Lecture 7 -Modern Irrigation Methods.pdf

Irrigation methods

1. ID-304, Irrigation and Drainage Practices, 2(1-1)
University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Department of Irrigation and Drainage
University of Agriculture, Faisalabad-Pakistan
Modern Irrigation Methods
2024

2. High Efficiency Irrigation System (HEIS)
Pressurized irrigation system is a network comprising of pipes, fittings,
filters, control devices, pumping unit and other accessories. Properly
installed to supply water under pressure from the water source to the
cropped area.
HEIS include Drip, Sprinkler.
Drip irrigation System
1: Drip Irrigation System (online).
2: Drip Irrigation System (Inline).
3: Bubbler Irrigation System.
Advantages of HEIS:
Water Saving: 50 %
Crop yield enhancement: 20-100 %
Fertilizer use reduction: 40 %
Improved Product quality
Sprinkler irrigation System :.
1: Rain Gun System
2: Hose Reel System
3: Center pivot System
4: Linear Move System.

3. Efficiency of Different Irrigation Methods
•Theefficiencyoftraditionalirrigationmethods=40-60%,
•Dripandsprinklerirrigationsystemsarethemostefficient(Upto90%)
Most Efficient
Drip (80-90%)
Sprinkler (70-80%)
Bubbler (60-70%)
Furrow (50-60%)
Flood (40-50%)
Less Efficient
Fig.: Efficiencies of different Irrigation Methods

4. 1.Water sources
2.Pump and prime mover
Components of Drip Irrigation System
Fig.: HEIS (Drip Irrigation system) Typical Layout
3. Head Unit
i) Filtration system
ii) Monitoring equipment's
iii) Fertigation system
iv) Head Unit Platform
4. Pipe network
i) Mainline
ii) Submain line
iii) Lateral (Drip line)
5. Emitting devices
i) Drippers
ii) Bubblers
iii) Spray jets
iv) Mini sprinklers

5. World-wide Overview of Micro Irrigation Technologies

6. 1. Drip Irrigation System
➢DripIrrigationisalsocalledtrickleIrrigation.
➢Bestsuitedfororchards
➢Highvaluerowcropssuchassugarcane,cotton,maizeand
vegetablesetc.
✓Online(Blind/Plainpipe):
Theyareusedfororchardplantsandemittingdevices
areinstalledphysicallywithdesignrequirements.
✓Inline(Integratedpipe):
Theyareusedinvegetablesplantsandemittingdevices
areintegratedinpipewithspecificdischargeanddistance.
Fig.: IntegratedDrip lineFig.: Point source drippers
Application of Water Drop by Drop
Directly to Plant Root Zone
i.e.
IRRIGATING CROP ROOTS, NOT THE
SOIL

7. ➢Water saving up to 75%
➢Ability to Irrigate irregular shaped fields.
➢Minimizes the crop water stress that result increase in quality & quantity of yield.
➢Negligible surface run off & No deep percolation i.e., prevent soil nutrients which may wash
out as in the flood irrigation.
➢Reduce weeds growth.
Merits of Drip Irrigation system:
Challenges of Drip Irrigation system:
➢High initial cost.
➢Clogging issues.
➢Regular maintenance requirement.
➢Not suitable for all crops (e.g., rice paddies or shallow-rooted crops)

8. 2. Sprinkler Irrigation System
➢ItisalsocalledtheOverheadirrigationsystem
➢Inthisirrigationmethod,applicationofwaterissimilartonaturalrainfall.
➢Itisbestsuitedforfieldcropsthatarecloselytogether,suchascereals,(wheat,millet,barley
andpulses)andhighvaluefoddercrops.
Fig.: Sprinklers operating in the fieldFig.: Sprinkler Irrigation system Typical layout

9. 1.Fullyportablesystem:
Thelaterals,mains,sub-mainsandthepumping
plantareallportable.Theentirefieldsystemcan
bemovedfromfieldtofield.Asallthe
componentsofthesystemneedtomoved,the
laborrequirementishigh.
2. Sprinkler Irrigation (Cont.):
Sprinkler system can be further sub divided on the basis of their mobility/portability:
3.Semi-permanentsystem:
Thissystemhasonlylaterallinesportableand
remainingmainline,sub-main,watersourceand
pumpingplantarefixed/permanent.The
mainline/submainlinesareburied,risersarelocatedat
suitableintervalsandconnectedwithlaterals.
2.Semi-portablesystem:
Thesystemhasportablemainline,sub-mainline,
lateralsandfixedlocationofwatersourceand
pumpingplant.
4.Permanentsystem:
Thissystemhasburiedmainlines,sub-mainsandlateralswith
afixedpumpingplantandwatersource.Sprinklersare
permanentlylocatedoneachriser.

10. ➢Suitable for sandy soils due to high infiltration rate, where light (low) application rate is required.
➢Used in steep slope due to irregular topography of land and where the soil erosion is a hazard.
➢More land will be available for cropping as borders and ditches are not required.
➢It can be used to protect crops from frost by forming a layer of water over plants that releases heat,
and they can also help cool crops in high temperatures.
➢Automation possible that allowing even distribution and efficient use of inputs i.e., soluble fertilizers
and pesticides.
Merits of Sprinkler Irrigation:
Demerits of Sprinkler Irrigation:
➢High initial cost than surface irrigation methods and theft problem.
➢Wind distorts sprinkler pattern results uneven distribution of water and overlapping due to high wind.
➢Water must be clean, free from sand, debris and salts (to prevent blockade of sprinkler notches).
➢Not suitable for fine textured soil, rice, jute crops.
➢Evaporation losses are high when operated under high pressure.

11. 3. Center Pivot Irrigation system
➢CenterPivotsystemisaformofoverheadirrigation
consistingofself–propelledsprinklersrotatingaround
pivot(center)pointmountedonatrussbeam.
➢Centerpivotsareelectricorenginedrivesystems,which
canoperateonsoilswithupto15%slope.
➢Sinceitisautomatic,farmerneedstopresentinthefarm
atthetimeofapplicationofwater.Hecanwatchlive
footageofitonhisownsmartphone.
➢Itiseconomicalandefficientmethodofirrigationfor
largefields.
➢Verylargeinitialcostisinvolved.
➢Forclayeysoilcarehastobetakensothatwheeldoes
notstuckinthemuddywetsoil.
Fig.: Center Pivot Irrigation System
Typical Layout and Infield Picture

12. 4. Linear Move Irrigation System:
➢Alinearmovesprinklersystem,alsoknownasalateralmove
irrigationsystem,isanadaptationofthecenterpivotsystembut
movesinastraightlineacrossthefieldratherthanrotating
aroundacentralpivot.
➢Linearmovemachinesusespraynozzlesorlow-pressureimpact
sprinklers.Thesystemisdesignedforrectangularfieldssystem
typicallyrequiresaminimumfieldlengthofaround400to500
meters(1,300to1,600feet)tooperateeffectively.Smallerfields
maynotfullybenefitfromthesystemduetoitssize,movement
requirements,andsetupcosts.
➢Linearmovesystemsaresuitableforawiderangeofcrops,
includingrowcrops,foragecrops,andcereals.
Fig.: Linear MoveIrrigation System
Typical Layout and Infield Picture

13. University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan