UNIT V - IRRIGATION

METHODS AND
MANAGEMENT
 LIFT IRRIGATION
Lift irrigation is a method of irrigation in which water is not transported
by natural flow, (as in gravity-fed canal) but is lifted with pumps or surge
pools.
Lift irrigation schemes must accomplish two main tasks:
1. To carry water by means of pumps or other way, from the water source
to the main delivery chamber, which is situated at the top most point in
the command area.
2. They must distribute this water to the field of the beneficiary farmers
by means of a suitable and proper distribution. So that in Lift Irrigation
system, the gravity flow of water by canals or river is not available or
used.
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Lift irrigation is a method of irrigation in which water is not
transported by natural flow(as in gravity-fed canal system) but is
lifted with pumps or other means.

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 OVERVIEWOF LIFT IRRIGATION:

1.Carry the water to the delivery chamber from the water source.
2.Distribute the water to the required places.

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 1. The water is carried out by the help of pumps.
2. The water is carried out from the water source at the lower portion of
the land.
3. Mainly construction of dams and cannels are done there.
.

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 Distribution:

1. Distribution is done by gravitational method.

2. At first a contour map is prepared and the places which
is to be irrigated is blocked according to there need.
3. Required dia pipe lines and needed valves are placed for the
distribution.

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1. Made irrigation possible at higher levels.

2. Land acquisition problem is less.

3. Water losses are low.

4. Man power is less used.

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 REQUIREMENTS OF LIFT IRRIGATION:

1. Constant water sources should be available for whole year.

2. Water can be made available through dams, weir, river, canal etc.

3. To lift water to desired location pumps is required.

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 Types of lift Irrigation
• By Man or Animal power
a. Doon
b. Archimedian screw
c. Swinging Basket
d. Denkli
e. Rati or Pulley
f. Wind lass
g. Mote
h. Persian wheel
• By Mechanical or Electrical power
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Doon:
• The construction of doon is based on the principle of a lever.
• It consists of a wooden trough open at one end and semicircular at the closed end.
• The trough rests on a fulcrum about which it swings. A rope is attached to the
trough at closed end. Other end of the rope is attached to a lever rod. The lever
rod has a counter weight fastened at the other end. The lever rod rests in a ring
fulcrum.
• When water is to be lifted from an irrigation channel to a field channel or a water
course a man standing on a stool can bring the trough down by applying pressure
with hands and a leg. The trough is lowered till its closed end goes below the
water level in the channel.
• When the pressure is releases, due to the counter-weight trough swings back and
the water in trough discharges in the water course. The procedure is repeated
number of times.
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Archimedian Screw:
• It consists of a helical coil fitted in a cylinder made of wood or
metal. The cylinder is handle water is lifted up and discharged
in the water course. Figure shows the water lifting arrangement
by means of Archimedian screw.

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Swinging Basket:
• In this method water is lifted by means of a basket from the low
channels or ponds which are by the side of the field. The basket is
made of any cheap material for example leather, tin etc. The
basket is slung by ropes on both sides.

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• Two persons hold the ropes at ends and dip the basket in the
channel water. Then swing is given to the basket so that the basket
full of water tilts over the water course and discharges water in the
water course.
• This method is useful up to a height of 75 cm.
• If the lift is more the same method may be used in stages. In such
cases in between the water course and the source of water
temporary ponds may be constructed.
• The water from the source is transferred to the pond just above and
from there onwards till water reaches the field channel.
• Such a case will be of course very costly, but in hilly tracts one has
to adopt this method.
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Dhenkli or Lever Method:
• This method consists of a lever-rod rocking over the top of a vertical
upright post. A suitable counter weight is tied on one side of the lever
and a bucket is suspended from the other end into the well.
• Length of the lever rod on the side of the bucket is longer than that on
the side of counter­weight. The bucket when filled is lifted a little to set
the lever action.
• The bucket full of water moves up automatically due to moment of the
counter weight. When bucket reaches the ground it is used for irrigation
and empty bucket is again sent into the well.
• But this time lever will have to be pulled against the moment of
counter weight so that bucket may reach water and get filled with it.
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Rope-Pulley and Bucket Method:
• This method consists of a pulley over which a rope is passed. A
bucket is tied to the end of the rope hanging in the well and
other end of the rope is held by a man standing at the surface.
• The bucket is lowered into the well, and pulled out with help of
rope and pulley after being filled with water. This method is
suitable only when well is not deep and quantity of water to be
lifted is small.  

