Presentation made at History & Heritage Forum, the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka on 15th September 2022.
Present crisis of water
Ancient master plan of water resources management
Water based city planning - Anuradhapura
Rainwater harvesting – Pidurangala
Tank cascade systems: The first agricultural heritage in Sri Lanka
Traditional tank-village ecosystem- Lessons for future ‘evergreen agro-ecosystems’ concept
The document discusses measures to increase water use efficiency in Indian agriculture. It notes that agriculture accounts for 80-84% of water consumption in India but has low productivity and efficiency. Key challenges include limited technical capabilities, lack of capital, and inability to recover costs. Methods to improve efficiency include improving storage systems, conveyance infrastructure, and on-farm irrigation techniques. These involve reducing evaporation, seepage, waterlogging, and employing micro-irrigation, treated wastewater reuse, and growing less water-intensive crops. The document anticipates irrigation efficiency could increase to 50-60% for surface water and 72-75% for groundwater by 2025-2050 through these measures.
Watershed management Programs and Policies in IndiaGeeva Chandana
The document discusses watershed management programmes and policies in India. It provides details of several key watershed development programmes implemented since the 1970s, including the Drought Prone Area Programme (DPAP), Integrated Wasteland Development Programme (IWDP), National Watershed Development Project for Rainfed Areas (NWDPRA), and the Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP). It also describes the Common Guidelines for Watershed Development (Neeranchal) and the role of the National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA). Current and future policies discussed include the Neeranchal Watershed Program and the Prime Minister Krishi Sinchayee Yojna. A case study on the Integrated Watershed Management
This document discusses water harvesting techniques for rainfed areas. It begins with an introduction and definitions of water harvesting. It then discusses the components of water harvesting systems, including catchment areas, storage facilities, and targets. It describes various types of water harvesting techniques, including microcatchments and macrocatchments. Success stories from Jordan, Egypt, and Tunisia are provided. The document concludes by discussing the economics and role of water harvesting in combating desertification.
This power point presentation will give a complete idea of types of irrigation, water requirement of crops, duty, delta, canal revenue etc. This presentation also contain the numerical for complete understanding the concepts.
This document provides information on salinity management of irrigation water. It discusses several methods for managing salinity problems, including drainage to control water tables, leaching salts below the root zone, developing crop tolerance, optimizing cultural practices like irrigation timing, and changing or blending water sources. Drainage systems are shown to effectively reduce soil salinity and improve crop yields over time. Leaching requirements and crop tolerance data help determine appropriate irrigation amounts. Certain cultural practices like land grading and post-sowing irrigation can also improve crop establishment under saline conditions. The objective is to maintain acceptable crop yields through various salinity control strategies.
Water is a very important resource in our life . The availability of water resources on earth are limited and unevenly distributed. Human demand for water has been growing for two reasons. The available water is to be conserved. This module explains the major practices adopted in water conservation.
Pulses are among the most important food crops in Indian agriculture after cereals. They fix atmospheric nitrogen into the soil and have deep roots that use water efficiently. However, pulses production in India is low, at around 500-600 kg/ha on average, due to various agronomic constraints like improper sowing times, low seed rates, lack of intercultural practices, and insufficient irrigation. Diseases and insect pests also cause major losses. Increasing pulses production will require addressing these constraints through improved agronomic practices and development of disease-resistant varieties.
Overview of small tank cascades: Evolution, present status and future scenariosDr. P.B.Dharmasena
Presentation made at Policy Dialogue on Restoration and Management of
Small Tank Cascade Systems on 14 February, 2017 at
Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies (BCIS), Colombo
The document discusses measures to increase water use efficiency in Indian agriculture. It notes that agriculture accounts for 80-84% of water consumption in India but has low productivity and efficiency. Key challenges include limited technical capabilities, lack of capital, and inability to recover costs. Methods to improve efficiency include improving storage systems, conveyance infrastructure, and on-farm irrigation techniques. These involve reducing evaporation, seepage, waterlogging, and employing micro-irrigation, treated wastewater reuse, and growing less water-intensive crops. The document anticipates irrigation efficiency could increase to 50-60% for surface water and 72-75% for groundwater by 2025-2050 through these measures.
Watershed management Programs and Policies in IndiaGeeva Chandana
The document discusses watershed management programmes and policies in India. It provides details of several key watershed development programmes implemented since the 1970s, including the Drought Prone Area Programme (DPAP), Integrated Wasteland Development Programme (IWDP), National Watershed Development Project for Rainfed Areas (NWDPRA), and the Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP). It also describes the Common Guidelines for Watershed Development (Neeranchal) and the role of the National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA). Current and future policies discussed include the Neeranchal Watershed Program and the Prime Minister Krishi Sinchayee Yojna. A case study on the Integrated Watershed Management
This document discusses water harvesting techniques for rainfed areas. It begins with an introduction and definitions of water harvesting. It then discusses the components of water harvesting systems, including catchment areas, storage facilities, and targets. It describes various types of water harvesting techniques, including microcatchments and macrocatchments. Success stories from Jordan, Egypt, and Tunisia are provided. The document concludes by discussing the economics and role of water harvesting in combating desertification.
This power point presentation will give a complete idea of types of irrigation, water requirement of crops, duty, delta, canal revenue etc. This presentation also contain the numerical for complete understanding the concepts.
This document provides information on salinity management of irrigation water. It discusses several methods for managing salinity problems, including drainage to control water tables, leaching salts below the root zone, developing crop tolerance, optimizing cultural practices like irrigation timing, and changing or blending water sources. Drainage systems are shown to effectively reduce soil salinity and improve crop yields over time. Leaching requirements and crop tolerance data help determine appropriate irrigation amounts. Certain cultural practices like land grading and post-sowing irrigation can also improve crop establishment under saline conditions. The objective is to maintain acceptable crop yields through various salinity control strategies.
Water is a very important resource in our life . The availability of water resources on earth are limited and unevenly distributed. Human demand for water has been growing for two reasons. The available water is to be conserved. This module explains the major practices adopted in water conservation.
