Check Basin irrigation

Basin irrigation is the most common form of surface irrigation, particularly in regions

with layouts of small fields.

If a field is level in all directions, is encompassed by a dyke to prevent runoff, and

provides an undirected flow of water onto the field, it is herein called a basin.

A basin is typically square in shape but exists in all sorts of irregular and rectangular

configurations. It may be furrowed or corrugated, have raised beds for the benefit of

certain crops, but as long as the inflow is undirected and uncontrolled into these

field modifications, it remains a basin.

 BORDER & BASIN IRRIGATION
Border irrigation can be viewed as an extension of basin
irrigation to sloping, long rectangular or contoured field
shapes, with free draining conditions at the lower end.
Sloping borders are suitable for nearly any crop except those
that require prolonged ponding. Soils can be efficiently
irrigated which have moderately low to moderately high
intake rates but, as with basins, should not form dense crusts
unless provisions are made to furrow or construct raised
borders for the crops.
 BORDER & BASIN IRRIGATION

The stream size per unit width must be large,

particularly following a major tillage operation,

although not so large for basins owing to the effects

of slope. The precision of the field topography is

also critical, but the extended lengths permit better

levelling through the use of farm machinery.

 When to Use Basin Irrigation
Suitable crops
Basin irrigation is suitable for many field crops. Paddy rice grows best when its roots are

submerged in water and so basin irrigation is the best method to use for this crop.

Other crops which are suited to basin irrigation include:

- pastures, e.g. alfalfa, clover;

- trees, e.g. citrus, banana;

- crops which are broadcast, such as cereals;

- to some extent row crops such as tobacco.

- Basin irrigation is generally not suited to crops which cannot stand in wet or waterlogged

conditions for periods longer than 24 hours. These are usually root and tuber crops such as

potatoes, cassava, beet and carrots which require loose, well-drained soils.
 When to Use Basin Irrigation
Suitable land slopes
The flatter the land surface, the easier it is to construct basins.
On flat land only minor levelling may be required to obtain
level basins.

It is also possible to construct basins on sloping land, even

when the slope is quite steep. Level basins can be constructed
like the steps of a staircase and these are called terraces.
 When to Use Basin Irrigation
Suitable soils
Which soils are suitable for basin irrigation depends on the crop
grown. A distinction has to be made between rice and non-rice
or other crops.
 When to Use Basin Irrigation
Suitable soils
Which soils are suitable for basin irrigation depends on the crop
grown. A distinction has to be made between rice and non-rice
or other crops.

Paddy rice is best grown on clayey soils which are almost

impermeable as percolation losses are low. Rice could also be
grown on sandy soils but percolation losses will be high unless
a high water table can be maintained. Such conditions
sometimes occur in valley bottoms.
 When to Use Basin Irrigation

Suitable soils
Although most other crops can be grown on clays, loamy soils
are preferred for basin irrigation so that waterlogging
(permanent saturation of the soil) can be avoided.
 When to Use Basin Irrigation

Suitable soils
Although most other crops can be grown on clays, loamy soils
are preferred for basin irrigation so that waterlogging
(permanent saturation of the soil) can be avoided.

Coarse sands are not recommended for basin irrigation as, due
to the high infiltration rate, percolation losses can be high. Also
soils which form a hard crust when dry (capping) are not
suitable.
 Adaptability of Basin Irrigation
• Suitable to smooth, gentle and uniform land slopes.

• Suitable to soils having moderate to low infiltration rates.

• Adaptable to both raw crops and close growing crops as long as the
crop is not affected by temporary inundation.

• Specially adopted for irrigation of grain and fodder crops in heavy soils
with low infiltration rates.

• Many different kinds of crops can be grown in sequence in the same

field without making major changes in design layout or operating
procedures. Practically all irrigated paddy is grown in basins.

• Useful when leaching is required to remove from the soil profile.

 Limitations of Basin Irrigation
 Ridges interfere with movement of animal drawn or tractor drawn

implements.

 Considerable land is occupied by ridges and lateral field channels.

 This method requires surface drainage.

 Precise land grading and shaping are required.

 Labour requirements in land preparation and irrigation are much

higher compared to other methods except when basins are very large.

 This method is not suitable for irrigated crops which are sensitive to

wet soil conditions around the stem of plants.

 Basin Layout

Basin layout not only refers to the shape

and size of basins but also to the shape

and size of the bunds.