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Mote or Churus or Pur:
• This arrangement of lifting water is suitable for lined wells and it can be
conveniently used for deep wells up to a maximum depth of 30 m. The system
consists of a leather container whose shape is like a funnel. There is a spout on
one side and shape of upper portion is that of a conical cylinder. It is open at
both ends.
• The capacity of the leather container or mote is from 0.08 to 0.15 cubic metres.
Two ropes are tied to two ends of the mote as shown in Fig. 17.10. The ropes
pass over two pulleys.
• Upper pulley is a circular fixed pulley of bigger diameter whereas a lower
pulley for the rope tied to the spout end is cylindrical in shape and is of smaller
diameter. The pulleys are fixed in the wooden framework as shown in the figure.
• Other ends of the ropes are connected to a specially prepared yoke. A pair of
bullocks is employed to haul the mote.
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• The bullocks move forward and backward on a sloping bullock run or a ramp. When
the bullocks reach other (lower) end of the ramp the spout rests on the lower pulley
and the conical portion remains above the lower pulley m suspension from the upper
pulley.
• Thus the water discharges through the spout. The discharging water may be collected
temporarily in a trough constructed in front of the cylindrical pulley from where
water is taken to the water course.
• When the pair of bullocks comes back to the well end of the ramp the mote goes
down in the well and dips in the water and gets filled. When the pair moves forward
because of the tension the spout end comes in level with the other end. Thus the
water is not allowed to spill over or to discharge out of the mote.
• This process is repeated number of times. This method of lifting water by mote
seems to be better as the pair of bullocks is relieved of their load while the pair
comes back. The mote is generally used for gardening purposes and also on small
fields.
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Persian Wheel:
• This is another type in the same category. It is also known as Rabat in
some parts of India. This arrangement is very suitable where the depth of
well is from 12 to 20 metres. Once this method was very commonly used
in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. This method is very suitable for irrigating
crops when the wells and persian wheels are in abundance and area
supported by each is less. It is also very much sutiable for gardening.
• It consists of an endless chain of buckets made of G.I. sheets. The chain is
mounted on a drum. The endless chain is suspended in the well in such a
way that the chain dips in the water to sufficient extent. The drum is
connected by means of a horizontal axle to a toothed wheel which is also
held in a vertical plane as shown in Fig. 17.11. This vertical wheel is
geared with a horizontal wheel.
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• The vertical axle of the horizontal wheel is connected to a horizontal shaft.
A pair of bullocks or buffaloes or a camel is yoked to the shaft by means of
ropes and a yoke. The horizontal shaft is rotated with the help of animal
power about the vertical axle. When the animal moves round the vertical
axle of the system rotates. As a result bucket chain also moves. The buckets
filled with water move up and when they turn down at the top of the drum
the water is discharged. This water is collected in a trough from where it
goes to the water course.
• The empty buckets then move onwards and go down in the well finally dip
in the water of the well in inverted position and when they emerge out they
are upright and completely filled with water. Thus the buckets when ascend
are full of water and when descend they are empty. In this method water is
lifted continuously as long as system is kept in rotation. This Method is very
efficient.
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Pumps:
• Pumps of various types say displacement or centrifugal, operated by mechanical or
electrical power are now very commonly used for lifting water to irrigate the fields. The
water may be lifted up from streams, rivers, wells etc., with suitable accessories.
• Most commonly used pump is a centrifugal pump. Centrifugal pump with a horizontal
spindle is installed in a pump-sump suitably. It consists of blades or curved vanes
mounted on a shaft. The assembly is placed inside a casing called volute chamber.
• When the shaft is rotated by mechanical or electrical power with a high speed the
centrifugal force is created in the chamber. The vanes then force the water out through a
delivery pipe. The delivery pipe is attached tangentially to the chamber or the casing.
• The pump cannot work unless initially filled with water. For this reason a foot-valve is
generally provided at the lower end of the suction pipe. The cost of maintenance of the
centrifugal pump is very less. It is very compact unit and requires less floor area. The
cost of installation is also low.

