METHODS OF

IRRIGATION

by:
Engr. Gemma N. Hernandez
Instructor
College of Agriculture
Laguna State Polytechnic University- Siniloan Campus
[email protected]
Irrigation water can be applied to the uplands in any of the following general ways:

1. By Overhead Irrigation – wherein the soil is moistened in much the same way as
rain
2. By Furrow- which wets only a part of the ground surface
3. By Flooding – which wets the entire land surface
4. By drip or trickle irrigation – refers to the water is directed to the base of the
plant. Water is applied to the soil through small orifices. The small orifices,
often called emitters, are designed to discharge water at rates of 1 to 8 liters
per hour.
5. By sub-irrigation – wherein the surface is rarely wet since the water is supplied
from the soil underneath. This requires complete control of the water table so
that the root zone is kept relatively free of excess water but is continually
supplied with capillary moisture during the cropping season.
BY OVERHEAD IRRIGATION
a. Watering can- it is simplest piece of overhead irrigation equipment
and is commonly used in small-scale upland farming. Since the
water is carried by hand, this method is limited to small plots with
easily accessible source of water.

Manual
Irrigation
with water
cans. Source: FAO
(2011)
b. Hose pipe- this method can be used if there is a piped water-
distribution system where a hose pipe can be connected to a tap or
outlet and there is enough pressure in the water as it emerges from
the hose pipe.

A vegetable field irrigated by

interconnected sprinkler
heads. Source: TRADEINDIA (n.y.)
c. Sprinkler irrigation – this method is the application of water to
the surface of the soil in the form of spray, simulating that of rain.
The spray is produced by the flow of water under pressure
through small orifices or nozzles.

Schmatic plan for

a big gun
irrigation
system. Source:
SCHERER (2010); STAUFFER
(2011)
BY FURROW
a.Furrow irrigation - it is accomplished by running water
through small channels or furrows while it moves down
or across the slope of the field.
b.Corrugation irrigation – it is a variation of the furrow
methods and it uses small rills or corrugations for
irrigating closely spaced crops, such as small grains and
pastures.
A field irrigated by furrows . Source: HILL et al. (2008)
BY FLOODING
a. Ordinary flooding- water is applied from field ditches to guide
its flow and it is difficult to attain high irrigation efficiency using
this method.
b. Border-strip flooding – a field is divided into a series of strips by
borders or ridges running down the predominant slope or on the
contour.
c. Level-order or basin irrigation - water is supplied to level plots
surrounded by dikes or levees.
d. Contour- ditch irrigation – it involves controlled flooding from
field ditches along the contour of the land, which allows the
water to flood down the slope between field ditches without
employing dikes or other means that guided or restrict its
movement.
A typical surface basin irrigation fields. Source: USU (n.y.)

Tree crops irrigated by a surface border system. Source: UCCE (2005)

BY DRIP OR TRICKLE IRRIGATION
Water is delivered to the orifices through plastics pipelines, which are
generally laid on the soil surface or buried. The rate of discharge is
determined by the size of the orifice and the pressure in the pipelines.

Drip irrigation on a large field.

Source: WATERWIKI (2009)
 COMMERCIAL DRIP IRRIGATION SYSTEM

Schematic design of a commercial drip irrigation system. This includes technical components such as
filters, pumps and hydraulic control valves. Source: INFONET-BIOVISION (2010)
 BY SUB-IRRIGATION
• WATER IS CONVEYED UNDER
PRESSURE THROUGH A PIPE
SYSTEM AND APPLIED TO THE
ROOTS BELOW SOIL SURFACE.

• NO SURFACE CRUSTING OR
EVAPORATION LOSS, THUS HIGHLY
EFFICIENT IRRIGATION METHOD.

