Mulching & Drip Irrigation System Design For

Mango Plantation In 1 Acre Field

Presented by :- Satyajeet Sahu , Mahendra Sahu , Rohit Thakre , Vaidehi Verma

Meenakshi Sahu & Jyotsana Patel .

Swami Vivekanand College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology

& Research Station
Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur (C.G.)
• INTRODUCTION:-

Drip irrigation is a type of micro irrigation system that has the

potential to save water and nutrients by allowing water to drip
slowly to the roots of plants, either from above the soil surface or
buried below the surface.

The goal is to place water directly into the root zone and
minimize evaporation.

Drip irrigation systems distribute water through a network

of valves, pipes, tubing, and emitters.

Depending on how well designed, installed, maintained, and

operated it is, a drip irrigation system can be more efficient than
other types of irrigation systems, such as surface irrigation or
sprinkler irrigation.
Components
Components used in drip irrigation (listed in order from water source) include:

 Head Control Unit.

*Pump or pressurized water source

*Water filter(s) or filtration systems:
*Sand separator,
*Fertigation systems (Venturi injector)
*Backwash controller (Backflow prevention device)
*Pressure Control Valve (pressure regulator)

 Distribution lines.

*Main pipe line

*Sub-Main pipe lines
*Laterals.
*Pipe fittings & Accessories
*Hand-operated, electronic, or hydraulic control valves and safety valves

 Emitting devices at plants.

*Emitter or dripper, micro spray head, online dripper or inline drip tube
General layout of Drip Irrigation System
Advantages of Drip Irrigation :

 Fertilizer and nutrient loss is minimized due to a localized application and reduced
leaching.
 Water application efficiency is high if managed correctly.
 Field leveling is not necessary.
 Fields with irregular shapes are easily accommodated.
 Recycled non-potable water can be safely used.
 Moisture within the root zone can be maintained at field capacity.
 Soil type plays a less important role in the frequency of irrigation.
 Soil erosion is lessened.
 Weed growth is lessened.
 Water distribution is highly uniform, controlled by the output of each nozzle.
 Labour cost is less than other irrigation methods.
 Variation in supply can be regulated by regulating the valves and drippers.
 Fertigation can easily be included with minimal waste of fertilizers.
Disadvantages of drip irrigation are:
Initial cost can be more than overhead systems.

The sun can affect the tubes used for drip irrigation, shortening their lifespan.

If the water is not properly filtered and the equipment not properly maintained,
it can result in clogging or bio clogging.

For subsurface drip the irrigator cannot see the water that is applied. This may
lead to the farmer either applying too much water (low efficiency) or an
insufficient amount of water, this is particularly common for those with less
experience with drip irrigation.

Waste of water, time and harvest, if not installed properly.

 Most drip systems are designed for high efficiency, meaning little or no
leaching fraction. Without sufficient leaching, salts applied with the
irrigation water may build up in the root zone, usually at the edge of the
wetting pattern.

 Drip irrigation avoids the high capillary potential of traditional surface-

applied irrigation, which can draw salt deposits up from deposits below.

 The PVC pipes often suffer from rodent damage, requiring replacement of
the entire tube and increasing expenses.

 Drip irrigation systems cannot be used for damage control by night frosts
(like in the case of sprinkler irrigation systems)
Uses:
 Drip irrigation is used in farms , commercial greenhouses, and
residential gardeners.

 Drip irrigation is adopted extensively in areas of acute water scarcity and

especially for crops and trees such as coconuts, containerized landscape
trees, grapes, bananas, ber, eggplant, citrus, strawberries, sugarcane, cotton,
maize, and tomatoes.

 Drip irrigation for garden available in drip kits are increasingly popular for the
homeowner and consist of a timer, hose and emitter.

 Hoses that are 4 mm in diameter are used to irrigate flower pots.

 Mulch
 A mulch is a layer of material applied to the surface of soil. Reasons for
applying mulch include conservation of soil moisture, improving fertility and
health of the soil, reducing weed growth and enhancing the visual appeal of the
area.

 A mulch is usually, but not exclusively, organic in nature. It may be permanent

(e.g. plastic sheeting) or temporary (e.g. bark chips). It may be applied to bare
soil or around existing plants. Mulches of manure or compost will be
incorporated naturally into the soil by the activity of worms and other
organisms. The process is used both in commercial crop production and in
gardening, and when applied correctly, can dramatically improve soil
productivity.
 Mulching is a soil and water conserving and weed management practise
in which any suitable material is used to spread over the groung between
rows of crops or around the tree trunks.

 This practice helps to retain soil moisture, prevents weed growth and
enhances soil structure.
Ways/Types of Mulching

 Surface mulching:- mulches are spread on surface to reduce evaporation and

increase soil
moisture.

