Design of Drip Irrigation System

Dr Muhammad Ashraf

International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas

(ICARDA)

December 31, 2012

Drip Irrigation?
Drip irrigation is the slow, precise application
of water and nutrients directly to the plants'
root zones in a predetermined pattern using a
point source.

A Typical Layout for Drip Irrigation

Drip Irrigation System

Components of Drip Irrigation System

Head Unit
Prime Mover (Motor/Engine)
Water Pump
G. I pipe fittings
By pass valves
Air release valves
Filters
Flow meter
Non-return valves
Fertigation unit

Field Unit
Main line
Sub-main line
Manifolds
Lateral line with emitters
Valves (By pass, Flush and
Air release)
End Plug
Pressure gage

1 bar = 10.2 m of water = 14.05 psi = 0.987 atms = 100 kPa = 1.02 kg/cm2

Focus of Design
Apply water to meet peak crop water requirement
Maintain application and uniformity efficiencies at a
desired level
Energy and water efficient system to keep initial capital
and operation cost as low as possible
Simple in operation and maintenance so that farmers can
use these systems without extensive training

Criteria for System Selection

Economic
Topographic (location, elevation, field
boundary, shape/slope, area, location of
pumping unit etc.)
Soil (type, soil moisture holding capacity,
depth, intake rate)
Water supply (quantity, quality, temporal
variation)
Crop factors (crop, row-to-row and plant-toplant spacings)

Design Parameters
Area to be irrigated, type of plants, plant spacing and number of plants
per unit area
Peak water requirement of crop or plant
Selection of emitter type, number of emitter per plant and amount of
water discharge per hour through each emitter
Water required to be pumped from the well. This depends upon
hydrogeological conditions in the area and water requirement of
plants/crop
Layout of the system considering topography, field shape and location of
the water source
Calculating sectional flow based on number of emission devices and their
discharge against known pressure
Design of main and lateral drip lines. This depends upon friction head
losses
Selection of filters and other equipment
Horse power of a pump set. This depends on discharge and the total head
including friction losses over which water is to be lifted/pumped

Command Area Information

A command area map giving layout is necessary to plan and
design a drip irrigation system
It may not be necessary to have a detailed contour plan but it
is helpful if a plan showing the highest and lowest points along
with well location is given
This enables proper design of main line and laterals

Discharge Capacity of a Pump

Q = 27.78 (AD/RT)
Where:
Q = Discharge of pump (lps)
A = Area (ha)
D = Depth of irrigation (cm)
R = No of days for which water is pumped
T = Duration of pumping (hrs/day)
Example
A= 5 ha
D = 100 cm
R = 150 days
T = 6 hrs/day
Q = 15 lps

Selection of Type and Number of Emitters

Selection of type and number of
emitters depends on the soil
types, plant to plant distance of
crop, age of the plant
The emitter is so selected that
application rate equals to the
absorption rate of soil
Generally, 30-70% of the area is
wetted depending upon plant
spacing, nature and
development of root zone
Some times a loop with 3 to 4
emitters is placed around each
plant to provide the required
wetted area. This should be
away from the plant stem
If single emitter is provided, it
must be placed 15-30 cm. from
the base of the plant

Space emitters equally apart

2 180
3 120
4 90

Layout of Drip Irrigation System

Water source and pumping plant location should be
located as close to the center of the irrigated area as
possible
The main line/manifold in a drip system preferably
should follow land contour as closely as possible
If there is a slope, it should be used for compensating
pressure differences due to change in elevation
When water flows down slope, it allows longer laterals
for a given pipe size or smaller pipe for a given length
of lateral
A fall of 1 m in elevation is equivalent to an increase in
pressure of about 0.1 bar
Running laterals uphill should be avoided wherever
possible.

Design of Mainline and Laterals

The design of lateral pipe involves selection of required
pipe size for a given length which can carry the required
quantity of water to the plant

In designing the lateral, the discharge and operating
pressure at emitters are required to be known

The allowable pressure drop in mainline and laterals
depend upon the operating pressure required at emitters

Pressure variation along the lateral line should not
exceed 10% of the design lateral pressure

Energy/Head Losses
Energy losses occur in the pipeline due to friction and elevation
changes. The most commonly used equation in irrigation calculations is
the Hazen-Williams formula:
hf = [{ K(Q/C)1.852}/ { D4.87}]* ( L + Le)
Where:
Hf is the frictional head loss (m)
K = 1.21 x 1010
Q is the pipeline discharge (lps)
C is the friction coefficient for pipe sections
D is the inside diameter (mm)
L is the pipeline length (m)
Le is the equivalent length of pipe and accessories