Pulses are among the most important food crops in Indian agriculture after cereals. They fix atmospheric nitrogen into the soil and have deep roots that use water efficiently. However, pulses production in India is low, at around 500-600 kg/ha on average, due to various agronomic constraints like improper sowing times, low seed rates, lack of intercultural practices, and insufficient irrigation. Diseases and insect pests also cause major losses. Increasing pulses production will require addressing these constraints through improved agronomic practices and development of disease-resistant varieties.
Overview of small tank cascades: Evolution, present status and future scenariosDr. P.B.Dharmasena
Presentation made at Policy Dialogue on Restoration and Management of
Small Tank Cascade Systems on 14 February, 2017 at
Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies (BCIS), Colombo
The document discusses various methods of irrigation. Surface irrigation methods include flooding, furrow, and contour farming. Flooding involves spreading water over land, and is divided into uncontrolled/wild flooding and controlled flooding using ditches and borders. Furrow irrigation channels water between crop rows. Contour farming uses terraces on sloping land. Sprinkler irrigation applies water as spray through pipes. Drip irrigation applies drops of water near plant roots. Advantages and limitations are provided for each method.
Drought is a period of below-average precipitation that results in prolonged water shortages. There are four main types of drought: meteorological, agricultural, hydrological, and socioeconomic. Causes of drought include low amounts of atmospheric water vapor, shifting air masses, human activities like deforestation and overfarming, and global warming. India has a drought management system that involves reporting from local gram panchayats up through state and national authorities. Over the past 200 years India has experienced many reported drought events.
Water resource management involves planning, developing, distributing, and managing water resources to satisfy competing demands. It aims to allocate water equitably across all uses. Cultivation is sensitive to water shortages, so good water management practices are needed to maintain optimal usage and maximize production. These practices include proper field channels, land leveling, tilling, drip irrigation, and treadle pumps.
Soil salinity problem in irrigated lands Avinash Sahu
This presentation discusses the salinity problem in irrigated land. Salt accumulates in soil when water evaporates, leaving the salt behind. Irrigation water and rainfall contain salts that accumulate over time if not properly drained. Factors like irrigation method, drainage, soil type, and climate affect salinity levels. High salinity stunts plant growth and reduces yields. Management strategies include drainage, leaching salts from the soil, adjusting irrigation practices, using fertilizers and bioremediation techniques. The literature review discusses studies on the impacts of soil salinity in India and methods to monitor and predict salinity levels. Proper drainage and adding organic matter can help reclaim saline soils.
1. Irrigation management involves scheduling irrigation appropriately based on soil type, crop water requirements, and other factors to efficiently use water resources.
2. Common methods of surface irrigation include border irrigation, check basin irrigation, and ridges and furrows irrigation which involve dividing fields into strips or basins and flooding or furrowing the land.
3. Factors considered in irrigation scheduling include soil type, crop water needs, available water supply, and allowing sufficient drying time between irrigations based on the crop's water depletion level. Monitoring soil moisture, plant conditions, and pan evaporation can help determine irrigation timing.
The lecture contains aspects such as Ancient Water Resources Planning, Water shortage, or water wastage in Sri Lanka?, Network of tanks and streams in the form of cascades, Tank-village Ecosystem, Patial desilting concept
This document discusses watershed management and development in Karnataka, India. It begins with introducing watersheds and their importance. It then covers principles of watershed management, factors affecting it, common practices used, and different types of approaches. The document also discusses the need for watershed management in Karnataka due to issues like drought and soil erosion. It provides examples of specific watershed development programs and case studies in Karnataka. In conclusion, it emphasizes that watershed management is essential for sustainable land and water resource management.
This document summarizes several key physical properties of soil: soil texture refers to the proportion of sand, silt, and clay and is estimated using feel or sedimentation methods; soil structure describes how primary particles are aggregated and affects properties like aeration; soil density measures bulk density and particle density which impact water and air movement; porosity refers to pore space between particles and influences moisture and gas exchange; consistence describes soil cohesion at different moisture levels; and soil color provides clues about drainage conditions and chemical processes from hue, value, and chroma measured using a Munsell chart.
Waterlogging Types & Causes of Waterlogging Effects & its control Salinity Ef...Denish Jangid
Waterlogging refers to saturation of soil with water which can occur when the water table rises too high. Approximately 4% of irrigated land in India is affected by waterlogging, causing issues for crop growth. Key causes of waterlogging include seepage from canals, poor drainage, interruptions to natural water flows, and excessive or poorly managed irrigation. Prevention strategies center around reducing water infiltration and increasing outflow, through actions like canal lining, interceptor drains, and improved drainage systems.
This document discusses water erosion, which is the removal of soil by water. It defines erosion as the detachment, transportation, and deposition of soil. The main causes of erosion are misuse of land, deforestation, and poor soil management. The agents of erosion are wind, water, temperature, and biological factors. Water erosion specifically refers to the removal of soil particles by rain or flowing water. The forms of water erosion are rain splash, sheet, rill, gully, and stream erosion. Climate, soil properties, and topography affect the rate of water erosion.
1) The document discusses global water resources and the growing water crisis facing the world. It notes that while the total amount of water on Earth has remained the same, the population demanding access to freshwater has increased dramatically.
2) Approximately 70% of the Earth is covered in water, but only 3% is freshwater and 1% is easily accessible for human use. However, water use has increased more than 4 times since 1940 due to rising populations and increasing industrial and agricultural demand.
3) By 2025, it is estimated that two-thirds of the world's population will live in conditions of freshwater stress as available resources become increasingly strained and unequally distributed between populated regions. Rising pollution is also impact
Water harvesting involves collecting and storing rainfall runoff for agricultural or domestic purposes. It has three key components: the catchment area where runoff is collected, the storage area where water is kept, and the command area where stored water is used. Common techniques include constructing tanks, ponds, and other structures to capture runoff from higher elevations and direct it to agricultural lands. These techniques help increase water availability in dry regions with minimal annual rainfall.