 Vertical mulching:- it involves opening of trenches of 30 cm depth and 15 cm

width across the slope at vertical interval of 30 m thus making more surface
area available for water absorption.

 Organic mulching:- an organic mulch is made up of natural substance such as

bark , wood chips, pine needles, dry grasses, paddy straw, dry leaves, saw
dust, grass clipping etc.
they get decomposed easily and need frequent replacements.
Organic mulch attracts insects slugs and the out worms that eat them.
 Inorganic mulch:-
*Gravel, pebbles and crushed stones
*Soil is covered with pebbles to prevent transfer of heat from atmosphere.

*These materials are used for perennial crops.

*Small rock layer of 3-4 cm provides good weed control, but they reflect
solar radiation and can create a very hot soil environment during summer

 Plastic mulch:-

*Both black and transparent films are generally used for mulching.
• Benefits:
* Mulch reflects a lot of the sun that otherwise heats the soil, this keeps coolar and helps
prevent evaporation.

*Weeds do not grow under it as they do not get the light they need to grow.

*Prevent soil erosion, as wind or running water does not directly come in it.

*Mulches spread over soil, slow down rainwater runoff, and increase the amount of water
that soaks into the soil.

*Organic mulches also improve the condition of soil, as these mulches slowly decompose,
they provide organic matter which helps keep the soil loose.

*This Improves root growth, increases the infiltration of water and also improves the
water holding capacity of the soil.

*Decaying organic matter also becomes a source of plant nutrient.

Maintains a more even soil temperature.
Limitations of mulching

1.Mulches can keep the soil too moist, restricting oxygen in the root zone on
poorly drained soil.

2.If mulch as applied close to or in contact with the stem,

trapped moisture creates an environment conducive to development of diseases
and pests.

3.Many organic type of mulches also encourage and provides refuge or breeding
locations for snails , slugs, mice etc that may attack the plants.

4.Certain types of mulches such as hay and straw contain seeds that may become
weeds.
 Drip Irrigation System Design For Mango Plantation In
1 Acre Field

 Survey Questions

1. Crop - Mango
2. Soil - Clay Loam
3. Land Formation - Flat & Undulated
4. Water Source – Open well/Tubewell
5. Water Level - 15 m below from the soil surface
6. Electricity – 10 hrs (minimum)
7. Area – 1 Acre (100 x 40.5 m)/(4046 sq.metre)
 No. of plants = Area / Spacing
= 4046 / 25
= 160
 Peak Crop Water Requirement (PWR) = 120 lit/day/plant
 Total PWR = no. of plants x PWR
= 160 X 120 = 19200 lit/day

 Design and Selection of Dripper

1. Crop – Horticulture
2. Spacing – Large
3. Use – Online Drippers
4. Select – J-Turbo Plus Drippers of 8 lph discharge rate
5. No. of Dripper per plant – 2

 Irrigation Time = PWR/Water Application Rate

= 120 /2x8
= 7.5 hrs
 No. of Irrigation Possible – only one time in a day for PWR
 Discharge through each laterals – {out of 20 laterals}

1. Total no. of laterals – 10

2. Total no. of emitter in each lateral – (2x8) = 16
3. Total dicharge by each lateral = 16 x 8 = 128 lph

 Discharge through each submain line -

= 10 x 128 = 1280 lph = 0.3556 lps

 Discharge through main line –

= 2 x 1280 = 2560 lph = 0.711 lps
 Size of the lateral polyethylene pipes (inner diameter) – [Using Nomograph]

* ∅𝑙 = 16 mm [with head loss (𝐻𝑙 ) = 0.16 m /40 m length of pipe]

 Size of Submains – [Using Nomogarph]

* ∅𝑠 = 50 mm [with head loss (𝐻𝑠 ) = 0.075 m / 50 m length of pipe]

 Size of Mains – [Using Nomograph]

* ∅𝑚 = 63 mm [ with head loss (𝐻𝑚 ) = 0.68 m / 40 m length of pipe]

Nomograph for polyethylene pipe
 Pump Selection –
𝑄𝑋𝐻
* Pump Capacity = 75 𝑋 𝛾
𝑝 𝑋 𝛾𝑚

 𝑄 = Discharge through main lines (in litres/second)

 𝐻 = Total Head
 𝛾�𝑝 = Pump Efficiency
 𝛾�𝑚 = Motor Efficiency

Here,
H = suction head(10 m) + head loss in filters(5 m) + head loss in venturi (2 m) + head
loss in fittings(0.4 m) + head loss in mains(0.68 m) + head loss in submains(0.75 m) +
head loss in laterals(10 x 0.16 m) + operating head .

H = 35.43 m
 Therefore ,
Pump Capacity = 0.6823 HP
Layout