CE 309 : WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING CE 309 : WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING Unit 6

Irrigation Engineering

What is irrigation ?

Irrigation is a continuous and a reliable water

supply to the different crops in accordance with
their different needs

 Water is the greatest resource of humanity.

 The largest use of water in the world is for irrigation.
 If full irrigation facilities are not developed, it will
result in reduced crop yield.

CE 309 : WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING Unit 6 CE 309 : WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING Unit 6
Irrigation Engineering Irrigation Engineering

Irrigation is
NECESSITY OF IRRIGATION
 Throughout the crop period adequate
• Artificial application of water quantities of water is required near the root
zone of the plants for their growth
• To the root zone of the crop
• At right time  Insufficient Rainfall
• In required quantity  Uneven Distribution of Rainfall
• For optimum crop yield.
 Improvement of Perennial Crops

 Development of Agriculture in Desert Area

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Irrigation Engineering Irrigation Engineering

ADVANTAGES OF IRRIGATION DISADVANTAGES OF IRRIGATION

Stabilised Yield of Crops
Protection from Famine
 Rising of Water Table
Improvement of Cash Crops
 Formation of Marshy Land
Prosperity of Farmers
Source of revenue  Dampness in Weather
Navigation  Loss of Valuable Lands
Hydroelectric Power Generation.
Water Supply
General Communication
Development of Fishery

CE 309 : WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING Unit 6 CE 309 : WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING Unit 6
Irrigation Engineering Irrigation Engineering

Types of irrigation
TYPES OF IRRIGATION:
Gravity flow or surface water flow.
The irrigation in which the water flows under gravity
Surface Subsurface
from the source to the field is known as gravity flow
irrigation irrigation Natural
Sub surface irrigation or simply flow irrigation
Flow Lift Localized irrigation
irrigation irrigation irrigation
Artificial
Perennial Flood Furrow Drip Sub surface
irrigation irrigation irrigation irrigation irrigation

Direct irrigation Sprinkler

irrigation
Storage irrigation

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Irrigation Engineering Irrigation Engineering

TYPES OF IRRIGATION: Localized Irrigation.

 Localized irrigation systems apply water directly where the plant is
Lift irrigation. growing thus minimizing water loss through evaporation from the
When the main source is at the lower level than the soil.
supply level. Then water is supplied through some Advantages :
mechanical means. This is known as lift irrigation  Fertilizer and nutrient loss is minimized due to localized application and reduced
leaching.
 Water application efficiency is high if managed correctly.
 Field levelling is not necessary.
 Fields with irregular shapes are easily accommodated.
 Recycled non-potable water can be safely used.
 Moisture within the root zone can be maintained at field capacity.
 Soil type plays less important role in frequency of irrigation.
 Soil erosion is lessened.
 Weed growth is lessened.

CE 309 : WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING Unit 6 CE 309 : WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING Unit 6
Irrigation Engineering Irrigation Engineering

TYPES OF IRRIGATION: TYPES OF IRRIGATION:

Perennial Irrigation. Direct Irrigation.
The water is directed into the canal by constructing
Water is controlled so that it can be made to run a weir or a barrage across the weir.
into the land at regular intervals throughout the
year

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Irrigation Engineering Irrigation Engineering

TYPES OF IRRIGATION: TYPES OF IRRIGATION:

Direct Irrigation. Direct Irrigation.

CE 309 : WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING Unit 6 CE 309 : WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING Unit 6
Irrigation Engineering Irrigation Engineering

TYPES OF IRRIGATION: TYPES OF IRRIGATION:

Storage Irrigation. Flood Irrigation (Inundation Irrigation).
If the runoff is more than the required amount then Soil is kept submerged and thoroughly kept flooded with
headwork and barrages are constructed to store the water, so as to cause a thorough saturation of land
water

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Irrigation Engineering Irrigation Engineering

TYPES OF IRRIGATION: Flood Irrigation Methods

Flood Irrigation (Inundation Irrigation).
Wild or uncontrolled
Controlled Flooding Methods
flooding methods
 Irrigation water is applied to the  Primitive method of irrigation.
land in a controlled manner.
 No prior preparation of land is
 There is a proper control on the done.
flow of water as well as quantity of
 The water is allowed to follow the
water.
natural slope of the land.
 All the methods require prior
 As there is no levees to guide the
preparation of land.
flow of water, the flow of water is
 The land is properly graded, and un controlled.
are divided to small units by levees

CE 309 : WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING Unit 6 CE 309 : WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING Unit 6
Irrigation Engineering Irrigation Engineering
Field channels
Flood Irrigation Methods  The land is divided into a number of
Field channel
strips by a series of field channels (or
laterals or subsidiary ditches).
Wild or uncontrolled
Controlled Flooding Methods
flooding methods  These field channels are supplied

Supply channel
water from a supply channel (main

Waste channel
Flooding from field channels ditch), located at higher edge of the
field.