Drought is defined as a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall that negatively impacts living conditions and agriculture. It is difficult to determine the exact onset and end of a drought. Drought can be caused by improper rainfall distribution over time and space, as well as an imbalance between precipitation and water usage. There are different types of drought including meteorological, hydrological, agricultural, and socio-economic droughts that have increasingly severe impacts on weather, water resources, crop yields, and the economy. While drought is a natural phenomenon, its effects are exacerbated in developing countries by issues like overpopulation, deforestation, and unsustainable water usage.
This document provides an outline for a lecture on irrigation principles and practices. The lecture introduces key concepts including the role of irrigation water, water cycling, units of measurement, soil moisture levels, and factors influencing irrigation needs. It also outlines methods for determining irrigation timing and amounts, including qualitative soil moisture monitoring and quantitative water budgeting. Finally, it discusses environmental factors impacting irrigation and different irrigation delivery systems. The goal is to teach students the basic concepts, tools, and calculations for efficient and effective field- and garden-scale irrigation.
types of irrigation,irrigation scheduling, critical stages in mango, water requirement in mango , water uses of mango,research findings in mango research. mango irrigation stages.
This document discusses soil water systems and properties. It defines key terms like field capacity, permanent wilting point, and available water. Soil water can exist as gravitational, capillary, or hygroscopic water. The water holding capacities of soils are expressed as constants like saturation capacity, field capacity, and permanent wilting point. These constants can be expressed as either percentages of water held or depth of water stored in the root zone. Plants extract most water from the upper layers of their root zone, with uptake decreasing with depth.
Waterlogging refers to soil saturation from high water tables, preventing air and oxygen flow needed by crops. It is caused by over-irrigation, inadequate drainage, flooding, and high water tables during monsoons. Waterlogging can be permanent, periodic, or temporary, and often leads to soil salinization in irrigated areas due to prevented leaching of salts. Major waterlogged areas in Bangladesh include wetlands, floodplains, coastal areas, and areas with artificial irrigation. Waterlogging hampers soil microbial activity, reduces nutrient availability, increases soil pH, and favors weed growth. Reducing measures include dams, embankments, and bridges/culverts to restrict water flow.
The document discusses various methods of irrigation. Surface irrigation methods include flooding, furrow, and contour farming. Flooding involves spreading water over land, and is divided into uncontrolled/wild flooding and controlled flooding using ditches and borders. Furrow irrigation channels water between crop rows. Contour farming uses terraces on sloping land. Sprinkler irrigation applies water as spray through pipes. Drip irrigation applies drops of water near plant roots. Advantages and limitations are provided for each method.
Drought is a period of below-average precipitation that results in prolonged water shortages. There are four main types of drought: meteorological, agricultural, hydrological, and socioeconomic. Causes of drought include low amounts of atmospheric water vapor, shifting air masses, human activities like deforestation and overfarming, and global warming. India has a drought management system that involves reporting from local gram panchayats up through state and national authorities. Over the past 200 years India has experienced many reported drought events.
Water resource management involves planning, developing, distributing, and managing water resources to satisfy competing demands. It aims to allocate water equitably across all uses. Cultivation is sensitive to water shortages, so good water management practices are needed to maintain optimal usage and maximize production. These practices include proper field channels, land leveling, tilling, drip irrigation, and treadle pumps.
Soil salinity problem in irrigated lands Avinash Sahu
This presentation discusses the salinity problem in irrigated land. Salt accumulates in soil when water evaporates, leaving the salt behind. Irrigation water and rainfall contain salts that accumulate over time if not properly drained. Factors like irrigation method, drainage, soil type, and climate affect salinity levels. High salinity stunts plant growth and reduces yields. Management strategies include drainage, leaching salts from the soil, adjusting irrigation practices, using fertilizers and bioremediation techniques. The literature review discusses studies on the impacts of soil salinity in India and methods to monitor and predict salinity levels. Proper drainage and adding organic matter can help reclaim saline soils.
1. Irrigation management involves scheduling irrigation appropriately based on soil type, crop water requirements, and other factors to efficiently use water resources.
2. Common methods of surface irrigation include border irrigation, check basin irrigation, and ridges and furrows irrigation which involve dividing fields into strips or basins and flooding or furrowing the land.
3. Factors considered in irrigation scheduling include soil type, crop water needs, available water supply, and allowing sufficient drying time between irrigations based on the crop's water depletion level. Monitoring soil moisture, plant conditions, and pan evaporation can help determine irrigation timing.
The lecture contains aspects such as Ancient Water Resources Planning, Water shortage, or water wastage in Sri Lanka?, Network of tanks and streams in the form of cascades, Tank-village Ecosystem, Patial desilting concept
This document discusses watershed management and development in Karnataka, India. It begins with introducing watersheds and their importance. It then covers principles of watershed management, factors affecting it, common practices used, and different types of approaches. The document also discusses the need for watershed management in Karnataka due to issues like drought and soil erosion. It provides examples of specific watershed development programs and case studies in Karnataka. In conclusion, it emphasizes that watershed management is essential for sustainable land and water resource management.
This document summarizes several key physical properties of soil: soil texture refers to the proportion of sand, silt, and clay and is estimated using feel or sedimentation methods; soil structure describes how primary particles are aggregated and affects properties like aeration; soil density measures bulk density and particle density which impact water and air movement; porosity refers to pore space between particles and influences moisture and gas exchange; consistence describes soil cohesion at different moisture levels; and soil color provides clues about drainage conditions and chemical processes from hue, value, and chroma measured using a Munsell chart.
Waterlogging Types & Causes of Waterlogging Effects & its control Salinity Ef...Denish Jangid
Waterlogging refers to saturation of soil with water which can occur when the water table rises too high. Approximately 4% of irrigated land in India is affected by waterlogging, causing issues for crop growth. Key causes of waterlogging include seepage from canals, poor drainage, interruptions to natural water flows, and excessive or poorly managed irrigation. Prevention strategies center around reducing water infiltration and increasing outflow, through actions like canal lining, interceptor drains, and improved drainage systems.
