for the same or
less input: for example, growing more crops with the same or less amount of water. One
measure of efficiency relates product to unit of water applied, for example, tons of products
per mega liter of water applied. This is water use efficiency: it combines system, crop and
agronomic aspects. Irrigation efficiency is the percentage of water that actually gets into the
soil and is used by the crop, compared with the amount pumped into the system. In an
efficiently operating, well-designed and well-managed pressurized sprinkler system, nearly
all the water supplied will be used by the plant.

Avoiding Waste

Over-irrigating or irrigating inefficiently not only wastes water but also money and
adversely affects the environment: consider the cost of unnecessary pumping and or nutrient
wastage (particularly with fertigation, applying fertilizer with the water).

Water is lost through run-off, deep drainage and evaporation (both direct evaporation
from foliage and the soil surface). Evaporative losses are less with drip systems.

Losses occur typically through over-watering, system leakage or system drainage.

If the irrigation system used on a property is appropriate for the soil type and crop,
and is installed and maintained correctly, it can apply the correct amount of water to the crop
without excessive losses.

Applying water evenly

If losses are low, and the volume of water flowing through the sprinkler nozzle is
correct, the system can still be inefficient if the water is not applied evenly where it is
needed. If the application is not even or uniform, some areas will get over-watered while
some won't get enough.

There are many ways of assessing the efficiency of the components of an irrigation
system, but in this workshop we are concerned with only one method, measuring the rate
and uniformity of water application. We assume that the pump, pipelines, valves, supply and
other associated components are all working at their best.

To determine the evenness of application, it should be:

 measure the pressure and flow at various points in the system and compare this to
the manufacturer's data
 calculate the mean application rate (MAR) and compare this to the soil infiltration rate
to make sure it is acceptable
 calculate the evenness of application at various points in the system (that is, the
distribution uniformity, DU)

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Pressures and flows

Incorrect pressures and flow rates are common causes of system inefficiency. If
pressure is restricted then the flow will be reduced. Operating pressure can dramatically
affect the sprinkler/emitter pattern and output, and therefore the evenness of application.

UNIFORMITY OF IRRIGATION

Evenness of application

The aim of a sprinkler system is to evenly apply water to the application area, while
with drippers it is important to apply the water evenly at each point.

Even distribution of water is important. If your system distributes water unevenly,

some areas may be over-watered while others are under-watered. This is inefficient.

A common tactic to compensate for uneven watering is to apply the water for longer.
While this may mean that all areas get sufficient water (thus increasing yield) there may also
be penalties from over-watering:

 increased water use

 increased pumping costs
 excessive run-off and losses to deep drainage
 reduction in the area that can be irrigated
 decrease in yield due to waterlogging roots.

Two terms are used to describe the uniformity of application rate and the uniformity of
coverage of sprinklers and emitters: these are mean application rate (MAR) and
distribution uniformity (DU). When you are able to calculate these for your own system
you will be able to evaluate how effectively it is operating.

Mean application rate (MAR)

The mean application rate (MAR) is the average rate (in mm/h) that water is applied
to the wetted area of the soil. It is very important that the MAR does not exceed the
infiltration rate for the soil, otherwise run-off will result.
(With travelling systems the situation is different because the machine moves over
the field. In this case it is the instantaneous application rate (not the MAR) that must not
exceed the long-term infiltration rate of the soil. Increasing travel speed does not reduce the
instantaneous application rate. Less water is applied (less RAW is replaced) but you may be
just filling the cracks between the soil. This is a common occurrence with travellers.)

Distribution uniformity (DU)

The DU, often expressed as a percentage, gives an indication of how evenly your
sprinklers/emitters are operating or overlapping.
The higher the DU, the more evenly your water is being distributed. A DU greater
than 75% is acceptable for sprinkler systems. New drip systems should have a DU of 95%,
while in older drip systems a DU of 85% is acceptable.
DU is affected by pressure variations, sprinkler/emitter wear, and, with overlapping
systems, the sprinkler/emitter position. Incorrect spacing of sprinklers in both fixed and
travelling systems will result in a low DU.

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SAFETY RULES

The following suggestions are aimed at ensuring the safety of the irrigator as well as
preventing damage to the equipment.

