Kathmandu University
Department of Geomatics Engineering
Presenter
Irrigation and its types
Bishal Khatri
Anju Lage
Monika Manandhar
Lalit Mandal
Kavi Raj Mishra
Ananya Neupane
Dipesh Panday
Gorakh Nath Pandey
Prawal Parajuli
Sagar Pathak

Irrigation
• The agricultural process of
applying controlled
amounts of water
• a central feature of
agriculture for over 5000
years, the basis of the
economy and society of
numerous societies
• The controlled application
of water for agricultural
purpose not satisfied by
rainfall https://agricultureguruji.com/
5/3/2022

Kathmandu University
Department of Geomatics Engineering
Types of Irrigation
Irrigation
Sub Surface
irrigation
Sprinkler
Irrigation
Surface
Irrigation
Flooding
Wild
flooding
Controlled
flooding
Free
flooding
Contour
flooding
Border strip
flooding
Check
flooding
Basin
flooding
Zig Zag
flooding
Contour
Farming
Furrow
Method
Contour
farming
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Surface Irrigation
• Method where water is
applied and distributed over
the soil surface by gravity
• Most common method of
irrigation
Advantages:
• Minimum understanding is
needed for operation and
maintenance
• Good for soil of low to medium
infiltration capacity .
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https://www.geo.fu-berlin.de/

Types of Surface Irrigation
1.Furrow Method
• Conducted by creating small parallel
channels in the direction of predominant
slope
• Water is applied at the top end of each
furrow and the water flows by gravity
Advantages
• Evaporation loss is small
• Furrow also serve as drainage
• Permits the cultivation sooner after
irrigation
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www.agefotostock.com

Types of Surface Irrigation
2. Contour farming
• Practice of filling sloped land along
lines of consistent elevation
• Conserves the rainwater and reduce
soil losses from surface erosion
Advantages
• 1. Good control on irrigation water
and application efficiency
• 2. Wastage of water and soil erosion
is reduced
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https://www.ucbmsh.org/

Types of Surface Irrigation
3. Flooding
• Ancient method of
irrigating crops
• The soil is kept submerged
and thoroughly flooded
with water
Advantages
• Runoff water can be
utilized.
• Low maintenance cost https://www.mississippi-crops.com/
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Types of flooding
1.Wild flooding
• Water is spread or flooded
into the field without control
of water
• Also known as uncontrolled
flooding
• Suitability
• Suitable for inundation
irrigation system, pastures
and forage crops.
https://dailycivil.com/
5/3/2022

Kathmandu University
Department of Geomatics Engineering
Types of flooding
2. Controlled flooding
• Water is applied to the land in a controlled manner
• Proper control in the flow and quantity of water
• Sub-divided into six types
 free flooding
border flooding
Check flooding
 Basin flooding
Contour laterals
Zig-zag method
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Types of controlled flooding
http://technicaltheory.blogspot.com/
Contour Flooding
https://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/
Free flooding
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Controlled flooding contd.
https://www.fao.org/
Border Strip flooding
https://apps.who.int/
Check flooding
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Controlled flooding contd.
https://www.1001artificialplants.com/
https://www.brainkart.com/
Basin flooding
Zig-zag flooding
5/3/2022

Kathmandu University
Department of Geomatics Engineering
Sub-Surface Irrigation
• water is applied beneath the land surface
• moisture reaches the plant roots through capillary action
The subsurface irrigation can be classified as:
a) Natural subsurface irrigation
• leakage water from sources of water such as streams, lakes, etc.
• irrigation using capillarity action
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Kathmandu University
Department of Geomatics Engineering
b) Artificial subsurface irrigation
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• Done by construction of series of ditches
• Pipe distribution system is placed in the
soil well below the surface
• Depth of pipes should not be less than 40
cm
• Evaporation loss is minimized
• Highly costly while installing pipes and
ditches
Fig:- Artificial subsurface Irrigation

Sprinkler Irrigation
● Sprinkler Irrigation is a method of
applying irrigation water which is
similar to natural rainfall.
● Water is distributed through a system
of pipes usually by pumping.
● Water under pressure is carried and
sprayed into the air above the crop through a system.