BASIN WIDTH Maximum width (m)
Slope %
average range
The main limitation on the width of a
0.2 45 35-55
basin is the land slope. If the land slope 0.3 37 30-45
0.4 32 25-40
is steep, the basin should be narrow, 0.5 28 20-35
0.6 25 20-30
otherwise too much earth movement 0.8 22 15-30
1.0 20 15-25
will be needed to obtain level basins.
1.2 17 10-20

Table 1 provides some guidance on the 1.5 13 10-20

2.0 10 5-15
maximum width of basins or terraces, 3.0 7 5-10
4.0 5 3-8
depending on the land slope.
TABLE -1 - APPROXIMATE VALUES FOR
MAXIMUM BASIN WIDTH (m)
BASIN WIDTH
Three other factors which may affect basin width are:

- Depth of fertile soil,

- Method of basin construction,
- Agricultural practices.

If the topsoil is shallow, there is a danger of exposing the infertile

subsoil when the terraces are excavated. This can be avoided by
reducing the width of basins and thus limiting the depth of
excavation.
• Basins can be quite narrow if they are constructed by
hand labour but will need to be wider if machines are
used so that the machines can easily be moved around.

• If hand or animal powered tillage is used then basins

can be much narrower than if machines are used for
cultivation. If machines are used then it is important
to make sure that basin widths are some multiple of
the width of the machines for efficient
mechanization.
• Basins can be quite narrow if they are constructed by
hand labour but will need to be wider if machines are
used so that the machines can easily be moved around.

• If hand or animal powered tillage is used then basins

can be much narrower than if machines are used for
cultivation. If machines are used then it is important
to make sure that basin widths are some multiple of
the width of the machines for efficient
mechanization.
• BASIN SIZE
The size of basins depends not only on the slope but also on the soil type and the
available water flow to the basins. The relationship between soil type, stream size
and size of the basin is given in Table 2. Values are based on practical experience,
and have been adjusted in particular to suit small-scale irrigation conditions.

Stream size Sand Sandy loam Clay loam Clay

(l/sec)
5 35 100 200 350
10 65 200 400 650
15 100 300 600 1000
30 200 600 1200 2000
60 400 1200 2400 4000
90 600 1800 3600 6000

TABLE - 2
SUGGESTED MAXIMUM BASIN AREAS (m2) FOR VARIOUS OIL TYPES AND AVAILABLE STREAM SIZES (l/sec)
The size of the basin is also influenced by the

depth (in mm) of the irrigation application.

If the required irrigation depth is large, the basin

can be large.

Similarly, if the required irrigation depth is small,

then the basin should be small to obtain good

water distribution.
Example of how to estimate Basin Sizes

Question: Estimate the dimensions of basins, when the soil type is a deep
clay loam and the land slope is 1%. As basin construction is
mechanized, the terraces should be as wide as possible. The
available stream size is 25 l/sec.

Answer: From Table 1 the maximum basin or terrace width for a slope of
1% is 25 m (range 15-25 m).
From Table 2 the maximum basin size for a clay loam soil and an
available stream size of 25 l/sec is 1000 m2.
If the total basin area is 1000 m2 and the width is 25 m, the
maximum basin length is 1000/25 = 40 m.
Note: This example shows how to estimate the maximum basin dimensions.
This basin can be made smaller than this if required and still be
irrigated efficiently with the available stream size.
 The size and shape of basins can often be limited by farming practice.
Many farms in developing countries are very small and cultivation is by
hand. In these circumstances basins are usually small as they are easy to
level and efficient irrigation can be attained with relatively small stream
sizes.

 On the large mechanized farms, basins are generally made as large as

possible to provide large uninterrupted areas for machine movements.
Basin dimensions are chosen to be some multiple of the width of the
machines so as to use the equipment as efficiently as possible. Other
reasons to make basins as large as possible are that less land is wasted in
this way (less bunds) and large stream sizes and a relatively large
application depth can be used.
 The size and shape of basins can often be limited by farming practice.
Many farms in developing countries are very small and cultivation is by
hand. In these circumstances basins are usually small as they are easy to
level and efficient irrigation can be attained with relatively small stream
sizes.

 On the large mechanized farms, basins are generally made as large as

possible to provide large uninterrupted areas for machine movements.
Basin dimensions are chosen to be some multiple of the width of the
machines so as to use the equipment as efficiently as possible. Other
reasons to make basins as large as possible are that less land is wasted in
this way (less bunds) and large stream sizes and a relatively large
application depth can be used.
The shape of the basin can be square, rectangular or
irregular. The shape is mainly determined by the slope.

