PSAE Region IV - Agricultural Engineering Board Review Materials

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Farm Irrigation and Drainage

Engr. Leila T. Dominguez
Instructor III
Land and Water Resources Division
Institute of Agricultural Engineering
College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology
University of the Philippines Los Baos
College, Laguna

I.

Introduction
Irrigation is the application of water to create a condition in the soil that is
favorable for plant growth. It provides the moisture needed by the crop that is
not satisfied by rainfall and refers to the controlled application of water fro
agriculture through man-made systems. Drainage, on the other hand, is the
removal of excess water from the soil with the same aim of creating
conditions favorable for the growth of crops.

II.

OBJECTIVE OF THE TOPIC

Knowledge on farm irrigation and drainage will equip the individual with
the understanding of the relation between crops and the amount and timing of
both irrigation and drainage.

III.

DISCUSSION OF TOPICS

A.

Basic Soil and Water Relations

In a soil system of total volume VT and total weight or mass WT:
VT = Va +Vw +Vs
VV = Va + Vw
WT = Wa +Ww + Ws
where:

VT = total or bulk volume of the soil (volume units: cm3, m3)

Va = volume occupied by air
Vw= volume occupied by water
Vs= volume occupied by soil particles
VV =volume occupied by voids
or void volume
WT = total wet weight of the soil (weight units: g, kg)
Wa = weight of air (negligible, assumed 0)
Ww= weight of water
Ws= dry weight of the soil particles

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For the given soil system, the following properties can be defined:
1. Soil Texture - the relative proportion of primary particles (sand, silt and clay)
in the soil
2. Soil Structure - the arrangements of primary particles in the soil into units
or peds
3. Porosity (n) the ratio of the void volume to the total soil volume (unitless)

n=

VV Va + Vw VT VS
=
=
VT
VT
VT

4. Moisture contents (unitless)

a.
on a dry weight basis (mcw) the ratio of the weight of water to the
dry weight of the soil
b.
on a volume basis or volumetric moisture content (mc v) the
ratio of the volume of water to the total soil volume

mcv =

Vw
VT

5. Densities (units: g/cm3, kg/m3)

a. Bulk density (B) the ratio of the dry weight of the soil to the total
soil volume

B =
b.

Ws
VT

Particle density (P) - the ratio of the dry weight of the soil to the
volume of the soil particles

P =

Ws
Vs

6. Specific Gravities (unitless)

a.
Apparent Specific Gravity (As) ratio of the bulk density of the soil
with the density of water; it is the ratio of the weight of soil to the
weight of water with volume equal to the total soil volume

As =

b.

Ws
B
=
w
w VT

Real Specific Gravity (Rs) ratio of the particle density of the soil
with the density of water; it is the ratio of the weight of soil to the
weight of water with volume equal to the volume of the soil particles
alone

Rs =

Ws
P
=
w
w VS

7. Depth of water (units: mm, cm, m, inch)

a. present in the soil (dw)- the equivalent depth of water in the soil at a
given condition
dw = mcv x D
dw = mcw x As

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where: D depth of crop root zone or depth or height of soil column under
consideration
b. needed (dwn) - to increase the moisture content from an initial value (mc i)
to a final value (mcf)
dwn = (mcvf mcvi) x D
dwn = (mcwf-mcwi) x As x D
where : mcvf - final soil volumetric moisture content
mcvi - initial soil volumetric moisture content
mcwf - final soil moisture content on dry weight basis
mcwi - initial soil volumetric on dry weight basis
8. Volume of irrigation water (V iw) volume of water to be applied to
increase a the soil moisture content from an initial to final value (units: liters,
cm3, m3)
Viw = dwn x A
where: A area of the land in consideration
NOTE:
The density of water, w = 1 g/cm3 or 1,000 kg/m3
The following relationships hold true:
mcv = mcw x As
As = Rs ( 1-n)
9. Infiltration Rate - the time rate at which water will percolate into the soil and
can be expressed in terms of the following empirical equations
a. Lewis-Kostiakov Equation
F = ct
ft = dF/dt = ct-1
where: F - cumulative infiltration (mm)
t - cumulative time
c, - constants
ft - instantaneous infiltration
(mm/hr or mm/min)
b.

