Water Resources and Irrigation Engineering(22CET-322)

Assignment 1 Set C

1. Describe the techniques of water distribution in farms.

For Small Farms:
• Surface irrigation involves the application of water directly to the soil's
surface and relies on gravity to distribute the water across the land. It is
one of the oldest and most widely used methods.
• Furrow Irrigation: Water is delivered in small furrows or channels
between rows of crops. The water flows through these furrows and
irrigates the plants. This method is most suitable for row crops like
vegetables, corn, and cotton.
For Larger Farms:
• Flood Irrigation: Water is spread over the entire field, flooding it until the
soil absorbs the necessary amount. This is often used for rice paddies
and other water-loving crops.
• Basin Irrigation: Fields are divided into small basins, and water is allowed
to flow into them, filling them to a specified depth. This method is used
for trees and perennial crops.

Modern Techniques

• Sprinkler irrigation mimics natural rainfall by distributing water through a

system of pipes, valves, and sprinklers that spray water over the crops.
• Hydroponics and Aquaponics: These are soil-free irrigation systems
where plants are grown with their roots submerged in nutrient-rich water or a
combination of water and fish waste.
• Drip irrigation (Trickle Irrigation) is one of the most water-efficient
methods, delivering water directly to the plant's root zone through a network of
tubes, pipes, and emitters.

2. Analyze the advantages and limitations of sprinkler irrigation.

Advantages of Sprinkler irrigation:

1. Uniform Water Distribution distributing water evenly across the field.

2. Efficient Use of Water by flowing directly to the plants in controlled
amounts
3. Flexibility & Versatility for a wide variety of crops & different types of
terrain.
4. Improved Crop Quality by consistent irrigation
5. Reduced Soil Erosion & Weeds
 6. Can be automated & is protected from frost
7. Good for various soil types

Disadvantages of Sprinkler Irrigation:

1. High initial cost for installing a sprinkler system

2. Water loss through evaporation & wind drift in areas with high
temperatures & windy conditions
3. Energy Consumption leading to high operational costs
4. Requires regular maintenance
5. Water pressure requirements
6. Soil Compaction Risk
7. Limited efficiency on Steep Slopes

3. Examine the advantages and limitations of drip irrigation.

Advantages of Drip irrigation
• Water Efficiency delivering water directly to the plant roots, reducing
evaporation and runoff.
• Reduced Weed Growth since water is applied only to the root zone.
• Improved Crop Yields with precise delivery of water promotes uniform
growth and prevents over-watering or under-watering
• Fertility and Nutrient Management as fertilizers can be injected into the
irrigation system
• Saves Labor requires minimal labor for operation once installed
• Low Energy Consumption use lower water pressure

Limitations of drip irrigation

• The installation process needs time. Sometimes may need court approval in
some lands.
• Sun heat affects tubes, sometimes they get broken for excessive heat
production.
• Plastic tubes affect soils fertility. Sun degrades plastic sometimes and that
affect soil and fertilizers too.
• Tubes get clogged sometimes. Water cannot pass through, and roots get
dehydrated.
• If Drip Irrigation is not installed properly, then it is a waste of time, water and
heat.
4. What do the terms "duty" and "delta" mean in relation to crop irrigation? Derive
the relationship between these two terms and explain their importance in
efficient water management.
Duty of Water: It is defined as the area of land (usually in hectares or acres) that
can be irrigated by a unit volume of water (usually measured in cubic meters or
acre-feet).

It is often expressed in terms like hectares per cubic meter or acres per acre-foot
of water.

Delta (Δ) refers to the total amount of water required by a crop during a specific
growth stage. It represents the depth of water (usually in millimeters or inches)
that is needed to meet the evapotranspiration (ET) demands of the crop over a
given period.
Relationship between Duty & Delta
The relationship between duty and delta is that delta is inversely proportional to
duty. The formula for relating duty, delta, and base period is:
Δ = 864B/D
Delta (in cm) = 864 × B (in day) / D(in hec/cumec)
Here's what the variables represent:
• Duty (D): The number of hectares of land that can be irrigated by one
cubic meter of water during the base period
• Delta (Δ): The total depth of water required for a crop to fully mature
during the base period
• Base period (B): The time period between when a crop is planted and
when it's harvested.

