Definition of Irrigation

Irrigation is the science of artificial application

of water to the land, in accordance with the crop
requirements throughout the crop period for full-
fledged nourishment of the crops
Necessity of Irrigation in
Bangladesh
 Advantages of Irrigation
• Increase in Food Production
• Optimum Benefits
• Elimination of Mixed Cropping
• General Prosperity
• Generation of Hydro-electric Power
• Domestic Water Supply
• Facilities of Communications
• Inland Navigation
• Afforestation
 Disadvantages of Irrigation
• Colder and Dimmer Climate
• Water Logging
• Expensive
• Outbreak of diseases
• Environmental degradation
 Types of Irrigation
• Surface Irrigation
• Sub-surface Irrigation
 Surface Irrigation
• Flow Irrigation- Water supplied from higher
level to lower level with gravity force.
• Lift Irrigation- Water lifted by mechanical
means
 Flow Irrigation
• Perennial Irrigation- Constant and
continuous water supply, water directed by
canal by construction of weir or barrage
across the river.
• Flood Irrigation- Soil is kept submerged and
thoroughly flooded with water.
 Sub-surface Irrigation
• Natural Sub-surface Irrigation – Due to
leakage water from canals

• Artificial Sub-surface Irrigation- Open

joined drains artificially laid below the soil
Techniques of Water Distribution in the fields

• Free Flooding
• Border Flooding
• Check Flooding
• Basin Flooding
• Furrow Irrigation Method
• Sprinkler Irrigation Method
• Drip Irrigation Method
Free Flooding
In this method ditches
are excavated in the
field. Water from this
ditches flow across the
field.
• Initial land preparation
cost is low
• Efficiency is low
 Border Flooding
• Land is divided into number of strips
• Separated by low levels called Border
• Each Strip is 10 to 20 m width and 100 to 400 m length
Time required to cover the given area
If we consider small are dA of the border strip area A and assume
time dt to advance water over this area; if depth of water is y then
the volume would be y.dA .
Volume of water that percolates into soil at the same time over the
same area would be f.A.dt
Total water supplied to the strip during dt would be Q.dt which is
equal to y.dA + f.A.dt
 Check Flooding
Similar to free flooding except water is controlled by
surrounding check area with low and flat levels
Basin Flooding
 Furrow Irrigation Method
• Only one-fifth to one-half of the land surface is
wetted by water
• Less evaporation loss less puddling of soil
 Sprinkler Irrigation Method
•Water is applied to the soil in the form of spray
though network pipes
• It is like artificial rain so gives very good results
• Most suitable for those areas where surface and
sub-surface irrigation is difficult
Conditions Favoring to Sprinkler Irrigation
Advantages of Sprinkler Irrigation
Limitations of Sprinkler Irrigation
 Drip Irrigation Method
• It is also called Trickle Irrigation
• Adopted where scarcity of water or salt problem
• Water is directly applied to the root zone of the
plants
 Quality of Irrigation Water
Impurities in Irrigation Water:
• Sediment concentration
• Soluble solids
• Proportion of sodium ions to other cations
• Bicarbonates as calcium and magnesium
• Bacterial concentration
 Salt Concentration
• Salt concentration measured by electrical
conductivity of water
• Value 250 µ -mohs/cm – low conductivity (C1)
• Value 250-750 µ -mohs/cm – medium
conductivity (C2)
• Value 750-2250 µ -mohs/cm – high
conductivity (C3)
• Value above 2250- µ -mohs/cm – very high
conductivity (C4)
Proportion of Sodium Ions to Other Cations
• Most of the soil contains Ca++ and Mg ++ with small quantities of
Na+
• % of Na + is generally less than 5% of total exchangeable ions
• If % increases 10% or above aggregation of soil-grain breaks
down and soil become less permeable
• High sodium soils are plastic, sticky when wet
• The proportion of sodium ions present in the soil is generally
measured by a factor called Sodium Absorption Ration, SAR
When SAR is between 0-10 – Called low sodium water
(S1)
When SAR is between 10-18 – Called medium sodium
water (S2)
When SAR is between 18-26 – Called high sodium water
(S3)
When SAR is above 26 – Called very high sodium water
(S4)
Medium sodium water (S2) may create
following problems:

* Soil becomes less permeable

* It starts crusting when dry
* It becomes plastic and sticky when wet
* Its pH increases towards alkaline soil

Addition of gypsum(CaSO4) either to soil or

water is suggested to overcome the sodium
hazards.