Hazen-Williams Equation (C=150)

H = 15.27 (Q1.852) L
D4.871
H = Energy drop by friction (m)
Q = Flow rate of the pipe (litre/sec)
L = Length of the pipe (m)
D = Diameter of pipe (m)

Friction Coefficients

PVC and PE

F mm (DarcyWeisbach)
0.0015 - 0.007

140 -150

Asbestos-cement

0.3

130-140

New steel

0.045 - 0.09

110-120

Five year old steel

0.15 - 4.0

80 - 90

Steel with internal

0.3 - 1.0

110 - 120

0.3 - 5.0

90 - 100

Pipe material

C (Hazen-Williams)

concrete coating
Concrete

Frictional Head Losses (m/100 m) for 13 mm of PE pipe

used as laterals
Discharge

Fractional Losses (m/100 m)

(lps)

C = 120

C = 130

C = 140

C = 150

0.01

0.13

0.11

0.10

0.08

0.02
0.03

0.46
0.97

0.39
0.84

0.34
0.73

0.30
0.64

0.04
0.05

1.65
2.50

1.43
2.15

1.24
1.88

1.09
1.65

Source: PARC (2001)

Frictional Head Losses (m/100 m) for 16 mm Diameter PE Pipe used as Laterals

Discharge
(Lps)
0.01
0.02
0.03
0.04
0.05
0.06
0.07
0.08
0.09
0.10

C=120

Fractional Losses (m/100 m)

C=130
C=140

C=150

0.05
0.17
0.35
0.60
0.91
1.27
1.70

0.04
0.14
0.30
0.52
0.78
1.10
1.46

0.03
0.13
0.27
0.45
0.68
0.96
1.27

0.03
0.11
0.23
0.40
0.60
0.84
1.12

2.17
2.70
3.28

1.87
2.33
2.83

1.63
2.03
2.47

1.44
1.79
2.17

Source: PARC (2001)

Frictional Head Losses (m/100 m) for 25 mm Diameter of PE pipe used as Manifolds

Discharge
C=120
0.37
0.52
0.70
0.89
1.11
1.35
1.61
1.89
2.19
2.51
2.86
3.22
3.60
4.00
4.43
4.87

0.32
0.45
0.60
0.77
0.96
1.16
1.39
1.63
1.89
2.17
2.46
2.78
3.11
3.45
3.82
4.20

0.28
0.39
0.52
0.67
0.83
1.01
1.21
1.42
1.65
1.89
2.15
2.42
2.71
3.01
3.33
3.66

C=150
0.25
0.35
0.46
0.59
0.73
0.89
1.06
1.25
1.45
1.66
1.89
2.13
2.38
2.65
2.93
3.22

Source: PARC (2001)

(Lps)
0.10
0.12
0.14
0.16
0.18
0.20
0.22
0.24
0.26
0.28
0.30
0.32
0.34
0.36
0.38
0.40

Fractional Losses(m/100 m)
C=130
C=140

Frictional Head Losses (m/100 m) for 31.25 mm Diameter PE Pipe used

as Manifolds
C=120
0.45
0.54
0.64
0.74
0.85
0.96
1.09
1.21
1.35
1.49
1.64
1.80
1.96
2.13
2.30
2.48
2.67
2.86
3.06
3.27
3.48

Fractional Losses (m/100 m)

C=130
C=140
0.39
0.34
0.47
0.41
0.55
0.48
0.64
0.56
0.73
0.64
0.83
0.72
0.94
0.82
1.05
0.91
1.16
1.02
1.29
1.12
1.42
1.23
1.55
1.35
1.69
1.47
1.83
1.60
1.98
1.73
2.14
1.87
2.30
2.01
2.47
2.15
2.64
2.30
2.82
2.46
3.00
2.61

C=150
0.30
0.36
0.43
0.49
0.56
0.64
0.72
0.80
0.89
0.99
1.09
1.19
1.30
1.41
1.52
1.64
1.77
1.89
2.02
2.16
2.30

Source: PARC (2001)

Discharge
(lps)
0.20
0.22
0.24
0.26
0.28
0.30
0.32
0.34
0.46
0.38
0.40
0.42
0.44
0.46
0.48
0.50
0.52
0.54
0.56
0.58
0.60