On steep and irregular sloping lands, the basins may be

long and narrow. The long side of the basin is along the
contour line.

If the slope and thus the contour line is irregular, the

shape of the basin will also be irregular.
The shape of the basin can be square, rectangular or
irregular. The shape is mainly determined by the slope.

On steep and irregular sloping lands, the basins may be

long and narrow. The long side of the basin is along the
contour line.

If the slope and thus the contour line is irregular, the

shape of the basin will also be irregular.
The shape of the basin can be square, rectangular or
irregular. The shape is mainly determined by the slope.

On steep and irregular sloping lands, the basins may be

long and narrow. The long side of the basin is along the
contour line.

If the slope and thus the contour line is irregular, the

shape of the basin will also be irregular.
SUMMARY

BASINS SHOULD BE SMALL IF THE:

1. slope of the land is steep
2. soil is sandy
3. stream size to the basin is small
4. required depth of the irrigation application is small
5. field preparation is done by hand or animal traction.
SUMMARY

BASINS SHOULD BE SMALL IF THE:

1. slope of the land is steep
2. soil is sandy
3. stream size to the basin is small
4. required depth of the irrigation application is small
5. field preparation is done by hand or animal traction.

BASINS CAN BE LARGE IF THE:

1. slope of the land is gentle or flat
2. soil is clay
3. stream size to the basin is large
4. required depth of the irrigation application is large
5. field preparation is mechanized.
 Shape and dimensions of bunds
• Bunds are small earth embankments which contain irrigation
water within basins. They are sometimes called ridges, dykes
or levees. The height of bunds is determined by the irrigation
depth and the freeboard. The freeboard is the height above
the irrigation depth to be sure that water will not overtop the
bund.

• The width of bunds should be such that leakage will not occur,
and that they are stable.
Temporary bunds are normally 60-120 cm wide at
the base and have a height of 15-30 cm above the
original ground surface, including a freeboard of 10
cm (which means an irrigation depth of 5-20 cm).

Temporary bunds surround fields on which annual

crops are grown; these bunds are rebuilt each
season.
Temporary bunds are normally 60-120 cm wide at
the base and have a height of 15-30 cm above the
original ground surface, including a freeboard of 10
cm (which means an irrigation depth of 5-20 cm).

Temporary bunds surround fields on which annual

crops are grown; these bunds are rebuilt each
season.
• Permanent bunds usually have a base width of 130-160
cm and a height of 60-90 cm when constructed. The
settled height will be 40-50 cm. This settling
(compaction of the soil) will take several months.

• Permanent bunds are mostly used in rice cultivation,

where the same crop is planted on the same fields year
after year. The bunds are used as paths in the rice fields
as well.
• Permanent bunds usually have a base width of 130-160
cm and a height of 60-90 cm when constructed. The
settled height will be 40-50 cm. This settling
(compaction of the soil) will take several months.

• Permanent bunds are mostly used in rice cultivation,

where the same crop is planted on the same fields year
after year. The bunds are used as paths in the rice fields
as well.
 HYDRAULICS OF BASIN IRRIGATION

If the check basin irrigation system is properly

designed it is possible to apply the right amount of
water nearly uniformly throughout the basin.
 HYDRAULICS OF BASIN IRRIGATION

If the check basin irrigation system is properly

designed it is possible to apply the right amount of
water nearly uniformly throughout the basin.
The problem of efficient irrigation by check basin
consists essentially of having the right size of basin to
suit the available stream size for a particular set of
soil and crop conditions.
 HYDRAULICS OF BASIN IRRIGATION
The hydraulics of flow in check basins may be considered to comprise

of four stages:

1. Initial spreading of the entrance stream to fully cover the width

of the basin and simultaneous advance of the irrigation stream.

2. Advance of water front after the initial spreading.

3. Rise of water level after the advancing stream reaches the

downstream.

4. Subsidence of the water after the irrigation stream is stopped.

1. Spreading the Entrance Stream in a Check Basin

• The water front advance in check basin differs from borders in the initial
stages at the U/S end of the basin.

• The entrance stream spreads on either side as it advances forward till the
entire width of the basin is covered.

• Desired water distribution efficiency is obtained by adjusting the

entrance stream size or the size of check basin or both.

• In long basins the initial spreading time is very small as compared to total
time required for water front to reach the D/S end of the basin.
2. Water Front Advance in Check Basin
The advance of the water front after the initial spreading in check
basins may be predicted using equations.