• FIELDS CAN STILL BE WORKED

WHEN IRRIGATION SYSTEMS ARE
INSTALLED AND APPLICATION OF
FERTILISER CAN OPTIMISE PLANT
GROWTH A field irrigated by a subsurface drip
system. Source: SMART FERTILIZER MANAGEMENT (2011)
BASIC DESIGN OF SUB SURFACE PRINCIPLES )

A typical subsurface
drip irrigation field
layout.
Drip Irrigation System
History
● First experimented in the 1860’s in Germany
using clay pipes
● The first drip tape was first used in the United
States in the 1960’s
● It was developed by an irrigation company called
Netafim which patented the first drip irrigation
system
● These systems have become a valued innovation
in agriculture because it gives an alternative to
surface irrigation.
Irrigation is a key component of
the Water Revolution
•Drip Irrigation is a key
component in
Sustainable Water
Management Solutions
And to the Climate
Change Battle
 Water Quality
The water quality relates to the concentration of soluble and
suspended chemical, physical and biological components.
Agricultural water quality:
Two principle criteria exist for determining agricultural water
quality.
1. Agronomic water quality:
• According to soil type and crops.
2. Irrigation water quality:
• According to irrigation method and system utilized.
• Prevention of clogging of the equipment is the principle
target.
 Parameters affecting the crop, the soil and the
irrigation system

pH : Electrical Conductivity:
Refers to the hydrogen ion The electrical conductivity
concentration in the water and of the water depends on the
thereby the acidity of the concentration of ions and
water. The units of pH range their electrical charge.
from 0 – 14 when the value of 7
is neutral.
 Parameters affecting the crop, the soil and the
irrigation system

Chloride – Cl-, Sodium – Sodium Adsorption

Na+: Ratio- SAR:
Chlorides and Sodium The value gives the
determine water salinity relationship between
and show environmental Sodium and Magnesium
and agronomic Calcium concentrations.
influences.
 Parameters affecting the crop, the soil and the
irrigation system

Heavy Metals: (microelement).

Boron - B: A positive element for crop growth,

however in high concentrations ( above 0.5 ppm )
becomes toxic.
Iron (Fe) & Manganese(Mn) : Assists crop growth
but, in high concentration ( above 0.3 ppm )
influences clogging of irrigation system.
 Parameters affecting the crop, the soil and the
irrigation system

• Total Dissolved Solids- TDS- (mg/l)

• Biochemical Oxygen Demand: BOD
• Chemical Oxygen Demand COD :
 Parameters affecting the crop, the soil and the
irrigation system

• Total Suspended Solids-TSS-(mg/l)

• Volatile Suspended Solids-VSS- (mg/l)
• Turbidity:
• Algae, Chlorophyll & Zooplankton
 Water Contamination
For use with a drip irrigation system, irrigation
water must be filtered to remove:
• Physical material - Silt, clay, mud, etc.
• Chemicals - Iron, calcium, manganese (these
sometimes combine to form conglomerates),
etc.
• Organic material - Plankton, etc.
• Biological material - Algae, etc.
 Water analysis
A water analysis is necessary in order to select:

• appropriate type of filtration system.

• prescribe a suitable maintenance program.
• selecting the type of dripper lines.
• prescribe an appropriate Nutrigation plan.
What is the big difference?
In flood and sprinkling Irrigation the water
are moving in a Piston character, pushing the
Air and Nutrition's away.

In drip irrigation the water are moving in an

Onion shape. The Air and Nutrition's stays
near by the roots.
 Component of Drip Irrigation
A drip irrigation system
consists essentially of
mainline, sub mains,
lateral, drippers, filters and
other small fittings and
accessories like valves,
pressure regulators,
pressure gauge, fertilizer
application components
etc.
Water sources
• river
• Lake
• reservoir/tank
• Well
• canal water supply and
• connection to a public commercial or cooperative
water supply network can be used.
 Drip Irrigation System Components
● Pumping set
o Generates pressure to
control the amount of water The pressure necessary to force water
supplied through the components of the system
including fertilizer tank, filter unit,
mainline, sub main, laterals and provide
at the emitters at the desired pressure is
obtained by a pump of suitable capacity
or the overhead water tank located at
suitable elevation.
● Filters
o Removes the impurities in the water
Clogging can be prevented or reduced by:
a) Preliminary separation of suspended
solid particles by settling ponds, settling
tanks and sand separators.
b) Complimentary chemical treatments for
decomposition of suspended organic
matter; to hinder the development of slime
by microorganisms; to prevent chemical
precipitates deposition and to dissolve
previous deposited precipitates.
c) Filtration of the irrigation water: The media filters usually called as sand
filters, screen filters or disc filters are used.
 Type of filter

Screen filters work well with

inorganic matter such as silt
and sand.

