CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 GENERAL
Irrigation may be defined as the process of supplying water to land by
artificial means for the purpose of cultivation.Ordinarily water is supplied to
land by nature through rain but generally it is not enough for the proper
growth of plants.As such as the basic objective of irrigation is to supplement
the natural supply of water to land so as to obtain the an optimum yield from
the crop grown on the land.
In order to achieve this objective of irrigation, an irrigation system is
required to developed, which involves planning, designing, construction,
operation and maintenance of various irrigation works viz, a source of water
supply, a distribution system for carrying water from the source to the
agricultural land and its application on the land, and various other associated
works.The factors which neccessitate irrigation are:
Ø Inadequate
rainfall
Ø Uneven
distribution of rainfall
Ø Growing a number
of crops during a year
Ø Growing superior
crops
1.2 METHODS OF IRRIGATION
Irrigation methods are commonly designated according to the manner in which
water is applied to the land to be irrigated.
1.2.1 Surface Irrigation Methods
The water is applied by spreading in it sheets or small streams on the land
to be irrigated.These methods are adopted for perennial irrigation system.
1.2.2 Sprinkler Irrigation Methods
The irrigation water is applied to the land in the form of spray, somewhat
as in ordinary rain.It can be used for all the crops except rice and jute and
for almost all soils except very heavy soils with very low filtration rates.
1.2.3 Sub-Surface Irrigation Methods
The water is applied below the ground surface so that it is supplied
directly to the root zone of the plants.The main advantages of these methods
are that the evaporation losses are considerably reduced and the hindrance
caused to cultivation by the presence of borders, pipes and field channels in
the other methods of irrigation is eliminated.
1.3 DRIP OR TRICKLE IRRIGATION METHOD
Drip irrigation,also known as trickle irrigation or microirrigation is one
of the sub-surface irrigation method of applying water or frequent application
of water to crops through small emitters in the vicinity of the root zone,
wetting a limited amount of surface area and depth of soil. The theory behind
drip irrigation is to apply sufficient moisture to the root of the crops to
prevent water stress. A major difference between drip system and most other
systems is that the balance between crop evapotranspiration and applied water
is maintained over limited periods of 24 to 72 hours. The conversion from
sprinkler to drip irrigation can result in water use reduction of 50% and
double yield. This is a result of improved water use and fertility and reduced
disease and weed pressure.
1.4 NEED OF DRIP IRRIGATION
Drip irrigation can help you use water efficiently.A well-designed drip
irrigation system loses practically no water to runoff, deep percolation, or
evaporation. Drip irrigation reduces water contact with crop leaves, stems, and
fruit. Thus conditions may be less favorable for the onset of diseases.
Irrigation scheduling can be managed precisely to meet crop demands, holding
the promise of increased yield and quality.Growers and irrigation professionals
often refer to "subsurface drip irrigation,"or SDI. When a drip
tape or tube is buried below the soil surface, it is less vulnerable to damage
during cultivation or weeding. With SDI, water use efficiency is maximized
because there is even less evaporation or runoff.Agricultural chemicals can be
applied more efficiently with drip irrigation. Since only the crop root
zone is irrigated, nitrogen already in the soil is less subject to leaching
losses, and applied fertilizer N can be used more efficiently. In the case of
insecticides, less product might be needed.
CHAPTER 2
COMPONENTS AND WORKING
In drip irrigation, also known as trickle irrigation, water is applied in
the form of drops directly near the base of the plant. Water is conveyed
through a system of flexible pipelines, operating at low pressure, and is
applied to the plants through drip nozzles. This technique is also known
as ‘feeding bottle’ technique where by the soil is maintained in the most
congenital form by keeping the soil-water-air proportions in the optimum range.
Drip irrigation limits the water supplied for consumptive use of the plant by
maintaining minimum soil moisture, equal to the field capacity, thereby
maximizing the saving. The system permits the fine control on the application
of moisture and nutrients at stated frequencies.
