UNIT I.

INTRODUCTION

A. Time Allotment 2 hours

B. General Objective For the Unit

At the end of the unit the students should know the course policies and what are
expected in the course; able to explain basic principles in irrigation engineering and
discuss the importance of irrigation, its history, scope and extent of development in the
Philippines

C. Specific Objectives

At the end of the unit the students must be able to:

1. Give the overview of irrigation
2. Discuss the purposes, advantages ,benefits and effects of irrigation and drainage
3. Describe the scope and phases of irrigation system enterprise
4. Review the history and discuss the extent of irrigation dev’t in the Philippines
5. Compare the types of irrigation systems in the Philippines

D. Content
1. Course Policies and Mission, Vision, Goals and Objectives of CMU
2. Overview of Irrigation
3. Purposes, Advantages, Benefits and Effects of Irrigation
4. Scope of Irrigation
5. Phases of Irrigation Enterprise
6. History of Irrigation and Extent of Irrigation Development in the Philippines
7. Types of Irrigation Systems in the Philippines

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 UNIT I. INTRODUCTION

Irrigation Defined
Irrigation is the application of water to the soil for the purpose of supplying the
moisture essential for plant growth.

Based on RA 8559: (AE Law)

Irrigation and Drainage and Water Resources Management – shall include the design,
construction, installation, operation and maintenance of irrigation and agricultural
drainage systems, drip, sprinkler and other pressurized irrigation system; hydro-
meteorology; surface and ground water resources management; irrigation structure
and facilities such as dams, pump systems, conveyances, canals and flumes.

Based on RA 10915 (ABE Law)

Irrigation refers to the artificial application of water to the soil to assist in the
growing of agricultural and forest crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of
disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall, and shall include
drip, sprinkler, shallow tube well and other pressurized irrigation system; national and
communal irrigation systems; surface and groundwater resource management; and
irrigation structures and facilities such as dams, weirs, pump systems, conveyances,
canals and flumes.

Purposes of Irrigation
1. To add water to the soil to supply the moisture essential for plant growth
2. To provide crop insurance against short duration droughts.
3. To cool the soil and atmosphere, making more favorable environment for plant growth.
4. To reduce the hazard of frost.
5. To wash out or dilute salts in the soil.
6. To reduce the hazard of soil piping.
7. To soften tillage pans and clods.
6. To delay bud formation by evaporative cooling.

Conditions Requiring the Necessity of Irrigation

1. Insufficient rainfall
2. Uneven distribution of rainfall
3. Improvement of perennial crop
4. Development of agriculture in dessert area

Advantages of Irrigation
1. Availability of water in the field whenever it is needed and during critical period of
crop growth.
2. Controlled irrigation hasten the microbial activity of soil organism and regulates
chemical processes necessary in soil conditioning.

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3. Provides necessary conditions in the efficient utilization of fertilizer by plants, control
of pest and diseases for better quality products.

Benefits of Irrigation
1. Increased yield of crops
2. Protection from famine
3. Help in improved cultivation of cash crops
4. Prosperity of farmers
5. Source of revenue
6. In multipurpose reservoir, hydroelectric power generation can be another function
7. General communication to other areas
8. Increase farm benefits, i.e., lower the cost of production
9. Increase land value, i.e., increased cropping intensity and higher property cost
10. Lead to an economically stable community.

Negative Effects of Irrigation

1. Rising water table
2. Formation of marshy lands
3. Dampness in weather
4. Loss of valuable lands

The most common environmental impact of on-farm irrigation are:

1. Soil salinization due to the use of saline water or to the rise of saline water table
2. Water logging due to excess water application
3. Nitrate and pesticides contamination of the groundwater (and surface waters) due to
excessive use of chemicals in intensive agricultural production and/or to
overirrigation
4. Soil erosion due to surface runoff from surface and sprinkler irrigation systems
5. Soil degradation due to modifications of the soil profile from inappropriate land
grading
6. Deterioration of the soil structure from surface flow and sprinkler raindrops
7. Degradation of water bodies receiving saline irrigation return flows

