This document discusses various methods of irrigation classification. It divides irrigation methods into surface and subsurface categories. Surface methods include wild flooding, controlled flooding techniques like free flooding, contour laterals, border strip method, check flooding, basin flooding, zig zag method and furrow method. Subsurface methods discussed are natural subsurface irrigation, seepage channels and drip/trickle irrigation which will be covered in the next class. Common university exam questions on these topics are also provided.

1. WRE – I
UNIT‐ VI
UNIT
Prof S S
P f S S JAHAGIRDAR
BE (CIVIL), ME(ENV.),PhD(persuing)
NK Orchid college of Engg. and Tech. , Solapur
NK Orchid college of Engg and Tech Solapur

2. Contents
Types of irrigation methods

3. Classification of irrigation
Classification of irrigation
methods

4. A ) Wild Flooding
) g
Uncontrolled Flooding

5. Wild Flooding
d ood g
Water is applied by spreading on
land.
No preparation in the form of levees
or borders or ditches.
Water can be directly applied from
natural stream or river during flood.
natural stream or river during flood
Suitable for smooth and flat land.
Wastage of water .

6. B ) Controlled Flooding
B ) Controlled Flooding
1. Free flooding method

7. Free Flooding
ee ood g
Also known as irrigation by plots.
Water is spread on the land with
proper methods to control depth of
application.
All methods of controlled flooding
requires preparation of land .
requires preparation of land
Land is divided in to small strips by
p y
levees.

9. 2 Contour laterals
2. Contour laterals

10. Contour laterals
Co tou ate a s
pp p
Applicable for steeper terrain.
Field is divided in to small contour
laterals.
laterals
Spacing of contour laterals depend upon
p g p p
1. the prominent grade of the field
between two adjacent ditches or laterals,
between two adjacent ditches or laterals
2. the uniformity of slope and
y p
3. the soil type

11. 3. Border strip method
3 o de st p et od

13. Border strip method
o de st p et od
Farm is divided into series of strips
Width= 10 to 20 m
Length = 100 to 300 m
L th t
Strips are separated by levees
For applying water through supply
channel earth or concrete channel is
provided

16. 4. Check flooding

17. Check flooding
C ec ood g
Large stream discharges water into
relatively level plot surrounded by
levees or checks
Width of levees at the base = 2 to 3 m
Height = not more than 25 to 30 cm
high
Method is most suitable for permeable
p
soil as large amount of water is applied.

20. 5. Basin flooding

21. Basin Flooding
as ood g
Special form of check flooding
applied to orchards.
Basins are formed for each tree.
f df h
Water is supplied through a
W t i li d th h
supply ditch.
supply ditch
No. of basins can be
interconnected

25. 6. Zig zag method
6 g ag et od

26. Zig Zag method
g ag et od
Special method of flooding
Water takes circuitous path before
reaching dead end of plot.
reaching dead end of plot
Area is divided in to square or
q
rectangular plots.
Suitable for relatively level plot
S it bl f l ti l l l l t
Unsuitable for modern farming with
machinery.

27. 7. Furrow method

29. Furrow method
u o et od
Used for row crops like maize, jawar, sugarcane,
cotton, tobacco, ground nuts, potatoes etc.
cotton tobacco ground nuts potatoes etc
½ to 1/5 of surface is wetted therefore evaporation
losses are reduced.
l d d
Length of furrow varies from 3 m or less – for
gardens
As much as 500 m for fields crops.
5 p
Common length = 100 to 200 m.
No wastage of land
Less labour required

32. 8. Contour farming

34. Contour farming
Co tou a g
y p
Practiced in hilly areas with steep
slopes.
Field operations are done across
ld d
the slope instead of uphill or
downhill.
Strips are also known as terrace or
benches.
b h

36. C) Subsurface methods
)
1) Natural sub surface irrigation

37. * Water reaches below the land
surface from natural resources
f f l
such as streams, lakes, ponds etc.
such as streams lakes ponds etc
* Water seeping may raise the
Water seeping may raise the
water table and water may be
available for plants in the root
zone.
zone

38. 2) Seepage channels

39. Channels are spaced 15 to 100 m
apart.
apart
Depth of channel varies from 0.25
p
to 0.50 m.
Water table is maintained near the
W t t bl i i t i d th
root zone of the crop.

40. 3) Drip or trickle irrigation
To be covered in next class
along with sprinkler irrigation.
along with sprinkler irrigation

41. University questions
U e s ty quest o s
What is meant by surface and sub surface irrigation? What
yp y
are their types? Discuss briefly the various techniques used q
for distributing water in the farm.
(Nov 2009, 7 marks)
What is meant by ‘border flooding’? How does it differ from
‘check flooding’ and ‘free flooding’? Draw suitable sketches
to explain these methods.
to explain these methods
(Nov 2007 8 marks)
Discuss in brief various methods of surface irrigation.
(May 2007, 8 marks)
Write short not on ‘Furrow irrigation’
g
(Nov 2006, 4 marks)