1. Read and follow directions in the owner's manual for each piece of equipment,
paying particular attention to the safety precautions and features listed. Make sure
that all employees also read and understand all directions and precautions.
2. Store irrigation pipe at least 100 feet from overhead power lines.
3. Look overhead and note electric power lines that are within reach of the long pipes.
When Lifting and transporting the pipe sections, keep clear of the power lines.
4. Avoid moving irrigation equipment on windy days when pipes could be blown into
nearby power lines and keep pipes horizontal to the ground rather than vertical to
minimize the risk of contact with power lines.
5. Be certain that moving irrigation equipment will not contact buildings, power lines,
poles, wires, etc.
6. Disconnect electric power before servicing a machine by personally shutting off and
locking the master control. Also make sure that everyone is clear of the machine
before it is turned back on.
7. Stay away from the equipment during an electrical storm.
8. When working with irrigation hydrants and valve openers care must be taken to
prevent a sudden release of water pressure which could cause severe injury. When
setting valve openers onto field irrigation hydrants make sure the valve opener
locking lever is swiveled far enough clockwise to lock it onto the hydrant ears. Always
do a quick visual check to make sure the valve opener is locked onto the hydrant
ears before turning the water on or off.
9. Stay out of the way of high-pressure water streams, such as end guns.
10. Protect electric motors from overload, overheating, overvoltage, under voltage, phase
imbalance in three-phase electrical systems, phase failure, low current or high
current.
11. Be sure the engines used to power pumps are equipped with safety devices that will
stop them before damage occurs from overload, overheating, loss of oil pressure or
runaway (if pump becomes disconnected or loses its prime).
12. Be sure all pumps are equipped with devices that will shut off the electric motor or
engine if there is a break in the suction or loss of pressure in the main pipeline.
13. To perform overhead maintenance, use a ladder that is sufficiently tall as well as
stable.
14. Have qualified service personnel perform any hazardous repair or maintenance.
15. Keep all guards and shields in place, especially those covering power-take-off units.
16. Make sure that service or auxiliary equipment is not in the path of the irrigation
system.
17. Bury all power lines around the equipment, and clearly mark where they are buried.
18. Keep away from moving parts when equipment is in operation.
19. If fuses or circuit breakers keep blowing, don't "correct" by over-fusing. Find the
cause.
20. Do not irrigate at air temperatures below 40F. Spraying has a cooling effect, and the
water can freeze even though the temperature is above 32F.
21. Periodically check the system for any loose or missing bolts, which could cause
collapse of the equipment.
22. Know what to do should an emergency situation occur, and also instruct all
employees on what to do.
23. If chemicals have been added to the irrigation water, avoid exposure to spray drift;
and make sure that the spray does not blow past the area of intended operation.

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 .III. ACTIVITY PROPER

Test I. Directions: Read the statements below about ensuring the safety to be observed as
well as preventing damage to the equipment. Put a check mark ( / ) if the statement is
correct, otherwise, cross ( X ). Write your answer on the space provided for. (10pts.)

____1. Store irrigation pipe at least 200 feet from overhead power lines.
____2. Read and follow directions in the owner's manual for each piece of equipment.
____3. Connect electric power before servicing a machine by personally shutting off and
locking the master control.
____4. Stay away from the equipment during an electrical storm.
____5. Stay out of the way of high-pressure water streams, such as end guns.
____6. To perform overhead maintenance, use a ladder that is sufficiently tall as well
as stable.
____7. Periodically do not check the system for any loose or missing bolts, which could
cause collapse of the equipment.
____8. Any service personnel perform any hazardous repair or maintenance.
____9. Make sure that service or auxiliary equipment is not in the path of the irrigation
system.
____10. Know what to do should an emergency situation occur, and also instruct all
employees on what to do.

Test II. Directions: Fill in the blanks. Read each statement carefully about following the basic
conditions to make irrigated farming successful and fill in the blanks with
the correct answer. (7pts.)

1. The required _________ of water should be applied.

2. The water should be of acceptable _________.
3. Water application should be properly _________.
4. Appropriate irrigation _________ should be used.
5. Salt accumulation in the root zone should be prevented by means of _________.
6. The rise of water table should be controlled by means of appropriate _________.
7. Plant _________ should be managed in an optimal way.

Test III. Directions: Enumerate the following: (8pts.)

1. Three (3) Components of an On-farm Strategy in Using Treated Wastewater:

___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
2. Five (5) Disadvantages of Over-watering
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
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https://dpipwe.tas.gov.au/Documents/3-Irrigation-Systems-V3.pdf
n%20wastewater%20irrigation
http://www.fao.org/3/T0551E/t0551e07.htm#5.5%20field%20management%20practices%20i
rules/chapter-9-irrigation-equipment-safety
https://agsci.oregonstate.edu/mycas/section-4-%E2%80%93-agricultural-safety-
REFERENCES:
TEST 1: / or X TEST II: FILL IN THE BLANK TEST III: ENUMERATION
1. X 1. AMOUNT 1. crop selection
2. / 2. QUALITY 2. selection of irrigation method
3. X 3. SCHEDULED 3. adoption of management practices
4. / 4. METHODS 1. increased water use
5. / 5. LEACHING 2. increased pumping costs
6. / 6. DRAINAGE 3. excessive run-off and losses to deep drainage
7. X 7. NUTRIENTS 4. reduction in the area that can be irrigated
8. X 5. decrease in yield due to waterlogging roots
9. /
10. /
ANSWER KEY
 IV. SUMMATIVE EVALUATION

TEST I. Directions: Match Column A with Column B by writing the letter of your
answer on the space provided. (10pts.)

COLUMN A COLUMN B

___1. process of displacing the salts from the root zone A. Timing of Irrigation
___2. portion of the irrigation water B. Water Losses
which mobilizes the excess of salts C. Over-irrigating
___3. removal of excess water from the soil surface D. Evenness of application
___4. water is applied to the wetted area of the soil E. System Inefficiency
___5. indication of emitters are operating or overlapping F. Distribution Uniformity
___6. incorrect pressures and flow rates G. Mean Application Rate
___7. evenly apply water to the application area H. Drainage
___8. irrigating inefficiently, wastes water, money I. Leaching Fraction
and adversely affects the environment J. Leaching
___9. over-watering, system leakage or system drainage
___10. irrigation frequency, pre-planting irrigation and
irrigation prior to a winter rainy season

TEST II. Directions: Give the meaning of the following acronyms: (5pts. each)
1. ET: _______________________________________________
2. LF: _______________________________________________
3. MAR: _____________________________________________
4. DU: _______________________________________________
5. FAO: ______________________________________________

Test III: Briefly discuss the following: (10pts.)

1. How do you attain efficient irrigation to get maximum production? (5pts.)

________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

2. How do you manage treated wastewater on the farm? Cite strategies and
explain. (5pts.)
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

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