Border strip method  Water is applied t o the fields through

the feeding points which are located
Check Method all along the length of the field
channel.

Basin Method  The excess water applied to the fields

passes to a waste channel, which may
Zig Zag Method carry it to a drain

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Irrigation Engineering Irrigation Engineering
Contour laterals Border Strip method
 The field channels or laterals are aligned either along the general slope of
the land or along the contour lines of the area.  The land is divided into a
 If it is aligned along the contour lines, such method of irrigation is called as number of strips separated
contour laterals. by low levees called
borders
 In this case, the irrigation is possible only on one side of the lateral.
 Each strip is 10 to 20 m
wide and 100 to 400 m
long.
 Water is made to flow
from the supply ditch into
Supply channel

each strip.
 Water flows slowly towards
the lower end and
infiltrates to soil as it
advances

CE 309 : WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING Unit 6 CE 309 : WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING Unit 6
Irrigation Engineering Irrigation Engineering

Border Strip method Check Flooding

 The land is divided into a
number of strips separated by
low levees called borders

 Each strip is 10 to 20 m wide

and 100 to 400 m long.

 Water is made to flow from the

supply ditch into each strip.

 Water flows slowly towards the

lower end and infiltrates to soil
as it advances

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Irrigation Engineering Irrigation Engineering

Basin method Zig zag method

 It is a special form of check  Water takes a circuitous route, starting from the field channel and
flooding used for the irrigation reaching the dead end of each plot.
or orchards.

 Generally, there is a ring basin

for each tree.

 If the condition of soil and

surface slopes are favorable, 2
to 5 trees are included in one
basin.

 From supply channel, water is  The whole farm is divided into a number of square plots.
taken into small field channels  Each plot is provided with levees (or small bunds) such that water
(or laterals) and is then takes the circuitous path covering the entire plot.
supplied to individual basins
 This method is quite suitable for relatively level plots.

CE 309 : WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING Unit 6 CE 309 : WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING Unit 6
Irrigation Engineering Irrigation Engineering
Furrow irrigation Furrow irrigation
 In furrow method, the entire plot is not flooded.
 The water is applied to the field through a series of long, narrow
channels - called furrows.
 The furrows are dug at a regular interval at right angles to the laterals.
 The water is not spread over the irrigated field.

The water flowing

in furrows infiltrates
the soil and spread
laterally and
reaches the roots of
the plants between
the furrows

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Irrigation Engineering Irrigation Engineering

TYPES OF IRRIGATION: TYPES OF IRRIGATION:

Drip Irrigation Sprinkler Irrigation
Water is applied adjacent to the roots of the plant via an
application tube Water is distributed
through a system of
pipes usually by
pumping. It is then
sprayed into the air and
irrigated entire soil
surface through spray
heads

CE 309 : WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING Unit 6 CE 309 : WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING Unit 6
Irrigation Engineering Irrigation Engineering

TYPES OF IRRIGATION: TYPES OF IRRIGATION:

Natural Subsurface Irrigation Artificial Subsurface Irrigation
Water will be In this system of
percolating naturally irrigation, water is
through the canal bed delivered at the root
and sides. The zone through a net
plantation in the work of tubes having
neighborhood of such holes on it.
canals will be naturally
irrigated.