Critical Growth Stage of Some Crops

1. Banana - early growth stage
2. Beans - flowering and pod development
3. Cabbage - head formation and enlargement
4. Citrus - during flashes of new growth, fruit setting and rapid increase in fruit size
5. Corn - silking and ear development
6. Peanut - peak of flowering to early fruiting stage
7. Potato - Period of stolonization and tuber initiation
8. Sugarcane - Vegetative period, during period of tillering and stem elongation
9. Sweet Potato - after formation of tubers
10. Rice - Reproductive stage during panicle initiation
11. Munggo - during germination and at flowering stage and pod stage

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Scope of Irrigation Enterprise

The scope of irrigation science extends from the watershed to the farm and on the
drainage channel. The study includes the following:
a. The watershed yielding the irrigation water
b. The stream conveying the water
c. the management and distribution of water
d. the drainage problems arising from irrigation practices
History, Development and Extent of Irrigation

- Irrigation follows civilization

- The pressure of survival and the need for additional food supplies have
necessitated the rapid expansion of irrigation throughout the world.

Irrigation Development in the Philippines

Filipinos had been practicing irrigation as a response to the need of increasing their
yield to feed their respective tribal population.
1. Rice Terraces – employed indigenous engineering craftsmanship through the
collective efforts of the community people. This structure speaks of the skill,
aesthetic value and a deep sense of unity and collectivism among the Ifugaos.
2. Zanjeras – a group of farmers in Ilocos Norte who practiced collective
management of irrigation system. Their advance practice of irrigating their lands
was attributed to the increasing density of their population and the shrinking
average farm size.
3. 1902 - Creation of the Irrigation Division under the Bureau of Public Works.
The Irrigation Division was tasked with the responsibilities of investigation,
construction, maintenance and development of irrigation systems and repair of
those in existence.
4. 1963 – Creation of the National Irrigation Administration
Considered as milestone in the national effort to boost production agricultural
production through the irrigation infrastructure. NIA was created primarily to
achieve the optimal and diversified utilization of water by undertaking integrated
irrigation development projects.

Types of Irrigation Systems

1. National Irrigation systems (NIS)
- the service area is more than 1000 hectares
- constructed, owned and managed by the government with minimal participation of
the beneficiaries
- the beneficiaries pay irrigation service fee
2. Communal Irrigation System (CIS)
b - service area is less than 1000 hectares
- constructed by the farmers with technical support from NIA
- owned and managed by the beneficiaries through its irrigators group
- the farmers amortized the cost of the project
3. Pump Systems and Other privately-owned systems

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4. 1990 - BSWM under the Department of Agriculture

Other Types of Irrigation Systems

I. Small Water Impounding Projects (SWIP)
SWIP is a small scale dam structure constructed across a narrow depression or
valley to hold back water and develop a reservoir that will store rainfall during the rainy
season for immediate or future use. The dam has a maximum height of 30 meters and the
capacity should not be more than 50 million cubic meters. The service area is not to
exceed 500 hectares.
SWIPs are usually constructed in areas where the unbalanced distribution of rain
results to excessive run-off, soil erosion and flooding during rainy months and water
deficit for crop production during dry months.
SWIPs are constructed to impound part of the excess water for supplemental
irrigation during periods of low water supply. Smaller impounding structures placed at
the right location is one approach towards better soil and water conservation.
Water impounding system vary in size but emphasis is given to small structures
which can be put-up, operated and maintained by a group of farmers at relatively minimal
cost and little technical assistance.
SWIP serves the upland portions of agricultural land. It is designed as a method of
mitigation measure as well as to provide water for crop diversification and
intensification, livestock production and fish production. SWIP would require dependable
rainfall and a good watershed management. It would need the presence of natural
reservoirs to impound rainfall and run-off and the presence of service areas and farming
communities downstream of the impounded water.

