AEN 402: Principles and Practices of Farm Water Management
Credit Hours: 3 (2+1)
Full Marks: 75 (Theory: 50, Practical: 25)
Course Objectives
Upon completion, students will be able to:
- Understand principles and practices of irrigation and drainage systems.
- Determine crop water requirements and consumptive use.
- Analyze soil-water-plant relationships and irrigation scheduling.
- Learn irrigation methods, farm water measurement, and canal structures.
- Understand drainage systems and reclamation of problematic soils.
- Assess farmers’ managed irrigation and drainage technologies in Nepal.
I. Syllabus
- Irrigation Water Resources: Introduction to irrigation in Nepal, irrigation and drainage systems, environmental impacts.
- Soil-Water-Plant Relationship: Soil moisture constants, infiltration, percolation, seepage, hydraulic conductivity.
- Evapotranspiration & Crop Water Requirements: Potential ET, crop coefficient, seasonal ET, effective rainfall, duty of water, delta.
- Irrigation Scheduling: Depth and frequency, deficit irrigation, indicators, crop planning, current farmer practices.
- Irrigation Methods: Surface, sub-surface, overhead (sprinkler), drip/trickle; efficiency and performance evaluation.
- Open Channels and Water Measurement: Float method, current meter, weirs, Parshall & Cutthroat flumes.
- Canal Structures: Water control, erosion control, channel crossings.
- Irrigation Pumps: Types, selection, performance, characteristic curves, affinity laws.
- Drainage Systems: Waterlogging causes/effects, land drainage, classification, benefits, surface/closed drains.
- Land Reclamation: Saline, alkali, and saline-alkali soils.
II. Course Outline
| S.N. | Topic | No. of Lectures |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Concept of irrigation and drainage water management; objectives, advantages, disadvantages | 2 |
| 2 | Introduction to irrigation water resources in Nepal, systems, environmental impacts, farmers’ managed irrigation | 1 |
| 3 | Soil-Water-Plant Relationship: Classes of soil water, moisture constants, infiltration, percolation, hydraulic conductivity | 3 |
| 4 | Potential Evapotranspiration (PET), evapotranspiration, crop coefficient, crop water requirement, estimation methods | 3 |
| 5 | Water requirements of crops: NIR, FIR, GIR, duty of water, delta | 3 |
| 6 | Irrigation scheduling: Depth, frequency, deficit irrigation, indicators, crop planning | 3 |
| 7 | Farm irrigation methods: Surface, subsurface, sprinkler, drip/trickle; performance evaluation | 5 |
| 8 | Open channel and measurement of irrigation water: Float method, weirs, flumes | 3 |
| 9 | Canal structures: Water control, erosion control, channel crossing structures | 2 |
| 10 | Irrigation pumps: Types, selection, centrifugal pump performance | 2 |
| 11 | Drainage systems, waterlogging, land reclamation, saline/alkali soils | 3 |
| Total | 30 |
Practical Topics
| S.N. | Topic | No. of Practicals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Measurement of soil moisture (Gravimetric, Tensiometer, Soil Moisture Meter, Feel & Appearance) | 2 |
| 2 | Determination of soil moisture constants (SC, FC, PWP, UW) | 2 |
| 3 | Measurement of infiltration rate (Single/Double ring infiltrometer, Kostiakov formula) | 2 |
| 4 | Determination of evapotranspiration using field and empirical methods (Penman, Blaney-Criddle, USWB Class A pan, lysimeter) | 3 |
| 5 | Study of farm irrigation methods (furrow, check basin, sprinkler, drip, advanced techniques) | 2 |
| 6 | Assessment of field water losses: seepage, percolation, runoff | 1 |
| 7 | Measurement of flow in open channels using float, weirs, flumes, orifices | 2 |
| 8 | Field visit to irrigation and drainage systems | 1 |
| Total | 15 |
References
- A.M. Michael. (1997). Irrigation Theory and Practice. Vikas Publishing House, New Delhi.
- B.C. Punmia & B.B. Pande. (1990). Irrigation and Water Power Engineering. XI Ed. Standard Publishers, Delhi.
- G.N. Shankara Reddi & T. Yellamanda Reddy. (1995). Efficient Use of Irrigation Water. Kalyani Publishers, New Delhi.
- P.N. Modi. (2000). Irrigation Water Resources and Water Power Engineering. IV Ed. Standard Book House, Delhi.
- R.K. Sharma & T.K. Sharma. (2002). Irrigation Engineering. S. Chand & Company, New Delhi.
