Module 1

Irrigation: definition, benefits and ill effects of irrigation.

system of irrigation: surface and groundwater, flow irrigation, lift irrigation, Bandhara
irrigation.
Water requirements of crops: duty, delta and base period, relationship between them,
factors affecting duty of water crops and crops seasons in India, irrigation efficiency,
frequency of irrigation.

➔​ Irrigation Means:
Irrigation is the process of supplying water to crops artificially through different methods like
canals, pipes, sprinklers, or drippers. It helps plants grow when rainfall is insufficient.

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D
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EC

➔​ Benefits of Irrigation
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Following are the benefits of irrigation

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1. Ensures Crop Growth:

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Irrigation provides water to crops when rainfall is insufficient, helping them

grow properly.

2. Increases Food Production:

With a steady water supply, farmers can grow more crops, leading to higher
food production.

3. Prevents Drought Damage:

During dry seasons, when there is little or no rainfall, irrigation provides water
to crops, preventing them from wilting and dying due to water shortage.
 Understand - La Nina & El Nino

4. Supports Multiple Crops:

Farmers can grow different crops throughout the year instead of relying only
on the rainy season.

5. Improves Soil Fertility:

Proper irrigation maintains soil moisture, preventing it from becoming too dry
and losing its nutrients, which helps keep the soil fertile and suitable for crop
growth.

T
6. Boosts Farmers Income:

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Higher crop yields mean more profit for farmers, improving their livelihood.

D
7. Reduces Dependence on Rainfall
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Farmers can continue farming even if there is little or no rain.
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8. Supports Livestock Rearing (Facilitates animal husbandry.)
C

Providing water and food for farm animals like cows, buffaloes, goats, sheep,
and poultry to help them grow, stay healthy, and produce milk, meat, or eggs.
EC

9. Helps in Gardening & Landscaping

D

Parks, gardens, and lawns remain green and beautiful with irrigation.
N

10. Prevents Soil Erosion

G

Controlled water supply prevents excessive soil washing away, protecting

farmland.

➔​ Ill Effects of Irrigation

While irrigation is essential for agriculture, excessive or improper irrigation can cause
several problems.

1. Waterlogging

●​ Too much irrigation can flood fields, preventing plants from getting oxygen.
 ●​ When plants do not get enough sunlight or nutrients, their roots become
weak, and they do not grow properly, resulting in shorter and unhealthy
plants.

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D
2. Soil Salinity
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●​ Excess water evaporates, leaving behind salt in the soil.
●​ Reduces soil fertility and affects crop growth.
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C
EC
D
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3. Groundwater Depletion

●​ Overuse of irrigation reduces underground water levels.

●​ Wells and borewells may dry up.

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D
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4. Soil Erosion
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●​ High water flow washes away topsoil.

C

●​ Reduces soil nutrients and weakens land for farming.

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D
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5. Water Pollution

●​ Chemical fertilizers and pesticides mix with irrigation water.

●​ Pollutes rivers, lakes, and groundwater.
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●​

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6. Spread of Diseases

D
●​ Still water from irrigation helps mosquitoes grow..
●​ Increases diseases like malaria and dengue.
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IV
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EC
D
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7. Unequal Water Distribution

●​ Some areas get too much water while others get too little.
●​ Causes conflict among farmers.
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EP
8. High Cost of Maintenance

●​ Irrigation systems need regular repairs and operation costs.

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●​ Expensive for small farmers.
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IV
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EC
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9. Climate Changes

●​ Excessive water use affects local humidity and temperature.

●​ May lead to unexpected rainfall patterns.
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10. Displacement of People

●​ Large irrigation projects require dams and canals.

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●​ People may lose their land and homes.
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IV
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D
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 ➔​ System/Methods of irrigation

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1. Surface Irrigation:
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IL
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●​ Means: Water is applied to the soil surface and spreads through gravity. Think of it
like flooding a field or letting water run along rows.
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EC
D
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●​ Types:

i) Flooding Method: The Flooding Method is a type of surface irrigation where

water is released onto the field and allowed to spread freely over the land to
irrigate crops.
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■​ Wild Flooding:

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●​ Means: Water is simply released onto the field and allowed to
spread.

D
●​ Water is released without control, spreading unevenly over the
land.
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●​ No control over water movement.
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●​ Used in uneven or sloping lands.
●​ Less efficient (water wastage).
C
EC
D
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■​ Controlled Flooding: Water is managed more carefully within

boundaries.
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D
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IV
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D

●​ Free Flooding:
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○​ Means:Water is released in a controlled manner, flowing

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over the field evenly.

○​ Some control over water distribution.
○​ Used in flat lands.
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EP
●​ Contour Laterals: Contour Laterals are irrigation channels or

D
pipelines laid along the contour lines of sloping land. These
channels help distribute water evenly without causing soil
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erosion.
IV
C
EC
D
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G

●​ Border Strips: Border Strip Irrigation is a type of surface

irrigation where a field is divided into long, narrow strips by small
raised borders, and water flows between the strips in a
controlled manner.
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●​ Check Flooding: Small areas are surrounded by ridges and

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flooded.