Physical Components:
1. Watershed Area
2. Service area which is preferably lower than the damsite
3. Reservoir Area
4. Structural components consisting of the embankment, spillway, outlet works, irrigation
facilities and access road

Development Purposes:
1. Soil and water conservation
2. Irrigation of crops and watering of stocks
3. Flood mitigation – lessen or stop flooding
4. Fish production or duck raising
5. Recreation
6. Collect and store surface and runoff water during the rainy season for immediate and
future use.
7. Provide supplemental irrigation and/or water for livestock.
8. Minimize soil erosion and siltation of fertile bottom lands.

II. Small Farm Reservoir (SFR)

The SFR consist of an earth dam to trap, harvest and store rainfall and run-off. It
has a pond area of about 1500 m 2 and an embankment height of less than 4 meters. The

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SFR is owned and managed by individual farmers. The SFR serves limited areas not
more than 2 hectares and are designed to become integral part of individual rainfed farms
with catchment not exceeding 10 hectares. It is most suited in undulating areas but can
also be constructed in flat areas; applicable to all types of climate but would give higher
benefits in areas with unimodal projects pattern of rainfall. This should be established in
areas which receive most of the run-off in the farm.

Ideal Sites for SFR

1. Flat areas or sloping land up to 18% slope
2. Soil type for embankment are loam, sandy clay loam or clay loam
3. There is sufficient catchment area for harvest run-off
4. Farm size is about 0.5 hectare or larger.

Advantages of SFR
1. The investment cost per hectare of service area is much less than that of deep wells,
run-off-the river systems or surface pumps.
2. It is financed and used on individual basis. Organizational problems inherent in
irrigation systems with many beneficiaries are avoided.
3. Skills and materials for reservoir construction are locally available.
4. SFR in sufficient number help reduce flooding and siltation and increase groundwater
recharge.

Benefits
1. Additional rice yield
2. Additional income from fish culture and dry season cropping
3. Maximized use of land and water resources
4. Medium for soil and water conservation.

Basic Components of the SFR System

a. Catchment Area- The area bounded by high points from which runoff drains into the
reservoir. Adequate catchment area is necessary to harvest runoff and fill the reservoir
to its capacity. It is commonly built using bulldozer.
b. Reservoir – The portion of the farm where water is stored by an earth embankment.
Earth embankment is the dam structure which traps the water. It is normally made
from soil excavated from the upstream side of the embankment.
c. Service Area – The farm being irrigated using the stored water from the reservoir. This
is usually situated at a lower elevation relative to the reservoir water level.

III. Shallow Tubewell Projects (STW)

STW are effective in level areas with dependable shallow groundwater. In
general, they are effective irrigation technology that provides water sources in rainfed
lowland and supplements irrigation needs on areas not effectively serviced by existing
irrigation system. This can also be located in level upland farms with dependable sources
of shallow groundwater.

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IV. Pressurized Irrigation Systems (PIS)
The PIS is a special irrigation technology that requires pressure and distribute
water in the form of drip and sprinkler irrigation system. It is an efficient irrigation
distribution system requiring the presence of water source.

V. Diversion Dams (DD)

The DDs are systems of weir established across a river with continuos flow to
raise water level and allow diversion of water by gravity to the adjoining farmlands. They
also serve as provision to control stream bank erosion. To ensure sustainable flow, they
require adequate and well-vegetated areas.

Phases of Irrigation Enterprise

I. Pre-Construction Phase
1. Reconnaissance- present hydrologic budget, identification of irrigable areas
2. Project Identification – location of the project, selection of irrigable area, project
size, preliminary determination of main works, land classification, land use,
predicted water demand (estimate of irrigation water requirement), predicted future
hydrologic budget (determination of other sources of available water, analysis of the
chemical quality of water, inventory of resources present hydrological budget, water
resources potential, choice of production system
3. Feasibility Study - determination of project size, alternative proposals for water
supplies and facilities, hydraulic criteria, selection of cropping patterns, optimization
of the scheme of water distribution, sizing and costing of main engineering works,
economic analysis of the project (agric-economic, socio-institutional), sustainability
dimensions of the project (economically viable, technologically feasible,
environmentally friendly, social justice and culturally acceptable).