This document discusses water erosion, which is the removal of soil by water. It defines erosion as the detachment, transportation, and deposition of soil. The main causes of erosion are misuse of land, deforestation, and poor soil management. The agents of erosion are wind, water, temperature, and biological factors. Water erosion specifically refers to the removal of soil particles by rain or flowing water. The forms of water erosion are rain splash, sheet, rill, gully, and stream erosion. Climate, soil properties, and topography affect the rate of water erosion.
1) The document discusses global water resources and the growing water crisis facing the world. It notes that while the total amount of water on Earth has remained the same, the population demanding access to freshwater has increased dramatically.
2) Approximately 70% of the Earth is covered in water, but only 3% is freshwater and 1% is easily accessible for human use. However, water use has increased more than 4 times since 1940 due to rising populations and increasing industrial and agricultural demand.
3) By 2025, it is estimated that two-thirds of the world's population will live in conditions of freshwater stress as available resources become increasingly strained and unequally distributed between populated regions. Rising pollution is also impact
Water harvesting involves collecting and storing rainfall runoff for agricultural or domestic purposes. It has three key components: the catchment area where runoff is collected, the storage area where water is kept, and the command area where stored water is used. Common techniques include constructing tanks, ponds, and other structures to capture runoff from higher elevations and direct it to agricultural lands. These techniques help increase water availability in dry regions with minimal annual rainfall.
Drought is defined as a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall that negatively impacts living conditions and agriculture. It is difficult to determine the exact onset and end of a drought. Drought can be caused by improper rainfall distribution over time and space, as well as an imbalance between precipitation and water usage. There are different types of drought including meteorological, hydrological, agricultural, and socio-economic droughts that have increasingly severe impacts on weather, water resources, crop yields, and the economy. While drought is a natural phenomenon, its effects are exacerbated in developing countries by issues like overpopulation, deforestation, and unsustainable water usage.
This document provides an outline for a lecture on irrigation principles and practices. The lecture introduces key concepts including the role of irrigation water, water cycling, units of measurement, soil moisture levels, and factors influencing irrigation needs. It also outlines methods for determining irrigation timing and amounts, including qualitative soil moisture monitoring and quantitative water budgeting. Finally, it discusses environmental factors impacting irrigation and different irrigation delivery systems. The goal is to teach students the basic concepts, tools, and calculations for efficient and effective field- and garden-scale irrigation.
types of irrigation,irrigation scheduling, critical stages in mango, water requirement in mango , water uses of mango,research findings in mango research. mango irrigation stages.
This document discusses soil water systems and properties. It defines key terms like field capacity, permanent wilting point, and available water. Soil water can exist as gravitational, capillary, or hygroscopic water. The water holding capacities of soils are expressed as constants like saturation capacity, field capacity, and permanent wilting point. These constants can be expressed as either percentages of water held or depth of water stored in the root zone. Plants extract most water from the upper layers of their root zone, with uptake decreasing with depth.
Waterlogging refers to soil saturation from high water tables, preventing air and oxygen flow needed by crops. It is caused by over-irrigation, inadequate drainage, flooding, and high water tables during monsoons. Waterlogging can be permanent, periodic, or temporary, and often leads to soil salinization in irrigated areas due to prevented leaching of salts. Major waterlogged areas in Bangladesh include wetlands, floodplains, coastal areas, and areas with artificial irrigation. Waterlogging hampers soil microbial activity, reduces nutrient availability, increases soil pH, and favors weed growth. Reducing measures include dams, embankments, and bridges/culverts to restrict water flow.
This is a presentation made to IESL members on 29th December 2019 at The Sigiriya Air Force premises.
Water resources management master plan in Sri Lanka includes not only irrigation but many more purposes.
This is lesson 6 of IKS taught to Master level students on Indigenous Irrigation Systems at the Faculty of Agriculture, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka
This is the part 1 of 5th lesson in the course 'Traditional Knowledge in Sri Lankan Agriculture' taught at the Faculty of Agriculture, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka
Sustainable Water Management in Cascade System: A model in Environmentally Se...Dr. P.B.Dharmasena
This document summarizes a presentation given at the International Water Conference in Sri Lanka on sustainable water management in tank cascade systems. Some key points:
- Tank cascade systems are a traditional Sri Lankan method of water resources management that store, convey, and utilize water across interconnected tanks and streams. This helps mitigate droughts and floods.
- The Village Tank Cascade System was declared a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System by the UN's FAO for its sustainable practices.
- Challenges include high amounts of water lost to the sea each year, lack of coordination between water agencies, and ignoring traditional management systems.
- Tank cascades provide multiple benefits like food/water security, biodiversity,
The irrigation works in ancient Sri Lanka, the earliest dating from about 300 BCE, in the reign of King Pandukabhaya and under continuous development for the next thousand years, were some of the most complex irrigation systems of the ancient world.
The lecture delivered at the Post Graduate Institute of Humanities and Social sciences, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka on 8th October 2017 with following content:
River basin-level planning; Network of tanks and streams; Cascade ecology; Tank-village ecosystem; Traditional Agricultural Practices in adaptation to drought; Rainwater harvesting from rock
Cascade Tank Village System and identification of novel post graduate researc...Dr. P.B.Dharmasena
Seminar on Research collaboration opportunities with School of Environment and Rural Science, University of New England, Australia - 14th September 2018, NRMC, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
Introduction
Origin of tank cascade concept
Tank cascade systems of Sri Lanka: Anatomy, distribution and definitions
Importance of cascade approach
Traditional tank-village ecosystem – adaptive capacity for the present situation
Lesson Four - Indigenous Village Irrigation Systems, traditional small scale ...Dr. P.B.Dharmasena
This is the Guest Lecture 4 delivered for Agriculture students of the Faculty of Agriculture, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka.
