Module 3

• Irrigation– Necessity, Benefits and ill effects. Types: flow and lift
irrigation - perennial and inundation irrigation. Types/Methods:
flooding, furrow, sprinkler and drip irrigation. Irrigation
efficiencies.

• Soil water plant relationships, soil moisture constants,

Computation of crop water requirement: depth and frequency of
Irrigation, Duty and delta, relationship, variation of duty, factors
affecting and methods of improving duty. Estimation of crop
water requirements.
 Unit 6

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.
 Unit 6

Irrigation is

• Artificial application of water

• To the root zone of the crop
• At right time
• In required quantity
• For optimum crop yield.
NECESSITY OF IRRIGATION
❑ Throughout the crop period adequate quantities of water is
required near the root zone of the plants for their growth

❑ Insufficient Rainfall

❑ Uneven Distribution of Rainfall

❑ Improvement of Perennial Crops

❑ Development of Agriculture in Desert Area

❑ Growing superior crops

❑ Growing no. of crops during a year

ADVANTAGES OF IRRIGATION
Stabilised Yield of Crops
Protection from Famine
Improvement of Cash Crops
Prosperity of Farmers
Source of revenue
Navigation
Hydroelectric Power Generation.
Domestic and industrial Water Supply
General Communication
Development of Fishery
• Canal plantations
• Increase in ground water storage
• Overall development of the country
DISADVANTAGES OF IRRIGATION

❑ Rising of Water Table (water logging)

❑ Formation of Marshy Land
❑ Dampness in Weather (unhealthy climate)
❑ Loss of Valuable Lands
❑ Pollution of river flows and under ground water
 Types of irrigation

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

Surface Subsurface
irrigation irrigation Natural
Sub surface
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
TYPES OF IRRIGATION:
Lift irrigation.
When the main source is at the lower level than the
supply level. Then water is supplied through some
mechanical means. This is known as lift irrigation
 Types of irrigation

Surface Subsurface
irrigation irrigation Natural
Sub surface
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
 Localized Irrigation.
❑ Localized irrigation systems apply water directly where the plant is
growing thus minimizing water loss through evaporation from the
soil.
Advantages :
▪ 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.
 Types of irrigation

Surface Subsurface
irrigation irrigation Natural
Sub surface
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
TYPES OF IRRIGATION:
Perennial Irrigation.

Water is controlled so that it can be made to run

into the land at regular intervals throughout the
year
 Types of irrigation

Surface Subsurface
irrigation irrigation Natural
Sub surface
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
TYPES OF IRRIGATION:
Direct Irrigation.
The water is directed into the canal by constructing
a weir or a barrage across the river.
 CE 309 : WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING Unit 6
Irrigation Engineering

TYPES OF IRRIGATION:
Direct Irrigation.
TYPES OF IRRIGATION:
Direct Irrigation.
 Types of irrigation

Surface Subsurface
irrigation irrigation Natural
Sub surface
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
TYPES OF IRRIGATION:
Storage Irrigation.
If the runoff is more than the required amount then
headwork and barrages are constructed to store the
water
 Types of irrigation

Surface Subsurface
irrigation irrigation Natural
Sub surface
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
TYPES OF IRRIGATION:
Flood Irrigation (Inundation Irrigation).
Soil is kept submerged and thoroughly kept flooded with
water, so as to cause a thorough saturation of land
TYPES OF IRRIGATION:
Flood Irrigation (Inundation Irrigation).
 Flood Irrigation Methods

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
 Flood Irrigation Methods

Wild or uncontrolled
Controlled Flooding Methods
flooding methods

Flooding from field channels

Border strip method

Check basin Method

Ring Basin Method

Zig Zag Method

Field channels
❑ The land is divided into a number of
Field channel
strips by a series of field channels (or
laterals or subsidiary ditches).