Important Factors that should be Considered in the Investigation and Survey of a

Proposed Irrigation System

1. Land Classification
-Land classification is the systematic appraisal of the lands and their designation
by categories on the basis of similar characteristics (physical, chemical and biological).
Such classification involves the grouping of soil units into land classes according to (1)
the extent and degree of suitability for sustained irrigation, (2) their recommended uses
and cultural practices considering present economic conditions and physical factors.
( Refer to Table 5.1.page 86, Orcullo, 1997).

- Land capability classification-

To establish the capability of the land to produce crops that will provide adequate
returns on the investment of irrigation structures.

-Crop suitability evaluation- matching the land use requirements with the land qualities at
hand.
Crop Suitability: S1- Highly Suitable, S2- Moderately Suitable,

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 S3- Marginally Suitable and S4- Not Suitable

2. Estimate of irrigation water requirement

The total water requirement consist of the water needed by the crops plus the
losses associated with the delivery and application of the water.

3. Determination of the sources of available water

Water suitable for irrigation purposes usually came from rivers and underground
sources. Their proximity to the area to be irrigated should be taken into
consideration.

Table 1. Land Capability Classes of the USDA System.

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS AND RECOMMENDED LAND USE

I Deep, productive soils easily worked, on nearly level land; not subject to
overland flow; no or slight risk of damage when cultivated; use of fertilizers
and lime, cover crops, crop rotations required to maintain soil fertility and soil
structure.
II Productive soils on gentle; moderate depth; subject to occasional overland
flow; may require drainage; moderate risk of damage when cultivated; use crop
rotations, water- control systems or special tillage practices to control erosion.
III Soils of moderate fertility on moderately steep slopes, subject to more severe
erosion; subject to severe risk of damage but can be used for crops provided
plant cover is maintained; hay or other sod crops should be grown instead of
row crops.
IV Good soils on steep slopes, subject to severe erosion; very severe risks of
damage but maybe cultivated occasionally if handled with great care; keep in
hay or pasture but a grain crop maybe grown once in five or six years.
V Land is too wet or stony for cultivation but of nearly level slope; subject to
only slight erosion if properly managed; should be used for pasture or forestry
but grazing should be regulated to prevent plant cover from being destroyed.
VI Shallow soils on steep slopes; use for grazing and forestry; grazing should be
regulated to preserve plant cover; if the plant cover is destroyed, use should be
restricted until cover is reestablished.
VII Steep, rough, eroded land with shallow soils; also includes droughty and
swampy land; severe risk of damage even when used for pasture or forestry;
strict grazing or forest management must be applied.
VIII Very rough land; not suitable even with woodland or grazing; reserve for
wildlife, recreation or watershed conservation.

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Table 2. Slope Class

Slope Class Range (%) Description

A 0-8 Gentle to undulating

B 8-15 Undulating to Sloping
C 15-25 Sloping to rolling
D 25-40 Rolling to moderately steep
E 40-60 Steep
F > 60 Very Steep

Based from the Standards of the DENR

4. Analysis of the chemical quality of available water

Unsatisfactory water may contain
a. Chemicals toxic to plants or to persons using the plants as food
b. Chemicals which will react with the soil producing unsatisfactory
moisture characteristics
c. Bacteria injurious to persons and animals that will be eating plants.
5. Economic analysis of the project to determine whether the estimated cost is returnable
from the potential benefits and financial analysis to established the repayment plan.

II. Construction Phase

1. Detailed Project Design

Final design of distribution system, network and hydraulic structures, detailed
cropping pattern, detailed delivery schedules, irrigation methods and practices, hydraulic
criteria, cropping pattern, supply scheduling, method of water delivery, irrigation method
and practices, capacity of engineering works, optimization of water use.

