Irrigation systems and their efficiencies

HEIS (High Efficiency Irrigation Systems)

HEIS defines precise application of water to the root zone through pipes to avoid conveyance losses. HEIS includes:
Drip Irrigation/Trickle Sprinkler Irrigation

Basics of Drip Irrigation

In Drip Irrigation, water and fertilizers are applied through special pipes, at a precise flow rate, near the plant roots as per plant need basis.

In this system, the total water applied according to potential crop water need, which based upon daily maximum ET and crop coefficient. Water is applied so close to the plants that it reaches only the area of the soil where the roots grow.

Benefits of Drip Irrigation

Enhanced crop yield Increased irrigation efficiency Controlled use of fertilizer on crop growth basis

Lesser weed growth

Saving of energy in irrigating more area in less time by tubewell No need for land leveling - better utilization of uneven terrain Suitable for all types of soils No problem of water logging.

Head Control Unit

Components of High Efficiency Irrigation System

Pump or any Pressurized Water Source

Filtration Systems
Extend the life of and lower the maintenance

Primary Filter
1-Sand Media Filter Sand or crushed Granite Fine sand on the top Coarser sand in a number of layers Gravel on the bottom Stainless Steel Manufacturing

Primary Filter
2 Hydrocyclone Filter
Gravity and Centrifugal force act as Filter Media Hydrodynamically designed to create max. centrifugal force Available in maximum operating pressure of 142 psi Tangential flow Create Centrifugal force Install before media/screen filters Mild steel construction

Secondary Filter
1-Screen Filter Screen act as a Filter Media Available in Different Meshes Not Recommended organic materials such as algae flush valve outlet at the bottom of the filter. 140 to 160 mesh Drip ,micro sprinklers 10 GPH 40 to 60 mesh Micro sprinkler 40 GPH

Secondary Filter
2-Disc Filter
Consists of a stack round, grooved disks.
Each disk has grooves on both sides water is forced between grooved disks, and organic matters are accumulate on Grooves. Operating pressure: 120 PSI Disc act as a Filter Media Micron precise filtration of solids Sand , and organic matter

Applications
H+S+D = When Water quality is very bad S+C = Open Well, Tank, Pond, Reservoir, Canal H+D = Bore well D (only) = When water is very clean

Limitations
Flow Ranges of 10 Gpm to 250 Gpm If Flow Exceeds maximum Capacity of filter use 2 filter in Parallel

Fertilizer Tank
Mild steel construction.

Turbulent inlet ensures thorough mixing of chemicals

Inlet & outlet valves to control the injection rate. Wide 8 opening for easy pouring of stock solution Maximum working pressure 142 psi

Emitters
Online Emitters Drippers Low Flow Rates 2 to 24 lph Adopted in Newly Orchards Bubblers High Flow Rates 114 to 227 lph

Adopted in Matured Orchards

They are further classified as

Pressure Compensated
Non Pressure Compensated Umbrella Shape

Pressure Compensated

Allow steady flow rate between Low and High Pressure Normally 10 PSI to 50 PSI

Non Pressure Compensated Allow higher flow rate at higher pressures and lower flow rate at lower pressure

Inline Emitters
Already built in Low Density Polyethylene Tube Specifications: Flow Rate , Internal Diameter of LDPE and Spacing between Emitters

They are Pressure Compensated and Non Pressure Compensated

Design Guideline of Drip Irrigation System

Collection of Basic Information Preparation of Drawing Calculation of Total Flow Estimation of PWR Calculation of Application Rate Total Operational Time Selection of Filters and other equipments Design of Mainline and Sub-main Head Loss Calculation Selection of Pumps and Motor Preparation of BOQ Preparation of Proposal

Collection of Basic Information

Area Crop Spacing (RR, PP) Soil Type Water Source Peak Water Requirement (Eto, Kc, Cf) Total Available Time

Evapotranspiration or Crop Water Requirement

ET or CWR = Kc * ETo
ET = Evapotranspiration in mm/day Kc = Crop Coefficient (Table) ETo = Reference Evapotranspiration in mm/day (Table)