❑ These field channels are supplied

water from a supply channel (main

Supply channel

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

❑ Water is applied t o the fields through

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

❑ The excess water applied to the fields

passes to a waste channel, which may
carry it to a drain
Contour laterals
❑ The field channels or laterals are aligned either along the general slope of
the land or along the contour lines of the area.
❑ If it is aligned along the contour lines, such method of irrigation is called as
contour laterals.
❑ In this case, the irrigation is possible only on one side of the lateral.
Supply channel
 Flood Irrigation Methods

Wild or uncontrolled
Controlled Flooding Methods
flooding methods

Flooding from field channels

Border strip method

Check Method

Basin Method

Zig Zag Method

Border Strip method

❑ 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
Border Strip method
 Flood Irrigation Methods

Wild or uncontrolled
Controlled Flooding Methods
flooding methods

Flooding from field channels

Border strip method

Check Method

Basin Method

Zig Zag Method

Check Flooding
❑ The land is divided into small
plots or check basins
surrounded by checks or levees.

❑ Irrigation water is applied by

filling the plots with water upto
the desired depth without
overtopping the levees and the
water is retained there to allow
it to infiltrated into the soil.

❑ Water from the lateral field

channel is supplied to the plots
and the supply is cut off when
sufficient when sufficient
quantity of water has been
admitted to the plots.
 Flood Irrigation Methods

Wild or uncontrolled
Controlled Flooding Methods
flooding methods

Flooding from field channels

Border strip method

Check Basin Method

Ring Basin Method

Zig Zag Method

 Ring Basin method
❑ It is a special form of check
flooding used for the irrigation
of 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

taken into small field channels
(or laterals) and is then
supplied to individual basins
 Flood Irrigation Methods

Wild or uncontrolled
Controlled Flooding Methods
flooding methods

Flooding from field channels

Border strip method

Check Basin Method

Ring Basin Method

Zig Zag Method

Zig zag method
❑ Water takes a circuitous route, starting from the field channel and
reaching the dead end of each plot.

❑ The whole farm is divided into a number of square plots.

❑ Each plot is provided with levees (or small bunds) such that water
takes the circuitous path covering the entire plot.
❑ This method is quite suitable for relatively level plots.
 Flood Irrigation Methods

Wild or uncontrolled
Controlled Flooding Methods
flooding methods

Flooding from field channels

Border strip method

Check Basin Method

Ring Basin Method

Zig Zag Method

 Types of irrigation

Surface Subsurface
irrigation irrigation Natural
Sub surface
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
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
Furrow irrigation
 Types of irrigation

Surface Subsurface
irrigation irrigation Natural
Sub surface
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
TYPES OF IRRIGATION:
Drip Irrigation (subsurface irrigation)
Water is applied adjacent to the roots of the plant via an
application tube
• 90% irrigation efficiency can be
achieved, compared to surface or
sprinkler irrigation method.
 Types of irrigation

Surface Subsurface
irrigation irrigation Natural
Sub surface
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
TYPES OF IRRIGATION:
Sprinkler Irrigation
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
 Types of irrigation

Surface Subsurface
irrigation irrigation Natural
Sub surface
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
TYPES OF IRRIGATION:
Natural Subsurface Irrigation
Water will be
percolating naturally
through the canal bed
and sides. The
plantation in the
neighborhood of such
canals will be naturally
irrigated.
 Types of irrigation

Surface Subsurface
irrigation irrigation Natural
Sub surface
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
 Types of irrigation

Surface Subsurface
Natural
irrigation irrigation Subsurface
irrigation
Flow Lift Localized
irrigation irrigation irrigation
Artificial
Perennial Flood Drip
Sub surface
irrigation irrigation irrigation irrigation

Direct irrigation Sprinkler

irrigation
Storage irrigation
TYPES OF IRRIGATION:
Artificial Subsurface Irrigation
In this system of
irrigation, water is
delivered at the root
zone through a net
work of tubes having
holes (perforated pipes)
on it.
 Types of irrigation

Surface Subsurface
Natural
irrigation irrigation Subsurface
irrigation
Flow Lift Localized
irrigation irrigation irrigation
Artificial
Perennial Flood Drip
Sub surface
irrigation irrigation irrigation irrigation

Direct irrigation Sprinkler

irrigation
Storage irrigation
Soil Water Plant Relationships
❑ Both soil and water are essential for plant growth.

