Principles and Practices of Irrigation Management Dr.
Shiva Kumar Jha
Chapter ~ 5
IRRIGATION SCHEDULING
Introduction to Irrigation Scheduling
It is the process of determining when to irrigate, how much water to apply in crop field. Proper
irrigation scheduling is necessary for proper utilization of irrigation water. Irrigation scheduling
helps to save water and energy gives higher production and reduces production cost. Irrigation
scheduling are affecting by crop water need, storage capacity of root zone, capacity of water
reservoir. Thus, irrigation scheduling helps supply water in the crop field at sufficient amount and
in required time to get the optimum crop production. Estimation of depth and frequency of irrigation
on the basis of soil moisture regime concept. We should allow soil moisture depleted upto optimum
level only. Optimum level is the soil moisture depletion upto which moisture depleted to root zone
without affect in crop production.
5.1 Irrigation Efficiencies
Efficiency is the ratio of the water output to the water input, and is usually expressed as
percentage. Input minus output water is nothing but losses, and hence, if losses are more, output
is less, and therefore, efficiency is less. Hence, efficiency is inversely proportional to the
irrigation water losses. Water is loss in irrigation during various process such as in; water
conveyance, water application, water storage and water uses, therefore, there are different kinds
of irrigation efficiencies, as given below:
5.1.1 Water-conveyance Efficiency (c):
This term is used to measure the efficiency of water conveyance systems associated with
the canal network, water courses and field channels.
= × 100
Where,
Wf = Water delivered into the fields from the output point of the channel
Wd = Water entering into the channel at its starting point
5.1.2 Water – application Efficiency (a):
After the water reaches the field supply channel, it is important to apply the water as
efficiently as possible. Water application efficiencies below 100% are due to seepage losses
from the field distribution channels and deep percolation below the crop root zone and some
time, there may be runoff losses at the tail end of borders and furrows.
= × 100
Where,
Ws = Quantity of water stored into the root zone of the crops
Wf = Quantity of water actually delivered into the field
5.1.3 Water – storage Efficiency (s):
The concept of water stored efficiency relates how completely the water needed prior to
irrigation has been stored in the root zone during irrigation.
= × 100
!
Where, Ws = Water stored in the root zone during irrigation
Wn = Water needed in the root zone prior to irrigation (i.e. field capacity –
existing moisture content)
45
Chapter ~ 5 Irrigation Scheduling
5.1.4 Water use efficiency:
The water utilized by the crop is generally described in terms of water use efficiency (kg/ha-
cm or t/ha-cm). It can be defined in two ways;
i. Crop water use efficiency: It is the ratio of crop yield (Y) to the amount of water
depleted by the crop in the process of evapotranspiration (ET).
$
"# =
%
ii. Field water use efficiency: It is the ratio of crop yield (Y) to the total amount of water
used in the field (WR).
$
& '( "# =
)
5.1.5 Uniformity coefficient or Water distribution efficiency
Not only the application of the right amount of water to the field but also its uniform
distribution over the field is important. Thus, effectiveness of irrigation may also be
measured by its water distribution efficiency (d) as defined below;
'
= *1 − - × 100
,
Where,
d = Water distribution efficiency
D = Mean depth of water stored during irrigation
d = Average of the absolute (numerical) values of deviations from the mean D
5.2 Irrigation Frequency
Irrigation frequency refers to the number of days between irrigations during periods without
rainfall. It is a function of crop, soil and climate. Thus, it depends on;
i. The consumptive use rate of a crop
ii. The amount of available moisture in the crop root zone
Sandy soils must be irrigated more often than fine-textured deep soils. Moisture use rate varies
with the kind of crop and climatic conditions and increases as the crop grows larger and the
days become longer and hotter. In general, irrigation should start when about 50% and not over
60% of the available moisture has been used from the zone in which most of the roots are
concentrated.
In designing irrigation systems, the irrigation frequency to be used is the time (in days) between
two irrigations in the period of highest consumptive use of the crops grown. The average
moisture-use rate during this period is used to plan irrigation system.
& ' ℎ # ℎ
1 −2 # " ℎ # 3 1
ℎ 3 #
. & /" ' =
4 5 ' 3 # " "#
5.3 Irrigation Period
Irrigation period is the number of days that can be allowed for applying one irrigation to a given
design area during the peak consumptive use period of the crop being irrigated. It is the basis
for irrigation system capacity and equipment design. The irrigation system must be so designed
that the irrigation period is not greater than the irrigation frequency.
