Farm irrigation systems have several key functions: - Diverting water from its source, conveying it to fields, distributing it within fields, and regulating flows. - An irrigation plan is essential to lay out the most cost-effective system and provide installation details. - Key features of an effective plan include accurate field maps, water source capacity details, soil and crop characteristics, and design specifications. - Common irrigation system types include surface, sprinkler, and drip/trickle, with different advantages depending on water availability and crop needs.

1. FUNCTIONS OF FARM
IRRIGATION SYSTEMS

2. What is the function of farm
irrigation systems?

3. The primary function of farm irrigation
system is to supply crops with
irrigation water in the quantities and at
the time it is need.

4. Specific functions:
• Diverting water from the water source.
• Conveying it to individual fields within the
farm
• Distributing it within each field
• Providing a means for measuring and
regulating flows

5. Reasons for an Irrigation
Plan

6. • A project plan enables the designer to
layout the irrigation system in the most
cost effective way. The plan is used to
generate a material list and to evaluate
the anticipated project cost.

7. • The plan provides step by stem
information on system installation.
Information on crop spacing, sprinklers,
pumping requirements, pipeline sizes
and lengths should be included on the
plan.

8. • Specification design standards and work
schedules as set out a plan form the
basis of any contractual agreements
between the installation contractor and
the farmer.

9. • The plan provides a record for further
reference. It can be used for overall farm
planning and identifies limits of
expansion potential.

10. Essential Features of a
Plan

11. TOPOGRAPHIC DATA
• The field shape must be accurately
drawn showing pertinent obstructions,
features and evaluation details.

12. WATER SOURCE CAPACITY
• The water supply must be clearly
indicated showing location and available
capacity.

13. Depending On Water Source, A
Well Log Or Water License
Must Accompany The
Irrigation Plan

14. SOIL AND CROP CHARACTERISTICS
• Soil and crop limitations must be
accounted for reduce runoff and deep
percolation by mismanagement of the
irrigation system.

15. DESIGN PARAMETERS
• Soil water holding capacity, maximum
application rate and climatic data must
be used to select the correct irrigation
system design.

16. DESIGN DATA
• The nozzle selected, operating pressure,
discharged rate and sprinkler spacing
must all be shown on the plan.

17. Different Designs of
Irrigation System

18. •Surface Irrigation
•Sprinkler Irrigation
•Drip or Trickle Irrigation

19. Surface Irrigation- water is
applied to the field in the
either the controlled or
uncontrolled manner.

22. Furrow Irrigation – only a part of the
land surface (furrow) is wetted thus
minimizing evaporation loss.

23. Border Irrigation

24. Basin Irrigation

25. Sprinkler Irrigation- water is
ideal in areas where water is
scare. A sprinkler system
conveys water through pipes
and applies it with a minimum
amount of losses

27. Drip or Tickle Irrigation- and
involves dripping water onto the
soil at very low rates (2-20
litres/hour) from a system of small
diameter plastic pipes fitted with
outlets called emitters or drippers.

30. Advantages
• Water is applied directly to the crop
• Water is conserved
• Weeds are controlled because only the
places getting water can grow weeds
• There is a low pressure system

31. • There is slow rate of water application
somewhat matching the consumptive use.
Application rate can be as low as 1-12 l/hr.
• There is reduce evaporation, only potential
transpiration is considered.
• There is no need for a drainage system.

32. Self-Check