It explains:
Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System
Ancient water resources management planning in Sri Lanka
Tank Cascade Systems of Sri Lanka
Tank-village Ecosystem
Traditional Vision of Water Management
Restoration of Village Irrigation Systems
A Special Lecture has been delivered for Students at the Faculty of Agriculture, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka on the course - Traditional Technology in Sri Lankan Agriculture on 26th July 2021
This is lesson 1 for Three Day Residential Training Workshop on Cascade Water Resources Development and Management prepared for Climate Resilient Integrated Water Management Project Project
The importance of maintaining the ecological balance in tank cascade systemsDr. P.B.Dharmasena
Presentation made at the Short Course on Tanks Rehabilitation and Cascade Development organized by Centre for Environmental Studies, University of Peradeniya, 26-27-January, 2019, Sri Lanka
India has a long historical tradition of water harvesting that dates back thousands of years. Early human settlements collected and stored water from nearby rivers and streams. Over time, techniques were developed to augment water sources, such as collecting rainwater, tapping springs, and managing snow/glacier melt. Rulers built large reservoirs, ponds, lakes and canals to provide reliable water sources and encourage agriculture. Communities and individuals also built local water collection devices. This widespread water management ensured adequate availability for all and formed the basis for development. Lessons can be learned from this glorious historical tradition.
This document provides information about irrigation engineering including:
1. It defines irrigation as the artificial application of water to soil and discusses the need for irrigation due to insufficient or poorly timed rainfall. Irrigation provides benefits like increased food production and economic development.
2. Irrigation methods are classified as natural or artificial, and artificial methods include flow irrigation using canals, tanks, or wells, as well as lift irrigation. Crop water requirements, duty, delta, crop seasons, and factors affecting duty are also covered.
3. Consumptive water use, evapotranspiration, crop rotation, and how duty can be improved are summarized. The document provides an overview of key concepts in irrigation engineering.
Sri Lankan traditional knowledge in adaptation to climate changeDr. P.B.Dharmasena
Traditional Sri Lankan agricultural systems have developed knowledge to adapt to climate change at multiple levels:
1) River basin level - Ancient kingdoms organized around major river systems which allowed for island-wide water resources management.
2) Village/field level - The tank-village system sustainably manages local water resources through practices like maintaining tank infrastructure, redistributing land during drought, and adjusting cultivation times based on rainfall patterns.
3) Within systems - Additional techniques like temporary bund construction and shallow tank bed cultivation maximize water use during periods of low rainfall.
These multilevel traditional practices demonstrate Sri Lankans' adaptive capacity through situated knowledge of local hydrology and climate trends.
Multi-purpose river projects and integrated water resources management have commonly used building hydraulic structures like dams as a solution for water conservation dating back to the 1st century BCE in India. Some key historical examples include a complex water harvesting system from the 1st century BCE in Andhra Pradesh comprising percolation tanks fed by canals, and dams and irrigation systems built during the reign of Chandragupta Maurya in the 4th-3rd century BCE. However, dams have also faced opposition due to negative environmental and social impacts such as displacing large numbers of local people, degrading soils and habitats, disrupting river connectivity, and failing to control floods as intended in some cases.
Society and Environment in Ancient India (Study of Hydrology)inventionjournals
This document discusses the advanced hydraulic engineering techniques used in ancient Indian civilizations like the Indus Valley Civilization, Vedic period, and various dynasties across North and South India. It describes various water conservation and management structures like reservoirs, dams, canals, wells and drainage systems developed during these periods to store rainwater and support agriculture. Key examples highlighted include the Great Bath structures in Harappan cities, extensive reservoir networks in Dholavira, irrigation works constructed during the Mauryan empire, and large artificial lakes and tank systems developed in regions like Kashmir, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and the Deccan plateau.
The presentation includes the technical knowledge had in the past in Sri Lanka at various level of development and most of them can be used with some modifications at present
Similar to Probing Unresolved Mysteries of Ancient Water Technology (20)
Presentation made at a Webinar Program on 11th June 2024 for World Environment Day organized jointly by Organization of Environment & Children Rights Preservation (OECRP), and Ace Property & Business Consultants (Pvt.) Ltd (APB)
This is a presentation made on Climate Smart Agriculture for training of trainers under the project on Building Resilience and Strengthening Community Disaster Preparedness in Sri Lanka
4 Climate Resilience WV English for training of trainersDr. P.B.Dharmasena
This is a presentation made for trainers on Climate Resilience
under the project on Building Resilience and Strengthening Community Disaster Preparedness in Sri Lanka
This is a TOT presentation made on Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for the project - Building Resilience and Strengthening Community Disaster Preparedness in Sri Lanka
2 Climate change on agriculture for training of trainersDr. P.B.Dharmasena
This is a TOT presentation on Agriculture and Climate Change
made for the project - Building Resilience and Strengthening Community Disaster Preparedness in Sri Lanka
1 Climate and Soil for training of trainers.WV English.pdfDr. P.B.Dharmasena
This is a presentation made for trainers on soil and climate under the project on Building Resilience and Strengthening Community Disaster Preparedness in Sri Lanka
Developing 2050 Carbon Net Zero Road Map & Strategic Plan for Sri Lanka - ...Dr. P.B.Dharmasena
This validation workshop was held after preparing the Road Map and Strategic Plan for Sri Lanka and the authors are responsible for the agriculture sector.
Restoration of Tank Cascade Systems for Productivity and SustainabilityDr. P.B.Dharmasena
Presentation made for Technical staff of Climate Resilient Integrated Water Management Project (CRIWMP) at Kurunegala on 9th May 2018
Why cascade systems again?
Drought and flood events can be expected more due to climate change
High prevalence of poverty in tank cascade areas
Mal-nutrition can be greatly reduced by tank fishery and animal husbandry
Better land use under cascade principles – addresses ecological issues such as clearance of village forests, unsustainable land use etc.
Improve living conditions
Health issues ? – drinking water, contamination of agro-chemicals and heavy metals leads to kidney failures, malaria etc.