Both duty & delta are important for:

• Water Conservation
• Optimizing crop yields
• Planning Irrigation Systems
• Sustainable Agriculture
5. Explain the Kharif-Rabi cropping pattern and its impact on water usage. How
do water requirements vary between these two crop seasons, and what is
the significance of maintaining a balanced ratio?

• Kharif crops, also known as monsoon crops, are grown during the rainy season.
The Kharif season begins with the onset of the monsoon (usually from June to
September) and ends in the winter (October to December). Examples of Kharif
Crops: Rice, maize, cotton, groundnut, soybean, and millet.
• Rabi crops are winter crops, sown after the monsoon rains, typically from
October to December, and harvested from March to April. Examples of Rabi
Crops: Wheat, barley, mustard, peas, and gram (chickpeas).

Impact on Water Usage

• Kharif: Generally has higher overall water usage due to rainfall and water-
intensive crops. However, the reliance on rain-fed agriculture can reduce
irrigation needs in some areas.
• Rabi: Typically has lower overall water usage due to less rainfall and crops with
lower water requirements. However, the dependence on irrigation can lead to
increased groundwater extraction or surface water usage.

Water Requirements and Balance

• Variation: Water requirements vary significantly between the two

seasons due to differences in rainfall, temperature, and crop types.
• Balance: Maintaining a balanced ratio of Kharif and Rabi crops is crucial
for sustainable water management. Overemphasis on water-intensive
Kharif crops can lead to water depletion, while excessive reliance on
irrigation-dependent Rabi crops can strain water resources.
• Sustainable Practices: Promoting water-efficient irrigation techniques,
diversifying crops, and adopting rainwater harvesting can help achieve a
balance and ensure long-term water availability for agriculture.

6. Derive the basic resistance equation for open channel flow. Discuss the role
of channel roughness and hydraulic radius in determining the flow of water
in canals.
Basic resistance equation for open channel flow
Where:

• V = Velocity of flow in the channel (m/s)

• n = Manning's roughness coefficient (dimensionless)
 • R = Hydraulic radius (m)
• S = Slope of the channel (dimensionless)
Manning's Roughness Coefficient (n): A factor that represents the roughness or
frictional resistance of the channel surface. It depends on the type of material
(e.g., grass, concrete, gravel) that the water flows over.
Hydraulic Radius (R): The hydraulic radius is the ratio of the cross-sectional area
of flow (A) to the wetted perimeter (P) of the channel.
R = 𝐴/𝑃
7. What is the concept of energy and specific energy in an open channel flow?
Discuss the importance of these parameters in the design of canal systems
and how they affect flow regulation.
The total energy of water at any point in an open channel can be defined as the
sum of the following two components:
Elevation Head: The potential energy due to the height of the water above
some reference level (usually the channel bottom).
Velocity Head: The kinetic energy due to the velocity of the water at that
point.
The total energy at any point in the channel is given by the following equation:

Where:
• E = Total energy (m)
• h = Elevation head (m) or the height of the water surface above the
reference point
• v = Velocity of the water (m/s)
• g = Acceleration due to gravity (9.81 m/s²)

Specific Energy in Open Channel Flow

It is the total energy per unit weight of water, and it is a useful concept to analyze
flow conditions in open channels. It is defined as the total energy at a specific
point in the flow divided by the weight of the water per unit length or unit area.

Impact on Flow Regulation

• Critical Flow: When the specific energy is at its minimum for a given flow,
the flow is considered critical flow.
• Subcritical Flow: Occurs when the flow depth is greater than the critical
depth, resulting in a situation where the flow is relatively slow and stable (flow is
dominated by gravity).
• Supercritical Flow: Occurs when the flow depth is less than the critical
depth, causing faster, shallower, and more unstable flow (flow is dominated by
inertia).
 Specific energy is used for channel design, flow transition modelling & flood
prediction.

8. One cumec of water is pumped into a farm distribution system, 0.8 cumec is
delivered to a turnout,0.9km from well. Find out the conveyance efficiency.

9. Design an irrigation channel to carry 40cumecs of discharge, with B/D ratio

as 2.5. The critical velocity ration is 1. Assume a suitable value of Kutter’s
Rugosity coefficient and use Kennedy’s method.