Disc filters generally require a Hydrocyclones use

higher water pressure to centrifugal force to "spin"
backflush effectively sand out of water.
 Non Return Valve
• It is used to prevent the
damage of pump from
flow of water hammer in
rising main line.
 Pressure Gauge:
• It is used to indicate the
operating pressure of
the drip system.
 Drip Pipe
● Main Lines
o This is the distribution
system for drip irrigation
o PVC pipes and polyethylene
pipes used in the system
o Pipes generally 65 mm in
radius
● Sub Main
o Connected to main line
through a control valve
o Distributes the water
laterally through the field
Drippers/emitters

o Connected on the
laterals in order to emit
water in drops at a
continuous flow rate
o flow rates generally do
not exceed 15 liters/hr
 Flush Valve
• It is provided at the
end of each sub main
to flush out the water
and dirt’s.
 End Caps (End Sets)
• They are used to close
the lateral ends, Submain
ends or mainline ends.
Sub mains and mains are
preferably provided with
flush valve. They are
convenient for flushing
the line.
Components of drip
irrigation system are:
1- Pump unit.
2- Control head.
3- Main lines, sub-main
lines, and Laterals.
4- Emitters or Drippers .
 Q = (A*q / N* se * sl)
where:
Q: the discharge of the pump (m3/sec),
A: area of the field (m2),
q: the discharge of emitter (m3/sec),
N: number of operational units,
se: the distance between emitters on laterals (m),
sl: the distance between laterals (m).
 N ≤ Hi / Ht
Where:
Hi : the time interval between two successive irrigations (day),
Hi = dw / Cu
dw : required water depth (mm),
Cu: consumptive use of the crop (mm/day),
Ht: the total time for operating the emitter (day),
Ht = dg* se * sl / q
dg : actual irrigation depth = dw / irrigation efficiency
Maintenance
● Inspect drippers periodically to prevent clogging
● Filter screens should be cleaned once a month
● Tubing lines should be flushed once a month
● During freezing weather tubing should be drained
and stored
 Advantages over Surface Irrigation
● Less Irrigation Water ● Reduced Labor Costs
Needed ● Uniform Distribution of
● Variation in Water
Application Rates ● Weed and Pest Control
● Avoid Over Irrigation
● High Yields ● Suitable for any type of land
● No Water Logging ● Maintain surface
temperature
 Disadvantages
● High Costs
o Buying the initial system can be more than other systems
o Systems can be more expensive because of the extensive piping needed
● Waste
o Tubes for drip irrigation can have a short life span requiring
replacement pipes
● Clogging
o When the water is not properly filtered, the equipment could clog easily
● Extra time and money for cleanup costs after harvest
● Not beneficial to crops that are closely panted together (eg. wheat)
Sprinkler Irrigation

From PAES 125: 2002

Sprinkler Head – Specifications
&
AgroStudies: Lecture Note
 Definitions:
• Nozzle - aperture of the sprinkler head through which
the liquid is discharged.
• Radius of throw – the farthest distance measured
from the sprinkler head centerline to a point to appoint
at which liquid is deposited.
• Rotating sprinkler head – device which by its
rotating motion around its vertical axis distributes liquid
over an area .
• Sprinkler head – hydraulically operated mechanical
device which discharges liquid through a nozzle.
 Definitions:
• Impact-driven sprinkler head – type of rotating sprinkler head
which rotates using weighted or spring-loaded arm which is
propelled by the liquid stream and hits the sprinkler body (see
Figure 1)
 Definitions:
• Trajectory angle – angle of the liquid stream above a horizontal
plane, as discharged from the sprinkler nozzle operating at the test
pressure.
• Part-circle sprinkler - rotating sprinkler designed to irrigate a
sector of a circular area, either with or without the possibility of
adjusting it to irrigate the entire circular area.
• Range of effective pressure - pressure range between the
minimum effective pressure, Pmin, and the maximum effective
pressure, Pmax, declared by the manufacturer as the pressure
range in which the sprinklers operate effectively.
NOTE : The pressure is measured at the base of the sprinkler, at a
point situated about 0.20 m below the main nozzle of the sprinkler,
but with the pressure gauge situated in the same plane as the main
nozzle.
 Materials of Construction
The sprinkler head shall be made of metal and/or plastic.
a. Metal sprinkler head shall be made from a copper alloy or
of other metal whose mechanical properties when used with
irrigation water are comparable with those of copper alloys.
b. Plastic parts of the sprinkler head which conduct liquid and
which are exposed to sunlight shall be opaque. Plastic parts
of the sprinkler head exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation
shall contain an additive resistant to UV radiation.
c. If the sprinkler head is not suitable for operation with
certain chemicals commonly used in agriculture, the
manufacturer shall declare such limitations in his
specification.
Warranty for Construction and Durability