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Irrigation Engineering Irrigation Engineering

Major Crops of India Crop seasons in India Two crop seasons

The crops of India can be grouped into 4 categories

Rabi Season : (Winter Season) : Oct 1 to March 31
Sl. Type of Crops
Meaning Major Crops
No
Rice, wheat, maize, Kharif Season : (Summer Season) : April 1 to Sept 30
Crops that are used for human
1 Food Crops consumption millets, pulses and
Kharif Crops Rabi Crops
oil seeds
Crops that are grown for sale Cotton, Jute, Rice Wheat
Commercial either in raw form or in semi
2 Sugarcane, Bajra Barley
crops processed form tobacco, oil seeds
Jowar Gram
Plantation Crops that are grown on
Tea, coffee,
3 plantations covering large maize Linseed
crops estates
coconut and rubber
cotton Mustard
Sections of agriculture in which Fruits and tobacco Potatoes
4 Horticulture fruits and vegetables are grown vegetables
Groundnut

CE 309 : WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING Unit 6 CE 309 : WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING Unit 6
Irrigation Engineering Irrigation Engineering

Some definitions Some definitions

Duty : The area of land that can be irrigated if one cumec of water Paleo The irrigation done before sowing the seeds is called
was applied to the land continuously for the entire base Irrigation : paleo irrigation.
period.

Delta : The total depth of water required by a crop during the Kor The first watering which is given to a crop, when the
entire base period Watering : crop is few centimeters high is called Kor watering

Base The period between the first watering and the last watering Crop The method of growing different crops in rotation,
period Rotation : one after another, in the same field is called crop
rotation
Crop The period between time of sowing and harvesting.
period

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Irrigation Engineering Irrigation Engineering
Some definitions Some definitions
Gross Command Area (GCA): Cultivable Area :

The whole area enclosed between an imaginary boundary line The area where agriculture can be done satisfactorily.
which can be included in an irrigation project for supplying water to Cultivable Command Area (CCA)
agricultural land by the net work of canals is known as GCA. It
The total area within an irrigation project where the cultivation can
includes both the culturable and unculturable areas.
be done and crops can be grown .
Uncultivable Area :
Intensity of Irrigation
The area where the agriculture can not be done and crops cannot
Ratio of cultivated land for a particular crop to the total culturable
be grown – marshy lands, barren lands, ponds, forest, villages etc.
command area.
are considered as uncultivable area. Land Cultivated (OR irrigated)
Intensity of irrigation =
CCA

CE 309 : WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING Unit 6 CE 309 : WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING Unit 6
Irrigation Engineering Irrigation Engineering

Relation between Duty, Delta and Base period Duty at various places in a canal system
DIVERSION HEADWORK
Base period = B Days Duty = D hectare/cumec Delta = Δ m

When water is supplied at the rate of

Duty = D hectare/cumec → 1 m3/s, it can meet the irrigation
requirement of D hect. Of land
CANAL HEAD
REGULATOR
BRANCH CANAL
Total water supplied to the field
MAIN CANAL
when delivered at the rate of 1 m3/s = B x 24 x 60 x 60 x 1
for B days
= 86,400 B m3 MINOR OUTLET
DISTRIBUTORY
D x ∆x 104 = 86,400 B
WATER COURSE
(Field Channel)
8.64 𝐵
∆=
𝐷

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Irrigation Engineering Irrigation Engineering

Different Forms of Duty Factors on which duty depends

1. Flow Duty The duty of water expressed in hectares/cumec is
convenient in the case of flow irrigation from canals 1. Type of crop
and is called as flow duty
2. Climate and seasons

3. Useful rainfall.
2. Quantity The duty of water expressed in hectares/Mm3 is
Duty called quantity duty. This form is more convenient for 4. Type of soil.
storage irrigation.
5. Efficiency of cultivation method
2. Duty in This is another form of quantity duty. 6. Slope of ground.
form of
total depth

CE 309 : WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING Unit 6 CE 309 : WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING Unit 6
Irrigation Engineering Irrigation Engineering

Methods for improvement of duty Methods for improvement of duty

1. The land should be properly ploughed to the required depth and 7. Volumetric assessment of irrigation water should be introduced.
leveled before sowing the crop.
8. The farmers should be trained to use irrigation water efficiently
2. The land should be regularly cultivated, because frequent and economically.
cultivation reduces loss of moisture from soil.
9. The system of rotation of crops should be adopted.
3. The alignment of canal in sandy soil or in fissured rocks shall be
10. Small holdings should be consolidated by grouping them together
avoided.
so that the irrigation water may be used effectively..
4. As far as possible, the canal should be located in the middle of
11. As far as possible, instead of a single big canal with a high FSL,
the commanded area to reduce the idle length of canal.
two or more parallel canals of smaller size with low FSL should be
5. The canal should be lined and properly maintained to reduce the preferred to reduce percolation losses.
seepage loss.
12. The canal administrative staff should be properly educated and
6. Efficient methods of irrigation should be adopted. trained so that they are well versed with the economical use of
water.