Types of sprinkler irrigation system
● On the basis of the arrangement for spraying irrigation water , Sprinkler
system are classified as:
Rotating head system Perforated pipe system

Uses of Sprinkler Irrigation
● industrial and agriculture usage.
● It is useful on uneven land where sufficient water is not available as
well as sandy soil.
● Used for cooling and for the control of airborne dust

Advantages of Irrigation:
● Increase in crop yield
● Economical Benefits

Advantages of Irrigation:
● Rescue in dry years:
Remove the deficiency in crops production caused due to inadequate rainfall
During dry seasons.
● Improves soil fertility:
Preserves the structure of topsoil and provide continuous moisture to the soil.
● Generating hydro electricity
● Increase value of land
● Lessen risk of catastrophic damage caused by drought

Disadvantages of Irrigation
1. Water logging
2. Salinity and alkalinity of land
3. Ill aeration of soil
4. Pollution of underground water
5. Initial cost of some irrigation is high
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Irrigation in Nepal
• Public sector irrigation development in Nepal took place only in 1950s.
Only two public sector irrigation systems were constructed before 1950.
One is known as Chandra Nahar (Canal) which was constructed in 1923.
The other is Judha Nahar which was constructed in 1940.
• In late 1980s, the Ministry of Panchyat and Local Development (MPLD)
supported irrigation component and Farm Irrigation Water Utilization
Division (FIWUD) were merged with Department of Irrigation.
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Irrigation in Nepal
• Being geographically diverse, different irrigation systems are in
practice in the context of Nepal.
• Government of Nepal has formulated a policy to develop and
amplify the use of different types of irrigation system like surface
and subsurface irrigation system, lift irrigation system(new
technology).
• The irrigation potential of the country has been estimated at
2,177,800 ha, including some 412,000 ha which are not
cultivated, mainly in the Terai area. This potential is mainly for
surface irrigation.
• But some 352,050 ha are potentially irrigable from groundwater
in the Terai region(292,600 ha (83 %) from shallow tube-wells
and 59,450 ha (17 %) from deep tube-wells (FAO 2009).
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Irrigation in Nepal
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• In context of Nepal, Lift irrigation technology is new. It is used when
there is water availability in lower elevation than the command area.
• This scheme must accomplish two main tasks:
first, to carry water by means of pumps or other ways, from the water source to
the main delivery chamber or reservoir tank, which is situated at the top most
point of the command area.
The second task is to distribute the lifted water from reservoir to the field of the
farmers by means of suitable and proper distribution networks.

Kathmandu University
Department of Geomatics Engineering
Conclusion
• Irrigation has been a powerful force in fostering development in many
countries like Nepal
• The gross value added in agriculture expected to increase by 2.6 percent
and agricultural contribution remain 25.8 percent in current fiscal year
2020/21.
• The production of paddy has increased by 1.3 percent in the current fiscal
year
• A total of 4,263 hectares of land has being irrigated through the addition
of 952 small irrigation schemes. The scheme has provided irrigation
facilities to 9,378.6 hectares of land.
• Solar irrigation facility has extended to 62 places and has been providing
irrigation facility to 279 hectares of land.
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Kathmandu University
Department of Geomatics Engineering
Conclusion
• By mid-March of fiscal year 2020/21, irrigation facilities are estimated to
have reached to a total of 1,503,367 hectares of land including the added
15,508 hectares of irrigated land, which comprises 10,843 hectares
surface and 4,665 hectares underground irrigation facilities
• Sikta Irrigation Project, Rani Jamara Kulariya Irrigatio, Bheri Babai
Diversion Multipurpose project, Mahakali Irrigation Project (III phase),
Sunkoshi Marin Diversion Multipurpose Project, Babai Irrigation Project
etc.
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Kathmandu University
Department of Geomatics Engineering
Thank You!!!
5/3/2022