The dominant variables are

1. entrance stream size,
2. infiltration characteristics of the soil,
3. hydraulic resistance offered by the soil surface and
vegetation,
4. water surface slope
5. elapsed time.
3. Water Storage and Rate of rise in Check Basins.

Ponding occurs after the water front reaches the D/S end of the check basin. The volume of

storage above the soil surface in a given time period is equal to the difference between the

volume of water admitted in to the basin during the period and the volume infiltrated in to

the soil. This may be explained as:

V = q.t – I.t = A.d

Where,
V = volume of water stored in a given time ‘t’ in cm3 ,
q = average size of the entrance stream in cm3/min,
t = storage time in minutes,
I = average infiltration rate during the storage time in cm/min,
A = area of the check basin in cm2 ,
D = depth of storage during time ‘t’ in cm

Rate of rise of water level = d/dt (d)

4. Recession of Water in Check Basin

Recession in a check basin may be taken as the

subsidence of water due to infiltration.
 Irrigating Basins

There are two methods to supply irrigation

water to basins:

1. The direct method

2. The cascade method

The direct method

Irrigation water is led directly from the field channel into the basin through
siphons, spiles or bund-breaks .

Figure shows that "Basin a" is irrigated first, then "Basin b" is irrigated and so
on. This method can be used for most crop types and is suitable for most
soils.
The cascade method
On sloping land, where terraces are used, the irrigation water is supplied to the
highest terrace, and then allowed to flow to a lower terrace and so on. In Figure the
water is supplied to the highest terrace (a1) and is allowed to flow through terrace a2
until the lowest terrace (a3) is filled. The intake of terrace a1 is then closed and the
irrigation water is diverted to terrace b1 until b1, b2 and b3 are filled, and so on.
• This is a good method to use for paddy rice on clay soils where percolation and
seepage losses are low. However, for other crops on sandy or loamy soils,
percolation losses can be excessive while water is flowing through the upper
terraces to irrigate the lower ones. This problem can be overcome by using the
borrow-furrow as a small channel to take water to the lower terrace. The lower
terrace is irrigated first and when complete the bund is closed and water is
diverted into the next terrace. Thus the terrace nearest the supply channel is the
last to be irrigated.

• When long cascades are used for growing rice it is common practice to allow water
to flow continuously into the terraces at low discharge rates. The water demand in
the cascade can easily be monitored by observing the drainage flow. If there is no
drainage then more water may be required at the top of the cascade. If there is a
drainage flow then it is possible to reduce the inflow.
 Ideal Wetting Pattern
To obtain a uniformly wetted root zone,

1. the surface of the basin must be level and

2. the irrigation water must be applied quickly.

Following figure shows an ideal wetting pattern:

the basin is level and the right quantity of water has
been supplied with the correct scream size.
IDEAL WETTING PATTERN
 Ideal Wetting Pattern
It is not possible to have the wetting pattern and root
zone coincide completely. The part of the basin near
the field channel is always in contact with the irrigation
water longer than the opposite side of the basin.
Therefore percolation losses will occur near the field
channel, if sufficient water is supplied to the opposite
side of the basin.
 POOR WETTING PATTERNS
Poor wetting patterns can be caused by:

 Unfavourable natural conditions, e.g. a compacted

subsoil layer, or different soil types within one basin;
 Poor layout (e.g. a poorly levelled surface);
 Poor management (e.g. supplying incorrect stream
size) , applying too little or too much water.
POOR WETTING PATTERN DUE TO

Poor layout (e.g. a poorly levelled surface)

WETTING PATTERN OF A POORLY
LEVELLED BASIN
POOR WETTING PATTERN DUE TO

Poor management (e.g. supplying incorrect

stream size), applying too little or too
much water.
WETTING PATTERN WHEN FLOW RATE
IS INSUFFICIENT
 UNDER
IRRIGATION

OVER
IRRIGATION
 Design of Basin Irrigation
The uniform distribution of water is obtained in the basin by using

the stream size large enough to spread water quickly across the

soil surface. This reduces the difference in contact time between

the top of the field and the far end of the field so that deep

percolation losses are kept small. The size of the stream depends

upon irrigation depth, soil type and basin size. The practical

guideline is to use a stream size large enough for the flow to reach

the far end of the field in one quarter of the contact time. This is

called “quarter time rule”.

 a. Rapid Advance : Very little time for infiltration

b. Water ponded on surface : Infiltration over entire field

c. Irrigation Completed
 Evaluation of Check Basin
1. Size of the check basin is determined

2. Prepare the grid and mount stacks in the basin and measure the infiltration.

3. Moisture content of the soil prior to irrigation is determined.

4. Infiltration characteristics of the soil are determined prior to admitting the water.

5. Water is admitted in the basin and time of release is noted down.

6. Time when water front reaches each of the measuring stations is noted.

7. The discharge is stretched off when the net depth of water required is admitted
in basin. The time of shut off is noted.