Frictional Head Losses (m/100m) for 37.5 mm Diameter of PE pipe used for Manifolds
C=120
0.40
0.45
0.50
0.56
0.61
0.68
0.74
0.81
0.88
0.95
1.02
1.10
1.18
1.26
1.34
1.43
1.52
1.61
1.71
1.80
1.90
2.01
2.11
2.22
2.33
2.44
2.55
2.67
2.79
2.91
3.03
3.16
3.29
3.42
3.55
3.69

Fractional Losses (m/100 m)

C=130
C=140
0.34
0.30
0.39
0.34
0.43
0.38
0.48
0.42
0.53
0.46
0.58
0.51
0.64
0.56
0.69
0.61
0.75
0.66
0.82
0.71
0.88
0.77
0.95
0.83
1.02
0.89
1.09
0.95
1.16
1.01
1.23
1.08
1.31
1.14
1.39
1.21
1.47
1.28
1.56
1.36
1.64
1.43
1.73
1.51
1.82
1.59
1.91
1.67
2.01
1,75
2.10
1.83
2.20
1.92
2.30
2.01
2.40
2.10
2.51
2.19
2.62
2.28
2.72
2.37
2.83
2.47
2.95
2.57
3.06
2.67
3.18
2.77

C=150
0.26
0.30
0.33
0.37
0.41
0.45
0.49
0.53
0.58
0.63
0.68
0.73
0.78
0.83
0.89
0.95
1.01
1.07
1.13
1.19
1.26
1.33
1.40
1.47
1.54
1.61
1.69
1.77
1.84
1.92
2.01
2.09
2.17
2.26
2.35
2.44

Source: PARC (2001)

Discharge
(Lps)
0.30
0.32
0.34
0.36
0.38
0.40
0.42
0.44
0.46
0.48
0.50
0.52
0.54
0.56
0.58
0.60
0.62
0.64
0.66
0.68
0.70
0.72
0.74
0.76
0.78
0.80
0.82
0.84
0.86
0.88
0.90
0.92
0.94
0.96
0.98
1.00

Frictional Head Losses (m/100 m) for 50 mm Diameter of PE pipe used for Mainlines
Discharge
(Lps)

C=120

1.0
1.2
1.4
1.6
1.8
2.0
2.2
2.4
2.6
2.8
3.0

0.91
1.27
1.69
2.17
2.70
3.28
3.91
4.60
5.33
6.11
6.95

Source: PARC (2001)

Fractional Losses (m/100 m)

C=130
C=140
0.78
1.10
1.46
1.87
2.33
2.83
3.37
3.96
4.60
5.27
5.99

0.68
0.96
1.27
1.63
2.03
2.46
2.94
3.45
4.01
4.60
5.33

C=150
0.60
0.84
1.12
1.43
1.78
2.17
2.59
3.04
3.53
5.04
4.60

Frictional Head Losses (m/100 m) for 62.5 mm Diameter of PE pipe used for Mainlines

Discharge
(lps)

Fractional Losses (m/100 m)

C=120
C=130
C=140

2.0
1.11
2.2
1.32
2.4
1.55
2.6
1.80
2.8
2.06
3.0
2.34
3.2
2.63
3.4
2.95
3.6
3.28
3.8
3.63
4.0
3.99
4.2
4.37
4.4
4.76
4.6
5.17
4.8
5.60
5.0
6.04
Source: PARC (2001)

0.95
1.14
1.34
1.55
1.78
2.02
2.28
2.55
2.83
3.13
3.44
3.77
4.11
4.46
4.82
5.20

0.83
0.99
1.17
1.35
1.55
1.76
1.98
2.22
2.47
2.73
3.00
3.28
3.58
3.89
4.21
4.54

C=150
0.73
0.87
1.03
1.19
1.36
1.55
1.75
1.95
2.17
2.40
2.64
2.89
3.15
3.42
3.70
3.99

Frictional Head Losses (m/100 m) for 75 mm Diameter of PE pipe used for Mainlines
C=120

3.0
3.2
3.4
3.6
3.8
4.0
4.2
4.4
4.6
4.8
5.0
5.2
5.4
5.6
5.8
6.0
6.2
6.4
6.6
6.8
7.0
7.2
7.4
7.6
7.8
8.0
8.2
8.4
8.6
8.8
9.0
9.2
9.4
9.6
9.8
10.0

