AGEN 401 Irrigation II

https://drive.google.com/file/d/138ql3yBl8UdHrSjb1aztPvaxjSexHg42/view?usp=sharingAGEN 401: IRRIGATION II

2 CREDIT UNITS

Year: 2020/2021 Session

Lecturer: M. K. Othman (Professor of Irrigation Water Management), (B.Eng, M.Sc (Agric. Eng), M.Phil (Hydrology/ DEA, National d’Hydrologie: Science de l’Eau et de l’Env. Cont.) France, PhD (Agric. Eng), Adv. Dip.( French Lang), MNIAE, MNSE, FL)

Office: NAERLS, Block A, First Floor

COURSE OUTLINES & LECTURE NOTES

1. Review of Irrigation 

2. Design of Irrigation Systems:  Border, Furrow, Basin, Sprinkler and Trickle  

3. Mitigating Irrigation Problems: Seepage and Channel Lining, quality of irrigation water, salinity, sodicity and leaching requirements, reclamation of saline and sodic lands, and general problems of existing schemes in Nigeria. Farmer Participation in system management, aspects of feasibility studies for irrigation schemes.

Field Trip and Technical Report of the Trip

The class is required to undertake field trip to one or two selected irrigation projects on a study tour. Students are expected to thoroughly study the projects with respect to historical background, project performance (irrigation water management- conveyance, allocation, distribution and application, Cropping intensity, irrigation operation and maintenance, participation of water users association, marketing issues etc), challenges – infrastructure, technical, environmental, etc and way forward  

  Reference Books

1. Irrigation Theory and Practice by A. M. Michael

2. FAO Training Manuals on Irrigation and Water Managements

3. Technical Handbook No. 24 on Drip Irrigation by Isaya V. Sijali

4. Irrigation Engineering by A. Benami A. Ofen

5. Other lecture and training materials

Review of Irrigation

Definition

Irrigation is defined as the artificial supply/application of water to crops for their optimum growths and yield. There are other definitions more elaborate but with the same meaning

 

Objectives of Irrigation

• To produce quality crops through the supplemental or total supply of water required by crops to meet their evapotranspiration needs at various stages of growth

• To use the soil as a water storage reservoir without destroying its fertility and structure

• To ensure enough moisture essential for plant life

• To provide means of increasing food production in the country

• To provide employment during dry season period 

• To increase cropping intensity of farmland

• Etc

Status of Irrigation in the World

• By 1993, there were 1000 million ha under cultivation in the world, out of this number, about 200 million ha were under irrigation (Malvyn Kay, 1993)

• 95 % of the irrigated land cultivated using surface irrigation methods

• In 1980, 206.88 million ha were cultivated under irrigation and the area was increased to 255.46 million ha (21 % increase by 1995)

• From that year (1995), the irrigated area was expected to increase by 19 % in the next 15 years (i. e. 2010)