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 CE 309 : WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING Unit 6 CE 309 : WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING Unit 6
Irrigation Engineering Irrigation Engineering
Exercise 6-1 Soil Water Plant Relationships
Find the delta of a crop if the duty is 1800 ha/cumec and the base  Both soil and water are essential for plant growth.
period is 130 days. What would be the duty if the delta is increased
by 20 % and the base period is reduced by 10 days ?  The soil provides a structural base to the plants and allows the root
system (the foundation of the plant) to spread and get a strong hold.
Exercise 6-2  The pores of the soil within the root zone hold moisture which clings to
A discharge of 15 cumecs is released at the head of the canal. If the the soil particles by surface tension in the driest state or may fill up the
pores partially or fully saturating with it useful nutrients dissolved in
duty at the field is 1800 ha / cumec and the losses in the transit are
water, essential for the growth of the plants.
30 %, determine the area that can be irrigated
 The roots of most plants also require oxygen for respiration.
Exercise 6-3
A water course is designed to irrigate an area of 840 ha of rice. The  Hence, full saturation of the soil pores leads to restricted root growth for
transplantation of rice takes 15 days and during this period the total these plants.
depth of water required is 40 cm. Find the duty of irrigation water on  Since irrigation practice is essentially, an adequate and timely supply of
the field if there is an effective rainfall of 10 cm. Also find the duty water to the plant root zone for optimum crop yield, the study of the
and discharge at the head of the water course, assuming losses of inter relation ship between soil pores, its water-holding capacity and
water as 25 % in the water course. plant water absorption rate is fundamentally important.

CE 309 : WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING Unit 6 CE 309 : WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING Unit 6
Irrigation Engineering Irrigation Engineering
Classification of Soil water Gravitational Water

1. Gravitational water:  A soil sample saturated with water and left to drain
the excess out by gravity holds on to a certain
2. Capillary water: amount of water.
3. Hygroscopic water:
 The volume of water that could easily drain off is
termed as the gravitational water.

 This water is not available for plants use as it drains

off rapidly from the root zone.

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Capillary Water Hygroscopic Water

 The water content retained in the soil after the  The water that an oven dry sample of soil absorbs
gravitational water has drained off from the soil is when exposed to moist air is termed as hygroscopic
known as the capillary water. water.

 This water is held in the soil by surface tension.  It is held as a very thin film over the surface of the
soil particles and is under tremendous negative
 Plant roots gradually absorb the capillary water and (gauge) pressure.
thus constitute the principle source of water for
plant growth.  This water is not available to plants.

CE 309 : WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING Unit 6 CE 309 : WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING Unit 6
Irrigation Engineering Irrigation Engineering
Soil water constants Saturation Capacity :

For a particular soil, certain soil water proportions are  This is the total water content of the soil when all the
defined which dictate whether the water is available pores of the soil are filled with water.
or not for plant growth. These are called the soil
water constants,  It is also termed as the maximum water holding
capacity of the soil.

1. Saturation Capacity.  At saturation capacity, the soil moisture tension is

almost equal to zero.
2. Field Capacity.
3. Wilting Point.

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Irrigation Engineering Irrigation Engineering
Field Capacity : Field Capacity (F) :

 This is the water retained by an initially saturated soil 𝐹=

𝑊𝑡. 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑎 𝑐𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝑣𝑜𝑙. 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙
against the force of gravity. 𝑊𝑡. 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙

If we consider 1 m2 area of soil and d

 Hence, as the gravitational water gets drained off m. depth of root zone, then
from the soil, it is said to reach the field capacity.
1m
Volume of soil = d x 1 = d m3
 At field capacity, the macro-pores of the soil are d
𝑊𝑡. 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑
drained off, but water is retained in the micro pores. 𝐹=
𝛾𝑑

 Though the soil moisture tension at field capacity Wt. of water retained
𝛾𝑑𝐹
at field capacity =
varies from soil to soil, it is normally between 1/10
Depth of water retained 𝛾𝑑𝐹
(for clayey soils) to 1/3 (for sandy soils) atmospheres. = 𝐺𝑑𝐹
at field capacity = 𝑤

CE 309 : WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING Unit 6 CE 309 : WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING Unit 6
Irrigation Engineering Irrigation Engineering
Wilting Point :
Wilting Point :
Two stages of wilting points are recognized and they
 Plant roots are able to extract water from a soil are:
matrix, which is saturated up to field capacity.
1. Temporary wilting point:
 However, as the water extraction proceeds, the This denotes the soil water content at which the plant wilts
moisture content diminishes and the negative (gauge) at day time, but recovers during right or when water is added
pressure increases. to the soil.