The main components of a typical drip irrigation system are:
Ø Water Source
Ø Pumping System
Ø Distribution
System
Ø Drip Tape ( Drip
Tube)
Ø Injectors
Ø Filtration
System
2.1 WATER SOURCE
Common water sources for drip irrigation are surface water (pond, river,
and creek), groundwater, and potable water (from municipality, county orutility
company). Use the water source thatwill provide the largest amount of water of
greatestquality and lowest cost. Potable water is of high,constant quality, but
is by far the most expensive.
2.2 PUMPING SYSTEM
The role of the pumping system is to move waterfrom the water source to the
field through the distribution system. Pumping systems may be classified
as electric powered systems, gas/diesel powered systems, and gravity
systems.Gas/diesel pumps offer the greatest versatility in isolated
fields.
2.3 DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
The role of the
distribution system is to convey the water from the source to the field.
Distribution systems may be above ground (easily movable) or underground (less
likely to be damaged).Pipes are most commonly made of PVC or polyethylene
plastics.Aluminum pipes are also available, but are more difficult to
customize, cut, and repair.The size and shape of the distribution system may
vary widely from field to field and from farm to farm.
2.4 DRIP TAPE (OR DRIP TUBE)
The drip-irrigation system delivers water to each plant through a thin
polyethylene tape (or tube) with regularly spaced small holes (called
emitters). Selection of drip tape should be based on emitter spacing and flow
rate. The typical emitter spacing for vegetables is 12 inches, but 8 inches or
4 inches may be acceptable. Dry sections of soil may develop between
consecutive emitters when a wider emitter spacing (18 inches) is used on sandy
soils. Flow rates are classified into low flow (<20gal 30="" and="" flow="" ft="" gal="" high="" hr="" medium="" to="">30 gal/100ft/hr). The risk of emitter
clogging is generally higher with the lower-flow drip tapes.In the field,
drip-irrigation tape should be installed with emitters upward (looking up) to
prevent clogging from sediment deposits settling in the emitters between
irrigation events. Drip tapes are widely available from several manufacturers.
2.5 INJECTORS
Injectors allow the introduction of fertilizer, chemicals and maintenance
products into the irrigation system. Florida law requires the use of an
anti-siphoning device (also called backflow-prevention device) when fertilizer,
chemicals or any other products are injected into a drip-irrigation
system.Backflow-prevention devices ensure the water always moves from the water
source to the field. The devices prevent chemicals in the water from polluting
the water source. The most common injectors used with smalldrip-irrigation
systems are the Venturi (or Mazzei) injector and the Dosatron.Because Venturi
injectors involve no moving parts and are less expensive, they are commonly
used on small farms. The injector is typically located as close as possible to
the irrigation zone, but before the filter.
2.6 FILTRATION SYSTEM
Because drip-irrigation water must pass through the emitters, the size of
the particles in the water must be smaller than the size of the
emitter to preventclogging. Nearly all manufacturers of drip-irrigation
equipment recommend that filters be used. The filtration system removes
"large" solid particles in suspension in the water.
Different types of filters are used based on the type of particles
in the water. Media filters (often containing angular sand) are
used with surface water when large amounts of organic matter (live
or dead) need to be filtered out. Screen filters or disk filters
may be used withgroundwater. A 200-mesh screen or equivalent is
considered adequate
for drip irrigation.When the water contains sand, a sand separator should
be used. Rapid clogging may occur when no filter or the incorrect
type of filter is used. A filter needs to be cleaned when the
difference in pressure across the R filter (measured before
and after the filter) is greater than 5 - 8 psi. A drip-irrigation system
should never be operated without a filter even if the filter
requires clogged drip-tape emitters, often resulting in poor uniformity
and sometimes in crop loss. The filter should be cleaned as often
as needed. Efforts should be made to understand the cause of the
rapid clogging, and remediation for the problem should bdeveloped. The
presence of the filter after the point of fertilizer injection
means totally soluble fertilizers must be used. Otherwise
fertilizer particles may contribute to filter clogging.
The whole field
is divided into suitable plots. A secondary line is provided for each such
plot, and a number of trickle lines are connected to each secondary line. A
discharge regulator is provided at the beginning of each secondary line, and
its capacity is fixed in accordance with the size and the number of nozzles
used. The automatic valve at the head is so adjusted to deliver the desired
quantity of water and the irrigation terminates automatically after this amount
is discharged.
