UNIVERSITY OF GHANA

AREN 404 –IRRIGATION AND

DRAINAGE ENGINEERING
ASSIGNMENT 1

SUBMITTED BY:
EDWARD APPENTENG MENSAH
ID: 10582195

LECTURER: DR E.Y KRA

SOLUTIONS
Q1.a) Reference evapotranspiration rate = 5mm/day – 6.2mm/day

Kc = 1.10.

Peak ETc = 1.10 x 6.2mm/day = 6.82mm/day

Q1.b) dnet = AWC x RZD x P

= 120mm/m x 1m x 0.45

= 54mm

Volume of water needed = Area x depth of water application

= 8ha x 54mm = 80000 m 2 x 0.054m = 4,320 m 3

Q1.c) Clayey soils naturally able to retain significantly higher quantities of water compared to
loamy soils. Water attaches itself to the clay particles strongly and increases the metric
potential of the soil. As a result, the plant roots find it difficult to extract water for use and
hence wilt. From another angle, chances of waterlogging corresponds respectively.
Waterlogging in clayey soils result in oxygen deficiency and ultimately causes the plants to wilt.
On the other hand, plants will survive longer in a loamy soil with a lower moisture content by
developing adventitious roots to maintain water and nutrient intake balance.

Q2.a)
Given Data
Discharge rate(Q) = 0.25L/s
Diameter of throw = 32m
Nozzle pressure = 350KPa

πd
2
π (32 m)2
Area of sprinkler application = = = 804.25 m2 = 804250000 mm2
4 4
Precipitation rate = Discharge/Area
0.25 L /S 0.000000001mm 3 x 3600 s
= x = 1.119 mm/hr
804250000mm 2 1 L X 1 hr
 0.25 L/S 0.000000001mm 3 x 3600 s
Q2.b) 2 x =6.25 mm/hr
144 x 1000000 mm 1 L X 1 hr

Q2.c) The precipitation rate for this sprinkler (6.25mm/hr ) exceeds the basic infiltration
rate(5mm/hr) and will result in an excess of 1.25mm in an hour. Thus the energy used in
metering out the excess is wasted so the sprinkler is not suitable.

Q3. Data
Peak water requirement = 7.3mm/day

Maximum rooting depth (RZD) = 1.5m

Field area = 500m x 400m = 200000 m 2 = 20ha

Water holding capacity of soil = 140mm/m

Soil moisture deficit = 0.50

System efficiency = 78% = 0.78

Field slope = 1%

a) d net = 140mm/m x 0.50 x 1.5m = 105mm

105 m m
b) d gross = = 134.61mm
0.78

d net 105 mm
c) Actual Irrigation interval = = =14.384
Peak water requirement 7.3 mm /day
days =14days.
Maximum irrigation interval is 14.384 days.
Adjustments need to be made for the rundown of irrigation interval
d net = IF x Wu = 14 x 7.3 = 102.2mm
d net = AWC x RZD x P
 102.2 mm
d net
P = = 140 mm = 0.4867 = 48.67%
AWC x RZD x 1.5 m
m

d) Irrigation interval is 14 days which is the equivalent of 336 hours. The irrigation cycle can be
adjusted to leave extra days for other cultural practices on the field.

e) The system will work for 20 hours on operating days.

10 A x d gross 10 x 20 ha x 134.61
f) Peak system capacity(Q) = = =93.87 m 3 /hr
IF x T x Ns 14.34 days x 20
10 x 20 ha x 134.61
g) Actual system capacity = = 96.15 m 3 /hr
14 days x 20