Most importantly It is an answer to drought hazards
A rainwater harvesting technology;
A soil moisture and groundwater maintaining technology;
A soil erosion and siltation control technology;
A technology that ensured the maintenance of ecological balance;
A technology that promotes social cohesion and needs for community leadership;
A system that accommodates spiritual development which promotes egalitarian (equally treated) attitudes especially during droughts;
A system that nurtured the development of drought insurance through animal husbandry
Main GHGs from agricultural lands are CH4 and N2O
GHG emission can be reduced by 60 % in 2050 through:
Removal of rice straws and through good management practices in paddy fields
Use alternatives to chemical fertilizer
CH4 reduction from livestock by improving feed quality and animal comfort
Reduce N2O emission in soils
Enhance C sequestration in paddy and rainfed uplands through ‘Evergreen Agro-ecosystem’ concept
Carbon stock in agricultural lands can be enhanced by improving land management practices
C sequestration in tea lands can be increased through: Agro-ecosystem approach; Crop diversification; Intercropping; Introduction of shade trees with optimum density; and Rehabilitation of old tea lands
C stock can be increased by 267 % by the year 2050 through Home Garden Intensification
If the proposed mitigation actions are implemented, the country will be able to achieve Net Zero by 2038.
This lecture was delivered to Agricultural Instructors working for Climate Smart Agriculture Project in 11 districts in the dry zone of Sri Lanka. It includes Climate Smart Agriculture, Special characters in CSA, technological packages for crops such as paddy, maize etc. and livestock such as cattle, poultry etc.
This lecture was delivered for the Agricultural Instructors working for Climate Smart Agriculture project in 11 districts in the dry zone of Sri Lanka. It includes climate change and climate variability, Relevance of global impacts of climate change. Green House Gas (GHG) emission, Reduction of GHG in the agriculture sector, targets for GHG reduction up to 2050, new agriculture concepts to reduce GHG and increase carbon sequestration
Management of Soils in the dry zone of Sri Lanka (Sinhala).pdfDr. P.B.Dharmasena
This lecture was delivered to Agricultural Instructors working for Climate Smart Agriculture Project in 11 dry zone districts of Sri Lanka. It includes most abundant soils in Sri Lanka, Land degradation, Sustainable Land Management, new concepts immerged in agriculture to address climate change impacts.
A Visual Guide to 1 Samuel | A Tale of Two HeartsSteve Thomason
These slides walk through the story of 1 Samuel. Samuel is the last judge of Israel. The people reject God and want a king. Saul is anointed as the first king, but he is not a good king. David, the shepherd boy is anointed and Saul is envious of him. David shows honor while Saul continues to self destruct.
Andreas Schleicher presents PISA 2022 Volume III - Creative Thinking - 18 Jun...EduSkills OECD
Andreas Schleicher, Director of Education and Skills at the OECD presents at the launch of PISA 2022 Volume III - Creative Minds, Creative Schools on 18 June 2024.
How to Manage Reception Report in Odoo 17Celine George
A business may deal with both sales and purchases occasionally. They buy things from vendors and then sell them to their customers. Such dealings can be confusing at times. Because multiple clients may inquire about the same product at the same time, after purchasing those products, customers must be assigned to them. Odoo has a tool called Reception Report that can be used to complete this assignment. By enabling this, a reception report comes automatically after confirming a receipt, from which we can assign products to orders.
Level 3 NCEA - NZ: A Nation In the Making 1872 - 1900 SML.pptHenry Hollis
The History of NZ 1870-1900.
Making of a Nation.
From the NZ Wars to Liberals,
Richard Seddon, George Grey,
Social Laboratory, New Zealand,
Confiscations, Kotahitanga, Kingitanga, Parliament, Suffrage, Repudiation, Economic Change, Agriculture, Gold Mining, Timber, Flax, Sheep, Dairying,
Elevate Your Nonprofit's Online Presence_ A Guide to Effective SEO Strategies...TechSoup
Whether you're new to SEO or looking to refine your existing strategies, this webinar will provide you with actionable insights and practical tips to elevate your nonprofit's online presence.
Gender and Mental Health - Counselling and Family Therapy Applications and In...PsychoTech Services
A proprietary approach developed by bringing together the best of learning theories from Psychology, design principles from the world of visualization, and pedagogical methods from over a decade of training experience, that enables you to: Learn better, faster!
Temple of Asclepius in Thrace. Excavation resultsKrassimira Luka
The temple and the sanctuary around were dedicated to Asklepios Zmidrenus. This name has been known since 1875 when an inscription dedicated to him was discovered in Rome. The inscription is dated in 227 AD and was left by soldiers originating from the city of Philippopolis (modern Plovdiv).
Probing Unresolved Mysteries of Ancient Water Technology
1. Presentation made at History & Heritage Forum, the
Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka on 15th
September, 2022
Probing Unresolved
Mysteries of Ancient
Water Technology
P.B. Dharmasena – dharmasenapb@gmail.com
2. • Present crisis of water
• Ancient master plan of water resources management
• Water based city planning - Anuradhapura
• Rainwater harvesting – Pidurangala
• Tank cascade systems: The first agricultural heritage in Sri Lanka
• Traditional tank-village ecosystem- Lessons for future „evergreen
agro-ecosystems‟ concept
CONTENT
3. Present crisis of water
• High discharge to sea causing drought and flood while wasting
productive water – lost more than 50% of annual incidence
• Sea water intrusion especially in Mannar and Jaffna
• Ignorance of the ancient water resources management systems
• Less attention paid on restoration of tank cascade ecosystems
• Lack of effective coordination among water related agencies -
There are over 40 agencies dealing with water in one way or
another
• Lack of a National Water Policy – Submitted by a Cabinet
appointed committee in January 2021
4. Annual average rainfall: 2,000 mm
Land extent: 65,610 km2
Total volume of water: 131.22 bil. m3
Discharge to sea: 66.18 bil. M3 (>50%)
No. of river basins: 103
Major reservoirs and dams: 80
Small tanks: 16,476
Small anicuts: 14,468
Source: N. Eriyagama et al 2015
Shortage of water or wastage of water?