• Warranty against defective materials and

workmanship shall be provided for parts and
services except on consumable maintenance parts
within six (6) months from the purchase of the
sprinkler head.
• The construction shall be rigid and durable
without breakdown of its components within six
(6) months from purchase by the first buyer.
 Marking
Sprinklers Nozzles
• Registered Trademark of the • nozzle diameter, mm
Manufacturer • mark indicating correct position
• Brand of nozzle, if this affects sprinkler
operation
• Model
• Trajectory angle (marked only on
low trajectory angle sprinklers)
• A mark to designate correct
position of nozzle (if position of
nozzle affects sprinkler
operation)
 Labeling
• Name and address of the manufacturer
• Name and address of the importer, if imported
(optional)
• Country of manufacture (if imported)
• Safety/ precautionary markings
 Pressure
The pressure of the system is the maximum water pressure
required for normal system operation and encompasses: a) the
friction losses in the piping network from the control station to the
distal end of the system; b) the pressure required at the emitter;
and c) the difference in elevation (plus or minus). Systems can be
classed as:
• low pressure systems, where the pressure required is 2.0-3.5
bars;
• medium pressure, where the pressure required is 3.5-5.0 bars;
• high pressure, where the pressure required exceeds 5.0 bars.
 Type of Installation
Systems can be classed as:
• Solid installations (fixed systems), where all the
components are laid or installed at fixed
permanent or seasonal positions.
• Semi-permanent installations, where the mains
and submains are permanent while the laterals are
portable, hand move or mechanically move.
• Portable installations, where all the component
parts are portable.
 Arrangements of Main and Laterals
 Fully portable – movable pump, main and laterals. This
is suitable where water supply can be obtained from a
stream or canal alongside the field.
Portable mains and laterals, stationary pump.
 Portable or permanent main and portable lateral
suitable when water is form a well or pit.
•It can be used on permanent irrigation fields and for
relatively high value crops e.g. Orchards and vineyards
Arrangements of Main and Laterals
 Mobile Sprinkler Types
a) Raingun: A mobile machine with a big sprinkler.
•The speed of the machine determines the application rate. The
sprinkler has a powerful jet system.
b) Lateral Move: A mobile long
boom with many sprinklers
attached to them.
• As the machine moves, it collects
water from a canal or other water
resource, into the sprinklers
connected to the long boom.
SPRINKLER SPACING
OVERLAPPING
Irrigation techniques Sprinkler
irrigation: Spray pattern
Irrigation techniques Sprinkler irrigation:
Spray pattern
Spray pattern: Variation in pressure
Solid set system
Centre pivot system
Linear move system
Micro irrigation: Micro sprinklers
IRRIGATION SPRINKLER PATTERN
 Precipitation Rate (PR)
The PR is the average water in mm per hour at
which water is being applied to the area cover by a
Specific Sprinkler layout
 Coefficient of Uniformity (CU)
• The CU is a measurement of uniformity, expressed as
percentage, comparing the average deviation of values
from the overall average.
•A perfectly uniform application is represented by a CU of
100%. A less uniform application is represented by a
lower percentage.
 Calculation of CU

• Step1- arrange all numbers in one column (Xi)

