Abstract

Irrigation applies water to soil to improve crop production.The three main methods of
irrigation are surface, sprinkler and micro. Surface irrigation is used on 85% of the irrigated
land in the world.Irrigation is the artificial application of water to land or soil. It is used to
assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of
of disturbed soils in dry areas and during of inadequate rainfall in the modern challenge of
improving the growth of plants and reducing costs jusifies that the development of an
irrigation system that will minimize the waste of water and reduce workers and monitor
overhead is crucial. This system is to help and provide an irrigation system that will ease
the burden of the users to take care of plants. Soil moistures are difficult to measure and
their target levels cannot be maintained efficiently. That is the reason an automated
irrigation system would be the best solution for this problem. The soil moisture sensor will
refer to the level of soil moisture and the system will start automatically when the level of
moisture is below the sufficient level for the plants to grow healthy. The system will
automatically stop when it reached the moisture soil level for such particular time such as
the time during morning and evening.
 Introduction to Irrigation

Irrigation is the process of applying water to crops artificially to fulfil their water
requirements. Irrigation is the artificial application of water to the land and soil. It is used to
assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscape, and revegetation of
disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall. Irrigation is often
studied together with drainage, which is the natural or artificial removal of surface and
sub-surface water from a given area. This technique is used in farming to enable plants to
grow. When there is not enough rain, particularly in arid areas. Irrigation has been used for
thousands of years to maximize the performance, efficiency and profitability of crops and it
is a science that is constantly evolving. This potential for improved crop yeilds has never
been more important as population levels and demand for food continue to grow.66% of
the world’s water catchment is used in farming, which continues to make increasing use of
the water used does not benefits the plants.
 Objectives of Irrigation

• To ensure the proper growth and development of plants.

• To control soil temperature.
• The decomposition of organic matter.
• Irrigation helps to maintain landscape, and revegetate disturbed soils in dry areas
and during times of below-average rainfall.
• Cool the soil and atmosphere to provide a suitable surrounding.
• Irrigation minimizing water use within the agricultural sector while continuing to
maintain optimal crop productivity rates.
• Irrigation is also employed to protect crops from frost, suppress weed growth in
grain fields, and prevent soil consolidation.
 Surface Irrigation

The term ‘surface irrigation’ refers to systems that deliver water to crops using a gravity-fed
overland flow of water. Surface irrigation has evolved into an extensive array of
configurations which can be broadly classified as : (1) flood irrigation; (2) border irrigation;
(3) furrow irrigation; (4) basin irrigation.

1. Flood Irrigation : Flood irrigation is one of the first-ever types of irrigation known to
human kind. It describes a process where water is introduced to plain or field and is
allowed to soak into the soil in order to irrigate the plants planted there. It is still
used in some parts of the world (particularly developing nations) where water
supplies are ample. Flood irrigation, also referred to as surface irrigation, is where
water moves naturally along the land’s different being pressurised.

Fig. Flood Irrigation

2.Border strip Irrigation : Border strip irrigation is a type of surface irrigation where the
filed is divided into strips separated by border ridges running down the gradient of the
field.The area between the ridges is flooded during irrigation. Border strip are used to
contain the water, preventing excessive runoff and allowing it infiltrate the soil gradually.It
is designed to produce long uninterrupted field lengths for ease of machine
operations.Borders can be up to 800m or more in length and 3-30m wide depending on a
variety of factors.
 Fig. Border strip Irrigation

3.Furrow Irrigation : Furrow irrigation uses furrows between planted ridges. Fields may be
various shapes. First, the soil is prepared into vertical channels (furrows) and planting
moulds. Then, water is released directly into each furrow, running down the furrow’s length
and seeping into the soil at the root level.Furrows irrigation is best used for irrigating row
crops such as maize, vegetables and trees.

Fig. Furrow Irrigation

4.Basin Irrigation : Basin irrigation is the most common form of surface irrigation,
particularly in regions with layouts of small fields. It is similar to border irrigation. One or
more trees are generally placed in the basin, and the surface is flooded as check method,
by ditch water.This method is employed for watering orchards. In this method, each tree or
group of trees are enclosed by circular channel through which water flows. The circular
channel is known as basin. Each basin is connected to field channel. The field channel is
again connected to the supply channels. When all the basins are filled with water, the
supply of water is stopped.