CHAPTER 3
DESIGN AND LAYOUT
3.1 HOLTICULTURAL CONSIDERATIONS
The goal of drip irrigation is to bring water to the crop. The main
parameters that determine crop water use are the type of crop planted and row
spacing. A drip irrigation system should be able to supply 110% - 120% of crop
water needs. In other words, the system should be slightly oversized. In
designing a drip-irrigation system, it is common to consider that vegetable
crops ordinarily need approximately 1.5 acre-inches of water for each week of
growth or approximately 20 acre-inches of water per crop. Actual crop water use
will be more or less than this amount, depending on weather and irrigation
efficiency.
3.2 DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
Start with what is already available, the water source or the field. If a
water source is already available (pond or well), the amount of water available
may be used to calculate the maximum size of each irrigation zone.
If no water source is available, the amount of water needed by the crop,
based on the size of the planted area, may be used to calculate the type of
well or pond size needed.
3.3 LAY OUT OF BEDS AND ROWS
Because differences in altitudes affect water pressure, it is preferable to
lay out beds perpendicular to the slope. This arrangement of rows is called
"contour farming”.
Excessive water velocities (>5 feet/second) in the lines, the result of
a too-small diameter are likely to create a water hammer (pressure wave), which
can damage the delivery lines. Growers should be aware of the maximum acreage
that can be
irrigated with different pipe sizes at a water velocity of 5 feet/second.
The maximum length of drip tape should be based on the manufacturer's
recommendation and the actual terrain slope. Typically 400 - 600 feet are
maximum values for drip-tape length. Excessive length of laterals will
result in poor uniformity and uneven water application. When the field is
longerthan 400 - 600 feet, consider placing the secondary (submain) line in the
middle of the field rather than at the end and connect drip tape on
both sides.
Table 3.1 Maximum length of drip tape (feet) and maximum
irrigatable field size (acre) with low- and medium-flow drip tape at
awater velocity of 5-feet-per-second for selected diameters
of Class 160 PVC pipes.
CHAPTER 4
SYSTEM CONTROLS
System controls are devices that allow the user to monitor how the
drip-irrigation system performs. These controls help ensure the desired amount
ofwater is applied to the crop throughout the growing season.The different
devices used for the control are:
Ø Pressure
Regulators
Ø Water Meters
Ø Pressure Gauges
Ø Soil moisture
Measuring Devices
Ø Electrical
Timers
4.1 PRESSURE REGULATORS
Pressure regulators,installed in-line with the system, regulate water
pressure at a given water flow there by helping to protect system components
against damaging surges in water pressure. Pressure surges may occur when the
water in the pipe has a velocity >5 feet /second ("water hammer")
or when water flowing in the pipe has no avenue for release due to a closed
valve or a clog inthe pipe.
4.2 WATER METERS
Water meters monitor and record the amount of water moving through a
pipe where the water meter is installed. When a stopwatch is used together with
a water meter, it is possible to determine the water flow in the system in
terms of gallons-per-minute.
4.3 PRESSURE GAUGES
Pressure
gauges monitor water pressure in the system and ensure operating pressure
remains close to the recommended or benchmark values. Based on where the
pressure gauge is installed, it will measure water pressure in a various
ranges, from 0-100 psi near the pump to 0-20 psi at the end of drip
tape.Pressure gauges may be installed at set points (near the pump, before and
after the filter, near the Field.They can also be mounted as portable devices
and installed temporarily at the end.
4.4 SOIL MOISTURE MEASURING DEVICES
Soil-moisture-measuring devices (such as tensiometers, capacitance
probes or Time Domain Reflectometry probes) are used to measure soil moisture
in the root zone of the crop.
4.5 ELECTRICAL TIMERS
Electrical timers connected to solenoid valves may be used to
automatically operate a drip-irrigation system at pre-set starting and ending
operating times of day.
CHAPTER 5
SYSTEM MAINTENENCE
The goal of drip-irrigation maintenance is to preserve the high uniformity
of water application allowed by drip irrigation. A successful program of
maintenance for a drip-irrigation system is based on the
prevention-is-the-best-medicine approach. It is
easier to prevent a drip tape from clogging than to"unclog" it or
replace it.