• Step 2 – summaries all numbers (∑Xi)
• Step 3- calculate the average ∑Xi/n = AVG
• Step 4 arrange one more column Xi-AVG
 Sprinkler Application Rate
Must be Less than Intake Rates
 Crop Water Requirement
Various Crops (mm/day)
Corn 6.15
Cabbage 3.75
Eggplant 4.76
Mungbean 5.33
Pechay 6.00
Soybean 5.23
Tomato 4.35
Water Melon 4.87
 Advantages
• High irrigation application efficiency -75%
• Easy design, simple installation and
operation.
• Adaptability for all types of soils, many kinds
of field crops and small irregular plots.
• Less expensive than many other modern
irrigation systems (drip).
 Advantages
• suitable to wide rang of • wide range of emitters to
crops. meet soil crops
• low investment cost (not requirments.
solid set). • specioal kinds of irrigstion:
• easy to operate and • saturation
maintane. • heatwave
• unskilled team can manage
• frost protection.
it well.
Disadvantages
• MOVING THE HOSES WITH THE SPRINKLERS IS HEAVY
AND UNPLEASANT WORK.
• LONG DURATION FOR THE IRRIGATION CYCLE.
• NEED HIGH PRESSURE.
• INFLUENCED BY PRESSURE, WIND.
• WATER LOSS TO FIELD EDGES.
• CAUSED PROBLEMS OF LEAF DISEASE.
• RUNOFF
• INTERFERING IN CULTIVATION AND SPRAYING.
Thank you !!
 SPRINKLE IRRIGATION
•This is used on areas where use of surface
irrigation systems is inefficient or impossible.
•Applicable to areas with excessive slopes,
irregular topography, easily eroded soil
and/or in favorable intake rates and soil
profiles.
Planning/Developing the System
Step 1: Make a farm resource inventory
a. Size and shape of design area
b. Topography
c. Type of soils
d. Available/potential water supplies
e. Climatic conditions
f. Other physical features that would influence
operation
g. Power facilities and costs
Step 2: Determine present and future
farm operations
a. Present and future cropping practices
b. Cultural and harvesting operations
c. Labor utilization
d. Soil and water conservation needs
Step 3: Design of the Sprinkler System

A.Preliminary steps for systems design

B.Adjustment of final design procedure
 A. Preliminary steps for systems design
1. Determine steps for systems design
2. Determine irrigation interval at peak moisture use rate
Interval in days = net water applied
Peak use rate
3. Determine the basis system capacity requirement at peak use rate using
gross depth of water application
AD
Q= 453 _____
FH
Where: Q = sprinkler systems capacity in gpm
A = design area in acres
D = gross depth of application in acre-in- per area
F = no. of days allowed for completion of one irrigation, usually the irrigation interval
H = No. of hours the system is operated per day
For multiple crops, compute the capacity requirements for each crop and average.
4. Determine the range of safe water application rates
5. Determine the rate of application, sprinkler type, spacing, operating
pressure and nozzle size or sizes.
B. Adjustment of final design procedure

1. Determine the required no. of sprinklers operating

• from required capacity

• from sprinkler selection

B. Adjustment of final design procedure
2. Determine nearest number of interval to operate
required capacity of system by one of more of the
following:
1. increasing or decreasing sprinkler discharge
2. increasing or decreasing total operating time
3. adding another full lateral with some discharge
4. final adjustments and selection of sprinkler
discharge and operating pressure.
B. Adjustment of final design procedure
3. Design of lateral
4. Design of mains
5. Pipe size economy check where required
6. Determine systems operating conditions
a. maximum head-discharge requirements
b. minimum head-discharge requirements
7. Select pump and power unit to efficiently meet head-discharge
requirements
8. Determine operation, automation, and protection control
equipment required
9. Check on or cost of water application
10. Prepare alternate design where required
Determine trickle system capacity for an area 125𝒎𝟐
fed, if
a- The system efficiency is 85%,
b- the distance between emitters on laterals = 0.6 m,
c- the distance between laterals = 1.2 m,
d- the discharge of emitter = 2 l/hr,
e- required water depth = 2.4 cm,
f- consumptive use of the crop = 6 mm/day
Thank you and God bless !!!