Hortons Equation
ft = fc + (f0-fc) e
where:

c.

kt

ft- instantaneous infiltration at time t

fc- final or ultimate constant infiltration capacity
f0- initial infiltration rate at the beginning of rain or a
chosen moment constant

Philips Method
F = st1/2 +At
ft = dF/dt = (st-1/2)/2 + A

where: F - cumulative infiltration (mm)

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ft - instantaneous infiltration (mm/hr or mm/min)

s - soil sorptivity, measure of the capillary or removal of water in a
homogeneous soil
A - soil parameter that depends on the ability of the soil to transmit
water
5. Intake Rate - the rate of infiltration from a furrow into the soil.
6. Permeability - the velocity of flow into the soil caused by a unit hydraulic
gradient in which the driving force is one kilogram per kilogram of water.

Sample problem #1:

A sharp edged cylinder 7.5 cm in diameter is carefully driven into the
soil so that negligible compaction occurs. A 12-cm column of soil is obtained.
The fresh and dry masses of the soil sample are 910.6 and 736.3 grams
respectively. Assume that the particle density of the soil is 2.60 g/cm3.
Determine:
a.
Apparent specific gravity
b.
Percent porosity
c.
Soil moisture content by dry weight
d.
Soil moisture content by volume
e.
Depth of water present in the soil column
Solution:
a.

VT r 2 h
As

b.

Vs

d 2 h (7.5cm) 2 (12cm)

530.144 cm 3
4
4

736.3 g
Ws

1.39
3
wVT
(1g / cm )(530.144cm 3 )

736.3 g
Ws

283.192 cm 3
p (2.60 g / cm 3 )

VV VT VT V S 530.144 cm 3 283.192 cm 3

46.58%
VT
VT
530.144 cm 3

W w WT W s 910.6 g 736.3g

23.67%
Ws
Ws
736.3 g

c.

mc w

d.

mcv mcw x As 0.2367 x 1.39 32.90%

e.

d w mcv x D 0.3290 x 12 cm 3.948 cm

B. Soil Moisture Constants

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1. Saturation Point the amount of water the soil profile will hold when all its
pore spaces are filled up with water
2. Field Capacity - (1) the amount of water a soil profile will hold against
drainage by gravity at a specified time (usually from 24 to 48 hours) after
a thorough wetting. (2) the moisture content of the soil when gravitational
water has been removed (after irrigation by flooding). It is usually
determined few days after irrigation. The soil moisture tension at this point
is normally between 1/10 to 1/3 atmosphere.
3. Permanent Wilting Point (or wilting coefficient) - the soil moisture
content when plants permanently wilt. The soil moisture tension at this
point is about 15 atmospheres. Permanent wilting percentage can be
estimated by dividing the field capacity by a factor ranging form 2.0 top
2.4, with the value higher for soils with higher silt content.
4. Available Moisture (AM) - the difference in moisture content of the soil
between field capacity and the permanent wilting point.
5. Readily Available Moisture (RAM) - that portion of the available moisture
that is most easily extracted by plants; this is approximately 75% of the
available moisture.
6. Computation of Moisture Content the amount of moisture present in the
soil (mc) given the percent AM content retained or used and the FC and
PWP moisture contents of the soil can be computed using the equations:
a. mc = FC % AM used x (FC-PWP)
b. mc = PWP + % AM retained x (FC-PWP)
Sample problem #2:
What is the present moisture content of a soil with 25% of its AM has been
used if its FC is 24% and PWP is 16% by weight?
Solution:
mcw = FC % AM used x (FC-PWP)
= 0.24 - 0.25(0.24-0.16)
= 0.24 - 0.25(0.08)
= 0.24 - 0.02
= 0.22 = 22% by weight
C. Irrigation Efficiencies
1. Water Conveyance Efficiency - the ratio between the water delivered to the
farm and the water diverted from a river or reservoir expressed in percent.
2. Water Application Efficiency - the ratio between water stored in the soil
root zone during irrigation and the water delivered to the farm expressed in
percent.
3. Water-use Efficiency - the ratio of water beneficially used on the project,
farm or field to the amount of water delivered to the farm expressed in
percent.
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4. Water Storage Efficiency - the ratio of water stored in the root zone during
the irrigation to the water needed in the root zone prior to irrigation,
expressed in percent.
5. Consumptive Use Efficiency - the ratio of the normal consumptive use of
water to the net amount of water depleted from the root zone soil.
D. Pump Irrigation
1. Water horsepower - the power theoretically required to lift a given quantity
of water each second to specified height.
2. Brake Horsepower - water horsepower divided by pump efficiency, in
decimal.
3. Static Head - the difference in elevation of the water surface in a pond, lake,
or river from which pumped water is taken, and the water surface of the
discharge canal into which the water flows from a submerged discharged pipe.
In pumping from groundwater source, static head is the difference in elevation
between the water surface in the well and the water surface of the discharged
canal.
4. Total Dynamic Head - the sum of total static head, pressure head, velocity
head and friction head.
5. Drawdown - (in a well) is the difference in elevation between the
groundwater table and the water surface at the well when pumping.
6. Characteristic Curve - graphs that show interrelations between speed, head
discharge, and horsepower of a pump.
7. Specific Speed - expresses the relationship between speed in rpm, discharge
in gpm, and head in feet.
E. Irrigation Principles
1. Evapotranspiration - is the sum of transpiration and water evaporated from
the soil, or exterior portions of the plants where water may have accumulated
from irrigation, rainfall, dew, or exudation from the interior of the plants.
Consumptive use is identical with evapotranspiration, for practical purposes.
Consumptive use only includes water retained in the plant tissue.
2. Transpiration - the process by which water vapor escapes from living plants,
principally by leaves, and enters the atmosphere.
3. Canal Capacity
The ability of the stream to provide water determines the extent of the
total service area of a national irrigation system. To compute for the service
area, the streams dependable flow (to a certain percent of dependability) is
divided by the diversion water requirement. In equation form it can be stated
as:

servicearea(ha) =

Irrigation and Drainage

dependable streamflow (m3 / s)

diversionwaterrequiremen
t (m3 / s ha)

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The design of irrigation canals, whether main, secondary or tertiary is

primarily based on its expected capacity. The canal capacity (Q) refers to the
amount of water it can deliver at a unit time and is dictated by total area it
serves and the area water requirement. In equation form:
Q (m3/s) = area (ha) x water requirement (m3/s-ha)
The capacity of a main and secondary canal is computed using the
diversion water requirement while that of a tertiary canal is based on the farm
water requirement. Both capacities are reflective of the area they serve.
4. Leaching Requirement (LR) - the fraction of the irrigation water that must
be leached through the root zone to control soil salinity at specified level.
LR =

Ddw
EC( iw + rw)
=
Diw + Drw
ECdw

where:
Ddw depth of drainage water
Diw - depth of irrigation water
Drw - depth of rain water
EC(iw+rw) - weighted average of the electrical conductivity of the
irrigation and drainage water
EC(iw + rw) =

Diw x ECiw + Drw x ECrw

Diw + Drw

ECiw - electrical conductivity of irrigation water

ECiw- electrical conductivity of rain water
ECdw- electrical conductivity of drainage water
5. Crop Water Requirement (CWR)
The crop water requirement of an area grown to a certain crop refers to the
amount of water used for the non-consumptive demands such as land soaking
and land preparation, and for the consumptive demands such as
evapotranspiration requirements of the crop during its entire growth period.

Non-consumptive uses

The amount of water needed for the non-consumptive uses depends on the
type of crop being grown, type of soil, climatic conditions and farming practices
and techniques.
The non-consumptive uses include seepage and percolation losses.
Seepage refers to the lateral movement of water along the soil profile while
percolation which is highly dependent on soil texture, refers to the downward
movement of water through a depth of soil.

Consumptive uses

The consumptive use of crop includes evaporation and transpiration,

lumped together as evapotranspiration. Evaporation accounts for he quantity of
water evaporating from soil and water surfaces as well as that from plant part
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surfaces. Transpiration the water absorbed by the plant through its
used in building plant tissues or released into the atmosphere.