5.1 WATER SAMPLING
An essential
part of drip-irrigation management is determining water quality through water
testing. Water testing will help determine water chemical composition, pH, and
hardness.These parameters have direct implications on chlorination,
acidification and filtration needs for irrigation water.
Table 5.1 Water quality parameter levels for
emitter plugging potential of
Drip irrigation systems
5.2 THE PREVENTION IS THE BEST MEDICINE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM
This maintenance program is based on filtration,
chlorination/acidification, flushing and observation.
Table 5.2 Components of the “prevention is the best medicine”
maintanence plan
5.3 WATCH FOR LEAKS
Leaks can occur unexpectedly as a result of damage by insects, animals, or
farming tools. Systematically monitor the lines for physical damage. It is
important to fix holes as soon as possible to prevent uneven irrigation.
5.4 CHLORINE CLEARS CLOGGED EMITTERS
5.4 CHLORINE CLEARS CLOGGED EMITTERS
If the rate of water flow progressively declines during the season, the
tubes or tape may be slowly plugging, resulting in severe damage to the crop.
In addition to maintaining the filtering stations, regular flushing of the drip
tube and application of chlorine through the drip tube will help minimize
clogs. Once a month, flush the drip lines by opening the far ends of a portion
of the tubes at a time and allowing the higher velocity water to rush out the
sediment.Because algae growth and biological activity in the tube or tape are
especially high during warmer months,chlorine usually is applied at 2-week
intervals during these months.
5.4 CHEMIGATION
Manage irrigation and fertilization together to optimize efficiency.
Chemigation through drip systems efficiently delivers chemicals in the root
zone of the receiving plants. Because of the precision of application,
chemigation can be safer and use less material.
5.5 FERTILIZATION
Soil microorganisms convert nitrogen (N) fertilizers to nitrate. Nitrate is
water soluble, available to plants, and subject to leaching loss.Fertilizer can
be injected through the drip system. Fertilizer usually is introduced into the
irrigation system in front of the filter station so the filters can remove any
precipitates that occur in the solution Fertilizers containing sulfate,
phosphate, calcium, or anhydrous or aqua ammonium can lead to solid chemical
precipitation inside the drip lines, which can block emitters.
5.6 PLACEMENT OF TAPE
The drip tape must be close enough to the surface to germinate the seed if
necessary, or a portable sprinkler system should be available. For example, a
tape tube 4 to 5 inches deep has successfully germinated onion seeds in silt
loam soil. Tape at 12 inches failed to uniformly germinate onions.
5.8 TIMING AND RATES
The total irrigation water requirements for crops grown with a drip system
is greatly reduced compared to a surface flood system because water can be
applied much more efficiently with drip irrigation. For example, with furrow
irrigation, typically at least 4 acre-feet/acre/year of water is applied to
onion fields in the Treasure Valley of eastern Oregon and southwestern Idaho.
Depending on the year, summer rainfall, and the soil, 14 to 32 acre-inches/acre
of water has been needed to raise onions under drip irrigation in the Treasure
Valley.
5.9 STANDARD MAINTENANCE
Add chlorine or other chemicals to the drip line periodically to kill
bacteria and algae. Acid might also be needed to dissolve calcium carbonates.
Filters must be managed and changed as needed. Even with filtration,
however, drip tape must be flushed regularly. The frequency of flushing depends
on the amount and kinds of sedimentation in the tape.
CHAPTER 6
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF DRIP IRRIGATION
6.1 ADVANTAGES
6.1.1 Reduced water use
Because drip irrigation brings the water to the plant root zone and does
not wet the entire field, drip irrigation typically requires half to a
quarter of the volume of water required by comparable overhead-irrigation
systems.
6.1.2 Joint management of irrigation and Fertilization
Drip irrigation can improve the efficiency of both water and fertilizer.
Precise
application of nutrients is possible using drip irrigation. Hence,
fertilizer costs and soluble nutrient losses may be reduced with drip
irrigation. Nutrient applications may also be better timed to meet plant needs.
6.1.3 Reduced pest problems
Weed and diseaseproblems may be reduced because drip irrigation does
not wet the row middles or the foliage of the crops as does overhead
irrigation.