0.96
1.09
1.22
1.35
1.49
1.64
1.80
1.96
2.13
2.30
2.48
2.67
2.86
3.06
3.27
2.48
3.70
3.92
4.15
4.39
4.63
4.88
5.13
5.39
5.66
5.93
6.21
6.49
6.78
7.08
7.38
7.68
8.00
8.31
8.64
8.97

Fractional Losses (m/100 m)

C=130
C=140
0.83
0.94
1.05
1.17
1.29
1.42
1.55
1.69
1.84
1.99
2.14
2.30
2.47
2.64
2.82
3.00
3.19
3.38
3.58
3.78
3.99
4.21
4.43
4.65
4.88
5.11
5.35
5.60
5.85
6.10
6.36
6.62
6.89
7.17
7.45
7.73

0.72
0.82
0.91
1.02
1.12
1.23
1.35
1.47
1.60
1.73
1.87
2.01
2.15
2.30
2.46
2.62
2.78
2.95
3.12
3.30
3.48
3.67
3.86
4.05
4.25
4.46
4.67
4.88
5.10
5.32
5.54
5.77
6.01
6.25
6.49
6.74

C=150
0.64
0.72
080
0.89
0.99
1.09
1.19
1.30
1.41
1.52
1.64
1.77
1.89
2.03
2.16
2.30
2.45
2.60
2.75
2.90
3.06
3.23
3.40
3.57
3.74
3.92
4.11
4.29
4.49
4.68
4.88
5.08
5.29
5.50
5.71
5.93

Source: PARC (2001)

Discharge
(Lps)

Frictional Head Loss (m/100 m) for 100 mm Diameter of PE pipe used for Mainlines
C=120

5.0
5.2
5.4
5.6
5.8
6.0
6.2
6.4
6.6
6.8
7.0
7.2
7.4
7.6
7.8
8.0
8.2
8.4
8.6
8.8
9.0
9.2
9.4
9.6
9.8
10.0
10.2
10.4
10.6
10.8
11.0
11.2
11.4
11.6
11.8
12.0

0.61
0.66
0.71
0.75
0.81
0.86
0.91
0.97
1.02
1.08
1.14
1.20
1.26
1.33
1.39
1.46
1.53
1.60
1.67
1.74
1.82
1.89
1.97
2.05
2.13
2.21
2.29
2.38
2.46
2.55
2.64
2.72
2.82
2.93
3.00
3.10

Fractional Losses (m/100 m)

C=130
C=140
0.53
0.57
0.61
0.65
0.69
0.74
0.79
0.83
0.88
0.93
0.98
1.04
1.09
1.15
1.20
1.26
1.32
1.38
1.44
1.50
1.57
1.63
1.70
1.77
1.83
1.90
1.98
2.05
2.12
2.20
2.27
2.35
2.43
2.51
2.59
2.67

0.46
0.49
0.53
0.57
0.61
0.64
0.68
0.73
0.77
0.81
0.86
0.90
0.95
1.00
1.05
1.10
1.15
1.20
1.26
1.31
1.37
1.42
1.48
1.54
1.60
1.66
1.72
1.79
1.85
1.91
1.98
2.05
2.12
2.19
2.26
2.33

C=150
0.40
0.44
0.47
0.50
0.53
0.57
0.60
0.64
0.68
0.72
0.75
0.80
0.84
0.88
0.92
0.97
1.01
1.06
1.10
1.15
1.20
1.25
1.30
1.35
1.41
1.46
1.52
1.57
1.63
1.68
1.74
1.80
1.86
1.92
1.99
2.05

Source: PARC (2001)

Discharge
(lps)

Minor Head Losses

The head loss associated with fittings/valves is calculated using equation
Kv = (Q/P)0.5 where
Kv = Flow factor (m3/hr), Q = Flow rate (m3/hr) and P = Pressure drop
(bars)
Fitting Valve
45 standard elbow

Loss
Fitting, valve
coefficient K
0.35
Gate valve, open

Loss
coefficient K
0.20

90 standard elbow

0.75

Three-fourths open

0.90

Coupling or union

0.04

One-half open

4.50

Tee, along run

0.40

One-fourth open

24.00

Branching flow

1.00

Globe valve, open

6.40

Ball check valve, open

70.00

One-half open

9.5

Example: If Kv = 50 m3/hr and Q = 30 m3/hr, then P = 0.36 bar = 3.6 m

Head Losses in Valves and Accessories

Power Requirement
The HP of pump set required is based upon design
discharge, total operating head and efficiency of pumping
system
Where the total head is the sum of total static head and
friction losses in the system
Overall efficiency recommended for high pressure
pumping systems is as under:
Electric motor operated systems = 50%
Diesel engine operated systems = 40%