2. Ultimate wilting point:

 At one point, the plant cannot extract any further
At such a soil water content, the plant wilts and fails to
water and thus wilts.
regain life even after addition of water to soil.

 This water content is called as wilting point. It must be noted that the above water contents are expressed
as percentage of water held in the soil pores, compared to a
fully saturated soil.

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Irrigation Engineering Irrigation Engineering
Frequency of irrigation
Soil water constants

Moisture content
Available moisture

Field capacity

Optimum mc

Wilting point m c

Time

CE 309 : WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING Unit 6 CE 309 : WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING Unit 6
Irrigation Engineering Irrigation Engineering
Frequency of irrigation Frequency of irrigation

 The amount of irrigation water applied should be such

that the moisture content is raised to the field capacity.

Moisture content
 The moisture content in soil reduces due to
consumptive use by plants. Available moisture

Field capacity
 However, the moisture content should not be allowed to Optimum mc
fall below lower limit of readily available moisture.
Wilting point m c

 When the moisture content reaches the lower limit of

readily available moisture, water should be supplied by Time
irrigation method to rise it to the field capacity or
optimum moisture content.

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 CE 309 : WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING Unit 6 CE 309 : WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING Unit 6
Irrigation Engineering Irrigation Engineering
Exercise 6 -4
After how many days will you supply water to soil in order to ensure Exercise 6 - 5
sufficient irrigation of the given crop, if
i. Field capacity of the soil = 28 % The gross commanded area for a distributary is 10000 hectares, 75
ii. Permenant wilting point = 13 %
iii. Density of soil = 1.3 g/cc % of which can be irrigated. The intensity of irrigation for Rabi
iv. Effective depth of root zone = 70 cm season is 60 % and that for Kharif season is 30 %. If the average
v. Daily consumptive use of water for the given crop = 12 mm
duty at the head of the distributary is 2500 hectares per cumec for
Rabi season and 1000 hectares per cumec for Kharif season,
determine the discharge required at the head of the distributary from
average demand consideration

CE 309 : WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING Unit 6 CE 309 : WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING Unit 6
Irrigation Engineering Irrigation Engineering

Irrigation efficiencies Irrigation efficiencies

1. Efficiency of water conveyance (𝜼𝒄 ) 3. Efficiency of water storage (𝜼𝒔 )
Ratio of the quantity water stored in the root zone during
Ratio of the water delivered into fields from outlet point of
irrigation to the quantity of water needed in the root zone
the channel to the water pumped into the channel at the
prior to irrigation
starting point
4. Efficiency of water use (𝜼𝒖 )

Ratio of the quantity water beneficially used, including

2. Efficiency of water application (𝜼𝒂 ) leaching water to the quantity of water delivered

Ratio of the quantity of water stored into root zone of the 5. Water distribution efficiency (𝜼𝒅 )
crops to the quantity of water actually delivered to the field. 𝒅
𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑏𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦 𝜼𝒅 = 𝟏−
𝑫
D : Mean depth of water stored during irrigaion
d : Average of the absolute values of deviation from the
mean

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Irrigation Engineering Irrigation Engineering
Exercise 6-6 Exercise 6-8
One cumec of water is pumped into a farm distribution system. 0.8 The depth of penetration along the length of border strip at points 30
cumec is delivered to a turnout 0.90 km from the well. Compute the m apart were proved. Their observed values are 2.0, 1.9, 1.8, 1.6
water conveyance efficiency. and 1.5 meters. Compute the water distribution efficiency

Exercise 6-7

10 cumecs of water is delivered to a 32 hectare field, for 4 hours.