6 3 " 3 #" # 7 ( #
' ( 3 3 #" '
. 4 ' ' # =
4 5 ' 3 # " "#
46
Principles and Practices of Irrigation Management Dr. Shiva Kumar Jha
5.4 Depth of Irrigation (Optimum Utilization of Irrigation Water)
If a crop is sown and produced under absolute identical conditions, using
different amounts of water depths, the yield is found to vary. The yield
increases with water, reaches a certain maximum value and then falls
down, as shown in Fig. 5.1. The quantity of water at which
the yield is maximum, is called the optimum water depth. Fig. 5.1 Water Depth Vs Yield
5.5 Irrigation Requirement
Irrigation requirement is the total quantity of water applied to the land surface in supplement to
the water supplied through rainfall and soil profile to meet the water needs of crops for optimum
growth.
.) = ) − )8 +
Where,
IR = Irrigation requirement
WR = Total water requirement of crops for optimum production
Re = Effective rainfall
S = Soil water contribution
5.5.1 Net Irrigation Requirement:
It is the amount (depth, d) of irrigation water required to bring the soil moisture level in the
effective root zone to field capacity. Thus, it is the difference between the field capacity and
the soil moisture content in the root zone before starting irrigation.
!
;2 <− 2=< >
'= : × A< × ,<
100
<?@
Where,
d = Net depth of water to be applied during an irrigation, cm
Mfci = Field capacity moisture content in the ith layer of the soil, percent (%)
Mbi = Moisture content before irrigation in the ith layer of the soil, percent (%)
i = Bulk density of the soil in the ith layer
Di = Depth of the ith soil layer, cm within the root zone, and
n = Number of soil layers in the root zone D
In drawing up the seasonal or monthly net irrigation requirement for a given crop or
cropping pattern the main variables composing the field water balance include;
i. Crop water requirements as determined by climate and crop characteristics,
ii. Contribution from precipitation
iii. Ground water contribution
iv. Carry-over of soil water.
The deficit in the soil water balance is compensated by the net irrigation requirement.
5.5.2 Gross Irrigation Requirement:
The total amount of water applied through irrigation is termed as ‘gross irrigation
requirement’. In other words, it is the net irrigation requirement plus losses in water
application and other losses.
6 /" 3
B ## /" 3 ' =
& ' # # 3
47
Chapter ~ 5 Irrigation Scheduling
Example:
The gross irrigation requirement (GIR) at the field head, for instance, can be determined as;
!
'
B.) = :
@
Where,
d = Net amount of water to be applied at each irrigation, cm
a = Water application efficiency, and
n = number of irrigations in a season.
5.5.3
5.6 Irrigation Scheduling based on Idicators:
Irrigation scheduling is the decision of when
and how much water to apply to a field. Its
purpose is to maximize irrigation efficiencies
by applying the exact amount of water
needed to replenish the soil moisture to the
desired level. Irrigation scheduling saves
water and energy. All irrigation scheduling
procedures consists of monitoring indicators
that determine the need for irrigation. These
indicators may be;
i. Soil indicator
ii. Plant indicator
iii. Climatic indicator
5.6.1 Soil as Indicators for Irrigation
Different level of soil moisture trigger irrigation. Sandy soils must be irrigated more often than
fine-textured deep soils. In general, irrigation should start when available soil water content
depleted to about 50% to 60% within the zone in which most of the roots are concentrated. Soil
moisture content to trigger irrigation depends on the irrigator’s goal and strategy to maximize
the yield.
According to this concept the water content at field capacity (upper limit of the regime) was
considered as 100 % available for crop growth and that the permanent wilting point as 0%
available. The safe limit of allowable soil water depletion (the lower limit of the regime) for a
crop was determined by experimentation and it was taken as a criterion for irrigation scheduling.
This approach worked well under a given soil and climatic conditions. For quick measurement
of soil moisture following method can be adopted;
i. Fell and Appearance: It is the method of estimating water deficit in the soil sample by
feeling the soil (Squeezing soil between thumb & forefinger to form ribbon or squeezing
to form ball or irregular shape etc) and judging the soil moisture.
ii. Depletion of available soil moisture: In this method the permissible depletion level of
available soil moisture in the effective crop root zone depth is commonly taken as an
index.
DE % FG8 HI8 J.G % =L MNOHP8
% , = DE %FQRQ %
× 100
Volumetric soil moisture content can be determined by using different type of sensor-
based soil moisture meters or can be use gravimetric method to measure S.M.C.
iii. Soil Moisture Tension: Soil moisture tension as monitored by tensiometers at a specific
depth in crop root zone could also be used as an index for irrigation scheduling.