2. Project Implementation
Supervised the construction of irrigation structures, check on crop water needs,
irrigation efficiencies studies, review of scheme of water scheduling

III. Operation and Maintenance ( O&M) Phase

1. Operation Activities - monitoring of field water balances, detailed operation

scheduling (formulation of the Cropping calendar and Cropping Pattern), training
of farmers on water application and scheduling, conflict management, collection
of irrigation fees, research, review water supply schedules, evaluate water use
efficiency, evaluate technical and managerial supply control, improve and adjust
system operation, establish data collection routines on water, climate, soil and
crop, prepare supply schedules on daily basis.

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2. Maintenance activities - regular maintenance, repair and improvements,
rehabilitation

IV. Turn-over Phase

- partial/full turn-over
- participatory management

Irrigation Water Management

It is the integrated process of diversion, conveyance, regulation, measurement,
distribution and application of the right amount of water at the proper time and removal
of excess water from the farm to promote increase production in conjunction with
improved cultural practices.

Objectives of Water Management

1. Maximize water utilization
a. Supply the right amount of water to meet crop needs
b. More effective utilization of rainfall
c. Control or reduction of conveyance, distribution and farm losses
d. Adoption of suitable scheme of distribution and application of irrigation water
e. Reduction of drainage problems
2. Promote increased production
a. Proper land use
c b. Proper cultural practices
c. better farm management technique

Characteristics and Water Needs of Some Crops (PCCARD, 1983)

Crop Growing Period Average Depth Consumptive Seasonal water

(day) of Rootzone use (mm/day) Requirement
(cm) (cm)
Corn 90-120 80-100 4-7 60
Rice 100-130 15-35 4-6 100
Sugarcane 270-365 100-120 4-8 150-250
Tobacco 90-120 90 5-8 40-60
Cotton 150-180 120-125 5-8 70-130
Cassava 180-200 50-75 4-6 100-150
Sweet Potato 60-120 100-150 3-6 46
Irish Potato 100-150 40-60 - 40-50
Fruit Trees 240-365 100-500 7 90-120
Vegetables 30-60 40-50 4-6 30-50

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Effective Rainfall – that portion of rainfall which is considered usable for the crop water
requirement.

Factors that influence effective rainfall in flooded rice condition:

1. Intensity of rainfall
2. Depth of submergence - shallower depth, greater effective rainfall
3. Size and maintenance of farm dikes
4. Topography of the land

Irrigation Suspension:
Previous day rainfall (For clayey soils) Irrigation
water should be suspended for:
5-10 mm 1 day
11-18 mm 2 days
19-27 mm 3 days
28-36 mm 4 days
37-45 mm 5 days
above 45 mm 6 days

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 WORKSHEET

1. Define Irrigation

2. List six purposes of applying irrigation water to the soil.

3. Explain the advantages and benefits of irrigation.

4. Give five factors that should be considered in the development of an irrigation project?

5. Explain briefly the phases of Irrigation Project.

6. Give some of the activities of an irrigation engineer.

7. What is the present status of irrigation in the Philippines.

8. Compare, SFR, STW, and SWIP.

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References
1. Hansen, V. E., O.W. Israelsen and G.E. Stringham. 1990. Irrigation Principles and
Practices , 4th Edition. Miley and Sons, Inc., New York, USA
2. Orcullo, N.A. Jr., 1997. Irrigation Systems Handbook. . 1st Edition. Busy Books
Distributors, Pasig City, Philippines.
3. Schwab, G. O., D. D. Fangmeier, W. J. Elliot, R.K. Frevert. 1993. Soil and Water
Conservation Engineering, 4th Edition. John Wiley and Sons, Inc. New York.
4. PCARRD. 1978. The Philippine Recommends for Irrigation Water Management.
Volume 1. Lowland Rice Conditions.
5. FAO. Irrigation Practice and Water Management. Irrigation and Drainage Paper
No.1. Rev. 1., FAO, Italy.

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