6.1.4 Simplicity
Polyvinyl chloride (pvc) andpolyethylene parts are widely available in
several diameters and are easy to assemble. Many customized, easy-to-install
connectors, endcaps, and couplers are available in different diameters. Cutting
and gluing allows for timely repairs.
6.1.5 Low pumping needs
Drip systems require low operating pressure (20-25 psi at field entrance,
10-12 psi at the drip tape) compared to overhead systems (50-80 psi). Many
existing small pumps and wells may be used to adequately irrigate small acreage
using drip systems.
6.1.6 Automation
Drip-irrigation application may be simply managed and programmed with an
AC- or battery-powered controller, thereby reducing labor cost.
6.1.7 Adaptation
Drip systems are adaptable to oddly shaped fields or those with uneven
topography
or soil texture, thereby eliminating the underutilized or non-cropped
corners and maximizing the use of available land.
6.1.8 Production advantages
Combined with raised beds, polyethylene mulch, and transplants, drip
irrigation enhances earliness and crop uniformity. Using polyethylene mulch
also increases the
cleanliness of harvested products and reduces the risk of contamination
with soil-born pathogens. Reflective mulches further help reduce the incidence
of viral diseases by affecting insect vectors, such as thrips, whiteflies or
aphids.
6.2 DISADVANTAGES
6.2.1 Drip irrigation requires an economic Investment
Drip-irrigation systems typically cost $500 - $1,200 or more per acre
(Table 1). Part of the cost is a capital investment useful for several years,
and another part is due to the annual cost of disposable parts. Growers new to
drip irrigation should start with a relatively simple system on a small acreage
before moving to a larger system.
6.2.2 Drip irrigation requires maintenance and high-quality water
Once emitters are clogged or the tape is damaged, the tape
must be replaced. Water
dripping from an emitter and the subsequent wetting pattern are hard to
see, which makes it difficult to know if the system is working properly. Proper
management of drip irrigation requires a learning period.
6.2.3 Water-application pattern must match planting pattern
If emitter spacing (too far apart) does not match the planting
pattern, root development may be restricted and/or plants may die.
6.2.4 Safety
Drip tubing may be lifted by wind or may be displaced by animals unless the
drip tape is covered with mulch, fastened with wire anchor pins,or lightly
covered with soil.
6.2.5 Leak repair
Drip lines can be easily cut or damaged by other farming operations, such
as tilling, transplanting, or manual weeding with a hoe. Damage to drip tape
caused by insects, rodents or birds may create large leaks that also require
repair.
6.2.6 Drip-tape disposal causes extra cleanup costs after harvest
Planning is needed for drip-tapedisposal, recycling or reuse.
CHAPTER 7
APPLICATIONS OF DRIP IRRIGATION
· Drip irrigation is used by farms, commercial
greenhouses and residential gardeners.
· For cultivation in roof gardens
· In shopping malls and embankments
·
In steep slopes
CONCLUSIONS
Drip irrigation is a latest sub-surface methods of irrigating water with
higher water demands in arid region.It may not be applicable to all farms.Yet,
when properly designed, installed and managed, drip irrigation may help achieve
water conservation by reducing evaporation and deep drainage when compared to
other types of irrigation such as flood or overhead sprinklers since water can
be more precisely applied to the plant roots.In addition, drip can eliminate
many diseases that are spread through water contact with the foliage.It also
results reduced energy costs.
REFERENCES
1.Eric Simonne, Robert Hochmuth, Jacque Breman,
William Lamont, Danielle Treadwell
and Aparna Gazula ( June 2008), Drip Irrigation System for Small
Conventional Vegetable Farms and Organic Vegetable Farms, Horticultural
Sciences Department, Florida Co-operative Extension Service, Institute of Food
and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, HS 1144.
2Shock.C.C (August 2006, June 2001), Drip Irrigation: An Introduction, Malheur
Experiment Station, Oregon State University, EM 8782.
3.Modi.P.N (2008), Irrigation Water Resources and Water Power Engineering, Standard
Book House, Rajsons Publications Pvt.Ltd,1705-A, Nai Sarak, New Delhi-110 006.