5. River basins – Water losses to Sea
River Basin Total Basin
Area (km2)
River
lengths
(km)
Total Rainfall
(million m3)
Drainage to
Sea
Major/
medium
reservoirs
Minor tanks
(mil. m3) %
Deduru Oya 2,616 142 4,794 1,608 34.0 4 2,408
Kala Oya 2,772 148 4,424 587 13.0 3 1,015
Malwathu Oya 3,246 164 4,592 568 12.0 5 1,731
Yan Oya 1,520 142 2,269 300 19.0 2 746
Kelani Ganga 2,278 145 8,692 5,474 62.0 0 9
Gin Ganga 922 113 3,039 1903 62.0 0 0
Kalu Ganga 2,688 129 10,122 7,862 77.0 0 3
Walawe Ganga 2,442 138 9,843 2,165 22.0 12 750
Mahaweli Ganga 10,327 335 26,804 11,016 41.0 9 552
Meeoya 1,516 109 2,176 338 16 1 750
Shortage of water or wastage of water?
6. Multipurpose and multifunctional water management in
ancient Sri Lanka
Water management was of multi-purpose and multifunctional:
• Food production – irrigation;
• Human needs – settlement, drinking water, bathing, recreation, other
domestic needs;
• Rainwater harvesting systems;
• Existence of the environment (flora, fauna, environs);
• City planning (Anuradhapura, Sigiriya)
• Parks, landscaping etc. (water springs, ponds)
• Administrative boundaries
• Natural disaster mitigation (Flood, drought, cyclone, epidemics)
7. Ancient master plan of water resources management in Sri Lanka
Country level
Inter-river basin level
Inter-reservoir level
Sub-watershed level
Village level
Field level
8. Prince Vijaya (543–505 BC) invaded our country
• Sailors entered the country from Alli Rani
Harbour for trading
• Vijaya also came along Western coastal boarder
using NE monsoonal winds passing Alli Rani
Harbour to Kudiramalai (Thammenna)
• There were 10 regional kings (including the
Princess Kuweni ) ruled the country at that time
• Prince Vijaya killed most of them with the
support of Princess Kuweni
• That was the end of 10 kingdoms in Sri Lanka
Alli Rani Harbour
Kudiramalai
12. Manewa cascade
Mahakanumulla cascade
• Single bank canal
• It runs along contour
• Water is collected from upstream
• Water is released to both sides
• Canal moves along tank upstream
• Tank cascade systems are fed
Kalawewa-Thisawewa Giant Canal
13. April – May 2010
A confession from an Irrigation
Engineer
“Inconvenient Truth” behind
Engineering Designs of Irrigation
Projects developed during the Last
Century.
“……….Those days we thought that
the canal was planned to avoid rock
barriers as the ancient people did not
own the technology to break them
……..”
- Eng. Mahinda Panapitiya
15. Upper land and Lower land sluice
gates of Yodha Ela
Position of upper Sluice gates
Position of lower Sluice gates
Aluth wewa
Amunukole
wewa
Koon wewa
Wew and diya kali
Source: Dr. Ashoka Karunaratne, 2021
diya
kaliya
diya
kaliya
16. Diyakaliya Wewa
1 Placed above the canal Placed below the canal
2 Canal has been connected
to the diyakaliya
Constructed the canal running
above the wewa
3 Diyakaliya has been
connected to a natural rock
line or soil ridge
Bund of the wewa has been raised
to a higher contour
4 Issue of water through a
natural process
Release of water to wewa is
through sluice placed on the left
bank of Yodha Ela canal
5 Controlling the Sediment Controlling the sediment and
providing water to paddy tract
6 Providing water to upland
cultivation
Combined with human settlement
and cascade systems
Source: Dr. Ashoka Karunaratne, 2021
17. • Inter-reservoir water
resources sharing
– Kalawewa -
Thisawewa Yodha Ela
(470 AD)
– Nachchaduwa -
Nuwarawewa feeder
canal (290 AD)
– Yodha Ela –
Nachchaduwa feeder
canal (540 AD)
Kalawewa-Balaluwewa
Thisawewa
Siyambalangamuwa
Nachchaduwa
Nuwarawewa
Mahavilachchiya
Basawakkulama
Malwathu oya
Thalawa oya
Kala oya
Anuradhapura city is fed by Giant canals
(600 BC – 1200 AD)
18. It could be the city plan of
Ancient Anuradhapura kingdom
Mystery of Star gate
19. Top 10 Star gates in the world (unidentified structures)
1. Gate Of The Gods, Hayu Marca, Peru
2. Abu Ghurab, Egypt, The Place Of The Gods
3. Ancient Stone Arrangement In Lake Michigan
4. Stonehenge, Wiltshire, England
5. The Ancient Sumerian Star gate At The Euphrates River
6. Tiahuanaco, Bolivia, „Gate of the Sun‟
7. Ranmasu Uyana Stargate, Sri Lanka
8. Abydos, Egypt
9. Gobekli Tepe, Turkey
10. Sedona Vortexes And The „Doorway of
the Gods‟in Arizona
22. Water culture in Anuradhapura Kingdom
• Water cordon around the kingdom (Thisawewa, Nuwarawewa,
Basawakkulama, Bulankulama)
• Focused to enrich groundwater in the kingdom
• Paddy lands under these tanks are relatively low
• Catchments are not adequate
• Tanks are fed by an adjoining river basin
• Alluvial soil is found due to Malwathuoya and Halpanoya
• How these gigantic structures could be sustained?