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 TANK IRRIGATION
• If the runoff is more than the required amount then headwork and
barrages are constructed to store the water.
• The flow of a river is a seasonal flow. Sometimes more water is
required and the source is limited. Sometimes less water is required
and the source is high. So in order to regulate flow, the reservoirs are
constructed. The function of reservoirs are
 To fulfil the irrigation requirements.
 To generate the hydraulic power.
 Regulate the river flow so as to avoid flood.
• In some areas, small dams instead of canals are constructed for the
irrigation purposes.
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• Tank irrigation is defined as an artificial means applied for improving the
cultivation in India.
• Tank is a reservoir of any specific size. Tanks are an integral part of the ancient
tradition of yielding and storing the water from rainfall and from streams or
rivers.
• Water is stored for later use mainly in agriculture. Basically tanks are constructed
across slopes for collecting and preserving water by utilizing the advantage of
local mountains as well.
• Specifically in the southern region of the country, usage of tank irrigation is
critical. As in some parts of southern India, water supply replacement is entirely
reliant on a cycle of dry seasons and irregular monsoon seasons.

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• Further, in the uneven and comparatively stony plateau of Peninsular India, where
the range of annual rainfall is mostly seasonal, tank irrigation method has become
highly popular.
• In various parts of the country, people have restored to tank irrigation. In this
procedure, a small dam that is constructed across a stream impounds water that is led
through slender channels to the cultivated lands.
• Several parts of states like Madhya pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh
have maximum portion of lands under tank irrigation as compared to well or canal
irrigation.
• The main reason behind the high usage of tank irrigation in these states is that canal
and well irrigation is possible only in large alluvial river valley plains.
• In other parts of the plateau of peninsular India canals and wells are difficult to
excavate because of the hard rock below the thin layer of the soil.

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• That is why, in a huge part of the Indian plateau, no other method but tank
irrigation is apposite. However, tank irrigation is less economical than other
methods of irrigation.
• There are some major drawbacks of tank irrigation in India and these are mainly
– Evaporation of water is a bit rapid because of the large expanse of shallow
water of the tanks,
– Tanks occupy a huge area of the cultivable field and thirdly, tank irrigation do
not ensure perennial supply of water.
• Moreover, at times it also happens that the tanks go dry during the hot summer
season when it is urgently required.
• Thus, by considering the large area that is made useless by the tanks and the
great amount of water loss by evaporation, the procedure of tank irrigation is
moderately costlier.

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 WELL IRRIGATION
• Well : It is a vertical structure dug in ground for purpose of
bringing ground water to the earth’s surface
• Basically wells are classified as follows :
• Open wells (Dug wells)
• Tube wells
 OPEN WELL

 These are the wells which have comparatively large diameters and
lower discharges
 Usually they have discharge of 20 m³/hr but if constructed by efficient
planning it gives discharge of 200-300 m³/hr
 They are constructed of diameter of about 1-10 m and have depth of
about 2-20m
 They are constructed by digging therefore they are also known as dug
wells
 CLASSIFICATION OF OPEN WELL BASED ON DEPTH

1. Shallow open well : These are the wells resting on the water
bearing strata and gets their supplies from the surrounding materials

2. Deep open well : These are the wells resting on the impervious
layer known as mota layer beneath which lies water bearing pervious
layer and gets their supply from this layer
 CLASSIFICATION OF OPEN WELL BASED ON TYPE
OF WALL

 Kachha wells : These type of wells are only constructed when water
table is high as these type of wells sometimes collapses

 Wells with Impervious lining : These are most suitable and stable
type of open well. These are constructed by first digging a pit then a
curb which is a circular ring with sharp bottom is inserted . Then a
masonry wall up to some distance above ground is constructed , then
as excavation proceeds it sinks blow and then masonry is further
extended and well is constructed. As water enters from the bottom
type of flow is spherical.
 Well with pervious lining : These type of wells are suitable in coarse formations
these are constructed by masonry of dry bricks or stones without any binding
materials. So the water supply enters from the wall of well therefore the flow is
radial. Such wells are provided with bottom plug so the flow is not combination of
radial and spherical.