I-8
roots and

6. Irrigation Water Requirement (IWR)

The irrigation water requirement is the amount of water to be applied to
the field as irrigation. It can be computed by deducting the effective rainfall (ER)
from the total crop water requirement. In equation form it is:
IWR = CWR-ER
7. Farm Water Requirement (FWR)
From the tertiary canal to the field, application losses are incurred.
Application losses include the seepage and percolation losses along the canals as
well as losses due to evaporation. To account for these losses, the design farm
requirement is computed with the application efficiency in consideration.
Application efficiency is the ratio of the amount of water entering the tertiary
canal and the amount of water that reaches the field. With the losses, the
application efficiency (ea) of the tertiary canals becomes less than one. In
equation form:

ea =

Qin
waterenteringthe tertiarycanal
=
Qout waterenteringthe tertiarycanal (S + P + E)
where:

ea = application efficiency
Qin = water entering the tertiary canal
Qout = water exiting the tertiary canal or water entering the field
S = seepage losses
P = percolation losses
E = evaporation losses

The design farm water requirement can be computed with the equation:
8. Diversion Water Requirement (DWR)
IWR
FWR =
ea
Similar to that of tertiary canals, the main systems (main and
secondary canals) also incur losses termed as conveyance losses. Seepage
and percolation losses and evaporation along the conveyance canals comprise
the conveyance losses. To account for these losses, the design diversion water
requirement is computed with the conveyance efficiency in consideration.
Conveyance efficiency is the ratio of the amount of water entering the
main canal and the amount of water that reaches the tertiary canal. With the
losses, the conveyance efficiency (e c) of the main systems becomes less than
one. In equation form:
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PSAE Region IV - Agricultural Engineering Board Review Materials

ec =
where:

I-9

Qin
water enteringthe maincanal
=
Qout water enteringthe maincanal (S + P + E)

ec = conveyance efficiency
Qin = water entering the main canal
Qout = water exiting the secondary canal or water entering the tertiary
canal
S = seepage losses
P = percolation losses
E = evaporation losses
The design diversion water requirement, which is the quantity of water
to be obtained from the source, can be computed by:

DWR =

FWR
ec

where:
DWR = design diversion water requirement
FWR = design farm water requirement
ec = conveyance efficiency
F. Modes of Irrigation
1. National Irrigation Systems (NIS) irrigation systems that have relatively large
service areas and are managed by government agencies
2. Communal Irrigation Systems (CIS) managed and operated by farmers or
irrigators associations
3. Shallow Tubewell Irrigation Systems (STW) pipes vertically set into the
ground that abstract groundwater to be used for irrigation, usually owned and
operated by individual farmers
G. Methods of Irrigation
Irrigation water can be applied to the uplands in any of the following
general ways:
1. by overhead irrigation, wherein the soil is moistened in much the same
way as rain
a.
Watering can. It is the simplest piece of overhead irrigation
equipment and is commonly used in small-scale upland farming. Since
the water is carried by hand, this method is limited to small plots with
easily accessible source of water. The size of the plot depends largely
upon its distance from the source, and the time that it takes to fill the
can at the source.
b. Hose pipe. This method can be used if there is a piped waterdistribution system where a hose pipe can be connected to a tap or
outlet and there is enough pressure in the water as it emerges from the
hose pipe. A major disadvantage of this system is likely to be the cost
of the water supply.
c. Sprinkler Irrigation. This method is the application of water to the
surface of the soil in the form of spray, simulating that of rain. The
spray is produced by the flow of water under pressure through small
orifices or nozzles. Pumping usually provides the pressure. With
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careful selection of nozzle sizes, operating pressure, and sprinkler