• Hard bedrock to trap groundwater (granitic gneiss and charnockite
gneiss)
24. Granite is a very hard, granular,
crystalline igneous rock (free of
orthopyroxene)
Charnockite (granite with orthopyroxene
(Mg2Si2O6 and Fe2Si2O6, )
Granite Charnockite
25. Ponds, moats, water tunnels and wells are scattered in the kingdom to
replenish and monitor groundwater
27. Cities being sunk due to depletion of groundwater table
1. Beijing in China by 11
cm/ year
2. Mexico by 28 cm/ year
3. Jakarta by 28 cm/ year
4. Bangkok by 12 cm/ year
1
2
3
4
29. What contributes to the sinking of cities
• The weight of buildings
• Groundwater depletion
• shifting of tectonic
plates
30. Why our Stupas are getting cracked?
• Vertical Cracks in
Ruwanwelisaya
• Four cracks in
Jethawanaramaya
• Vertical cracks in
Thissamaharamaya
Most probably due to
groundwater depletion
35. Three water conveyance
systems
• Open water conveyance
canals (brick work)
• Sealed subsurface clay pipes
• Sealed subterranean
conveyance canal (stone)
2 ft.
1 foot.
36. Octagonal pond
Water garden 1 – Interconnected garden complex for bathing
Water garden 2 – Fountain gardens
Water garden 3 - Royal water palaces surrounded by moats
Water garden 3
From Western Entrance
Water garden 1
Water garden 2
Water garden 3
37. Altitude at the lowest point of
Pidurangala rock top: 324 m
Altitude at the water spring
point of Sigiriya: 198 m
Elevation difference: 126 m
Direct Distance: 1225 m
Smooth slope path
distance:1612 m
38. Elevations:
Sigiriya tank: 204 m
Fountain garden: 204 m
Octagonal pond: 212 m
Head difference: 8m (26 ft)
Atapattam Pokuna: 212 m
Fountain ponds 204 m
Octagonal pond relatively at a higher level
56. Finally ……….
The platform area of Pidurangala rock is about 2 ha. If it is
assumed that 80% of monthly rainfall could be collected from
this flow pitch, the volume, which could be stored monthly is:
Months Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Total
Rainfall
(mm) at
75%
probability
30.3 12.6 26.0 87.7 31.8 3.1 3.4 4.4 25.9 132.0 168.3 105.7 631.2
Runoff (m3) 485 202 416 1,403 509 50 54 70 414 2,112 2,693 1,691 10,099
57. • According calculations at least 10,000 m3 of water can be collected
from this system.
• What does it mean?
• This historical perception can be rejected as a myth.
• However, this system if rehabilitated will supply annual water storage
of 10,000 m3 to the people, who are living around and are threatened
with the chronic renal disease with unknown aetiology.
Then …..
58. • If the daily drinking water requirement is 3
lits./head, the problem of annual drinking
water requirement of 9,000 people can easily
be solved
59. How did they locate
ancient reservoirs?
Kantale
Huruluwewa
Minneriya
Giritale
Parakrama Samudra
Maduruoya
Mapakadawewa
Udawalawa
Kalawewa &
Balaluwewa
150 m contour
Nachchaduwa
61. Nachchaduwa
Kanadarawewa
Vilachchiya
Kalawewa and
Balaluwewa
Huruluwewa
Network of tanks and streams in the form of cascades
Main factors for cascade formation:
1. Morphology (landscape)
• Lower elevation,
• Moderate undulation
2. Rainfall
• Bimodality
• ~1500 mm/ year
3. Soil and geology
• Regolith aquifers
• Low infiltration
• RBE – LHG
62. Tank clusters or cascades
Hydrology based definition
• A „cascade‟ is a connected series of tanks organized within a micro-catchment (meso
catchment) of the dry zone landscape, storing, conveying and utilizing water from an
ephemeral rivulet‟. – Madduma Bandara, 1985
Ecology based definition
• Tank cascade is an ecosystem,
where water and land resources
are organized within the micro-
catchments of the dry zone
landscape, providing basic needs
to human, floral and faunal
communities through water, soil,
air and vegetation with human
intervention on sustainable basis‟.
– Dharmasena, 2017
63. Distribution of tank
cascades in Sri Lanka
North and North
Central cascade zone
North Western
cascade zone
South and South
Eastern cascade zone
64. Tank clusters or cascades
Kendewa cascade
Kapiriggama cascade
Bandara Rathmale
cascade
Kallanchiya tank
65. Tank clusters or cascades
Mahakanumulla cascade
Thirappane cascade
Ulagalla cascade
66. We searched for a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System in Sri Lanka
67. Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS)
Food & Agriculture Organization declared Village Tank Cascade System
(VTCS) as the first Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System
(GIAHS) on 19th April 2019 in Sri Lanka. It is 39th in the World.
68. „Evergreen Agro-ecosystem‟ Concept
to reach net zero C level
• Cultivation of crops with different duration to keep green cover;
• Cultivation of crops leaving zero fallow period of the land;
• Farming models, which combine seasonal, semi-perennial and perennial
crops ensuring the green cover around the year;
• Green manure plants are grown as hedges with strict frequency of pruning;
• Shade management is adopted to minimize light competition and to
maintain the crop land with evergreen situation;
• Live fence is maintained with plants to create a stratification enabling to act
as wind barrier as well as favourable micro-climate in the crop field; and
• The farmer should have a field management schedule for his convenience
to ensure the sustainability of the agro-ecosystem
Some features are reflected from our traditional agriculture
69. Sanitary places of
women and kids
Sanitary places of men
Faeces as a nutrient source to paddy fields
A Self sustained System based on precise management of water
Lessons
for future
„Evergreen
Agro-
ecosystem‟
Concept
72. Agro-silvopastoral systems – Free roaming model
Traditional village ecosystem – Year around cattle grazing areas
paddy lands in
fallow period
Landa (to be
improved as
silvopastoral system)
Chena as Agro-
silvopastoral system
Lessons
for future
„Evergreen
Agro-
ecosystem‟
Concept
73. Multi-disciplinary
approach is required to
Probe the Unresolved
Mysteries of Ancient
Water Technology
Archaeology
Hydrology
Architecture
Anthropology
Geology
History