1) Irrigation is the artificial supply of water to soil to raise crops and involves planning efficient and economic irrigation systems tailored to natural conditions. 2) India has the largest area under irrigation in the world at 82.6 million hectares, though only 51% of agricultural land growing food grains is irrigated. Groundwater provides 65% of irrigation in India. 3) Major crops in India include rice, wheat, millets, pulses, sugarcane, cotton, and oilseeds. Different crops favor different temperatures and water requirements.

1. Water Resources Engineering
SITARAM SAINI
Assistant Professor
Department Of Civil Engineering
Swami Keshvanand Institute of Technology Management &
Gramothan Jaipur

2. Irrigation
Definition:
Irrigation is defined as the
process of artificial supply of
water to soil for raising crops. It
is a science of planning and
designing an efficient, low-cost,
economic irrigation system
tailored to fit natural conditions.

3. Present Status of Irrigation in India
• India is an agricultural country. Agriculture and its allied activities act as main source
of livelihood for more than 80% population of rural India. It provides employment to
approximately 52% of labour.
• Its contribution to Gross Domestic product (GDP) is between 14 to 15%. Irrigation
is a tool for agriculture. India's arable land area of 159.7 million hectares (394.6
million acres) is the second largest in the world, after the United States. Its gross
irrigated crop area of 82.6 million hectares (215.6 million acres) is the largest in the
world.
• Irrigation in India includes a network of major and minor canals from Indian
rivers, groundwater well based systems, tanks, and other rainwater
harvesting projects for agricultural activities. Of these groundwater system is the
largest. 65% of the irrigation in India is from groundwater.
• Currently about 51% of the agricultural area cultivating food grains is covered by
irrigation. The rest of the area is dependent on rainfall.

4. Major Crops of India
Crops Favourable
temperature
Water
required
Maximum producing
state
Other states
Rice 25OC- 35OC 1100-1250 West- Bengal U.P., Punjab, Haryana
Wheat 12oC-25OC 1000 Uttar Pradesh Punjab, M.P., Haryana, Raj.,Bihar, Gujrat, W.B., UK
Millets 20oC-32OC 350 Tamil Nadu Raj., Haryana, U.P, Gujrat
Pulses 15oC-20OC 500 M.P. U.P., Maharashtra, Raj., A.P.
Tea 20oC-30OC 1250-1500 Assam W.B., T.N., Kerala, Tripura, A.P., H.P., Karnataka etc.
Coffee 23oC-28OC 1200-1600 Karnataka Kerala, TamilNadu
Sugarcane 20oC-26OC 1500 U.P. Maharashtra, Karnataka, T.N.,A.P., Gujrat, Bihar, Haryana,
Punjab
Oil seeds 20oC-30OC 500-750 Gujrat Maharashtra, W.B., T.N., Raj., Gujrat, A.P., Haryana, U.P.,
Telangana
Cotton 21oC-37OC 500 Gujrat Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra, T.N., M.P., A.P.
Jute 25oC 500 West Bengal Assam, Orissa, Bihar, U.P., Tripura, Meghalaya

5. Intensity of Irrigation(India)
The fertile alluvial plains
running north to east
have the highest intensity
of irrigation in the
country.

6. Major Soils Of India
Suitability of Crops:
Alluvial soils - Rice, Wheat, Sugarcane,
Cotton, Jute
Black soils - Cotton, Sugarcane,
Groundnut, Millets, Rice, Wheat, Oilseeds
Red soils - Ragi, Groundnut, Millet,
Tobacco, Potato, Rice, Wheat, Sugarcane
Laterite soils - after taking soil
conservation measures, the soil is suitable
for Tea, Coffee, Cashew, Rubber and
Coconut
Desert soils - Drought resistant crops like
millets and barley
Mountain soils - Tea, Coffee, Spices, and
Tropical Fruits
Saline and Alkaline soils - Infertile. Unfit
for Cultivation
Peaty and Marshy soils - Highly acidic

7. Crop Seasons of India
• In India, the northern and north eastern regions have two distinct cropping seasons. The first
coinciding mostly with the South western monsoon is called kharif , which spans mostly from July
to October. The other, called rabi, spans generally over October to March. The summer season
crops are planted sometime between April and June. In southern part of India, there is no such
distinct season, but each region has its own classification of seasons.
• Generally, the kharif is characterized by a gradual fall in temperature, more numerous cloudy days,
low intensity, high relative humidity and cyclonic weather. During Rabi, there is a gradual rise in
temperature, bright sunshine, near absence of cloud days, and a lower relative humidity.
S. No Cropping Season Time Period Crops States
1. Rabi Sown: October-December
Harvested: April-June
Wheat, barley, peas, gram, mustard
etc.
Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and
Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh
2. Kharif Sown: June-July
Harvested: September-October
Rice, maize, jowar, bajra, tur,
moong, urad, cotton, jute, groundnut
etc.
Assam, West Bengal, coastal regions of Odisha,
Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala
and Maharashtra
3. Zaid Sown and harvested: March-
July
(between Rabi and Kharif)
Seasonal fruits, vegetables, fodder
crops etc.
Most of the northern and northwestern states