❑ 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.

❑ The pores of the soil within the root zone hold moisture which clings to
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
water, essential for the growth of the plants.

❑ The roots of most plants also require oxygen for respiration.

❑ Hence, full saturation of the soil pores leads to restricted root growth for
these plants.

❑ Since irrigation practice is essentially, an adequate and timely supply of

water to the plant root zone for optimum crop yield, the study of the
inter relation ship between soil pores, its water-holding capacity and
plant water absorption rate is fundamentally important.
Classification of Soil water

1. Gravitational water:

2. Capillary water:

3. Hygroscopic water:
Gravitational Water

❑ A soil sample saturated with water and left to drain

the excess out by gravity holds on to a certain
amount of 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.
Capillary Water

❑ The water content retained in the soil after the

gravitational water has drained off from the soil is
known as the capillary water.

❑ This water is held in the soil by surface tension.

❑ Plant roots gradually absorb the capillary water and

thus constitute the principle source of water for
plant growth.
Hygroscopic Water

❑ The water that an oven dry sample of soil absorbs

when exposed to moist air is termed as hygroscopic
water.

❑ It is held as a very thin film over the surface of the

soil particles and is under tremendous negative
(gauge) pressure.

❑ This water is not available to plants.

Soil water constants

For a particular soil, certain soil water proportions are

defined which dictate whether the water is available
or not for plant growth. These are called the soil
water constants

1. Saturation Capacity.
2. Field Capacity.
3. Wilting Point.
Saturation Capacity :

❑ This is the total water content of the soil when all the
pores of the soil are filled with water.

❑ It is also termed as the maximum water holding

capacity of the soil.

❑ At saturation capacity, the soil moisture tension is

almost equal to zero.
Field Capacity :

❑ This is the water retained by an initially saturated soil

against the force of gravity.

❑ Hence, as the gravitational water gets drained off

from the soil, it is said to reach the field capacity.

❑ At field capacity, the macro-pores of the soil are

drained off, but water is retained in the micro pores.

❑ Though the soil moisture tension at field capacity

varies from soil to soil, it is normally between 1/10
(for clayey soils) to 1/3 (for sandy soils) atmospheres.
Field Capacity (F) :
𝑊𝑡. 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎
𝐹=
𝑊𝑡. 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎

Let d – depth of root zone

ws - specific wt of soil
w - specific wt of water 1m

If we consider 1 m2 area of soil, then d

wt of soil per unit area = ws x 1 x d

wt of water held by the soil per unit

area = w x 1 x depth of water
 𝑊𝑡.𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎
𝐹𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑 𝑐𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦, F =
𝑊𝑡.𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎

w x 1 x depth of water
FC =
ws x 1 x d

Therefore,

Depth of water at field capacity = ws x d x Field capacity

w
Depth of water at permanent wilting point = ws x d x Permanent wilting point
w
Depth of available water = ws x d x (FC – PWP)
w
Wilting Point :

❑ Plant roots are able to extract water from a soil

matrix, which is saturated up to field capacity.

❑ However, as the water extraction proceeds, the

moisture content diminishes and the negative (gauge)
pressure increases.

❑ At one point, the plant cannot extract any further

water and thus wilts.

❑ This water content is called as wilting point.

Wilting Point :
Two stages of wilting points are recognized and they
are:
1. Temporary wilting point:
This denotes the soil water content at which the plant wilts
at day time, but recovers during night or when water is
added to the soil.

