Design and evaluation of check basin irrigation system using SURDEV software model

Abstract

Internat. J. agric. Engg., 9(2) Oct., 2016 : irrigation systems (furrow, border and basin). This software are good for research and design but are still lacking in the step wise design process which are very essential for student learning. Software for the design and evaluation of surface irrigation systems (furrow, border and basin) along with the design of water conveyance systems (open channel and pipe line) is developed to assist users in educational and research organizations. The software named as 'SIDES' is developed using Visual Basic 6 programming language. The developed software for the design of surface irrigation systems is based on the volume balance approach and is tested using the available published datasets. Results obtained using the SIDES matched well with the published datasets for all the designs. Besides the design parameters at maximum application efficiency, SIDES also provides detailed tabular and step wise design results. (Sirisha et al., 2014). SIDES uses two point method (Elliott and Walker, 1982) for evaluation of Kostiakov-Lewis infiltration parameters (k and a). In SIDES, windows for the evaluation of the Kostiakov-Lewis infiltration model parameters for furrow, border and basin irrigation systems were developed. The design and evaluation of basin irrigation system under different conditions: soil type-light, medium and heavy; stream size-10, 20, 30 and 60 Ips; length-60,120, 150 and 240 m. The outputs of BASDEV provided optimum field dimensions for irrigating the small-drilled grain crops. Rectangular basins of 60 m length and 5-8 m width should be preferred for different flow rates in light soils. In medium soils, basin lengths of 90 m at lower flow rates and 120 m for higher flow rates should be selected. Maximum water application efficiency can be achieved in heavy soils. Square basins should be preferred only in heavy soils (Kaur and Gulati, 2005). Border irrigation method is used to irrigate most ofthe field crops. Accurate design and high quality optimization of the border irrigation system is necessary for efficient and judicious use of water resources (Rajan et al., 2007). Field trials in India have shown that basin irrigation is practicing and suitable in most areas of the country. Water is retained in the basin until it soaks into the soil. The size, shape and width of basins is mainly determined by the land slope, soil type, available discharge, required depth of irrigation application and farming practices (Brouwer et al., 1988). In farmer's fields, by and large surface irrigation is practiced where efficiency seldom exceeds 50 per cent. The design of surface irrigation systems requires many input parameters and needs intensive engineering calculations (Khanjani and Barani, 1999). Success of the techniques depends on a proper design and operation of surface irrigation systems at field level, to help farmers achieve good crop yields, use precious water resources more efficiently and limit water logging and salinization. A great potential for better utilization of basin irrigation system is possible by adopting accurate design that can result in higher efficiency. Through the advanced irrigation systems like micro, central pivot irrigation systems provide the highest efficiency in developing nations, majority of agricultural land area is still cultivated under surface irrigation methods only. Paddy is grown under check basin irrigations systems which consume more water. Any measure contributing slight saving in paddy will yield in large saving of water in any country. The present study is taken up to design and evaluate the basin irrigation system for sandy loam soils of Bapatla and cross verify with the BASDEV module of SURDEV model. METHODOLOGY Already existing basin irrigation plots with medium soil (sandy loam) available in Agricultural College Farm, Bapatla, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh were selected for the present study. The check basin irrigation system fields were of size 30 m × 45 m, for an irrigation application depth of 75 mm with a stream size of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 and 90 lps. SURDEV software : SURDEV (Jurriens et al., 2001) is a computer package for the design, operation and evaluation of surface irrigation system. The SURDEV computer package was developed by the International Institute for Land Reclamation and Improvement (ILRI), presently Alterra, Wageningen. The package enables the user to simulate many of the problems involved in the practice of all the three surface irrigation methods. In addition to simulations, SURDEV performs calculations of the optimal flow rates, field lengths, cutoff times, minimum and maximum depth of irrigation necessary in surface-irrigation situations.