Demand Irrigation Schedule Pilot Project: Sri Lanka
Publication: Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 112, Issue 3
Abstract
Since 1981, the Sri Lanka Government has been testing a different approach to delivering irrigation water to its numerous small‐scale farmers. Instead of conventional open‐channel rotation irrigation with water controlled by government organizations, a 367‐acre (147‐ha) pilot project has put each farmer in control of his own water supply using a limited‐rate demand irrigation schedule. This system conjunctively utilizes sloping canals, on‐stream regulating reservoirs, automatic float‐controlled canal gates, level‐top canals, and buried concrete pipelines with float valves to maintain low pressure. Discussed are construction costs and materials, the four cropping seasons evaluated, and the advantages and disadvantages compared to conventional irrigation. Current data show that: an adequate and equitable water supply can be achieved and sustained; crop production can be increased from 8 to 20 bushels/acre (160 to 400 kg/ha); the potential exists for reducing water use below that of conventional irrigation; and that farmer contention is nearly eliminated. Project cost was about 5,860 rupees/acre [$325/acre ($810/ha)] compared to 3,350 rupees/acre [$185/acre (465/ha)] for the conventional system. The resulting incremental increased cost is about 75% at the distributary channel level but about only 7–10% of total project development costs.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
1.
Bos, M. G., Replogle, J. A., and Clemmens, A. J., Flow Measuring Flumes for Open Channel Systems, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, N.Y., 1984.
2.
Merriam, J. L., “Float Valve Provides Variable Flow Rate at Low Pressures,” Proceedings of the Irrigation and Drainage Specialty Conference, ASCE, 1973, pp. 385–402.
3.
Merriam, J. L., “Level‐Top Canals for Semi‐Automation of On‐Farm Irrigation Supply Systems,” Proceedings of the Irrigation and Drainage Specialty Conference, ASCE, 1977, pp. 217–224.
4.
Merriam, J. L., Demand Irrigation Schedule Concrete Pipeline Pilot Projects, Sri Lanka, Mahaweli Engineering and Construction Agency (formerly MDB), Colombo, Sri Lanka, 1980.
5.
Merriam, J. L., Demand Irrigation Schedule Concrete Pipeline Pilot Project, Third Interim Report, Mahaweli Engineering and Construction Agency (formerly MDB), Colombo, Sri Lanka, 1982/83.
6.
Merriam, J. L., “Demand Irrigation Schedule Concrete Pipeline Pilot Project, Sri Lanka,” Final Report, Mahaweli Engineering and Construction Agency, P.O. Box 1667, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
7.
“Recommended Irrigation Schedule Terminology,” Proceedings of the Irrigation and Drainage Specialty Conference, On‐Farm Irrigation Committee, Irrigation and Drainage Division, ASCE, 1984, pp. 219–221.
8.
Replogle, J. A., and Merriam, J. L., “Scheduling and Management of Irrigation Water Delivery Systems,” Proceedings of the Second National Irrigation Symposium, American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 1980, pp. 112–126.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
Copyright © 1986 ASCE.
History
Published online: Aug 1, 1986
Published in print: Aug 1986
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.