2. Ultimate wilting point:

At such a soil water content, the plant wilts and fails to
regain life even after addition of water to soil.
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.
• Permanent wilting point

• Available moisture

• Readily available moisture

Soil water constants
Frequency of irrigation
Moisture content

Available moisture

Field capacity

Optimum mc

Wilting point m c

Time
Frequency of irrigation
❑ The amount of irrigation water applied should be such
that the moisture content is raised to the field capacity.

❑ The moisture content in soil reduces due to

consumptive use (evaporation + transpiration)by
plants.

❑ However, the moisture content should not be allowed to

fall below lower limit of readily available moisture.

❑ When the moisture content reaches the lower limit of

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

Field capacity
Moisture content

Readily Available
moisture
Available moisture

Field capacity
Permanent wilting point Optimum mc

Wilting point m c

Time
Exercise 6 -4
After how many days will you supply water to soil in order to ensure
sufficient irrigation of the given crop, if
i. Field capacity of the soil = 28 %
ii. Permenant wilting point = 13 %
iii. Density of soil = 1.3 g/cc
iv. Effective depth of root zone = 70 cm
v. Daily consumptive use of water for the given crop = 12 mm

Available moisture

Field capacity
Optimum mc

Wilting point m c
Major Crops of India
The crops of India can be grouped into 4 categories

Sl. Type of Crops

Meaning Major Crops
No
Crops that are used for human Rice, wheat, maize,
1 Food Crops consumption millets, pulses and
oil seeds
Crops that are grown for sale Cotton, Jute,
Commercial either in raw form or in semi
2 Sugarcane,
crops processed form tobacco, oil seeds

Plantation Crops that are grown on

Tea, coffee,
3 plantations covering large
crops estates
coconut and rubber

Sections of agriculture in which Fruits and

4 Horticulture fruits and vegetables are grown vegetables
Crop seasons in India Two crop seasons

Rabi Season : (Winter Season) : Oct 1 to March 31

Kharif Season : (Summer Season) : April 1 to Sept 30

Kharif Crops Rabi Crops
Rice Wheat
Bajra Barley
Jowar Gram
maize Linseed
cotton Mustard
tobacco Potatoes
Groundnut
• Perennial crop – sugarcane ( sown in feb-march and
harvested in nov –march next year. Almost take a full
year of maturity covering both crop seasons)

• Eight month crop – cotton (may –june to dec – jan)

Some definitions
Duty : The area of land that can be irrigated if one cumec of water
was applied to the land continuously for the entire base
period. (hectares/cumec)

Delta : The total depth of water required by a crop during the

entire base period

Base The period between the first watering and the last watering
period (first watering done for preparation of land and last
watering done before harvesting)
Crop The period between time of sowing and harvesting of crop
period
Some definitions
Paleo The irrigation done before sowing the seeds is called
Irrigation : paleo irrigation.

Kor The first watering which is given to a crop, when the

Watering : crop is few centimeters high is called Kor watering

Crop The method of growing different crops in rotation,

Rotation : one after another, in the same field is called crop
rotation
• Outlet factor – Duty of water at the outlet (water is
supplied from canals to field channels through
outlets)

• Time factor – ratio of the number of days the canal

has actually run to the number of days of irrigation
period

• Capacity factor – ratio of the mean supply discharge

to the full supply of a canal

• Cumec day – the quantity of water flowing for one

day at the rate of 1 cumec is known as cumec day.
(=8.64 hectare-metres)
• Crop ratio - ratio of area of land irrigated in rabi
season to the area irrigated in kharif season.

