Surface Irrigation Methods

Definition:

Surface irrigation is the introduction and distribution of water in a field by the gravity flow of water over the soil surface. The soil acts as the growing medium in which water is stored and the conveyance medium over which water flows as it spreads and infiltrates. Common surface irrigation systems used are rill irrigation, furrow or border irrigation.

The term 'surface irrigation' refers to a broad class of irrigation methods in which water is distributed over the field by overland flow. A flow is introduced at one edge of the field and covers the field gradually.

The rate of coverage (advancement) is dependent on:

• the differences between the discharge onto the field and the accumulating infiltration into the soil.

Secondary factors include

1. field slope
2. surface roughness
3. geometry or shape of the flow cross-section.

The practice of surface irrigation is thousands of years old. It represents about 95 % of common irrigation activity today. The first water supplies were developed from stream or river flows onto the adjacent flood plain through simple check-dams and a canal to distribute water to various locations. The low-lying soils served by these diversions were typically high in clay and silt content (alluvium) and tended to be most fertile.

With the advent of modern equipment for moving earth and pumping water, surface irrigation systems were extended to upland areas and lands quite separate from the flood plain of local rivers and streams.

Advantages of Surface Irrigation Methods

Surface irrigation offers a number of important advantages at both the farm and project level. The gravity flow system is a highly flexible, relatively easily-managed method of irrigation.

1. Because it is so widely utilized, local irrigators generally have at least minimal understanding of how to operate and maintain the system.

2. In addition, surface systems are often more acceptable to agriculturalists who appreciate the effects of water shortage on crop yields since it appears easier to apply the depths required to refill the root zone.

3. The second advantage of surface irrigation is that these systems can be developed at the farm level with minimal capital investment. The control and regulation structures are simple, durable and easily constructed with inexpensive and readily-available materials like wood, concrete, brick and mortar, etc.

4. Further, the essential structural elements are located at the edges of the fields which facilitates operation and maintenance activities.

5. Energy requirements for surface irrigation systems come from gravity. This is a significant advantage in today's economy.

6. They are less affected by climatic and water quality characteristics. Like sediments & other debris reduce the effectiveness of trickle systems and wind affects the sprinkler systems.

7. Salinity is less of a problem under surface irrigation than either of these pressurized systems.

8. Surface systems are better able to utilize water supplies that are available less frequently, more uncertain, and more variable in rate and duration.

Disadvantages of Surface Irrigation Methods

There is one disadvantage of surface irrigation that confronts every designer and irrigator. The soil which must be used to convey the water over the field has properties that are highly varied both spatially and temporally. They become almost undefinable except immediately preceding the watering or during it.

This creates an engineering problem in which at least two of the primary design variables, discharge and time of application, must be estimated not only at the field layout stage but also judged by the irrigator prior to the initiation of every surface irrigation event. Thus while it is possible for the new generation of surface irrigation methods to be attractive alternatives to sprinkler and trickle systems, their associated design and management practices are much more difficult to define and implement.

Although they need not be, surface irrigation systems are typically less efficient in applying water than either sprinkler or trickle systems.

Many are situated on lower lands with heavier soils and, therefore, tend to be more affected by waterlogging and soil salinity if adequate drainage is not provided. The need to use the field surface as a conveyance and distribution facility requires that fields be well graded if possible. Land levelling costs can be high so the surface irrigation practice tends to be limited to land already having small, even slopes.

Surface systems tend to be labour-intensive. This labour need not be overly skilled. But to achieve high efficiencies the irrigation practices imposed by the irrigator must be carefully implemented.

The progress of the water over the field must be monitored in larger fields and good judgement is required to terminate the inflow at the appropriate time. A consequence of poor judgement or design is poor efficiency.

One sometimes important disadvantage of surface irrigation methods is the difficulty in applying light, frequent irrigations early and late in the growing season of several crops. For example, in heavy calcareous soils where crust formation after the first irrigation and prior to the germination of crops, a light irrigation to soften the crust would improve yields substantially. Under surface irrigation systems this may be unfeasible or impractical as either the supply to the field is not readily available or the minimum depths applied would be too great.