spacing, the amount of irrigation water required to refill the crop-root
zone can be applied nearly uniformly at a rate to suit the infiltration
rate of the soil to obtain efficient irrigation.
2. furrows, which wets only a part of the ground surface
a. Furrow irrigation. It is accomplished by running water through small
channels or furrows while it moves down or across the slope of the
field. The water sips into the bottom and sides of t he furrows to
provide the desired wetting. Careful land grading for uniform slopes is
essential with this method.
b. Corrugation irrigation. It is a variation of the furrow method and it
uses small rills or corrugations for irrigating closely spaced crops, such
as small grains and pastures. The water seeps laterally through the
soil, wetting the area between the corrugations.
3. by flooding, which wets the entire land surface
a. Ordinary flooding. Water is applied from field ditches to guide its flow
and it is difficult to attain high irrigation efficiency
using this method. The chief advantage of this
method is its low initial cost of preparing the land.
b. Border-strip flooding. A field is divided into a series of strips by borders
or ridges running down the predominant slope or on
the contour. To irrigate, water is released into the
head of the border. The water, confined and guided
by two adjacent borders, advances in a thin sheet
toward the lower end of the strip. The objective is to
allow a sheet of water to advance down the narrow
strip of land, allowing it to enter the soil as the water
advances.
c. Level-border or basin irrigation. Water is supplied to level plots
surrounded by dikes or levees. This method is
particularly useful on fine-textured soils with low
permeability, it is necessary to hold the water on the
surface to secure adequate penetration.
d. Contour-ditch irrigation. It involves controlled flooding from field
ditches along the contour of the land, which allows
the water to flood down the slope between field
ditches without employing dikes or other means
that guide or restrict its movement.
4. by drip or trickle irrigation wherein the water is directed to the base of the
plant.
Water is applied to the soil through small orifices.
The small
orifices, often called emitters, are designed to discharge water at rates of 1
to 8 liters per hour. Water is delivered to the orifices through plastic pipelines,
which are generally laid on the soil surface or buried. The rate of discharge is
determined by the size of the orifice and the pressure in the pipelines. This
method is particularly beneficial for young orchards, vineyards, closed-spaced
perennials, and other crops of high value and in areas where water is scarce or
has a high salt content. A highly efficient water utilization can be achieved with
this method, bit it is very expensive.
5. by sub-irrigation, wherein the surface is rarely wet since the water is supplied
from the soil underneath. This requires complete control of the water table so
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that the root zone is kept relatively free of excess water but is continually
supplied with capillary moisture during the cropping season.
H. Head computations for a Sprinkler Irrigation System
The design capacity for sprinklers on a lateral with uniform spacing should
be based on the operating pressure. From the chosen sprinkler operating
pressure (from the catalog), the pressure or head Hn required at the junction
of the lateral and the main can be computed using the equation:
Hn = Ho + Hf He + Hrp
Where:

Hn =

pressure or head required at the junction of the lateral and the

main
Ho=
nozzle pressure at the farthest end of the line (sprinkler
operating pressure)
Hfl =
friction head loss in the lateral
He = maximum difference in elevation between the junction with the
main and the farthest sprinkler on the lateral
Hrp = riser height

If the lateral is located downhill from the main, the elevation term is
negative. If the lateral is located uphill from the main, the elevation term is
positive.
1. Friction or head loss in pipes
a. for main lines

Hfm =

KsLQ1.9
4.9

(4.10x106 )

where:
Hfm = total friction loss in the main line,
in meters
Ks = Scobeys coefficient of retardation (0.32 for new Transite pipe,
0.40 for steel pipe or portable aluminum pipe and couplers, and 0.42
for portable galvanized steel pipe and couplers)
L = length of the pipe in m
Q = total discharge in L/s
D = inside diameter of pipe in mm
b. for laterals

Hfl =
where:

K sLQ1.9
D4.9

(4.10x106 )(F)

Hfl = total friction loss in the main line, in meters

F = correction factor from Table 1

Table 1. Correction factor F for Friction Losses in Aluminum Pipes with Multiple
Outlets.
Correction Factor, F
Number of
First Sprinkler One Sprinkler
First Sprinkler One Sprinkler
Sprinklers
Interval from Main
Interval from Main
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1
2
4
6
8
12
16
20
30

1.00
0.63
0.48
0.43
0.41
0.39
0.38
0.37
0.36

Source:
Schwab, G. O., et al.(1992)
Engineering. 4th ed.

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1.00
0.51
0.41
0.38
0.37
0.36
0.36
0.35
0.35
Soil and Water Conservation

2. Pump head
In selecting a suitable pump, it is necessary to determine the
maximum total head against which the pump is working.
Ht = Hn + Hfm + Hj + Hs
Where:
Ht = total design head against which the pump is working
Hn = pressure or head required at the junction of the lateral
and the main
Hfm = total friction loss in the main line
Hj = elevation difference between the pump and the
junction
of the lateral and the main
Hs = elevation difference between the pump and the water
supply after drawdown, all in m or kPa
I.