Soil proving after the irrigation indicates that 0.3 metre of water has
been stored in the root zone. Compute the water application
efficiency

CE 309 : WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING Unit 6 CE 309 : WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING Unit 6
Evapotranspiration Evapotranspiration
TRANSPIRATION
Evapotranspiration is the combined process of
Transpiration is the process by which water leaves the evaporation and transpiration.
body of a living plant and reaches the atmosphere as
water vapour. The water is taken up by the plant-root
The term consumptive use is also used to
system and escapes through the leaves.
denote this loss by evapotranspiration.
The important factors affecting transpiration :
 atmospheric vapour pressure, For a given set of atmospheric condition,
evapotranspiration depends on availability of water.
 temperature,
 wind, light intensity and
 characteristics of the plant, such as the root and leaf
systems

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 CE 309 : WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING Unit 6 CE 309 : WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING Unit 6
Evapotranspiration Evapotranspiration

Potential Evapo Transpiration Actual Evapo Transpiration

The evapotranspiration that would occur from a well The evapotranspiration that occurs under actual
vegetated surface, when moisture supply is not limiting existing soil conditions, ground cover and water
is called PET (If there was sufficient availability of water availability conditions is called AET
with no deficiency). Field Capacity
Field Capacity is the maximum quantity of water that
 PET does not depend on the soil and plant factors. the soil can retain against the force of gravity.
 PET depends on climatic factors. Permanent Wilting Point
Permanent wilting point is the moisture content of a soil
at which the moisture is no longer in sufficient quantity
to sustain the plant growth.

CE 309 : WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING Unit 6 CE 309 : WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING Unit 6
Evapotranspiration Evapotranspiration

 The field capacity and permanent wilting point

depends upon soil characteristics.
 The difference between field capacity and permanent
wilting point is called available water.
 Any moisture content in the soil, higher than the field
capacity simply drains away.
 If the water supply to the plant is adequate, soil
moisture will be at the field capacity and AET will be
equal to PET . AET/PET = 1

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Measurement of Evapotranspiration Measurement of Evapotranspiration
Lysimeter
The measurement of evapotranspiration for a given
vegetation type can be carried out in two ways : Evapotranspiration
is estimated in
1. Lysimeters. terms of the amount
of water required to
2. Field plots. maintain constant
moisture conditions
within the tank
measured either
A lysimeter is a special water tight tank containing a volumetrically or
block of soil and set in a field of growing plants gravimetrically
through an
arrangement made
in the lysimeter.

CE 309 : WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING Unit 6 CE 309 : WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING Unit 6
Measurement of Evapotranspiration Evapotranspiration Equation
Field Plots Penman’s Equation :

In special plots all the elements of the water budget in a

known interval of time are measured. 𝐴𝐻 + 𝐸 𝛾
𝑃𝐸𝑇 =
𝐴+𝛾
Evapotranspiration is determined as PET = Daily potential evapotranspiration.
Evapotranspiration = Precipitation + Irrigation input - A = slope of the saturation vapour pressure Vs
temperature curve at the mean air temperature in
Runoff - Increase in soil storage -
mm of mercury per 0C
Ground water loss Hn = net radiation in mm of evaporable water per day
Ea = parameter including wind velocity and saturation
Ground water loss is difficult to measure and can be minimized by deficit
keeping the moisture condition of the plot at the field capacity γ = psychrometric constant = 0.49 mm of mercury / 0C

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 CE 309 : WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING Unit 6
Evapotranspiration Equation
Blaney – Criddle Formula The net radiation Hn is given by
𝑛 𝑛
𝐻 =𝐻 1−𝑟 𝑎+𝑏 − 𝜎𝑇 0.56 − 0.092 𝑒 0.10 + 0.90
𝑁 𝑁
Ha = incident solar radiation outside the atmosphere on a horizontal
surface expressed in mm of evaporable water per day
(Available in table 2.2)
a = a constant depending upon the latitude ∅ and is given by
𝑎 = 0.29 𝑐𝑜𝑠∅
b = a constant with an average value of 0.52
n = actual duration of bright sunshine in hours.
N = maximum possible hours of bright sunshine.
(Available in table 2.3)
r = reflection coefficient depending upon the nature of the
surface (Available in table 2.4)
σ = Stefan Boltzman constant = 2.01 x 10-9 mm/day
Ta = mean air temperature in degrees kelvin = 273 + 0C
ea = actual mean vapour pressure in the air in mm of mercury

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