48
Principles and Practices of Irrigation Management Dr. Shiva Kumar Jha
5.6.2 Plant as Indicators for Irrigation:
The plant indices approaches are;
i. Visual plant symptoms: In this method the visual signs of plants
are used as an index for scheduling irrigations. For instance,
plant wilting, dropping, curling and rolling of leaves in maize
is used as indicators for scheduling irrigation. Change in
foliage colour and leaf angle is used to time irrigation in beans.
Water stress in some crops leads to appearance of carotenoid
(yellow and orange colour) and anthocyanin pigments.
ii. Soil cum sand mini-plot or profile medication technique: In this technique, water
holding capacity of soil profile (i.e. in effective root zone depth) is reduced
artificially in the mini-plot (1m x 1m x 1m) by mixing sand (about 5% by volume)
with it. When this is done plants growing on the sand mixed plot show wilting
symptoms earlier than in the rest of the field.
iii. Plant population: Increase in plant population by 1.5 to 2 times that of optimum.
This result in dropping or wilting of plants earlier, which can be taken as an
indication of water deficits and accordingly irrigations are scheduled to crops
iv. Growth rate: Growth of a plant is dependent on turgor, which is turn is dependent
on a favorable soil water balance. So, fluctuations in the water balance are reflected
by parallel fluctuations in the growth rate of expanding organs.
v. Relative water content (RWC): This concept was proposed by Weatherly (1950)
vi. Plant water potential: Can be measured by pressure chamber. Low potential means
greater need of irrigation. It depends on plant age, exposure to radiation, day length.
vii. Canopy temperature: High canopy temperature than its surrounding indicates
necessity of irrigation.
viii. Indicator plants: In wheat, scheduling irrigation on the basis of wilting symptoms in
maize and sunflower gave the highest grain yields.
ix. Critical growth stages: The crop plants in their life cycle pass through various phases
of growth, some of which are critical for water supply. The most critical stage of
crop growth is one at which a high degree of water stress would cause maximum
loss in yield.
5.6.3 Climate as Indicators for Irrigation
The potential rate of water loss from a crop is primarily a function of evaporative demand
of the atmosphere. In this method the water loss expressed in terms of either potential
evapotranspiration (PET) or cumulative pan evaporation (CPE). Prihar et al. (1974)
advocated irrigation scheduling on the basis of ratio between the depth of irrigation (IW)
and cumulative evaporation (CEP). However, the criterion does not take into consideration
the critical growth stages for irrigation.
49
Chapter ~ 5 Irrigation Scheduling
5.7 Crop Planning for Irrigation Scheduling
Crop planning is one of the major steps in making an irrigation plan and its proper scheduling.
At the beginning of the production cycle, farmers must decide which crops they are going to
plant in each one of their parcels. It is one of the most complex decisions, since it is impacted
by the spatial variability of the physical and chemical soil properties within each parcel. Soil
variability directly affects crop pattern choice because it has great impact on water balance,
nutrient dynamics, and response to the application of inputs (seeds and fertilizers).
In this way, the irrigator must know, which crop should they planted first and what should be
the crop rotation. The irrigator must know how to manage the irrigation system and crop
rotations to minimize potential problems. The irrigator must be aware of agronomic practices
that favor irrigation and are crop specific such as proper hybrid selection, row widths,
appropriate plant populations, high fertilizer requirement and split application of fertilizer to
minimize leaching potential. Irrigated crop water management is extremely important to prevent
yield loss due to moisture stress, minimize pumping costs and prevent leaching of nutrients.
As we know, different crops have varying water requirement at different growth stages. Thus,
by understanding their crop’s specific water needs, farmers can adjust irrigation schedules
accordingly. Early-stage crops may require more frequent but lighter irrigation, while
established crops may need deeper, less frequent watering.
5.8 Farmers Methods for Irrigation Scheduling
The most common irrigation scheduling methods used by growers are:
i. Scheduling according to the calendar (i.e. number of days since the last irrigation)
ii. Looking at the crop for color changes
iii. Digging in the field and feeling the soil to estimate soil moisture.
iv. Irrigate at critical growth stages of their particular crops
v. Take support of expert: Call agriculture advisory group, receive mobile SMS alert,
agriculture bulletin, use of related web technologies etc.
vi. Some advance farmers may use following method for irrigation scheduling;
50
Principles and Practices of Irrigation Management Dr. Shiva Kumar Jha
Final Examination Questions
S.N. Year Q.N. Question Marks
1 3
2 3
3 3
4 3
5 10
4 5
5 3
6 3
51