Drainage - removal of excess water in the soil to create conditions suitable for
plant growth.
Israelsen (1962) noted that adequate drainage:
1. improves soil structure
2. the productivity of soils
3. facilitates early plowing and planting
4. lengthens the crop growing season
5.
increases the depth of root zone soil thereby provides more
available soil moisture and plant food
6. improves soil ventilation
7. increases water infiltration into soils
8. favors growth of soil bacteria
9. leaches excess salts from the soil

J.

Sources/Causes of excess water:

1.
rainfall
2.
high water table
3.
over-irrigation
4.
runoff/seepage from adjacent farms

K. Components of a Drainage System:

1.
field drainage system (quarternary and tertiary or collector drains)
2.
secondary drains or laterals
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3.
4.

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outfall
recipient water

L. Types of Surface Field Drainage System or Open Drains

1.
2.

3.

4.

Bedding System. The soil type largely influences the width of bed to
be used. The furrows drain to collection ditches.
Random Ditch System. This system is adapted to areas that have
depressions which are too deep or too large to fill by land leveling. The
ditches meander from one low spot to another, collecting the water
and carrying it to an outlet ditch.
Interception or Cross-slope System. This resembles terracing in
that the drainage ditches are constructed around the slope on a
uniform grade according to the land topography. The ditches should be
constructed across the slope as straight and parallel s the topography
permits.
Diversion or Parallel Ditch System. This is suitable on flat, poorly
drained soils that have numerous shallow depresssions. In general, the
ditches are 185 m to a maximum of 370 m apart (not necessarily
equidistant) and the land in between the parallel ditches is sloped and
smoothed to eliminate any minor depressions or obstructions to the
overland flow of the water.

M. Layout of a Tile-Drain System or Closed Drains

1.

Natural System. This system is used in rolling topography where

drainage is necessary only in small valleys.

2.

Gridiron Layout. Used if the entire area is to be drained and is

usually more economic. Laterals enter the submain from one side only
to minimize the double drainage that occurs near the submain.

3.

Herringbone Pattern. The submain is laid in a depression and the

laterals join the submain from each side alternately. The land along
the submain is double drained, but since it is in a depression, it
probably requires more drainage.

4.

Double-main System. This system is often used if the bottom closed

of the
depression is wide since it reduces the lengths of the laterals and
eliminates the break in slope of the
Dwt laterals at the edge of the
Sandy soil
depression.

5.

Intercepting Drain. This is used if the main source of excess water is

drainage from hill lands. The drains are placed along the toe of the
Saturated
hf
slope to protect the bottom land. Sandy soil

Ground surface

Drain open or

Water Surface

H system
(H+h)is adopted to minimize
Arrangement to avoid trees. This
2
the exposure of the laterals to the hazard posed
by root of trees which
h
easily enter the open joints of underdrains. Mains and laterals
were
R
kept well away from trees.
N. Drain Depths and Spacing
In highly permeable soils underlain by anClay
impervious
layer or compact clay
of low permeability
of low permeability, the groundwater flow is essentially horizontal towards the
drains. To simplify the illustration, the source of water flowing toward the
drain is considered a reservoir as shown in the following figure.
6.

Water reservoir

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Linear flow of groundwater (for sandy soils over clay) toward drains
spaced 2R in which the water table midway between the drains is H-h above
the water surface drain.
Adapted from Irrigation Principles and Practices by Israelsen and Hansen
The water surface is maintained in the reservoir and adjoining soil a
distance of H above the clay. Flow from the reservoir to the drain is steady,
and it is assumed that the reservoir is the only source of water.
Groundwater flows to the drain from both sides. Let 2q be the flow into
a drain in length L. Then the groundwater flow from one side to the drain is
q = av
and from Darcys Law,

v=k

hf
H h
=k
R
R

Consider the depth of saturated sand about midway between the

reservoir and the drain as average; then the average area of saturated soil, in
drain length L, through which the groundwater flows is:

H h
L
2

and the quantity of flow from the reservoir to the drain

q=

H+ h
2

( Lxk)

H h
R

kL(H h)2
2R

The quantity of flow to the drain from the reservoir on both sides would be:

Q 2q

kL( H 2 h 2 )
R

from which:
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kL( H 2 h 2 )
Q

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and since drain spacing S equals 2R

2 kL( H 2 h 2 )
Q

Some Irrigation Terms as defined by the Republic Act 8435 or

The Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997
1.