D
IL
IV
C
EC
D
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●​ Basin Flooding: Water is flooded into basins or flat areas.

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 ●​ Zig-Zag Method: Water flows in a zig-zag pattern through
channels.

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EP
D
ii) Furrow Method: Water flows through small channels (furrows) between crop
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rows.
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EC
D
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iii) Contour Farming: Planting and irrigation along the natural contours of the
land to reduce runoff.
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D
IL
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D

2. Sub-Surface Irrigation:
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G

●​ Means: Water is applied below the soil surface to reach plant roots.
●​ How it works: Pipes or other systems deliver water directly to the root zone.
(More efficient than surface irrigation)
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3. Sprinkler Irrigation:

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●​ Means: Water is sprayed into the air and falls onto the plants like rain.
●​ How it works: Uses sprinklers connected to pipes to distribute water.
IL
IV
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EC
D
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4. Drip Irrigation:

●​ Means: Water is delivered slowly and directly to the base of plants through
pipes with emitters.
●​ How it works: Minimizes water waste by targeting water directly to the roots.
(Very efficient)
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EP
D
Lift Irrigation:
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Definition​
Lift irrigation is a method where water is lifted from sources like rivers, wells, or reservoirs
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using pumps, motors, or other mechanical devices and supplied to fields.

C

How It Works:
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●​ Water is lifted using electric or diesel pumps.

●​ It is then transported through pipes or canals to the farmland.
D

●​ Helps supply water even to higher or uneven lands.

❖​ Advantages:​
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Can be used in areas where natural flow is not possible.​

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Water can be taken from deep wells and rivers.​

Useful in drought-prone and hilly areas.
❖​ Disadvantages:​
Requires electricity or fuel to run pumps.​
Costly due to installation and maintenance.​
Not suitable for large-scale irrigation.
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Bandhara Irrigation

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Bandhara irrigation is a traditional method where small dams (Bandharas) are built across

D
rivers or streams to store and supply water for agriculture.

(Bandhara is a Marathi and Hindi word that refers to a small dam or water storage structure
IL
built across streams or rivers to conserve water for irrigation, drinking, or groundwater
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recharge. These structures are commonly used in Maharashtra and other parts of India for
water conservation in agriculture.)
C

How It Works:
EC

●​ A Bandhara (small dam) is built to stop and store river water.

●​ The stored water is released slowly to irrigate nearby farms.
D

●​ Water is distributed through canals or pipelines.

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❖​ Advantages:​
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Simple and low-cost method.​

Helps in groundwater recharge.​
Provides water for a long time after the rainy season.
❖​ Disadvantages:​
Only useful for small areas.​
If the river dries up, there is no water.​
Needs regular maintenance.
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➔​ Water Requirements of Crops: Duty, Delta, and Base Period:

Crops need a specific amount of water for proper growth. The total water required for a crop

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from sowing to harvesting depends on Duty, Delta, and Base Period.
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1. Duty (D)
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Duty is the area of land (in hectares) that can be irrigated with 1 cubic meter per second
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(cumec) of water throughout the base period of a crop.

EC

or
The duty of water is the relationship between the volume of water and the area of the crop it
measures.
D

It may be defined as the number of hectares of land irrigated for a full growth of a given
N

crop by supply of 1 cubic meter per second of water continuously during the entire base
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period (B) of that crop.

Thus if water flowing at a rate of 1 cubic metre per second, runs continuously for B days,
and matures 200 hectares, then the duty of water for that particular crop will be defined as
200 hectares per cumec to the base of B days.
The duty is generally represented by the letter D.
Cumec (m³/s - Cubic Meter per Second)​
​ 1 cumec = 1 cubic meter per second
Cusec (ft³/s - Cubic Foot per Second)

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1 cusec = 1 cubic foot per second

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2. Delta (Δ)

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Delta is the total depth of water (in meters) required by a crop during its entire growing
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period (base period).
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3. Base Period (B)

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❖​ The base period is the total time (in days) from the first irrigation to the last irrigation
EC

before harvesting.
❖​ The time duration during which irrigation water is applied to the crop from the first
watering to the last watering before harvest.​
D
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❖​ It is always slightly shorter than the crop period because irrigation stops before the
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crop is fully matured.​

❖​ Example: If the crop period of a wheat crop is 5 months, the base period might be
4.5 months (since the last few weeks do not require irrigation).

4. Crop Period (CP)

❖​ The total time from sowing to harvesting of a crop.

❖​ It varies depending on the type of crop (e.g., wheat has a different crop period than
rice).
❖​ Example: If wheat is sown in November and harvested in March, its crop period is 5
months.
5. Paleo Irrigation

Paleo irrigation is a method of irrigation used for pre-sowing watering to prepare the soil for
sowing seeds. It is mainly used for dryland farming to ensure the soil has enough moisture
before planting.​
​ Benefits:

❖​ Improves soil moisture for better seed growth.