• Overlap allowance – Crops in one season may

overlap some period of the next season. Due to
overlapping, crops of both seasons require water
simultaneously. The extra water required for this is
called overlap allowance.
• If 3 cumec of water is required for a crop in an area
of 3600 hectares, then duty of water = 3600/3 =
1200 hectares/cumec.
Relation between Duty, Delta and Base period
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 hectares of land

• So for a field of D hectares corresponding to the depth of water

Δ m,
total quantity of water supplied for growing the crop
= D x Δ hectare – metre
= D x Δ x 104 cubic metre ----(1)
For the same D hectares of land, if water is applied at the rate of 1
cumec for the entire base period of B days,
Total water supplied to the field
when delivered at the rate of 1 m3/s = 1 x B x 24 x 60 x 60 m3
for B days

= 86,400 B m3 ----------- (2)

D x ∆x 104 = 86,400 B

8.64 𝐵
∆=
Where, 𝐷
B – base period in days
D – duty in hectares/cumec
∆ - delta in m
Duty at various places in a canal system
DIVERSION HEADWORK

CANAL HEAD
REGULATOR
BRANCH CANAL

MAIN CANAL

MINOR OUTLET
DISTRIBUTORY
WATER COURSE
(Field Channel)
 Different Forms of Duty
1. Flow Duty The duty of water expressed in hectares/cumec is
convenient in the case of flow irrigation from canals
and is called as flow duty

2. Quantity The duty of water expressed in hectares/Mm3 is

Duty called quantity duty. This form is more convenient for
storage irrigation.

3. Duty of well In case of a well, the area which can be irrigated by

(or tube well) the well annually is called the duty of well. Duty of
well is usually higher than that of a canal irrigation
due to reduced transmission losses in well irrigation.
Factors on which duty depends
1. Type of crop

2. Climatic conditions of the area

3. Systems of irrigation

4. Method of irrigation

5. Quality of irrigation water

6. Method of cultivation

7. Time of irrigation and frequency of cultivation

8. Type of soil and subsoil of irrigated land

9. Type of soil and subsoil of the area through

which canal passes

10. Canal conditions

11. Method of assessment of irrigation water

12. Skill of the cultivator

13. Topography of land

14. Base period of crop.

 Methods for improvement of duty
1. The land should be properly ploughed to the required depth and
leveled before sowing the crop.

2. The land should be regularly cultivated, because frequent

cultivation reduces loss of moisture from soil.

3. The alignment of canal in sandy soil or in fissured rocks shall be

avoided.

4. As far as possible, the canal should be located in the middle of

the commanded area to reduce the idle length of canal.

5. The canal should be lined and properly maintained to reduce the

seepage loss.

6. Efficient methods of irrigation should be adopted.

 Methods for improvement of duty
7. Volumetric assessment of irrigation water should be introduced.

8. The farmers should be trained to use irrigation water efficiently

and economically.

9. The system of rotation of crops should be adopted.

10. Small holdings should be consolidated by grouping them together

so that the irrigation water may be used effectively..

11. As far as possible, instead of a single big canal with a high FSL,
two or more parallel canals of smaller size with low FSL should be
preferred to reduce percolation losses.

12. The canal administrative staff should be properly educated and

trained so that they are well versed with the economical use of
water.
Some definitions

Commanded area
The area which can be irrigated (or
commanded) by a canal system.

1. Gross Commanded Area (GCA)

a) Culturable commanded area (CCA)
i) Culturable cultivated area
ii) Culturable uncultivated area
Gross Command Area (GCA):

The whole area enclosed between an imaginary boundary line

which can be included in an irrigation project for supplying water to
agricultural land by the net work of canals is known as GCA. (The
total area which can be irrigated by a canal system). It includes
both the culturable and unculturable areas.
GCA = CCA + Unculturable area

Cultivable (culturable) Command Area (CCA)

The total area within an irrigation project where the cultivation can
be done and crops can be grown. (That portion of gross
commanded area which is culturable or cultivable).
CCA = GCA - Unculturable area
Only a part of culturable commanded area is put under cultivation

Culturable Cultivable Area :

The area where agriculture can be done satisfactorily.