Communal Irrigation System (CIS) - an irrigation system that is managed

by a bonafide Irrigators Association

2.

Headworks - the composite parts of the irrigation system that divert water
from natural bodies of water such as rivers, streams, and lakes

3.

Irrigable Lands - lands which display marked characteristics justifying the

operation of an irrigation system

4.

Irrigated Lands - lands serviced by natural irrigation or irrigation facilities.

These include land where water is not readily available as existing irrigation
facilities need rehabilitation or upgrading or where irrigation water is not
available year-round

5.

Irrigation System - a system of irrigation facilities covering contiguous areas

6.

Irrigators Association (IA) - an association of farmers within a contiguous

area served by a National Irrigation System or Communal Irrigation System

7.

Main Canal - the channel where diverted water from a source flows to the
intended area to be irrigated

8.

National Irrigation System (NIS)

- a
managed by the National Irrigation Administration

9.

On-Farm Irrigation Facilities - composite facilities that permit entry of

water to paddy areas and consist of farm ditches and turnouts

10.

Secondary Canal - the channel connected to the main canal which

distributes irrigation to specific areas

11.

Shallow Tubewell (STW) - a tube or shaft vertically set into the ground for
the purpose of bringing groundwater to the soil surface from a depth of less
than 20 meters by suction lifting

major

irrigation

system

DRAIN SPACING EQUATIONS

A.
I.

STEADY STATE:
Drain Bottom Reaching Impermeable Layer (DBRIL)
1. with recharge, unconfined aquifer condition, drain levels of same elevation

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4k(H2 - D2 )
R

where: L drain spacing

k- soil hydraulic concudtivity
H- depth of water midway between the drains
D- depth of water inside the drains
R- net recharge into the area to be drained
2. no recharge, unconfined aquifer condition, drain levels of unequal elevation
(unidirectional flow to lower level)

L
where:

k(h12 - h22 )
2q

h1, h2 water depths at the drains

q- flow into the drain per unit drain width

3. no recharge, confined aquifer condition, drain levels of unequal elevation

(unidirectional flow to lower level)

L
where:

bk(h1 - h2 )
q

b- thickness of confined auifer (land strip to be drained)

4. with recharge, unconfined aquifer condition, drain levels of equal elevation

a. flow to left drain, qL

(h22 h12 )
RL
qL k
2
2L
b. flow to right drain, qR

qR

RL (h22 h12 )
k
2
2L

c. elevation of the water table (h) at any point x

Rx
x
(L x) (h22 h12 ) h12
k
L

d. stagnation point , xs( x where dh/dx = 0, also x where h= hmax)

(h22 h12 )
L
xs k
2
2RL
e. maximum elevation of the water table (hmax)
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hmax

II.

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Rxs
x
(L xs ) s (h22 h12 ) h12
k
L

Drain Bottom Not Reaching Impermeable Layer (DBNRIL)

Hooghoudts Equation (PIPE DRAINS)

4k1h2 8k2dh
q

where:

k1- hydraulic conductivity of unsaturated soil

k2 - hydraulic conductivity of unsaturated soil
d effective depth of pipe drains

UNSTEADY STATE
Glover-Dumm Formula

2kd

reaction factor has the following equation

1.16ho

ln
ht
where :

drainable pore space (m3/m3)

ho height of water midway between the drains at time=0
ht- height of water midway between the drains at time t
t time to drain

References:
Israelsen, O.W and V.E Hansen (1962).
Irrigation Principles
Practices.3rd ed. JohnWiley and Sons, Inc. New York, U.S.A.

and

Linsley, R. K. et al. Hydrology for Engineers. Mc Graw-Hill, Inc. U.S.A.

Linsley, R.K. et al (1992). Water Resources Engineering.4th ed. Mc GrawHill, Inc. U.S.A.
Schwab, G. O., et al.(1992) Soil and Water Conservation Engineering. 4th
ed. JohnWiley and Sons, Inc. New York, U.S.A.

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