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 TUBE WELLS

• A tube well is a long pipe sunk in ground intercepting

one or more water bearing strata.
• As compared to open well there diameter is less about 80-600
mm.
 CLASSIFICATION OF TUBE WELL BASED ON DEPTH

• Shallow tube well : These are the tube which has depth
limited to 30 meters and maximum have discharge of 20
m³/hr
• Deep tube well : These are the tube wells which have
maximum depth of about 600 m and may give discharge
more then 800 m³/hr

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 CLASSIFICATION OF TUBE WELL BASED ON SUPPLY
SYSTEM

• Strainer type tube well

• Cavity type tube well

• Slotted Type tube well

Strainer type tube well :
These is most commonly used tube such that in general a tube well means
strainer tube well. The type of flow is radial.
In tube wells the metal pipe driven in ground is perforated to allow only
clear water to enter the hole. It is obvious that if no other means is
adopted the perforations in the metal tube will have to be made very fine.
It is very costly process.
As an alternative wire net may be wrapped on the cylindrical frame of small
diameter but it is liable to break as it is very delicate. So the best and most
commonly adopted practice is to provide a pipe with fairly big perforations
and surrounding that is a wire net or a strainer with smaller openings.
• The wire net with finer openings excludes the objectionable soil
particles from entering the tube well. Total area of the openings in the
metal tube and in the strainer is kept the same. This is because if the
area of opening is same the velocity of inflow will be the same.
• Moreover there is some annular space left between the perforated
metal tube and the strainer. If the space is not left the strainer may rest
directly over the tube and consequently the open area of perforations
will be reduced, Fig. shows the section of a strainer type tube well.
• Normally the mesh size of the wire net or strainer is kept equal to
D60 to D70 of the surrounding soil. This type of well derives water
from one aquifer of unlimited extent or from a confined aquifer or
from number of aquifers.
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Cavity tube well :
• A cavity type tube well consists of a pipe sunk in ground up to the hard clay layer. It
draws water from the bottom of well. In initial stages fine sand is also pumped with water
and in such manner a cavity is formed at the bottom so the water enters from the aquifer
into the well through this cavity.

• In this type water contribution to bore hole takes place through the bottom layer only.
From Fig., it is clear that in principle it is similar to the category of the deep wells under
open wells. It derives water from the previous layer underlying the hard impervious layer.

• The tube well is taken down till it penetrates the impervious or mota layer and reaches the
water bearing layer. In the initial stages when the water is pumped out fine sand comes in
the tube well with the water and consequently a hollow or cavity is formed at the bottom.
The bottom of the cavity for some thickness is thus made free of finer particles.
• After the cavity formation only clear water enters the tube well. Since the rate of
pumping is more, the velocity of water entering the coarse sand layer is critical
but when it comes in the hollow the velocity is reduced.

• Finally the water enters the tube well at the bottom with a velocity lower than the
critical velocity.

• The main difference between a strainer and cavity tube well is that in the former
the inflow is radial whereas in the later it is spherical.

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Slotted Type Tube well:
• Sometimes the nature of subsoil formation is not anticipated correctly. Obviously bore
hole driven for constructing strainer well will be a failure. If a mota formation is present
cavity well may be resorted to.
• But if neither of the conditions are existing the slotted tube well can be rightly
constructed. There should be of course an aquifer present at the bottom. In the bore hole
(say 36 cm diameter) a 15 cm diameter education pipe is lowered till it reaches the
bottom. The bottom of the education pipe is slotted as shown in Fig.
• The size of the slots may be 25 mm x 3 mm with 12 mm spacing. As the slots are quite
wide, to avoid sand entry in the pipe a filter of shingle is provided at bottom,
surrounding the slotted pipe portion.
• Finally before withdrawing the 36 cm diameter pipe casing the shingle is poured in the
annular space between the education pipe and the casing pipe. The development of this
well is done gradually with the compressed air. Thus the slotted tube well, unlike
strainer well receives inflow only at bottom through shingle shrouding.
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