Fig. Basin Irrigation

 Sub-surface Irrigation :

In this method, the water is applied to the root zone of the crops by underground network
of pipes. The network consists of main pipe, sub-main pipes, and lateral perforated pipes.
The perforated pipes allow the water to drip out slowly and thus the soil below the root
zone of the crops absorbs water continuously. This method is suitable for permeable soil
like sandy soil. This method is also known of irrigation. It is termed as sub-surface
irrigation, because in this type of irrigation, water does not wet the soil surface. The
underground water nourishes the plant roots by capillarity. It may be divided into 2 types :

(a) Natural Sub-irrigation

(b) Artificial sub-irrigation
(a) Natural sub-irrigation : Leakage water from channels, etc.,goes under ground, and
during passage through the sub-soil, it may irrigate crops, sown on lower lands, by
capillarity. Sometimes, leakage causes the water-table to rise up, which helps in
irrigation of crops by capillarity. When underground irrigation is achieved, simply by
natural processes, without any additional extra efforts, it is called natural sub-
irrigation.
(b) Artificial sub-irrigation : When a system of open jointed drains is artificially laid
below the soil, so as to supply water to the crops by capillarity, then it is known as
artificial sub-irrigation. It is a very costly process and hence, adopted in India
favourable soil conditions and for cash crops of very high return. Sometimes,
irrigation water may be intentionally collected in some ditches near the fields, the
percolation water may be intentionally collected in some up to the roots through
capillarity.
 Fig. Sub-surface

C. Sprinkler or overhead Irrigation :

In this method, the water is applied to the land in the form of spray like rain. The spraying of
water is achieved by the network of main pipe, sub-main pipes and lateral pipes. The
lateral pipes may be perforated at the top and sides through which the water comes out in
the form of spray and spreads over the crop in a particular area. Again, the lateral pipes
may contain series of nozzles through which the water comes out as fountain and spreads
over in a particular area. Now-a-days, the lateral pipes consists of riser pipes with rotating
arms at the top. The arms are fitted with nozzles. So, the water gets distributed on a
circular area when the arms are rotated on vertical axis by electrical motor coupled with
belt and pulley system. The network of pipe lines are supported on pillars and the water if
forced through the pipe lines by pumping unit.
Fig. Sprinkler or overhead Irrigation

The sprinkler irrigation is of 3 types :

(a) Perforation on lateral pipes

(b) Fixed nozzles on lateral pipes
(c) Rotating sprinkles
(a) Perforation on lateral pipes : In this type, the lateral pipes are performed along the
top and sides. The water is sent under pressure by pumping unit through the main
pipes, sub-main pipes and lateral pipes. The water comes out through the
perforations in all directions in the whole area may be evenly spread with the water.
The lateral pipes are supported on pillars.

Fig. Perforated lateral pipes

(b) Fixed nozzles on lateral pipes : In this type, a series of nozzles are fixed along the
lateral pipes. The spacings of the nozzles are such that the water may cover the
whole area evenly. The lateral pipes are supported on pillars. When the water is
forced under pressure through the network of pipes, it comes out as fountain
through the nozzles and spreads over the land.

Fig. Fixed nozzles on lateral pipes

(c) Rotating Sprinkles : In this type, the riser pipes are fixed on the lateral pipes at a
regular intervals. On the top of the riser pipes are two arms which can rotate about a
vertical axis. The upper ends of the arms consists of nozzless. When the water is
forced under pressure through the main, sub-main and lateral pipes, it rises up and
comes out through the nozzles in the form of spray. As the arms rotate, a circular
area is covered by each riser.

Fig. Rotating sprinkles

 Drip Irrigation :

Drip irrigation, also called trickle irrigation, is the latest field irrigated technique, and is
meant for adoption at places where there exists acute scarcity of irrigation water and other
salt problems. In this method, water is slowly and directly applied to the root zone of the
plants, there by minimising the losses by evapouration and percolation. This system
involves laying of a system of head, mains, sub-mains, laterals and drop nozzles. Water
oozes out of these small drip nozzles uniformly and at a very small rate, directly into the
plant roots area. The head consists of a pump to lift water, so as to produce the desired
pressure of about 2.5 atmosphere, for ensuring proper flow of water through the
system.The lifted irrigation water is passed through a firtiliser tank, so as to mix the
fertiliser directly in the irrigation water, and then through a filter, so as to remove the
suspended particles from the water, to avoid clogging of drip nozzles.

Fig. Drip Irrigation

 Conclusion

We have disscused some of the methods of irrigation. According to me, modern irrigation
techniques should be used promoted because they save lot of water. Irrigation increase
yeilds and ensures the reliability of crop production- approximately 40% of the world’s
food is grown on irrigated land, which accounts for only about 20% of the world’s land used
for crop production. Irrigation is the important theme for crop production. So we have to
select effective method for it and also should not select any costly method.
 References

Book- Irrigation engineering and hydraulic structrures

By SANTOSH KUMAR GARG

B.Sc. Engg. (Civil)

Published by :

Romesh chandra khanna & Vineet Khana

KHANNA PUBLISHERS

Book – Irrigation Engineering

By N N BASAK

Formerly Lecture Dept. Of Civil Engg.

Book – Irrigation and Water Power Engg.

By Dr. B.C. Punmia

Dr. B.B. Lal

Er. Ashok Kumar Jain

Dr. Arun Kumar Jain