Scope of present work

In view of these aspects, present investigation is taken up to know the crop water
requirement and quality of water in palar basin in Chitoor district of Andhra- Pradesh with the
following objectives.

Chapter I Objectives of the study area

Chapter II Literature Review

Chapter III To Estimate the crop water requirement of catchment area

Chapter IV Collection of Ground water samples and Physico-chemical analysis

Chapter VI To Estimate Ground Water Quality Index

Chapter VII Conclusions

CROP WATER REQUIREMENT

This study refers to irrigation as the process by which water is diverted from a
river or pumped from a well and used for the purpose of agricultural production. Areas under
irrigation thus include areas equipped for full and partial control irrigation, spate irrigation areas,
equipped wetland and inland valley bottoms (including fadamas), irrespective of their size or
management type. It does not consider techniques related to on-farm water conservation like
water harvesting.

The area which can potentially be irrigated depends on the physical resources
'soil' and 'water', combined with the irrigation water requirements as determined by the cropping
patterns and climate. In this study it is called 'physical irrigation potential'. However,
environmental and socio-economic constraints also have to be taken into consideration in order
to guarantee a sustainable use of the available physical resources. This means that in most cases
the possibilities for irrigation development would be less than the physical irrigation potential.
Determination of runoff

Runoff means the total quantity of water received by a stream from its drainage basin. It
is generally considered in terms of the quantity of water carried by the stream during the month,
season or year and accordingly termed as monthly/seasonal/annual runoff. The runoff is
expressed either in millimeters or centimeters or meters of depth on the entire drainage basin.

Relationship between rainfall and resulting runoff is quite complex and is influenced by
the factors relating the catchment and climate. Runoff from the catchment is determined by direct
or indirect methods. In this project, since the stream is not a gauged one, runoff data are not
available. Hence, applying any one of the indirect methods listed below, the runoff is calculated.

1. By empirical formulae.
2. By curves and tables.
3. By infiltration method.
4. By unit hydrograph method.

Collection of Groundwater samples

A recce was carried out in Palar Basin to select the representative bore wells from
which the samples are expected to be collected. Groundwater samples were collected in clear
polythene bottles. The tube wells were first allowed to discharge water for about 15 minutes in
order to get discharge of pure water. The details regarding the samples were noted down on the
bottles. Later the polythene bottles were rinsed with the same water twice and the representative
water sample was collected in the bottles without leaving any air space in the bottles. Bottles
were then sealed airtight and labeled.
 In the present study the rainfall record of chittoor Rain gauge station for a period of
twenty three years (1988 to 2010) has been collected from Chief Planning Office. The
evaporation data have been collected from agriculture department in chittoor.

In this project rainfall data is considered and then using Stranges tables the runoff is
calculated.

The present study aimed at collecting the rain fall data and rainfall frequency curves at
50% probability limit for sodum, puthalapattu, chowdapalli were drawn. For different crops from
the guidelines of irrigation, Net Irrigation Requirement has been calculated.

Crop water requirement for various crops in kharif season and rabi season have been
computed by modified Penman method. Monthly evopotranspiration data at Arogyavaram
meteorological station have been used for computing the irrigation demand.

Water samples are collected at different depths and analysis has been made and f
estimated physico-chemical parameters. In that Irrigation water quality parameters are also
calculated.

Water Quality Index is a rating reflecting the composite influence of different water
quality parameters on the overall quality of water. It is regarded as one of the most effective way
to communicate water quality. Using the values of different water quality parameters for the
collected samples as listed by using water quality Index formula using NSF method.