Culturable Uncultivable (unculturable) Area :

The area where the agriculture can not be done and crops cannot
be grown – marshy lands, barren lands, ponds, forest, villages etc.
are considered as uncultivable area.
Intensity of Irrigation

Ratio of cultivated land for a particular crop to the total culturable

command area (CCA). (Percentage of CCA proposed to be irrigated
annually)

Land Cultivated (OR irrigated)

Intensity of irrigation =
CCA
Exercise 6-1
Find the delta of a crop if the duty is 1800 ha/cumec and the base
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 ?

Exercise 6-2
A discharge of 15 cumecs is released at the head of the canal. If the
duty at the field is 1800 ha / cumec and the losses in the transit are
30 %, determine the area that can be irrigated

Exercise 6-3
A water course is designed to irrigate an area of 840 ha of rice. The
transplantation of rice takes 15 days and during this period the total
depth of water required is 40 cm. Find the duty of irrigation water on
the field if there is an effective rainfall of 10 cm. Also find the duty
and discharge at the head of the water course, assuming losses of
water as 25 % in the water course.
Exercise 6 - 5

The gross commanded area for a distributary is 10000 hectares, 75

% of which can be irrigated. The intensity of irrigation for Rabi
season is 60 % and that for Kharif season is 30 %. If the average
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
Irrigation efficiencies

1. Efficiency of water conveyance (𝜼𝒄 )

Ratio of the water delivered into fields from outlet point of

the channel to the water pumped into the channel at the
starting point (river or reservoir)

2. Efficiency of water application (𝜼𝒂 )

Ratio of the quantity of water stored into root zone of the

crops to the quantity of water actually delivered to the field.
Irrigation efficiencies

3. Efficiency of water storage (𝜼𝒔 )

Ratio of the quantity water stored in the root zone during
irrigation to the quantity of water needed to bring the soil to
field capacity

4. Efficiency of water use (𝜼𝒖 )

Ratio of the quantity water beneficially used, including

leaching water, to the quantity of water delivered to the
field
5. Water distribution efficiency (𝜼𝒅 )

𝒚
𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑏𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦 𝜼𝒅 = 𝟏 − x 100
𝒅

d : Mean depth of water stored during irrigation

y : Average of the absolute values of deviation in the depth from
the mean (average numerical deviation in the depth of water)

6. Consumptive use efficiency (𝜼 𝒄𝒖 )

Ratio of the normal consumptive use of water to the net
amount of water depleted from the rootzone of soil.
Exercise 6-6
One cumec of water is pumped into a farm distribution system. 0.8
cumec is delivered to a turnout 0.90 km from the well. Compute the
water conveyance efficiency. Q1
𝑄2 0.8
η𝑐 = = = 80 %
𝑄1 1

Q2
Field
 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

𝑄𝑡𝑦. 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑜 𝑟𝑜𝑜𝑡 𝑧𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑠

η𝑎 =
𝑄𝑡𝑦. 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑑𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑.
Qty. of water stored in the root zone = 32 × 10000 × 0.3 = 96000 𝑚3
Qty. of water delivered to the field = 10 × 4 × 60 × 60 = 144000 𝑚3
96000
η𝑎 = 144000 = 66.67 %
Exercise 6-8

The depth of penetration along the length of border strip at points 30

m apart were proved. Their observed values are 2.0, 1.9, 1.8, 1.6
and 1.5 meters. Compute the water distribution efficiency
𝒚 D : Mean depth of water stored during irrigation
𝜼𝒅 = 𝟏− d : Average of the absolute values of deviation from
𝒅
the mean

d= (2 + 1.9 + 1.8 + 1.6 + 1.5)/5 = 1.76 m

y= (|2-1.76| + |1.9-1.76| + |1.8-1.76| + |1.6-1.76| + |1.5-1.76|)/5

= 0.168 m
𝟎. 𝟏𝟔𝟖
𝜼𝒅 = 𝟏 − = 90.45 %
𝟏. 𝟕𝟔