❖​ Reduces the risk of crop failure in dry regions.
❖​ Makes plowing and seedbed preparation easier.

6. Kor Period

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●​ Means: The critical growth stage of a crop when it needs the most water for

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proper growth.
●​ Time Frame: Usually occurs soon after germination or transplanting of crops.

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●​ Importance: If water is not available during this period, crop yield is severely
affected.
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7. Kor Watering
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●​ Means: The first major irrigation given to a crop during the Kor Period.
C

●​ Purpose: Ensures strong root development and healthy crop growth.

EC

●​ Water Requirement:​
​ Rice: 19 cm​
​ Wheat: 13 cm​
D

​ Sugarcane: 16 cm
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 ➔​ Relationship between Duty and Delta

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D
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EC
D

➔​ Factors Affecting Duty of Water

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Duty of water refers to the area of land irrigated by 1 cubic meter per second (cumec) of
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water throughout the crop’s base period. It depends on several factors:

a) Soil Factors

❖​ Type of Soil – Sandy soil requires more water, reducing duty, while clayey soil
retains more water, increasing duty.
❖​ Soil Moisture – If the soil holds water well, less irrigation is needed, increasing
duty.
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Sandy Soil

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D
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C

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Clayey Soil
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b) Climatic Factors
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❖​ Temperature & Wind – High temperatures and strong winds increase

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evaporation, reducing duty.

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❖​ Humidity & Rainfall – More humidity and rainfall reduce irrigation needs,
increasing duty.

Humidity in Agriculture refers to the amount of water vapor present in the air, which significantly
affects crop growth, soil moisture, and plant health.

○​ Optimal humidity helps in efficient transpiration and nutrient uptake.

○​ Too high or too low humidity can stress plants, affecting photosynthesis.
○​ High humidity favors fungal diseases (e.g., powdery mildew, blight).
○​ Low humidity can lead to increased pest attacks like spider mites.​
Higher humidity reduces soil evaporation, keeping it moist for longer.
○​ Very low humidity can cause faster drying of soil, requiring more irrigation.​
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c) Crop Factors

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❖​ Type of Crop – Water-intensive crops (like rice) have low duty, while
drought-resistant crops (like wheat) have high duty.

D
❖​ Base Period – Longer-growing crops require more water, reducing duty.
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d) Irrigation Method & Management
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❖​ Surface Irrigation – Wastes more water, reducing duty.

C

❖​ Drip/Sprinkler Irrigation – Uses less water efficiently, increasing duty.

❖​ Water Losses – Seepage, evaporation, and poor canal maintenance reduce
EC

duty.
D
N

➔​ Crop Seasons in India

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The terms Kharif and Rabi come from Arabic and are used in India, Pakistan, and
neighboring countries to classify crops based on their growing seasons.

a) Kharif Season (Monsoon Crops, June – October)

Mean: The word "Kharif" means "autumn" in Arabic.​

Sowing Season: June to July (beginning of monsoon).​
Harvesting Season: September to October (after monsoon).​
Water Requirement: High, as they rely on monsoon rains.​
Examples: Rice, Maize, Millets, Cotton, Sugarcane, Pulses.
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D
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 b) Rabi Season (November – April)

Means: The word "Rabi" means "spring" in Arabic.​

Sowing Season: October to November (after monsoon).​
Harvesting Season: March to April (spring season).​
Water Requirement: Low, depends on irrigation.​
Examples: Wheat, Barley, Mustard, Peas, Gram.

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D
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D
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​
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c) Zaid Season (March – June)

Sowing Time: March to April (after Rabi harvest)​

Harvesting Time: June to July (before Kharif sowing)​
Water Requirement: High, grown in irrigated areas (not dependent on
monsoon)​
Climate: Hot and dry conditions with longer daylight hours
 ➔​ Irrigation Efficiency:

Efficiency is the ratio of water output to water input. If losses will be more, then efficiency
will be less. Various type of irrigation efficiencies are defined below:

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D
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D
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D
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 ➔​ Frequency of irrigation.

Frequency of Irrigation means how often water is given to crops. It depends on several
factors.

Factors Affecting Irrigation Frequency:

1.​ Type of Crop – Some crops need frequent watering (e.g., vegetables), while others
need less (e.g., wheat).​

2.​ Soil Type – Sandy soil needs more frequent irrigation; clay soil holds water longer.​

3.​ Weather Conditions – Hot and dry weather requires more frequent watering; rainy or
humid conditions need less.​

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4.​ Growth Stage of Crop – Young plants need more frequent irrigation than mature
ones.​

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5.​ Method of Irrigation – Drip irrigation provides slow, regular water, reducing frequency
needs.​
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IV
General Irrigation Frequency Examples:

●​ Rice – Every 4–7 days.​

C

●​ Wheat – Every 10–15 days.​

EC

●​ Vegetables – Every 2–4 days.

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