Peak daily consumptive use per day

PDCU mm/day = CWR * Canopy factor at maturity Irrigation System Efficiency Canopy Area (p*p) (R*R) = Area under system m2 (p*p) (R*R)

Canopy Factor =

Total No. of Plants

(p*p) = Plant to plant spacing m

(R*R) Row to Row spacing m

Total no. of Emitters

T.E = No. of plants * no. of emitter per plant Total flow rate of 1 zone = T.E of 1 zone * Emitter flow rate (lph)

Application rate =
Operating Time hrs

Flow of 1 zone mm/hr/day 1 zone Area

= Peak Daily Consumptive Use Application rate

Should be less than 12 hr per day of all zones

Max. depth of irrigation water that can be applied

Max. Depth mm = Drz * MAD * WHC 100

Drz

= Depth of Root zone m

MAD = Management Allowed Deficit %

WHC = Water Holding Capacity mm/m

Max. irrigation interval

Max. Irrigation Interval = days

Max. Depth of Application of water mm Peak Daily Consumptive Use mm/day

Total Drip line Length

Total drip line m = Area * No. of Drip lines per Row Row Spacing For all zones
No. of Plants
Drip line

= Plants of 1 zone * no. of zones

= Drip line of 1 zone * no. of zones

No. of Emitters = Emitters of 1 zone * no. of zones

Reservoir Calculation
Storage m3 = Operating time * Total Flow * No. Of zones Total Flow in m3/hr & Operating time in hr

Head Loss Calculation

Lateral flow rate(LPH) Hazen William Equation Hf (m/100m) = K (Q/C) 1.85* (D) -4.87 = Emitter flow rate* No. of emitters /lateral

Where K=Constant and its value is 1.212*1012

Q= Lateral discharge (LPS) C= Constant and its value is 140(For LDPE)

C For PVC = 150 C For Galvanized Iron =160 D=Lateral inside Diameter in mm Internal Diameter = Outer Diameter -2(Wall Thickness) Total Head Loss = Hf (m/100m)* total lateral length

Same Procedure For All pipes

For Submain Hf/100m = Hf m/100m * Outlet Factor

Limitations
Lateral Head loss Should be =< 2m Main line and Sub main Line m /100m =<2m Velocity Calculation

Main line and Sub-main velocity (m/s) =Q/A

Where Q= Discharge in LPS

A=Area of main and Sub main line sub-main in m2

Main line and Sub Main line Velocities=<1.5m/sec

Total Dynamic Head

(Pipe Network Losses = Lateral Sub main and Main line ) +

(Fitting Loses

20% of Pipe Networks) +

Field fitting losses

Head loss in filter

Head loss in fertigatin system

+ Pump lift +

Head loss in flow meter + Emitter operating Pressure (1bar) + Misc Head Losses

Total Dynamic Head

Sum of All Head losses

Pump hp Requirement
Pump hp = Q (lps)
*

Head (m)

75 * Ep * Em

Ep = Pump Efficiency Em = Motor Efficiency

Surveys conducted at Different sites

Sr. No. 1 2 3 4 Nine Square Agronomy Research Area at PARS Square Number 32 Horticulture Research Area at PARS Site name Area (acre) 25 25 25 25

Horticulture research area at PARS

Drip power unit at PARS

Maize Experiment
Maize experiment was already running under WMRC to see the impact of different variables on yield. Variables include two water conservation techniques i.e. drip and bed furrow system with six treatments. Statistical design selected for this experiment was split plot under RCBD. The design and layout was prepared with the help of Stat Department of University of Agriculture Faisalabad.

Methodology
Irrigation Practices:
1) Drip Irrigation System 2) Bed Furrow Irrigation System: 50% depletion of available water
Treatments: D1= 2 days irrigation interval D2= 4 days irrigation interval D3= 6 days irrigation interval W1= Canal Water (good quality water) W2= Groundwater (Marginal) W3= Groundwater (poor) Replications: 3 (R1,R2,R3) Total Sample size: 36 plots