8. Time when water front recedes from each measuring station is noted.

9. From all the above data the accumulated infiltration time relationships are
established.
Example 1: An irrigation stream of 27 lit/sec is diverted in to a check basin of
size 12 m X 10 m The water holding capacity of soil is 14 % The average soil
moisture content of the crop root zone prior to application of water is 6.5%.
How long the irrigation stream should be applied to replenish root zone
moisture to field capacity assuming no loss due to deep percolation? The
average depth of crop root zone is 1.2 m The apparent specific gravity of root
zone is 1.5 .

Solution
Net Irrigation Requirement = Field Capacity – Available Soil Moisture Content
= 14% - 6.5% = 7.5 %
Now,
NIR in cm/m of soil depth = 7.5 X 1.5 = 11.25
Example 1: An irrigation stream of 27 lit/sec is diverted in to a check basin of
size 12 m X 10 m The water holding capacity of soil is 14 % The average soil
moisture content of the crop root zone prior to application of water is 6.5%.
How long the irrigation stream should be applied to replenish root zone
moisture to field capacity assuming no loss due to deep percolation? The
average depth of crop root zone is 1.2 m The apparent specific gravity of root
zone is 1.5 .

Solution
Net Irrigation Requirement = Field Capacity – Available Soil Moisture Content
= 14% - 6.5% = 7.5 %
Now,
NIR in cm/m of soil depth = 7.5 X 1.5 = 11.25
So NIR in root zone depth = NIR in cm/m X Soil root zone depth

= 11.25 cm/m X 1.2 m

= 13.5 cm

Now
Total volume of water required in basin = Area of Basin X Net depth of
irrigation
= 12 m X 10 m X (13.5/100) m

= 16.2 cu. m. = 16200 lit

Therefore,

required duration of irrigation = 16200/27 = 600 sec = 10 min.

So NIR in root zone depth = NIR in cm/m X Soil root zone depth

= 11.25 cm/m X 1.2 m

= 13.5 cm

Now
Total volume of water required in basin = Area of Basin X Net depth of
irrigation
= 12 m X 10 m X (13.5/100) m

= 16.2 cu. m. = 16200 lit

Therefore,

required duration of irrigation = 16200/27 = 600 sec = 10 min.

Example 2 : A wheat crop is to be irrigated using the check basin method. The
size of each basin is 10 m X 8 m. The size of available irrigation stream is 18
lit/sec. The water holding capacity of root zone is 16 % The apparent specific
gravity of soil is 1.58 Soil moisture content before irrigation is 8.5 %.
Determine irrigation duration if water application efficiency is 96% and the
root zone depth is 80 cm.
Example 2 : A wheat crop is to be irrigated using the check basin method. The
size of each basin is 10 m X 8 m. The size of available irrigation stream is 18
lit/sec. The water holding capacity of root zone is 16 % The apparent specific
gravity of soil is 1.58 Soil moisture content before irrigation is 8.5 %.
Determine irrigation duration if water application efficiency is 96% and the
root zone depth is 80 cm.

Solution :
NIR = FC – AMC = 16% - 8.5% = 7.5 %
NIR in cm/m of soil depth = 7.5 X 1.58
= 11.85 cm/m depth of soil
Total water required in root zone = NIR in cm/m X Root zone depth
= 11.85 X 0.8 = 9.48 m
Application Efficiency = Water stored in root zone / water applied

0.96 = 9.48 / D

Therefore, D = 9.87 cm.

Now

Total volume of water required in basin = Area of Basin X Depth of irrigation

required in check basin

= (10 X 8) X (9.87/100) = 7.9 m3 = 7900 lit

Therefore,

Time required for Irrigation = 7900 / 18 = 438 sec = 7.31 min.

Application Efficiency = Water stored in root zone / water applied

0.96 = 9.48 / D

Therefore, D = 9.87 cm.

Now

Total volume of water required in basin = Area of Basin X Depth of irrigation

required in check basin

= (10 X 8) X (9.87/100) = 7.9 m3 = 7900 lit

Therefore,

Time required for Irrigation = 7900 / 18 = 438 sec = 7.31 min.