Design of Prime Mover

Power requirement for the prime mover can be
determined by:
HP = QH/(76 x Engine efficiency)
Where:
Q = Discharge (lps)
H= Total head (m)

Example:
H = 30 m
Q = 15 lps
Engine HP: 12
Motor HP: 15

Pump Selection
Pump selection is based on the:
Required pressure
Designed discharge and
Size of prime mover

Example
Design a drip irrigation system for the following data:
Area: 30 acre = 400 m x 300 m
Topography: Flat
Crop: Citrus
Spacing: 6.1 m x 6.1 m
Water source: Tubewell at the center of the field
Suction lift: 3 m
Delivery lift: 3 m
Tubewell discharge: 15 lps
Total no. of plants: 3225
Emitter discharge: 4 lph
Total emitters (4 per plant): 12900
Total flow rate: 51599 lph = 14.3 lps

Layout of the Farm

Example (cont)
Divide the area into 4 blocks (7.5 acre x 4)
Lateral length : 75 m
Lateral inside diameter : 16 mm
No. of emitters/lateral: 49
Discharge of emitters: 197 lph = 0.05 lps
Head loss in lateral (0.91 m/100 m): 0.68 m
Sub main 1
Length : 200 m
Diameter: 62.5 mm
No. of laterals on the sub main: 66
Total discharge of the sub main: 12984 lph = 3.6 lps
Head loss in sub main (2.78 m/100 m): 5.56 m
No. of sub mains: 4
Total discharge of main line (4 sub mains): 51934 lph: 14.4 lps
Diameter of main line : 100 mm
Length of main line: 150 m
Head loss in main line (2.67 m/100 m): 4 m

Total Head

Operating pressure : 10 m
Suction lift: 3 m
Elevation lift: 0
Delivery lift: 3 m
Head loss in laterals: 0.68 m
Head loss in sub mains: 5.56 m
Head loss in main line: 4 m
Misc head losses (fittings, valves etc): 10 m
Total dynamic head : 36.2 m
Discharge:14.4 lps
Motor HP (50% efficiency) 13.7
Engine HP (40% efficiency) 17.2

Irrigation Scheduling

Crop : Citrus
Area: 30 acres
Root zone depth: 80 cm
Maximum allowable deficit (MAD): 40%
ETo (mm/day): 8 mm/day
Kc: 0.9
Soil texture: Loamy clay
Bulk density: 1.4 gm/ml
Field capacity: 32%
Wilting point: 15%
Available moisture: 17%
Daily peak season water demand: 7.2 mm/day

Gross daily demand (mm/day), assuming 90% efficiency: 8 mm/day

Available moisture by volume: 0.24 cm3 of water/cm3 of soil
Total available moisture: 19.04 cm
Water content at 40% MAD: 7.62cm
No. of day after irrigation is due: 10 days

Irrigation Scheduling
Canopy
diameter
(m)

Gross CWR Time of irrigation with 4

(liters/day) emitters (hrs/day)

25

1.3

57

2.8

100

5.0

Energy/Head Losses
Head loss in pipes with Multiple , equally Spaced Outlets
Flow of water in a pipe having multiple, equally spaced outlets will have less head
loss than a similar pipe transmitting the entire flow over its length because the
flow steadily diminishes each time an outlet is passed. Christiansen developed
the concept of a "F factor", which accounts for the effect of the outlets. When the
first outlet is one outlet spacing from the lateral or manifold inlet:
F = [1/(m+1)] + [1/2N] + [ {m-1}0.5 / 6N2]
in which,
F =
m =
m =
N =

fraction of the headloss under constant discharge conditions

expected with the multiple outlet case;
1.85 for Hazren-Williams equation;
2.0 for the Darcy-Weisbach equation; and
number of outlets along the pipe.

Increase the length of the pipe for:

Elbow (90) : 60 times the internal diameter of the
pipe
Elbow (45): 30 times the internal diameter of the
pipe
Gate valve (side): 50 times the internal diameter of
the pipe
Gate valve (straight): 150 times the internal
diameter of the pipe